Jun 282009
By Joe Douglas
Thus the weekend has passed. I feel more tired than I remember feeling in recent times, but it was all worth it. The Meet Up was quite a success, as I’m sure everyone who attended will agree. It was wonderful to finally be able to put faces to forum names and, due to our pre-existing relationship via the forums, it wasn’t long before we where all talking, chatting and having a very merry time.
The Meet Up
I must admit that I was a little worried that come 1pm on the Saturday that I’d be standing alone in the meeting place. But no, there where nine of us all up (eight including myself), some of whom where regular CC form-ers, some who had only posted a little and some who just checked out the site.
We all met outside the con doors as pre-arranged. We stood and chatted for a little while before heading off for lunch. Once all the consumables where purchased we sneakily stole a table and chairs that some silly person had left unguarded and set up camp. We ate, talked and generally made merry. Conversation of course revolved around the Phantom, from collecting to selling; little gems we’ve found throughout the years, funny stories, weird stories and even tales of antics that happened on the forums. Everyone was relaxed and chatting like old friends.
After we’d eaten we returned to the con. We had planned to all go our separate ways and check out that which we wanted to, but somehow we all managed to migrate to Nigel Johnson’s Collectormania stall and pour through the many boxes of Phantom back issues and collectibles. We also tried to convince each other into buying a high-grade copy of Frew Phantom #1 that was going for a measly $70,000.
Eventually we pulled away from the comics for long enough to say our goodbyes, however we where to meet up later that night at the Lee Falk Bengalla Explorer’s Club’s 21st dinner.
I think it’s pretty safe to declare our first ChronicleChamber.com Meet-Up a success. Everyone had a great time, contacts and friendships where forged and everyone said that they were looking forward to the next one. I want to thank everyone who came. It was brilliant to meet fellow Phans face-to-face finally. A big “thank you” also has to be given to Geaghs for initially suggesting the idea of a Meet Up. Plans are already being made for next year’s Meet Up, so I hope that everyone who came this year can return, and those of you who didn’t make it this year will be able to join up in 2010!
If you’d like to see photos from the Meet Up you can do so on the forums HERE, or in our Facebook and MySpace galleries. If anyone has any photos they’d like to submit for inclusion please e-mail them to me.
The Dinner.
The 21st dinner of the Lee Falk Memorial Bengalla Explorers Club was the first for a number of us at the Meet-Up. To say it was an amazing night is to fall far short of the mark. Although it was my first dinner everyone there was very friendly and introduced themselves. Richard, the man behind the dinners, was extremely accommodating to this newbie who, at times, probably looked a little lost.
Many more friends were made, and everyone from the Meet Up who was there had a brilliant time, as I’m sure did everyone else. More friends where made, and the chance to meet a personal hero in the form of Glen Ford was amazing. (Actually, I’ve met him previously at a few cons and he remembered me, which I was quite chuffed about!)
It did my little geek heart no end of good to be sitting in the same room as Dave Gibbons, the artist behind the Watchmen comics. Dave’s speech, although short, was very interesting. He talked about his relationship with the Phantom, however small, and his experience of working on the Watchmen books. Meeting him at the end of the night was a personal highlight for me.
The auctions where absolutely crazy. I’ve never seen people throw that kind of money around. The three original pieces Dave did of the Phantom with a character from Watchmen (Rorschach, Comedian and the original Night Own) went for an absolute mint, as they should. Much money was raised for the Children’s Hospital. Forum member Geaghs even managed to snare a few things, the lucky sod.
A wonderful night was had by all at the dinner, and much respect has to be given to Richard for organizing the night. I’ve wanted to go to one of the LFMBEC dinners for a long time and I’m very glad I did so Saturday night. It was brilliant and I can not wait for the next dinner. Maybe this time I’ll actually win an auction.
Cheers.