ConFuzzled 2013 - A Mediaeval Fayre

I imagine this post is going to be a work in progress over the next few days as I don't have long periods of time to commit to it. Still here we go.

I hadn't been to CFz since 2009 before this year, largely on account of clashes with work. However, with the event moved to June and a soporific summer of sport ahead, I was free to indulge and in the post-Rusfurrence euphoria back in February, we decided to book tickets to our local convention.

I'm not a fan of large cons, finding that the greater the number, the more cliquey things become. Meeting people also becomes more difficult, nine hundred is too many for me, and in some cases overwhelming. Thankfully European cons centre more on the bar than in room parties, meaning that it is easier to meet old friends and make new ones.

The highlight of the convention for me was undoubtedly the suiting - having a fully custom suit for the first time did change my mindset and I was far more comfortable performing. Indeed on Saturday, which was the perfect day weather-wise for it, I didn't want to get out of suit at all even after six hours straight. It just felt natural, even the sweatiness that often comes with suiting was not noticeable and this added to the spiritual connection to the pink puppy - after all puppies wouldn't sweat in the heat. For a perfectionist who craves authenticity, this was a big draw.

So I went to the motor furs meet as a furry wench, did the parade at which I did my best to perform (it's difficult when walking in a straight line with other furs immediately behind you but I think I used props well, giving Draken a dirty coffee cup which I found just lying about), and also did Shaman's excellent Whose Lion Is It Anyway improv panel which was only marred by its sheer popularity - it's hard to do improve with 60 people. Doing it in suit was challenging but still fun and I was glad to have contributed, both in the panel and the preparation beforehand.

Never before have I had such a strong desire to get in suit. I'm still fine tuning the character - I had only worn him three times before the con in public - but it's getting there although having the energy for relentless performing is tough. I think I did okay though, interacting well and being a general nuisance, and it was ego affirming to have do many people take pictures. I also have a good dancy walk developed and it was great to chat to other suiters too, particularly Emejn and Toshi on Dead Dog Night.

I did a couple of the dances in suit, specifically the rock set and the Dead Dog party, not being a fan of the relentless techno or happy hardcore which all sounds the same to me. The dance floor was painfully hot though, necessitating many breaks, and ill admit I somewhat overdid it on rock night. Still they were my tunes in an excellent set so I don't regret it at all.

It was even hot during the Fursuit laser photography session, which took place in the dance floor earlier in the day. The 90 minute wait was taxing but in suit the hours fly by and I was soon getting many photos taken with atmospheric layers in the background. I struggle to keep still in Lupe so has to be told to stop everything I posed. Fourteen shots sees taken though and I'm looking forward to seeing them. Must admit it was odd performing in front of all other suiters in the queue, that was quite daunting, being Lone up there.

The highlight of the con for me though wasn't related to suiting, it was about getting closer to some good friends, specifically Arcais, Stray and Taneli. These three furs in particular enhanced the con, the former with her acceptance and encouragement over suiting and the latter pair for being fantastic company over the weekend. Sunday night was the best - one of those impromptu nights you never plan for, but in the end you never want to leave. I suited until about 2am then headed to the bar to have some drinks. It was BBF's unf unf night so, with little interest, we listened to the DJ in Triumph (so called due to the huge motorcycle on display behind the bar). It turned out we could make requests and with our table and an adjacent one all liking rock, we basically had a four hour rock and metal set during which we sang ourselves hoarse and moshed away. Friends kept dropping in throughout the evening, including people I hadn't seen in years such as Blacksnip and Tungro, adding to the awesome nature of the evening. I was also in fine form, cracking jokes and making people laugh, indeed I wish I could be like this more often as a more relaxed me is certainly a person I like more than my usual stress-filled cynical self. The set finished just after 6am with some cheesy classics and with breakfast just an hour or so away, we decided to stay up and walk around the grounds of the hotel in the summer morning sunlight. We eventually got to bed shortly after 8am after I had woken Wolfie up and asked him if he wanted breakfast - he came down despite turning in at 3am. We missed most if the no day, including the chance for me to support my female swim wear that Arcais and Taneli had kindly bought for me, but it was worth it.

News about our move to Birmingham next year was greeted with a Joel of displeasure in some respects as the hotel here was fabulous. Reducing the price of San Miguel to £3 - a ridiculously good deal - and getting into the spirit if the event was fantastic. Perhaps some of their sales staff were a tad pushy but they were all friendly and loved the CFz t-shirts they wore, which were far more favorable than the usual black shirts and waistcoats they must wear. The hotel itself was also of great quality - air conditioning and fridges in rooms would have been nice but the layout of the hotel made for a great con and the rooms were massive, with the most comfortable beds I have ever slept on too. Being by a main road was great to wave at passing cars and trucks in suit - I made many truckers honk their horns - while even the isolated nature of the venue didn't get me as much as it usually does. Having a Harvester down the road - and a good one at that - undoubtedly helps.

So in the end, a great con and I hope to return to CFz next year. It went above and beyond my expectations and the last weekend in May in a World Cup year should definitely be doable. Plus the sun always shines on the convention and that really helps - sipping pints in the sun with good friends, what is better than that?