[SKRIVA] Mission: Finncon (IV)

This will be my fourth and final Finncon report. It's now monday and the con is 
over (which didn't stop me from meeting some fans as I walked the streets of 
beautiful Tampere; I bumped in to the guys from Turku and Mike and his wife, 
who had the Worldcon info table).
  Yesterday we had the grand finale, where everyone thanked the committee and 
the guests of honour. They did a good job! The mail auditorium was packed with 
people (it is said to be able to take ca 1700 seated). I was also given an 
opportunity to say a few words about next Baltcon  (which is in S:t Petersburg, 
Russia, early May 2009). This con probably had something like 5000 attendees 
(though a lot of them were cosplaying young girls, since Finncon was combined 
with Animecon). The only problem has been getting an Internet connection. I had 
to spend quite some time walking around on town finding open networks. Not that 
I mind walking around in Tampere - it's a very nice city. And I'm not saying 
this just to be polite. And the Tampere fans have also been very nice and 
helpful. Don't believe in those cliches you hear about Finns (like Finns being 
silent and introvert). Finns are open-minded, warm and friendly; and that's a 
fact.
  Spent some time on the grass outside the Tampere Hall (where the con was) 
speaking to Chris and Rogere from the UK. I urged them not to miss the Dead Dog 
Party, but somehow they disappeared and never went there. A pity, because the 
Dead Dog parties of Finncon are legendary!
  But it took some organising to get there, because the party was in a big 
house in the woods, some 30 km from Tampere. The committee organised a whole 
caravan of cars transporting people. The house was near a wonderful little lake 
- and of course there was a sauna there. This is after all Finland. No Finn 
feels like a whole person without an occassional visit to the sauna. The sauna 
was hot and packed with people, and afterwards many (me included) took a little 
swim in the lake. And the name of the place? Nokia. Yes, this was around the 
little town of Nokia (which is where the phone company got its name). Sauna and 
Nokia - it can't be more Finnish than that!
  In the house there was bheer and hot dogs and other food stuff. Someone had 
even brought along som whisky. It was very nice. I remember talking a lot to M 
John Harrison, covering subjects like Tom Disch (who Mr Harrison knew well), 
the 1960's swinging London and the New Wave. A nice chat and a nice chap.
  The only sad thing was that the party had to end around 12 o'clock (the 
committee hadn't rented the house for longer than that). But it was a nice 
party as long as it lasted. I had a great time. Some of the Tampere people 
helped me with getting a ride back, and even organised a place to stay (a guest 
apartment, I got the impression that someone from the con lived nearby and 
could use this apartment). I had a good and very long night of sleep. I saw 
some more of Tampere (and bumped into fans) and then took the bus to Turku (I'm 
writing this on the buss). My ferry back to Stockholm leaves early on Tuesday. 
I havew no particular plans for what do do (but I have some books to read, I 
have the computer and I can always find me some bheer).
  Finland should do a Worldcon. Finncon is almost like a worldcon.
  And the weather has been superb!

--Ahrvid

-----
SKRIVA - sf, fantasy och skräck  *  Äldsta svenska skrivarlistan
grundad 1997 * Info http://www.skriva.bravewriting.com eller skriva- 
request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx för listkommandon (ex subject: subscribe).

Other related posts: