So the past weekend I spent in Melbourne attending the Australian Romance Readers Convention (ARRC09).  It was brilliant.  I flew down to meet HUBBY in Melbourne on Friday 20 February.  The fun started the minute I hit the airport.

As I paid for my cab I realised I’d left my trusty iPhone plugged in charging on my desk. Doh!  So then I had the internal debate about whether to take another cab back to the house and get the phone or try to live without it over the weekend.  I decided to check in first, and then make a run for the phone.  While checking in I had to disrupt the counter bitch from giving the other counter bitch a verbal bashing.  Not a good image for QANTAS.  I finished checking in, tracked down a pay phone and when I realised I couldn’t use the payphone cause I didn’t have any coinage the decision about whether to return home to get my phone was taken out of my hands.  I am no longer a public phone kind of girl.  So on my way to finding another taxi I reported the counter bitch to the Service Desk.

I managed to find a taxi and advised him of my predicament.  It was touch and go for awhile as to whether I’d make my plane in time or not.  A$90 and a made dash through security and I made it on to the plane.  I was so busy concentrating on making the plane that I wasn’t watching anyone on the plane, so imagine my surprise when I look up to see the lovely face of Ms Tracey O’hara.  What an awesome way to fly.  We ended up sitting across the aisle from each other for the flight and talk about things ranging from books, publishing, television and surgery.  Very cool.

When we got to the Melbourne Airport she kept me company while she waited for other conference attendees and I waited for HUBBY to come and get me.  With a few hours to kill before the welcoming ceremony HUBBY and I hit a shopping center for some lunch and window shopping.  At 5:30pm he dropped me at the Jasper (funky hotel, shame the air conditioner didn’t seem to be working all weekend. So much so that we ended up having to change rooms in the middle of the night to a floor that had working air conditioning!) and I went in search of Miss Kimberley (or as she became know “Plus One”).

It was really strange to see her in her home town.  Strange but cool.  We grabbed a Boost Juice before heading back to wait out the beginning of the convention.  While sitting in the lobby we were befriended by a lovely lady, Cheryl.  There was much laughter and talking about romance books.  We also started a game that we affectionately referred to as ‘guess their genre’.  (You try and guess someones favourite sub genre in romance based on their appearance.  I was studiously looking for the librarian with a heart of wild!  I didn’t see her.)  Once the crowd had been instructed to we registered for the conference, grabbed our goodie bags, some free books and then hit the reception.  We ended up spending the time talking and catching up while continuing to play ‘guess their genre’.  We were both surprised that there wasn’t an introduction speech or something by someone to signal the commencement of the convention.  Just drinks and mingling.  Suited us just fine as we were too busy catching up.

At the end of the reception Miss Kimberley headed home and I headed out with Tracey O’hara, Erica Hayes and Elizabeth Rose. All published (or to be) authors, all amazing women.  We went in search of some cake and drinks and found ourselves in a small cafe in Melbourne Central.  After many calories and many more giggles we parted company and I head out on the streets to find HUBBY.  Got home and to bed by 1:30am.  Shame the next session started at 8:30am!!

Needless to say I didn’t make it in to the first session and missed hearing Mary Janice Davidson address the convention.  I was (very) relived to hear that the sessions will be available on disc.  It’s not the same, but it’s better then missing out altogether.  It was a big day.  I attended two panel discussions, got to scope out the goodie room, bought some books, picked up some more free books, talked to some great people and managed to start my own book idea.

Saturday night was the convention dinner.  It was after five wear so I was forced to put on a frock.  The meal was good.  Not stellar, but it was a large crowd and an event on a budget.  There were some minor glitches with the technology which saw an Award’s winner displayed on the big screen before the Award’s had even been announced.  The dinner seemed to be over really quickly.  It was also strange to be at an event of that kind without having a dance floor.  Weird how we all have these preconceived ideas.  It was a good night.  Again the company of Tracey O’hara, Erica Hayes and Miss Kimberley made it special, and hilarious.  HUBBY joined the ladies after the dinner and we all went to Max Brenner’s for a post dinner drink and chat.

Sunday morning I decided to sleep in and so I missed the first two key note speakers.  Which was a real shame, I would have liked to hear Susan Grant and Liz Maverick.  Guess I’ll have to wait for the discs.  I had the opportunity to attend one last session before HUBBY and I hit the road back to Canberra.  I attended the Urban Fantasy panel.  It was a hoot and convinced me to try a Susan Grant, Keri Arthur and Sherrilyn Kenyon book.  So I made a last minute dash to the book stand to grab copies.  Then it was time to hit the road, Jack.

HUBBY and I drove to Canberra on Sunday afternoon.  We came back a day early so we could spend sometime preparing and doing chores.  It’s all gone by in a blur.  I had a really great weekend.  It was great catching up with some wonderful woman, and it’s inspired me to get out of my comfort zone some more and embrace the things that make me happy.

Don’t forget to enter my competition to win your own slice of ARRC09 @ gnomeangel’s booklist.  Here’s what you could win…