My OperaAT5: Sweet Reminiscences...Sunday's Antics and Farewells.
Monday, January 2, 2012 12:01:45 AM
It felt like minutes before it was time to rise again. That following breakfast was probably the most hilariously tortured affair according to many zombied faces. Nobody was spared the look of deflated energy....and even the most British of them were heading for the coffee. Well, for the most part. The rest would never admit it! SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! GLUGLUGLUG.
More than half of our zest was being sapped by the knowledge that today was the last day of this heavenly time together. Somehow a year's worth of spirit and bonding had occurred, and yet only two days had passed all too quickly. It was hard to take solace in the fact that we still had a wonderful day ahead of us, yet as everyone was once again together in the breakfast restaurant, the chatter gradually warmed to a low-key hum, before all cascaded sleepily into the main hall for Amanda's 3rd panel.
Amanda's third! That incredible woman has stamina, and today it really showed us all up. She asked 'Is everyone awake?', and yet from that moment on, the energy once again lifted to overfilling levels. Our admiration for this woman reached a peak on this particular morning. Her energy, her brilliant nature never falters, as she spreads her dorky vivacity to everyone via osmosis...
When asked about puff and ruffling on the Sanctuary set, she replied that ALL the boys did it. And as for herself:
"I’m over the top obvious. I’ve been with my husband for 22 years, and there was a cute guy on set...*mimics looking him up and down* 'Heaven has one less angel ‘cause you’re here on earth!' *audience laughter* I know. My village is missing me."
The third panel sped by all too quickly, but YAY. AUTOGRAPH SESSION! By genius of GABIT scheduling, they spread out all these treasures over the entire weekend so that not one moment of amazingness is missed. Jen had declared to me that she was going to get her painting signed by Amanda, and I decided that my Sanctuary 4 Kids hoodie was definitely the way to go (after the closing ceremony I entreated Julia to sign it as well, in exchange for a special cap. But more on that later!). I was intensely tempted to walk up to Amanda, wearing the hoodie, and ask "Can you please sign my nubbins?" but resisted the urge. It would have been unseemly. What REALLY happened is that as I trotted to the table, manned by both Julia and Amanda, Julia thanked me for the painting as I fluttered the previous day's photograph down in front of Amanda. She let out a loud "HAH!" and clapped her hands in hysterical glee as she viewed the finished product, before scribbling over it in her special silver pen.
Another short break, for various film presentations, and also for the morning tea with Amanda for the four lucky raffle winners from the day before! The rest of the clan milled around cheerfully in the lobby...before filtering back into the main hall for the GABIT props and costumes auction. Then lunch, and Kate and myself followed the always blurry Jenn Scheffler, through many secret doorways and up the lift to the TOP FLOOR of the hotel...a level of sophistication and eliteness we were tremendously excited about. As we shuffled wide-eyed through the double doors into a salon that was all elegance and a flurry of activity, we were led to a cosy corner of settees. Here we were joined by Julia Hague, and had a perfect view of her GABIT minions, namely the red shirts, who were hastily stuffing their lunch into their faces, whilst chattering excitedly, before rushing off on no doubt was a chain of urgent errands. Of course, with all the excitement, Julia herself was time-pressed, yet so graciously and happily sat and chatted with us whilst devouring her own sustenance. We had a wonderful and revealing discussion about the very roots of GABIT, a group of fans who decided, after attending many conventions, that they could do a better job for Amanda, and so began their collaboration. After AT1 was postponed several times due to various circumstances, the ticket-holders refused to accept a refund, saying they would rather wait until Amanda could be available for the convention. From that first event there was no looking back. Apparently this, AT5, was the most energetic of them all. They seem to be getting exponentially more elaborate and manic each time! Julia was clear in expressing her desire for Amanda to feel a part of the family, not as an actress, herded to the spotlight in front of a dark auditorium to answer anonymous questions. Instead, as we all witnessed, she is a guest, a loved sister of fandom, respected and admired by all, and an integral part of the love web woven between her admirers the globe over.
