L Word Covention, Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool, 14-16 November 2008

--Karang

We arrived at the Norbreck Castle to register on 13 November. At this point we had to book and pay for any photographs we wanted with the stars and any extra pictures we wanted to have autographed. I chose to book for a picture with Laurel Holloman and Jennifer Beals at 10:30am the following morning. I also bought two pictures Jennifer and Bette together from the first season to have autographed.

Angela had suggested we go to the convention as a present to me for my birthday even though she doesn’t watch the programme. She knows how much I enjoy it and although she came with me she stayed in the background.

On Friday the first event was the welcome at 7:00pm. People wandered in and sat around the round tables. At our table were a lovely couple called Marg and Chris from Stafford, about 120 miles south of Blackpool. By the end of the evening we agreed to meet the following day.

At 9:00pm the stars from the show started to appeared one at a time on the stage to introduce themselves. Jennifer came on stage and the place went mad. There was a mad rush for the space in front of the stage to take her picture. The noise was deafening when she took to the stage as it was for Laurel. She looked visibly shocked at her reception but she bravely smiled, said a few words and left the stage.

The following morning we arrived at the Norbreck at 9:30am to find out where the photographs were being taken. It was like disorganised chaos. Where I work we organise the annual degree awarding graduation ceremonies for 3,500 students and we could have done a better job. When we picked up our registration the night before everyone should have been given a map to the ground floor of the hotel as it is very big and at one point no one seemed to know what was going on where.

Finally, someone decided to sort out the groups for photographs. People were called in the groups A, B, C etc which was on the ticket we had purchased the night before when booking for the pictures. Eventually, after waiting over an hour it was my groups turn to queue up. We formed a orderly queue and it was like a conveyor belt - next was called and you sat on a seat between Jennifer and Laurel (no touching allowed) had your picture taken and they didn’t speak to you. I was disappointed that they didn’t want to talk to people. Jennifer looked smart in her blue trousers and top and Laurel looked scruffy. One girl in front of me in the queue for her photograph was dressed like Laurel. Apparently, Rachel Shelley was really chatty with people when they had their photograph taken with her and she commented during her question and answer session about how much she enjoyed hearing people's stories. After I had had my picture taken it felt flat.

While we were walking about we met Mary from New York (aka AmandaMG) and Betteandtinaforever. I had my photograph taken with Mary but Betteandtinaforever was camera shy.

We met up with Marg and Chris again as they were queuing for their picture to be taken with Jennifer and Laurel. Later we saw them again when we were all sat listening to Rachel Shelley doing question and answers in the main hall. Jennifer and Laurel were meant to be on at 2:00pm but actually came on stage at 3.30pm. The welcome for them was something else. I have never seen 1600 lesbians, straight couples and gay men go so wild.

Jennifer was visibly nervous as her and Laurel took the stage. She was quietly spoken but as the session continued she seemed to relax. Most of the time the questions were about what they were going to do now that the series has finished or what had happened during the filming of the series. At one point Jennifer and Laurel gave a performance of an orgasm like the ones that were done by Jennifer and some of the cast last year. The place went wild at that. By the end of the session Jennifer and Laurel were crying because it was the end of the show.

Jennifer said that there could be a L Word film, which hasn’t actually been written yet but appears to be on the horizon. Jennifer and Laurel hugged strongly for a few minutes on the stage, which delighted the audience.

Someone asked Jennifer what she would have liked for Bette and Tina in the future. She said she would have liked for them to go on and have a second child.

Rachel Shelley had earlier said that you don’t actually see Peggy Peabody in season six but they talk about her quite a bit. We enjoyed her question and answer session. She seemed completely normal and down to earth, which was refreshing. I saw her in a different light and wish I had booked to have my picture taken with her as well.

During the question and answers it appears that Leisha is going to be the pinnacle of a spin off show.

By the end of the session Jennifer looked drained. Later that evening we queued up again to have pictures autographed by the stars. Angela queued along with me to have a second photographed autographed for me. So I am now the proud owner of two autographed photographs and one with me with them.

I noticed that Jennifer always seemed to be wearing dark colours. It would have been nice to see her wear something brighter.

Chris, Marg, myself and Angela queued to collected the photographs we had had taken with Jennifer and Laurel earlier in the day. After we had collected the pictures and admired each others we agreed to stay in touch. We gave Marg and Chris our contact details, bid them goodbye and we all left for our respective hotels. Chris and Marg were going to attend on the Sunday.

We didn’t go to the last day (Sunday) of the convention even though we have a pass for the whole weekend as we needed to come home for a medical appointment for Angela that we couldn’t break on the Monday.

I think the organisation could be better and more information given to people when they are registering. I don’t think I would go to another one as it wouldn’t be fair to Angela as she wasn’t interested in anything that was going on, she mostly enjoyed Chris and Marg’s company.

There are plans for another convention, L6, 18-19 September 2009 at the Norbreck Castle Hotel. So far Pam Grier has said she was going to attend. They are hoping to get Laurel, Jennifer and Rachel back.