Botcon 2009

[Deleted]

What an interesting day you had over there Nick! That kind of service would have probably driven me nuts.

[Bogatan]

I'd certainly consider a letter to US Airways. Sending you repeatedly to a flight they havent even checked for room is crazy. Certainly the worst treatment I've heard of from them beside what the 74 year old gay guy told is in borders while you were still sat at LAX. But he was crazy.

Glad to say our return was much more straight forward. 24 hours after waking up in Long Beach we arrived home. Should have tried to get some sleep on the plane but instead watched Watchmen, Man on Wire and Race to Witch Mountain.

Only real problem was finding my Masterpiece Grimlock box a little crushed from the flight. Not terrible or anything but the front was signed by Greg Berger and thats the bit that took the hit.
Couple of animated boxes, TF Mickey and the TFCON Powered Convoy also suffered minor dents or dings.

Andy

[Bogatan]

Oh slightly less fun, I lost some of my hearing in my right ear while landing so called NHS direct and mentioned coming down with "flu like symptons" towards the end of the holiday so I've been recommended to go get a swab taken at doctors just to rule out swine flu.

Andy

[blueshift]

The only advice I have ever got from NHS Direct is 'go see a doctor'.

[The Doctor]

I remember the fun time I had in the early hours a few years ago when I so bent over with pain I was unable to stand. NHS24 told me to go to hospital. It was a struggle to be able to tell them I couldn't walk to the door. Luckily, my father was able to come get me to take me to A&E. It was a nasty bout of food poisoning that laid me up for a few days. Not fun! I've never ate at Burger King since.

-Ralph

[kayevcee]

Actually Andy, I'm considering sending both BA and US Airways a letter each saying that by 2009 they really should have compatible booking systems, especially if they have similar routes out of the same airport and may want to transfer passengers.

I had a bit of a sniffle upon leaving but I'm relieved to say it's gone away now. I hope your symptoms do the same and our respective illnesses are a combined result of vitamin deficiency and toxic concentrations of barbecue sauce!

-Nick

[Jaymz]

Here's some lovely photos from Botcon for your amusement, click on them to make them bigger:


James O dressing up for Botcon


Original unreleased Unicron toy on display at the Hasbro booth


Myself and Stan Bush


Vince DiCola is a rather short man



Alan with Vince and Stan. Vince looks particularly crazy in that pic.



Alan and myself with Optimus Prime movie truck which was taking up a lot of space in the dealer room


James O playing around with his buddy Optimus Prime


James O running into battle alongside Optimus Prime


Nick taking a leisurely stroll alongside Optimus Prime


Marc and Alan with Optimus Prime and Bumblebee


James O trying to get away from a tiny Megan Fox


Nick, James O and Marc in the hotel bar


James O watching Marc drink some alcohol in the bar


While queuing to get Weird Al's autograph, an Arcee cosplayer wandered down the line seeking attention from girl-starved convention goers



Myself and Alan meeting Weird Al


IDW Panel, Nick Roche is up there


James O and Marc in the panel room, you can just about see Nick hidden behind James O


Proof that Nick eats


Hasbro panel guys


James O with Triggerhappy sketch by Nick Roche


Crasher sketch by Derrick Wyatt. The guy who owned this sketch was getting various Gobot sketches done by artists around the convention, and I liked the look of this one. He also got Nick Roche to draw a Baron Von Joy


Original cartoon writers Panel. My favourite panel of the show, these guys were funny and interesting


James O taking a photo of Alan playing with his Masterpiece Starscream while Marc, Gareth, Anthony and Nick look on


Anthony showing off his signed Stan Bush picture


left to right: Matt, Marc, Andy, Nick, Andy, Anthony


Marc and Nick, waiting for Andy, Matt and Andy


James O, some fella whose name I don't know and Marc having a chat before Marc gets drunk


Nick, Matt, Andy, Andy and Alan standing about looking like a bunch of cool guys


James O trying to get Marc to use his "inside voice" in the hotel bar


Andy and James O trying to get Marc to quiet down in the bar, I think Matt took some videos. Also, Nick glowing.


Marc still being drunk


Botcon haul. Didn't get too much, the most interesting thing being a boxed Japanese Micromaster base Landshaker. The dealer had Skyhyper too, but someone had already reserved it



Grimlock model sheet signed by Gregg Berger and an IDW Blurr sketch by Casey Coller


Sketches by Nick Roche: Bludgeon, Thunderwing and Bomb-Burst. Thanks Nick!


And this is Octopunch by Staz, which I got at last year's Auto Assembly. That's the reason I'm now after Decepticon Pretender sketches, the designs are great!

[The Doctor]

Nice pics!

I had no idea Nick had glowing power.

-Ralph

[Bogatan]

The video is quite entertaining, but I don't think they captured Nick glowing.

The sketches make me regret not getting some myself.

Nice photos.

Andy

[KoshNaranek]

Oooohhh! I wanna see the video!

- Tony

[The Doctor]

Nick has a few vids. Lots of queues!

-Ralph