It was a most frank and friendly discussion, Julia asking our feedback, which we gave joyfully. And then, unfortunately, it was time to cut frivolities short and get back down to business! Julia rushed off to fulfil her directorial duties, while we (after having despatched a pile of Tim Tam packets to the sugar-craving GABITeers), shuffled back downstairs for Amanda's fourth (and FINAL >.<) question and answer panel. Amanda began the panel by cracking that we should all be able to stay an extra day, like a bank holiday! "Kate Middleton's bachelorette party!!!". So it was a very sorry, but slightly hysterical, air that began our last panel with Amanda.
Asked about whether we would hear about Helen's mum:
" I hope so. Damian told me to write my own back story. No limits. Nothing. She’s definitely dead.
Or is she *ponders* Unless Helen Mirren says "I want to be on your show!"... “MUMMY!”
I’ve played these motherless women, it’s like Disney movies, always evil stepmothers and crazy fathers... except for Bambi... but then the Mum dies..."
The lovely Jaime Stephens asked a beautiful question, and raised not a few laughs. He, as a long-married man, still found time to cherish the small things each day. He loved his wife dearly, and they had been happily married for many years, yet he still loved watching her take a shower *laughter, Amanda clapping and nodding gleefully*. What little daily things did Amanda cherish?
"Tea in the morning. Especially when I’m up for shooting at 4.30 and that’s my time.
Coming home to Olivia. My favourite time of day is her bedtime. I love reading her stories. The Dream Train *here she explains*. To be there at the weekend to be with her...
I still like snogging my husband. *claps and cheers*
When Olivia first wakes up, all sleepy, and her hair all *grabs hair and tousles up to one side, bleary eyed and lopsided*
If I don’t go to the gym 3 times a week I get really obnoxious! Or a walk in the woods...
But I’d forgo all that for a cup of tea. I’m not kidding. Tetley. Is my tea of choice"
How did Magnus figure out her abnormality was longevity?
"She just looked in the mirror later and 'I am hot!' *laughter* Tests. Physiology. I’m not sure that’s all. There may be other things she’s aware of that aren’t shared... hinted at... incredible brilliance?"
Before the last question, Amanda requested that everyone put their cameras down, and swore us to secrecy as to what was to follow. As such, I will leave it at that *TITTERS*.
All I will say, is that it had every single person in the room crying with laughter, tears pouring down our faces as Amanda sat with a huge grin on her face. Then all too soon, it was over. The last panel for the day was finished, and the cheers, stamping and applause followed Amanda as she graciously bowed and bounced out. The following break was poignant, joy and sorrow intermingled into one hugging mass.
Not long after, all trooped back into the main hall, many linking arms, and hugging on the way in. Curiously subdued, but all with an undrownable sparkle in their eyes, we took our seats slowly, in no hurry...lingering for as long as we could. Many had tissues in hand, at the ready for one of Julia's infamously beautiful and heart-wringing closing speeches.
We weren't disappointed. In fact, most of the closing ceremony went by an emotionally stunned blur! But not this: The unveiling of the total amount raised that weekend: *DRUMROLL* 40,224.06 1/2 Pounds! Then came the snarks for whomever donated the half pence...This enabled the training of two and a half dogs (A RECORD!), while the rest went to Sanctuary for Kids. And then a shock and surprise, the director of HDFDP came forward, and announced that they had decided to donate half of their bucket fundraisings to Sanctuary For Kids! OH THE EMOTION!
And then Julia's speech, by the end, there were many sniffles in the audience, whilst a certain someone beside me had been outright crying since the end of Amanda's last panel. Bless her soul. As the closing ceremony came to an end, Amanda was thanked profusely, whilst she was so overcome by the amount of money raised by such a small group of passionate human beings. As she (tried!) to leave the stage, the uproarious cheers, stamping, as every single person in the room stood in a standing ovation which lasted a good ten minutes. Ten full minutes of deafening cheers. In the end, Amanda had to just leave...and we all traipsed forlornly back out into the lobby.
