BRIGHTON, UK

I'm not kidding.  This trip went so quick, I barely remember it.  Wait.  I do remember it.

HISTORY:

So last year we'd talked about me going to an event, but I couldn't get my new passport in order and missed out.  When time came round this year to talk about who would be going, my name came up.  I just HAPPENED to have my brand spanking new Canadian Passport at the ready so when I was asked if I wanted to go, I said, "When do I leave??"

Ironically, the answer was:  in about 2 weeks.

THE TRIP:

I was really excited and very nervous about traveling to Europe on my own.  Yes, I'd done it before back in 1999, but I was scared then, too!  I pretty much left my packing to the night before, as I always do, and didn't sleep a wink.  Big shock.  I went to work for a few hours because my flight was later in the day.  Did I get anything done?  Not really.  :)   I did get a bunch of requests from work friends about what to grab them while I was there. 

The flight was 11 hours of sitting next to the bathroom, hence, long lines and odd looks.  It's amazing just how many people look like they're up to no good when they're going to the washroom.  Especially a couple of younger teenagers!  I got my eye on you!!

I was a BIT smarter this time around.  I brought ear plugs, eye cover, and a nice pillow.  It didn't work, but at least I was prepared.  I barely slept.  I did, however, take full advantage of the drink service and meals.  Some slept.  I said, "Bring it on!".  No, not alcoholic!  Just the regular stuff.

Oh!  And by the way, I was very prepared.  They'd just put some crazy bans on liquids going into Europe, which I happened to read up on, before I left.  So I didn't have to pour out water or shampoo or anything like that.  I crammed everything in my suitcase and took the bare essentials onto the flight.  Many many magazines.  US Weekly, In Touch, Cosmopolitan -- I was PREPARED.  After I read them all, before we left, the airport, I even gave them away.

So back to the flight.  It was long and boring and hot and I ached and moaned the whole time.  And didn't sleep well.  I was too excited and so so so so so nervous because I knew I'd be doing interviews the next day.  How crazy scary is that?!  Freaking crazy scary thank you very much.

BRIGHTON - DAY ONE:

So basically, I left on Thursday evening and arrived in Brighton on Friday afternoon.  Yes, it was all weird and time-zone changey.  I COULD have opted to sleep, but decided to bite the bullet and stay awake.  When the plane landed at London, Heathrow and I had an NCSoft employee, Andy Butcher, pick me up.  I didn't have him pick me up.  His boss probably had him pick me up.  But I was really grateful because it's a heck of a long walk from London to Brighton.  After a few hours of taxi driving and getting to know each other, Andy dropped me off at my hotel, The De Vere Grand, Brighton's ONLY five-star hotel!  I'm like...hello...ROCK STAR!  I barely had time to drop off my bags, splash some water on my face, and take a quick pee, before I had to run back downstairs.  I was going to get a tour of the NCSoft Europe office!

Okay, that's not super exciting sounding, but it was quite cool for me.  I walked in and it was busy with people working on the various NCSoft projects.  All heads turned when I entered the room and mine did, too.  I thought maybe someone famous had come in the door.  But it was me!  I was the first Cryptic Studios game developer to go to Brighton and meet the players so this was a pretty big deal, apparently.  Everyone was really nice and so friendly.

After the tour, the guys at NCSoft wanted to take me out to dinner, so we walked back to the hotel (which was mere BLOCKS from the office, by the way) and I had some time to get ready.  Later that evening, I was picked up and we headed over to this wonderful restaurant (with cigar bar!) that I cannot remember the name of, but it was so swank there were no prices on the menu!

Champagne started flowing, we all started talking, and I had a fantastic time.  I have never felt so royally taken care of.  I mean, this did not compute.  I sound like a suck-up, but to be honest, it was so humbling that they would put so much time and effort into me.  So we ate, drank, and yapped for a goodly long time.  I sat next to a beautiful Amazon named Tia.  Okay, she wasn't amazon, but she was super tall and exotic looking.  I WISH I were half as twice as tall as she was.  She was from someplace exotic like the Caribbean.  So after we were done, I headed back to the hotel, exhausted.

I noticed the incredibly SWEET looking footed bathtub and said, "YES I WILL, thankyouverymuch."   I filled it with hot water, soaked, and read a book until I pruned up like a California raisin.  It was great.  I figured the warm water would put me out like a light.  I was wrong, of course. I was too nervous about the interviews the next day.  I tossed and turned most of the night.

BRIGHTON - PLAYER MEET

I was up bright and early and got ready for the player meet.  NCSoft created special t-shirts for NCSoft and myself.  Mine, of course, said "War Witch" on it.  Andy showed up with his "cameraman" who filmed me coming out of the hotel (and for most of the day, actually).  It was unnerving to say the least. We hopped a taxi to Gamer Heaven where players had already gathered and were playing the game on the various PC stations.  NCSoft had rented out the internet cafe for the entire day.  So it was alllll ours!

At first, I have to say, I was pretty nervous.  They introduced me and I kind of went, "Huh...so what do I do now?"  I looked around and saw people playing the game, my game, and so I just started talking to whomever would listen.  I met a bunch of cool fans and even got to sign some mouse pads, posters, and one guy's belly.  (My first belly autograph!)

I did a few interviews, one for Boomtown, one videotaped for OnlineWelten, and one for Evolution Radio.  Considering I've never done a live interview in my LIFE, this was a new experience.  I mean...way new experience.  But it was all good.  I had a great time doing all of them.

After we did the interviews, I got to play some Guitar Hero with the players and showed my true skill...in the arena of console Guitar!  No, really, I kicked butt.  Sort of.  A little.  Somewhat.

After that, we did some auctions and then I did some more autographs and chatting with players.  Then we headed over to the pub (you can't go to the UK and not go to a pub) to play some video trivia.  MY FAVOURITE thing in the world!  Trivia.  I did pretty well, too.  Ask anyone.  Ask anyone who remembers, anyway.  Then around 11 or so I was ready for BED.  I had to get up at 7 a.m. for the nice drive back to Heathrow and a long flight!  I didn't sleep super great because I was so buzzed from all of the excitement, but I did sleep better than the night before.

TRIP HOME:

Remember the whole whirlwind part?  That's where this comes in.  Friday - arrive, Saturday - player meet,  Sunday - fly home.  Yes, it was THAT quick.  I got up early and had breakfast buffet in the dining area, which was quite nice.  I was very careful to ensure that my table manners were quite good (except the part when I went to pick up my own jam, apparently, they bring it to you.  Oops!)  I did have a REALLY good cup of tea, though.  It's been a while!  After that, I counted the minutes until my taxi arrived, and stared out the window at the beautiful countryside I never really got a chance to see while I was there.  It was truly spectacular.  I really wished I'd had more time to sight-see.  Ah well.  Maybe they'll invite me back.  I hope so.

I got to the airport early.  REALLY early.  So I wandered around and tried to spend the rest of my Pounds before heading back to the States.  Then I found a Pret a Manger, had a semi-not-great sandwich and wandered around the airport some more.  To be honest, it was a breeze getting through customs.  No long waits and, again, I was well prepared.  I got a nice stamp in my passport, too!

The flight was better.  It must have been.  I barely remember it.  I slept, I think.  I watched some tv.  I read.  I had a nice bulkhead seat so lots and lots of leg room.  I got home, Nellie picked me up at the airport, and I came home and slept.

I would have loved to have stayed longer, that's for sure.  I'm sure Brighton had some great shops.

Number of people actually glad to meet Melissa "War Witch" Bianco: