I have a feeling this is going to be a long one...
Firstly the competition. I can't believe just how smoothly everything went. Often a competition can be really stressful and that is what I was really worried about. I like it to be quite relaxed, which is precisely what happened. I think the venue, although a bit annoying to find was just right, it had a lot of air, light and space and wasn't too hot. I really dislike competitions that get too hot and all you can smell is sweatyness...
It was really cool that we got to have extra little meet ups bowling/pizza/indian because that's often my favourite part of a competition
While it may be "me" that organised the competition, I can't thank everyone who helped enough. Adam, Dave, Michael and Jean Louis were all very important in the running of the competition. Them and our various other halves that were so bored they just thought they'd join in anyway... thank you Grace/Kris/Sylvianne. There is actually nothing to moan about, the timing went brilliantly, most people helped to judge and scramble (and if you didn't, shame on you!) and everyone had a great time, I think. I'm not actually sure there's anything I'd do differently, except maybe find an affordable venue nearer a hotel this time.
One thing that really drove me crazy (changed my mind about the moan) was people registering last minute, I.e. the day before then moaning when we said we wouldn't be able to give them a t shirt. Seriously, do you think we just whip them up the morning of the competition? Next time we might have to have a deadline by which to register. Also, those of you who didn't turn up without so much as a call... you suck. It only means that someone like me thinks she is going to receive £15 from you to cover costs, so she spends it, then realises that actually she is £15 out of pocket when you no show.
Cubing wise I really didn't do so well in this competition, my 3x3 was terrible, but then again I barely slept and I guess I was quite busy. I did get a competition PB of 17 something so that was good, and my pyraminx average was reasonable though not sub 8. I don't really care about anything else, except for BLD, oh yes, BLD. That was awesome, I came second, which is stupid because I suck at BLD and this is the first competition where I did well. I didn't beat Joey but that's okay. It was also really easy memo, only one corner cycle.
I think my parents and I are now ready to sleep for a long, long time. They kindly let a lot of people stay here but have been haunted by their least favourite sound, the cube clicking. I am simply exhausted and just need a mega nap. There are some puzzles/items left over from the competition that people must have forgotten about if you have lost something, tell me about it and I will see if I have it. I won't say exactly what I have because I don't want people dishonestly claiming puzzles. Olivér, Ron has your Mefferts and 7x7, he will take to czech.
Did you know?
- The weirdest thing ever is opening your front door to find a Hungarian waving at you, when you've only ever seen him in other countries
- The second weirdest thing ever is ringing your doorbell and having two dutch guys and a belgian opening the door to let you in
- There is a terrible "feet" smell wafting around my house, really bad.
- Lars and I did a 6:28 team BLD 4x4 (video to follow lars?)
- I can never ever teach my boyfriend to solve new puzzles because he isn't interested, but sits next to Arnaud for 20 minutes and is now a megaminx lover.
- Michael's kids are adorable. They are also pretty good at the sexy move. Hi Lily and Ruby Noodle!
- ROB YAU EXISTS AND IS TEH AWESOME
- McDonalds must have thought something was really strange when we went in on a really busy day and ordered a variety of things for around 15 people, each in an individual bag.
- Holger and Aksel are awesome Danish guys and they were so nice, I hope I meet them again
- Felix and Napoleon finally met, I think their lives are now complete. Felix's allergies played up this weekend
- Charlie cannot give directions to save her life. We drove all the way along one side of a dual carriageway, just to return along the other side twenty minutes later.
- Ron likes crisps
- Michael loves smoky bacon crisps
- Small children from other events like crisps
- Arnaud is awesome with kids, and so is Olivér. When I say awesome, I mean... awesome that they are tall enough to put them in basket ball hoops and not break them too much.
- Arnaud made a whole train of kids scream at him when he tried to give them a high five at the wildlife park
- Joey loves his grey hoody
- Cube in a bag was actually quite a fun event afterall!
- It was very sad that Erik wasn't there
- It was very good that everyone got to meet Olivér and Arnaud
- It was the first time a lot of these puzzles had been done in an English competition, and it was the first two day event I think
- Charlie couldn't go to work today because she is literally on her last legs. She also has a lot of bedsheets to wash
- Charlie is also moving house in three days and hasn't packed a thing because she has been too busy, oh dear.
- Racing Ron is fun when you get a 10 second headstart.
- Cube nerdiness gets put into perspective when you accidentally sit next to a table of dutch crop circle enthusiasts in a restaurant.
- We didn't make it to thorpe park, it was too expensive and far.
- I actually saw someone trying to take some money from the money box seriously what the hell
- I also saw people taking food from my bag, i.e. stuff I'd made for people staying with me so we didn't have to go to the supermarket. WTF - get some manners.
- This has done nothing but encourage me to have another competition in December time, probably in Bristol. Pencil it in...
- Over the weekend people somehow munched their way through over 200 packets of crisps.
- People from the continent do not understand squash. Ron, Lars and Francois, I saw you all drinking it without diluting it!!
- The WCA spreadsheet is annoying when it doesn't work
- MESSIN'
- Arnaud's "you just lost the game, but I don't understand the game, so I didn't lose".
- JUTJE (hungarian messin'...?) sp?
- HENCHE (dutch messin'?) sp?
- The travelodge has an amazing ice cream machine
- Breandan has lovely smelling hair after a shower. Seriously.
- Someone brought an adorable four week old baby to the competition! How brave, but she was very well behaved and wasn't annoyed by the sound.
- The climbing frames on the wall didn't once get used by Arnaud, eh?
- For once we had enough cube covers
- We managed to have everyone averaging under a minute going into the semi finals, and then twenty going into the finals, which was mental considering a 20s average doesn't always get you into the semi final!
- I made the final by the skin of my teeth, I was 21st, then Holger told me he would not be here for the final!
- Some people do fake solves on youtube, and then make themselves look silly by not getting that kind of time in competition.
- Our youngest competitior was Joshua Hartley, who had awesome cube socks from Next. He was also very sweet and polite - hooray. His mum was also really nice, she was very worried about him coming last but he actually made it to the semi final!
- Our oldest competitor didn't show up, what a surprise.
- Some people didn't even bring their own cubes to solve with, then got a bit annoying when I said I didn't want them to borrow my best cubes because I needed them!
- My bathroom survived
Okay that's enough for now, I seriously need a nap. Love love.
(video later)