Some of our brothers and sisters left that very same evening. Goodbyes were the most heart wrenching affair of the entire weekend. Fortunately, for most of us, we still had one more evening and breakfast to spend with this warmest of families. People were loathe to leave the lobby that night. We milled around in our pyjamas until the wee hours, piling in hugs on the couches, the lobby humming with joyful chatter, while others (us!) were engaging in creative affairs with Sanctuary For Kids, a variety of European chocolates, and a handy marble table. It was at this point that Jen and myself sidled up to the luminescent Julia (whom it took a full two hours to leave the lobby at all!), asked her to sign the other half of my S4K hoodie. We thanked her profusely and joined the happily chattering crowd around her, before bestowing on her the last of the caps we had made for the occasion. It reads across the front "ABNORMAL AND PROUD; AT5" accompanied by little yellow nubbin footprints, and across the back "Putting Women and Geeks first Since 2008". A little bird tells us that Julia still has this accessory!
And then it was bed, to little sleep, but much night time conversation until we finally drifted off. Breakfast the next morning was a poignantly sorrowful and businesslike affair. Some goodbyes were said early, people rushing to catch planes and trains, while the rest of us stood with our luggage in the lobby, talking and clinging to each other incessantly, forming human "AT6" monograms on the floor, cameras clicking like crazy. We must have stood there for a good three hours, nobody wanted to leave. The final farewells to dearest sisters, with whom we had shared the most hysterical tears of laughter,....was painful as we sobbed endlessly on each other's shoulders. Middle aged men and women, teenagers, young adults all hugging and kissing, remembering the incredible love and family that we were all so blessed to be a part of.
And then we piled into the car, and drove away...tears streaming down our cheeks, with the faces we loved so well stamped firmly in our mind's eye... but gradually the sadness gave way to heartwarming recollection of the boundless joy, love, solidarity, achievement and incredible dorkiness that was the weekend of AT5. This warmth has reverberated within each of our hearts as we have returned to our everyday lives until the next time we meet. I am sure this is exactly what the incredible human beings at GABIT Events had in mind when they so appropriately named this magical weekend "AT5; Reverberations".
More than half of our zest was being sapped by the knowledge that today was the last day of this heavenly time together. Somehow a year's worth of spirit and bonding had occurred, and yet only two days had passed all too quickly. It was hard to take solace in the fact that we still had a wonderful day ahead of us, yet as everyone was once again together in the breakfast restaurant, the chatter gradually warmed to a low-key hum, before all cascaded sleepily into the main hall for Amanda's 3rd panel.
Amanda's third! That incredible woman has stamina, and today it really showed us all up. She asked 'Is everyone awake?', and yet from that moment on, the energy once again lifted to overfilling levels. Our admiration for this woman reached a peak on this particular morning. Her energy, her brilliant nature never falters, as she spreads her dorky vivacity to everyone via osmosis...
When asked about puff and ruffling on the Sanctuary set, she replied that ALL the boys did it. And as for herself:
"I’m over the top obvious. I’ve been with my husband for 22 years, and there was a cute guy on set...*mimics looking him up and down* 'Heaven has one less angel ‘cause you’re here on earth!' *audience laughter* I know. My village is missing me."
The third panel sped by all too quickly, but YAY. AUTOGRAPH SESSION! By genius of GABIT scheduling, they spread out all these treasures over the entire weekend so that not one moment of amazingness is missed. Jen had declared to me that she was going to get her painting signed by Amanda, and I decided that my Sanctuary 4 Kids hoodie was definitely the way to go (after the closing ceremony I entreated Julia to sign it as well, in exchange for a special cap. But more on that later!). I was intensely tempted to walk up to Amanda, wearing the hoodie, and ask "Can you please sign my nubbins?" but resisted the urge. It would have been unseemly. What REALLY happened is that as I trotted to the table, manned by both Julia and Amanda, Julia thanked me for the painting as I fluttered the previous day's photograph down in front of Amanda. She let out a loud "HAH!" and clapped her hands in hysterical glee as she viewed the finished product, before scribbling over it in her special silver pen.
