Monday, 05:16 pm, 04 October 2004

My wife and I have just returned from Birmingham. Because we were there yesterday, we both took today off. Our weekly grocery delivery featured four large bags of onions rather than four onions. So I have been making my famous French Onion Soup and grilled onions whilst downloading photos and archiving the log so I can chronicle...

Games Day UK 2004

Reflecting on the day, I haven't had such fun since my wedding. It's hard to describe the space and the number of people at Games Day UK. I am sure it is the largest miniature related games gathering in the world. I'm not sure what I expected, but upon entering the National Indoor Arena, in Birmingham, I was confronted with this.

In fact this collage of images doesn't show the number of people in the seats and the number of people looking at the Golden Demon entries in the bunker below. The event was held in a space which was big and relatively inhospitable. The seating was virtually vertical at the top.

I started by walking the whole floorspace. Just to get a sense of the area and the people. The tables were generally smaller than expected. But there were still a few big tables with some amazing layouts. Not a lot of people were smiling - too intently engaged, I guess. I saw Fred Reed's table and the man himself deeply engaged in the game. Surrounded by kids rolling dice, I thought I would return when Fred was free.

Having circled the floor I ended up at the Game Club Network booth where I agreed to meet multiple Golden Demon and occasional Slayer Sword winner, Chris Blair. Although we hadn't arranged a time to meet, on cue, I saw Chris. Chris has quite a fan following and as we were chatting, a group of three circled Chris for painting advice and autographs.

I spent about two hours chatting and hanging out with Chris and his friends. He's a very cordial fellow and it was great to have a tour of the floor and Demon entry area. The Demon entry area was in a bunker about three storeys down. The movement from the games on the arena floor and the bunker area where the Demon entries were held was quite alien. I was able to take a photo of half the Demon entry area.

Whilst we wandered through, Chris found out he had won two statues from four entries. His Warhammer 40k figure was stunning and it didn't place. Although the winner was well disserving, I though Chris' figure was clearly ahead of the other two placers.

Making our way out of the Demon bunker, Chris spotted Fred's table. 'Do you want a big introduction?' Chris turned to me. I laughed and said 'Why not!'

It was great to meet Fred. We didn't talk for long initially, he had to get back to the game. But short into the conversation, Gav Thorpe, of the Games Workshop studio spotted Fred free and joined in on the conversation. Gav has been a part of the studio for at least a decade and he talked warmly with Fred about old friends. Gav shook both our hands and Fred returned to his game.

About three and a half hours of my time at Games Day had elapsed and aside from a small bowl of cereal for breakfast (six hours prior), I hadn't had anything to eat. Time to explore convention food. I had a hot dog and a bucket of diet coke. I walked up to the top of the arena - the only place with a free seat - looked down on the floor. It was still throbbing with people. The floor was progressively darkening for the final awards.

I walked down to the floor and watched the awards. Chris walked away with a Golden Demon and a Bronze Demon. A good show for Chris. After the awards, a number of banners took up over the arena and all the people taking buses proceeded to the arena floor. A figure case, a box and my jacket were under Fred's table and I couldn't find anything. I was stuck on the arena surrounded by thousands of folks all trying to get home.

This process seemed really alien to me and I could imagine it would be quite terrifying for a small child who couldn't see above the bodies. Finally after pushing through the crowds for about twenty minutes, I saw Fred lying down on his table.

Free from the game, Fred and I shot the breeze for about twenty minutes. Chris Blair had been through just before me and asked Fred to see if I would stay around until Chris emerged from the Demon bunker. I knew my wife wanted a buddy snap of Fred and me, so one of Fred's friends snapped this shot. It captures the end of a long day.

Fred commented that the average age of the show was much higher than previous years. I mentioned that I had been warned about the screaming children and the smell, and neither had been evident at Games Day. Chris hadn't emerged and both Fred and I were exhausted. So I bid him farewell and returned to the hotel.

It was great to meet Fred and Chris, and their collective friends and experience Games Day. As I type my wife has stood over me. Paraphrasing the Log in a child's voice;

'I went to Games Day. It was fun. I met some people and made new friends.'

Very true. Good night.

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