Like many other people I was ready to book at 12.00 However the slight delay in the memberships going live ran me into 12.30...
This is the time that I speak to my wife and stepdaughter on facebook. It's a sacred time for me, and I try never to miss it. It's a bit like Sam reading to young Sam.
After I and my wife had our daily chat, I went back to the con site and started to book my membership, and turned to the room options. No Singles...
I freaked bigtime... I gibbered and frothed... I spoke loudly and in strange tongues... I really wasn't a good person to be around for five minutes or so.
It seemed that my hopes of attending the con were dashed.
Sharing a room wasn't an option for me as I simply don't get any sleep in a room with a stranger.
As a trader I need to be there from Thursday night to Tuesday morning...
Five nights at £109 per night was too much for me, especially as I'd have wound up sharing to bring the room occupancy up to capacity... (and then not got any sleep anyway).
As a Trader, it seemed vital to stay in the convention hotel as I don't drive or own a vehicle... I have to drag my stall, stock and costumes to the event by public transport, and by taxis where Public transport is unavailable.
Even if it were possible for me to drag my tent and camping essentials along with my stall and costumes, (and it isn't... the tent is too heavy) It has a footprint of 5 m by 3 m, and wouldn't quite fit in a single camping space... another world of proverbial pain...
I was in a considerable degree of despair, (with a modicum of self directed fury, as I knew it was entirely my fault for missing the single rooms).
To others who find yourselves in this situation I feel your pain and unhappiness, And I hope that you can find a way to attend. I look forward to the pleasure of your company!
Alas I was still on facebook at the time, and made my disappointment known to all concerned. I made a couple of very stressed posts which I now regret. I did apologise, but I'll do so again here... I'm very sorry. I shouldn't be allowed near a computer when I'm that grumpy!
Alas for the instant transmission of social media, (Except for when I'm talking to my wife in Thailand, when I couldn't do without it!).
It's a good thing that I stayed on line as a very kind soul tipped me off about the Ramada... One hasty phone call later and I had booked a single (including breakfast

) for only £55.00 a night and got a booking number. Their reception staff, a guy called Daniel couldn't have been more helpful or efficient. The whole convention had suddenly become affordable again.
It's only 10 minutes away, and just round the corner, over the bridge. I'm sure that if I can lug all my kit up from London another 10 minutes won't kill me... I will be optimistic about this...

I'm very glad that I sorted out my room in time to get back onto the convention website and book my membership. I fully understand that other people who couldn't be on line at 12.00 are feeling cross. Perhaps at the very least people who have real mobility issues and no personal transport, (not me I hasten to add), ought in a perfect world to have first call on suitable rooms at the con hotel, and I understand that the Simon is trying to sort this out. I know that he and the rest of the team won't rest until they have tried every combination possible to fit the most needy people in.
I understand that the Ramada isn't yet fully occupied, and there's no requirement to share a room there if you can afford not to. Edit: Now also full I believe.
Best of luck everyone!
I can only conclude that I'm paying off Karma at a vastly accelerated rate.
Susan Ivanova. Babylon 5