Another short break, for various film presentations, and also for the morning tea with Amanda for the four lucky raffle winners from the day before! The rest of the clan milled around cheerfully in the lobby...before filtering back into the main hall for the GABIT props and costumes auction. Then lunch, and Kate and myself followed the always blurry Jenn Scheffler, through many secret doorways and up the lift to the TOP FLOOR of the hotel...a level of sophistication and eliteness we were tremendously excited about. As we shuffled wide-eyed through the double doors into a salon that was all elegance and a flurry of activity, we were led to a cosy corner of settees. Here we were joined by Julia Hague, and had a perfect view of her GABIT minions, namely the red shirts, who were hastily stuffing their lunch into their faces, whilst chattering excitedly, before rushing off on no doubt was a chain of urgent errands. Of course, with all the excitement, Julia herself was time-pressed, yet so graciously and happily sat and chatted with us whilst devouring her own sustenance. We had a wonderful and revealing discussion about the very roots of GABIT, a group of fans who decided, after attending many conventions, that they could do a better job for Amanda, and so began their collaboration. After AT1 was postponed several times due to various circumstances, the ticket-holders refused to accept a refund, saying they would rather wait until Amanda could be available for the convention. From that first event there was no looking back. Apparently this, AT5, was the most energetic of them all. They seem to be getting exponentially more elaborate and manic each time! Julia was clear in expressing her desire for Amanda to feel a part of the family, not as an actress, herded to the spotlight in front of a dark auditorium to answer anonymous questions. Instead, as we all witnessed, she is a guest, a loved sister of fandom, respected and admired by all, and an integral part of the love web woven between her admirers the globe over.
It was a most frank and friendly discussion, Julia asking our feedback, which we gave joyfully. And then, unfortunately, it was time to cut frivolities short and get back down to business! Julia rushed off to fulfil her directorial duties, while we (after having despatched a pile of Tim Tam packets to the sugar-craving GABITeers), shuffled back downstairs for Amanda's fourth (and FINAL >.<) question and answer panel. Amanda began the panel by cracking that we should all be able to stay an extra day, like a bank holiday! "Kate Middleton's bachelorette party!!!". So it was a very sorry, but slightly hysterical, air that began our last panel with Amanda.
Asked about whether we would hear about Helen's mum:
" I hope so. Damian told me to write my own back story. No limits. Nothing. She’s definitely dead.
Or is she *ponders* Unless Helen Mirren says "I want to be on your show!"... “MUMMY!”
I’ve played these motherless women, it’s like Disney movies, always evil stepmothers and crazy fathers... except for Bambi... but then the Mum dies..."
The lovely Jaime Stephens asked a beautiful question, and raised not a few laughs. He, as a long-married man, still found time to cherish the small things each day. He loved his wife dearly, and they had been happily married for many years, yet he still loved watching her take a shower *laughter, Amanda clapping and nodding gleefully*. What little daily things did Amanda cherish?
"Tea in the morning. Especially when I’m up for shooting at 4.30 and that’s my time.
Coming home to Olivia. My favourite time of day is her bedtime. I love reading her stories. The Dream Train *here she explains*. To be there at the weekend to be with her...
I still like snogging my husband. *claps and cheers*
When Olivia first wakes up, all sleepy, and her hair all *grabs hair and tousles up to one side, bleary eyed and lopsided*
If I don’t go to the gym 3 times a week I get really obnoxious! Or a walk in the woods...
But I’d forgo all that for a cup of tea. I’m not kidding. Tetley. Is my tea of choice"
How did Magnus figure out her abnormality was longevity?
"She just looked in the mirror later and 'I am hot!' *laughter* Tests. Physiology. I’m not sure that’s all. There may be other things she’s aware of that aren’t shared... hinted at... incredible brilliance?"
