(no subject)

[vyvyanx]

Went to Eastercon over the weekend. It was pretty good; I saw Harry Harrison again, chatted to him a bit, and he bought me and G drinks, which was nice. Various panel items, various people seen who I only see at cons. Chatted to very elderly man with loose teeth who went to his first convention in 1957, which is pretty good going. B&B was pleasant too, though I can't say I thought much of the atmosphere in Blackpool - very intimidating people wandering about in gangs, yelling abuse etc. I don't think they were locals - apparently many people come into Blackpool from outside, in order to pick fights. The Winter Gardens are a surreal place, though - mishmash of about a dozen architectural styles from the last couple of centuries, music hall posters (advertising George Formby retrospectives, of all things!), haze of three or four different kinds of music emanating from under-soundproofed rooms and creating a Merzbowish effect...

Anyway, back now. Overwhelmed with marking. Very stressed. Have also been told that my job at the Judge will terminate next month - the person whose maternity leave I was notionally covering (and who I was given to believe would almost certainly not return, leading to me becoming permanent) has decided to come back after all. Feel bitter even though everyone's within their rights to do what they've done, and I haven't really been wronged by anyone. Everything just seems so impermanent. This laene lif on lande.