Country boys and girls

I’m not sure how a weekend where the 3 main feelings were stress, exhaustion and guilt can be classed as a good weekend, but it somehow was. I am, of course, talking about the Bookcrossing UK Unconvention, that one weekend that has given me stress for the past few months.

On Friday morning, I left Newcastle for the not-so-sunny shores of Brighton. A weekend on the coast in the rain could be horrible, but, along with 2 others, I’d been tasked with making it fantastic. I think we did a damn good job. I arrived in Brighton mid afternoon and first stop, with luggage in tow, was Joogleberry Playhouse, our venue for the meet the next day. It was the first time any of the committee had seen it in person and I think we did a good job booking blind. The ground floor was a cafe area and this was where the table of books would be, along with the majority of chatting and bookswapping. Downstairs, the theatre area would house our author talks and writer’s workshop as well as our tombola and raffle prizes. I came away much happier about the next day. I spent Friday afternoon stuffing goody bags with the books I’d bought people and watching Wimbledon before heading out for dinner with my fellow committee members (Julie and OD’s very own Alison/sapphire) as well as Julie’s husband, Alison’s mum and the CEO of bookcrossing, the (rather gorgeous) Scott, who’d flown over from America for the weekend. There was much talk, laughter and food. During the meal, I got a phone call from Sally, our MIA 4th committee member, who no-one had spoken to for 6 months. She was apologetic and promised to be our slave for the weekend to make up for it. I was amazed to hear from her but glad that she did come over and help out for the weekend in the end.

Saturday dawned wet and cloudy and I lay in bed chatting to my room mate for the weekend, Aly, until 8:15 when I realised I needed to get up, shower and pack everything for the day by 9am, so no time for breakfast! I was picked up and we headed to the venue and our band of willing helpers who helped sticker up tombola prizes, stuff goodie bags and generally make sure everything was ready. People started arriving around 10ish and the day passed in a bit of a blur. Scott gave a brief bookcrossing talk (and then spent most of the day being bombarded with complaints and questions from people), 3 authors (Christine Coleman, Sue Moorcroft and Linda Gillard) gave up their time to do some talks for people and Linda also did a writer’s workshop. Books were swapped, new friends were made and old friends caught up. All the worry of the previous 12 months disappeared. All you really need for a successful Unconvention is books and bookcrossers, they do the rest themselves.

With the day over and the books packed away, I dragged Aly away from Doctor Who (to be fair, 2 of her relatives were taping it for her) and hungry bookcrossers descended on Brighton. After dinner with Alison, Sally, Linda, Rose & 2 Australian bookcrossers Graham & his wife Catriona, I took part in my first bookswap (I could get seriously addicted) before going back to our hotel just before midnight.

On Sunday, despite the rain and wind, we scattered books around Brighton on a release walk led by a local bookcrosser, one of the highlights of which was Scott trying to get a vicar to join bookcrossing. After cake for lunch, I went back to Brighton station and began my 5 hour journey home to Duncan and Zoe.

And how were Duncan and Zoe this weekend? Zoe was under the weather from Friday afternoon until late last night, not definably sick but quiet, clingy and sleepy as well as off her food. But the smile on her face when she saw me peering over her cot was gorgeous and this morning she was feeling much better, thankfully.

I absolutely swore never again (except if it came to Newcastle) on Saturday night but was then asked to help out with London 2008 and the official Bookcrossing International convention taking place. We shall see. Behind the scenes work, I could do, but nothing on the day. For the second year running, I’ve taken no photos and barely chatted to anyone because I spent most of the time running around.

Until there is a next time…