I was booked on the flight tomorrow at 12 noon but took a chance and went to the airport today to see if I could get on a flight.
I was too late for the noon flight although as I sit here that has been delayed to 15.00 hours.
They booked me onto the 15.10 to LA and have upgraded me to business class with my own bed, dont ask me how that happened just going along with it. Guessing that there will be some delays to the flight but will arrive a day earlier hopefully. All the BA staff have been very nice from the phone calls to re-book the flight to all the staff here at the airport. I arrived at 11.15 and was rebooked & through security by 1.00 P.M. which I thought was pretty good as some of the queue's here are for over 3 hours.
This is only the 4th time I've been on a plane in over 25 years and until two years ago we never flew, the strees     what with the flight, weather problems, even getting to the airport was challenging as no taxi 's are working so I had to drive to the tube with my brother for him to drive my car home. So there I was actually shaking while waiting to check in and now sitting here waiting to find out the flight times as I've never flown on my own before, always had a friend to hold my hand and keep me calm to talk with.
Still I'm sure I'll have a great time when I get there as then I only have to worry about flying home :lol:

Hope to put a few updates & pictures up on the forum while at the convention.

Business class is great Graham I'm sure you'll conquer your nerves and enjoy the flight - have a great  flight and enjoy Twist and Shout

I got to fly to Seattle Biz class lovely.

I hope you are making the most of the Biz class lounge.

oh dear the fun we have, all ready to go, through security and then 30 mins before the flight & it gets cancelled.
It took an hour to get my suitcase back and then six, yes six hours in a queue to rebook on a virgin atlantic flight for tomorrow morning at 11.15 A.M, so much for business class.
So have just got my mattress & blanket to sleep at the airport tonight, still look on the bright side it was an experience today and I'm sureone that I'll remember and talk about for years to come :lol:

Did the queue get any interesting balloons Graham? :lol:

hope you got there who else has gone

I think Twistina has gone and also Wivatwist (Becky), Colin  and I'm not sure of anyone else!

 8-)

Well I finally made it to Twist & shout   Two days late but have to say I'm having a great time and it"s only day one
Went to three classes today and all were very good and enjoyable.
Connie Iron-Monds on marketing
Zaney Janie on balloon shows
and Andy McPump on Shopping Centre twisting.

The competition pieces are great, some really amazing sculptures that will truly take your breath away when you see them. Not sure if I'll get time to download them, resize and put on the forum while I'm here as there is so much to see and do and so many to talk too. But if I do get a few minutes I will try. It's nearly two in the morning here so need to get some shut eye.

Have also lined up some people to be on the star Interview section and have three more people interested in coming over to the UK to do some hands on lecture/workshops.

But the top news is that Don Caldwell is definately booked and will be coming over to the UK between the 27th May and the 6th June.

Great stuff, Graham and glad you made it in one piece and your nerves still intact.

Good news about Don Caldwell.

Keep having fun.

Dave

Just come out from the talent show with I think 13 acts performing of all standards, a fun evening that I'll try and give some details for next week.
Went to a few lectures today,
1, Beating, some very good and unusual sculptures
2, Andrew MacPump on line twisting, he showed about 8/10 designs  that were all excellent & very usable.
3, Debie Stevens on balloon dress fashion, I think I now know how to build the dress around the breast area  so worth going to.
Bought 3 DVD's & 2 Cd's to add to my extensive collection :lol:
Danny, got your lootles dvd as well.

Have 4 classes marked to get too tomorrow with the first one at 8.30 a.m so hopefully will be up in time.

Sorry that I've not had time to add some pictures for the site but have been busy socialising or is that networking  :lol:
Have lined up 4 people who want to come over to the UK to lecture,
Don Caldwell
Ken Stillman
Patricia Bunnell
Billy Damon who has worked disney and all the big American theme parks.
Have 6 people lined up for the star lecture interview.
Edd Chee
Don Caldwell
Andrew MacPump
Jack
Billy Damon
Suzanne Haring
Just Marie?

Just Marie & Robbie Firman are also now confirmed for the star interviews.
My camera ceased working yesterday The text came up in Russian and then two hours later died on me. I was having trouble downloading the pictures onto my laptop so someone lent me a card reader but this put my pictures onto a new folder which I coundn't move over to resize them. Sometimes technology drives you mad .
So I do have the majority of pictures and will put some up next week when I'm back.
Christine (Twistina) has been placed in the small & medium contests, 2nd in the small & 3rd in the medium.
The awards banquet was very nice last night with a meal & entertainment, Royal Sorrel who organises the convention was given "The David Grist Memorial Trophy" for services to the balloon community.
Just waiting for our lift to the balloonalicious burlesque show tonight which is being held about 20 mins away in a very small and intermate theatre that only holds 80 people.
There are I think 6 balloons acts & 4 burlesque acts so very much looking forward to the evening :lol:

I have had an amazing time at Twist and Shout! My first ever convention was certainly an experience... So many fantastic things going on I learnt sooo much... some would say toooo much! The jam room was great lots of people sharing ideas and random folks wanting to take pictures of creations that you have made so that they can go ahead and try it too! Went to some amazing classes my favourite was Patrick VanderVam on animals and birds. I just wish he did other animals in his second class as i would have gone to that also! Beatings was interesing but one you know the principles you can do it all really... so wish I had not seen him twice. A welcome surprise Jack Mattson taught faces in a class run by Ralph Dewey which taught pro techniques so glad i had a last minute change and went to that one! I would reccomend conventions to anyone I am re inspired! So lets get twisting!

The show last night was very different and interesting, from memory there were 4 burlesque dancers with two being good with novel presentations. Then we had big George who was a side show act, Brian Asman with his delightful blow up doll/balloon routine which was brilliant and for me definately the hit of the night.
Willie Monro with his yo-yo and balloon mating act plus we had a dominatrix act who blew her balloons up through the front of her bra with all the balloons being taken from her knee length black latex boots. It was a fun act in two parts the first on the "Penis" and then the second half on the "Vagina" It was a good novel act that went down well with the audiance  :lol:
Will need to look at my notes to refresh my memory for everything else but Todd & Tawney held the show together very well so all in all a really lovely evening with some lovely company as well, most enjoyable

I also just wanted so say............

It has been a great experience being here and I've met some lovely people
The balloon community is so different & unique from any other entertaining art form around with people all just so willing to give of there time to help each other out.
I feel so honoured to be part of this great community.

Just had one of those sentimental moments :oops:

Colin & I had a really great day yesterday
Robbie Firman & Coleen were kind enough to take us sightseeing with a guided tour around Hollywood as he used to live there. We were shown all the typical tourist spots and had a really great time, so thanks Robbie.

Then in the evening we went back to Hollywood to the Magic Castle with Suzanne Haring and I have to say that it was a really great evening. We saw 4 shows and were given a guided tour which I found really interesting due to my magical background.

And to finish off we then all went to eat at a Thai resturant just off sunset boulavard, oh how the other half live :lol:

It was an exceptional day that will last in the memory banks forever, so thanks to all that made it possible.