Before the last question, Amanda requested that everyone put their cameras down, and swore us to secrecy as to what was to follow. As such, I will leave it at that *TITTERS*.
All I will say, is that it had every single person in the room crying with laughter, tears pouring down our faces as Amanda sat with a huge grin on her face. Then all too soon, it was over. The last panel for the day was finished, and the cheers, stamping and applause followed Amanda as she graciously bowed and bounced out. The following break was poignant, joy and sorrow intermingled into one hugging mass.
Not long after, all trooped back into the main hall, many linking arms, and hugging on the way in. Curiously subdued, but all with an undrownable sparkle in their eyes, we took our seats slowly, in no hurry...lingering for as long as we could. Many had tissues in hand, at the ready for one of Julia's infamously beautiful and heart-wringing closing speeches.
We weren't disappointed. In fact, most of the closing ceremony went by an emotionally stunned blur! But not this: The unveiling of the total amount raised that weekend: *DRUMROLL* 40,224.06 1/2 Pounds! Then came the snarks for whomever donated the half pence...This enabled the training of two and a half dogs (A RECORD!), while the rest went to Sanctuary for Kids. And then a shock and surprise, the director of HDFDP came forward, and announced that they had decided to donate half of their bucket fundraisings to Sanctuary For Kids! OH THE EMOTION!
And then Julia's speech, by the end, there were many sniffles in the audience, whilst a certain someone beside me had been outright crying since the end of Amanda's last panel. Bless her soul. As the closing ceremony came to an end, Amanda was thanked profusely, whilst she was so overcome by the amount of money raised by such a small group of passionate human beings. As she (tried!) to leave the stage, the uproarious cheers, stamping, as every single person in the room stood in a standing ovation which lasted a good ten minutes. Ten full minutes of deafening cheers. In the end, Amanda had to just leave...and we all traipsed forlornly back out into the lobby.
Some of our brothers and sisters left that very same evening. Goodbyes were the most heart wrenching affair of the entire weekend. Fortunately, for most of us, we still had one more evening and breakfast to spend with this warmest of families. People were loathe to leave the lobby that night. We milled around in our pyjamas until the wee hours, piling in hugs on the couches, the lobby humming with joyful chatter, while others (us!) were engaging in creative affairs with Sanctuary For Kids, a variety of European chocolates, and a handy marble table. It was at this point that Jen and myself sidled up to the luminescent Julia (whom it took a full two hours to leave the lobby at all!), asked her to sign the other half of my S4K hoodie. We thanked her profusely and joined the happily chattering crowd around her, before bestowing on her the last of the caps we had made for the occasion. It reads across the front "ABNORMAL AND PROUD; AT5" accompanied by little yellow nubbin footprints, and across the back "Putting Women and Geeks first Since 2008". A little bird tells us that Julia still has this accessory!
And then it was bed, to little sleep, but much night time conversation until we finally drifted off. Breakfast the next morning was a poignantly sorrowful and businesslike affair. Some goodbyes were said early, people rushing to catch planes and trains, while the rest of us stood with our luggage in the lobby, talking and clinging to each other incessantly, forming human "AT6" monograms on the floor, cameras clicking like crazy. We must have stood there for a good three hours, nobody wanted to leave. The final farewells to dearest sisters, with whom we had shared the most hysterical tears of laughter,....was painful as we sobbed endlessly on each other's shoulders. Middle aged men and women, teenagers, young adults all hugging and kissing, remembering the incredible love and family that we were all so blessed to be a part of.
And then we piled into the car, and drove away...tears streaming down our cheeks, with the faces we loved so well stamped firmly in our mind's eye... but gradually the sadness gave way to heartwarming recollection of the boundless joy, love, solidarity, achievement and incredible dorkiness that was the weekend of AT5. This warmth has reverberated within each of our hearts as we have returned to our everyday lives until the next time we meet. I am sure this is exactly what the incredible human beings at GABIT Events had in mind when they so appropriately named this magical weekend "AT5; Reverberations".
