It’s been a long time since I first saw the Stargate movie when it first came out in cinemas way back in 1994. But I remember it as if it were yesterday. I loved everything about it: the concept, the music, the special effects – everything. So you can understand I was rather glad when the TV series Stargate SG-1 was announced.
Others weren’t so glad, but I’ve already covered that in another post.
So what better way to start exploring the sci-fi convention scene than a weekend spent at Heathrow’s Radisson BLU Edwardian with fellow Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis fans chewing the fat over the Stargate universe and meeting some of the cast members of both shows.
This year we have:
Joe Flanigan – Lt. Colonel John Sheppard
Rachel Luttrell – Telya Emmagan
Alex Zaraha – numerous roles, mainly under prosthetic make-up, including Warrick Finn from the episode “Space Race”
Patrick Currie – Fifth (a human replicator) and Chaka, a Unas
Robert Duncan – Seth (a Goa’uld) and Daniel Jackson’s father
Sharon Taylor – Amelia Banks, technician for the Atlantis expedition
Simone Bailey – Ka’lel, a (female) Jaffa warrior
Some good guests there, I’m sure you’ll agree (well, assuming you know your Stargate).
Having recently re-watched seasons 1 – 10 of Stargate SG-1 and seasons 1 – 5 of Stargate Atlantis courtesy of Amazon’s Prime Instant Video, I’m ready to hear their stories and get my photo taken with them all as part of the package I’ve purchased for the weekend.
I travelled down to the Radisson BLU Edwardian yesterday to have a day to get ready and to relax a bit before all hell breaks loose on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Getting there was relatively smooth and trouble free. Took the National Express to Terminal 5 and changed onto the Hoppa which got me to the hotel quickly and directly.
Waiting for the H35 Hoppa to take me directly to the hotel
The room isn’t bad at all. It’s certainly a lot better than what I had back in York back in January. Okay, the view isn’t great, but I’m not here to stare out the window all day.
So after settling in, I had a walkabout. Directly next door is a 24/7 McDonalds. So I went there for lunch. I came back to the room, watched a bit of TV and went down to the Trunk restaurant and bar for dinner.
I am not a small bloke by any means. But the Trunk’s chairs are designed for people with far shorter legs than myself. It was like taking tea at a doll’s dinner party. The table seemed to be too high for my liking. The whole feeling I got from eating at Trunk was that I was a child. A child eating hoisin duck rolls, followed by a pork belly and mash and all washed down by a pint of Grolsh. The food was delicious, however, and the service quick and efficient. I just wish they’d use proper sized chairs. Similar problems with breakfast this morning, but that’ll be covered in the next blog entry.
After a satisfying meal, I went back to the room and crashed. But not before attempting to watch the abomination that is Son of The Mask on Sky Go Extra which I downloaded before I came. It really is an appalling film.
Speaking of internet – I’m quite impressed with the Radisson’s free wi-fi. Max rate appears to be 5Mbs down, 2Mbs up. Certainly one can stream TV and movies from Netflix and the ilk without hassle.
Tomorrow’s exciting installment: Day 1 – Breakfast, registration and opening ceremony. Oh my.
