I have just booked a whole bunch of flights. The net result of this is that I shall be able to attend Conscription in Auckland and Conjecture in Adelaide. I hasten to add that this is being done to a large extent using the vast stock of QANTAS points I accumulated ages ago. I’m also getting help with the accommodation in New Zealand, but I’d be very grateful for a room share in Adelaide. In addition I have a couple of overnight stops elsewhere in Australia that I’d rather not have to be in hotels. Here’s the itinerary:

• May 28th – arrive very early and overnight in Melbourne
• May 29th – June 2nd – Auckland
• June 2nd – June 4th – Wellington
• June 4th – overnight in Sydney
• June 5th – June 9th – Adelaide
• June 9th – overnight in Melbourne

Obviously I intend to report on both conventions, and if I can get wi-fi that will include live coverage of the Sir Julius Vogel Awards and the Ditmar Awards. I’m also hoping to shoot some video of the new convention facilities in Melbourne that I talked to Stephen Boucher about in Denver. And I expect I’ll talk quite a lot about fandom in Australia and New Zealand, and what people can expect when they visit in 2010.

I should also add that the trip is in part on business, but that part of it is still a sekrit projekt so you’ll have to wait a bit for the explanation as to what that’s all about.

Sadly while I’m in New Zealand the Hurricanes are touring South Africa, but I notice that Auckland have a home game on the evening of May 29th. Hmm…

And I’ll be in Australia for the start of the Twenty20 World Cup. That’s taking place in England, of course, but that won’t stop the Aussies from having a good laugh at my expense.