Convention over, all go home now.

The morning began with a couple of excellent panels. James Allen presented a moving tribute to the enormously talented Ian Gunn who died 10 years ago. I still miss his friendliness and good humor. I’m sure all of Australian fandom does too. That was followed by Trudi Canavan’s chocolate panel in which we learned the the “food of the gods” is poisonous to all mammals except humans and guinea pigs. Scarily this could mean that guinea pigs are the second most evolved species on the planet.

Inspired by Trudi, I went to Haigh’s to buy some souvenirs for friends and family. (Oh, and for me too.)

The afternoon saw Sean Williams read from a thriller he is working on. It sounds a lot of fun. I bagged interviews with Sean, Julie Czerneda and a couple of guys with a very interesting book. I’m hoping to get all of the video online at the weekend.

All too soon it was closing ceremonies time. It was rather neat to see people saying goodbye in the bar afterward and calling “see you in Montreal” as they left. At Sean’s recommendation I went off to a very nice Thai restaurant called Nu with Donna Hanson and Jenny & Russell Blackford. A great meal was had by all. Then it rained. Not Melbourne rain; Sydney or Brisbane rain. (Or possibly, given what we had just done, Bangkok rain.)

There were more hugs, more “see you in Montreal” farewells. I, however, have Bristol and Helsinki to do first. And I have con reports to write. Sleep would be good too. G’night.