I left East Ham/ Upton Park and made my way to Kings Cross. There, I planned to catch the Highland Chieftain at noon and go to Edinburgh, stop off for an hour, pick up my clubs from left luggage and catch the train an hour later to Glasgow Central.

It was very important to catch the train to Glasgow Central instead of Queen St because there wasn’t a direct connection from Queen St to the SPT line that would take me to the SECC.

And things actually went as planned. The weather was bright and sunny most of the way and I had a good chance to catch the sights passing by and to read a bit. I picked up the clubs and hung out in the station pub while awaiting the next leg. The train came in on time. I went to Glasgow Central and caught the local to the SECC stop. It was nice that my rail pass for the day was valid on the SPT line as well.

Then the wheels fell off the plans. Always check the maps first and print out a copy, especially if you haven’t been in a particular neighborhood for 10 years. I am heading in the general direction of CairnCross House because I remember where it was from the last time I was here. Last time I wasn’t dragging a rather heavy set of golf clubs with me. Even on wheels, that golf bag was a pain to maneuver.

I went down one street and it was a dead end, I went down another, it was a dead end. And I can practically see the place. Fortunately, I ran into some fans who had printed out a map and they quickly got me pointed in the right direction and I arrived at CairnCross House.

Ann had already checked in and gone, so I dropped off my stuff and headed over to the SECC, taking the way I remembered from 10 years before; walking under the rail line and over the M8 into the back parking lot of the SECC. It was still there!

I picked up my registration and started looking for people. I found the Real Ale Bar at the Moat House Fan Lounge and ran into many familiar faces, some of whom I hadn’t seen since last Monday. But I didn’t find my fellow Denver2008 bidders and began to wonder what our plans were for the next day.

Ann showed up with someone else who was staying in the same place and we headed back to CairnCross, this time using the pedestrian bridge to the train station.

I should explain that Ann and I first met at a convention more than 25 years before. We didn’t really get along with each other back then. She thought I was an obnoxious drunk and I thought she was rude. Then she gafiated and I moved out west and many years later she de-gafiated and we met at a Worldcon and started talking about mutual friends and we found that we could be civil with each other. And we continued to meet and say hello at Worldcons.

When I realized that Elaine wasn’t going with me to Glasgow and I had booked a double room at a very low rate (compared to what the hotels were charging), I asked a fan list if anyone wanted to share a room. Ann responded, along with several others. I did know her and I didn’t know the others, so what the hey.