07:00
Slept for 9 hours last night, and the cold is a bit better. Once I’ve had breakfast, I’ll probably swig a bit more of the Vicks 44D to clear my head. The day before I left for the con, I purchased a nice little flash-based MP3 player, a Samsung YP-U2 2 GB model (link is to the US spec, the foreign spec is a bit different). Tossed about 350 songs on it (and some non-songs like some of Rowan Atkinson’s stories) and put it to one side for the journey. Wednesday morning, while standing in the train station, I patted my pockets, looked in the top compartment of my camera bag, and couldn’t find the blasted thing anywhere. No surprise, I probably left it behind. About 5 hours into my flight, I looked in my shirt pocket (having previously checked the trousers and jacket) and behold, an MP3 player! Now I can’t find it again. I think I may have left it on the sofa downstairs in the hotel lounge, which probably means it’s been nicked. Bugger.

We started the LAN setup last night, which is unheard of for UberCon – we’re normally still setting up the LAN as the doors are opening! So, I give you a pretty picture of the shiny Dell PCs and flatscreens that power our LAN this year. I’ll find out in a short while if the imaging was finished last night after the hockey game or not. If it wasn’t, I’ll have time to slip the EVE client on!

10:00
The EVE client is downloading for addition to the master image, and a bunch of MUD addicts are using the free wireless in the hotel to get online and play. The guy doing the LAN imaging work hasn’t been to sleep yet apparently.

12:00
The sharp, pointy-object vendor is setting up, helpdesk is setting up, and EVE is loaded onto the master image for the gaming machines. Prize closet was set up last night apparently, and I’ve shot a few photos of that too. MUD addicts are still MUDding. The LAN guy still hasn’t slept. Registration is setting up out front, so pre-printed badges should be up and running soon.

15:30
The ballrooms are a small hive of activity. Vendors are busy unpacking their wares, tables are getting labelled for the boardgame folks. The LAN is now getting imaged – lack of a gigabit switch, and the server software refusing to multicast means we’re doing 1 or 2 machines at a time, for a 60 GB image (and I don’t think he’s slept yet). The folks who are meant to be running the tournaments haven’t showed up yet. My badge says staff, which is bad I think. Oh well, at least I can take photos. We’re definitely more organised than previous cons, even if the two folks who know about everything that should be happening were both asleep at the same time.

17:30
Just finished a game of Settlers of Catan – lost quite badly. More people showing up, but early Friday is always a quiet time.

Time for bed.