Despite the frenzy of the lines for Jodie, this was probably the most all-around low-key Gally I’ve ever had. Never before have I had so much time completely unscheduled from con events.

For example, this year’s final day was the latest Sunday start for me ever. Since we’d scored seats for Jodie’s Saturday interview panel, I made no plans to go see her again on Sunday morning, even though (I’m told) there was still plenty of room to do so. I didn’t think there would be enough different about the panel to make it worth my while (though they did have Janet Fielding and Sophie Aldred on stage with her at the end, which I might’ve enjoyed).

Instead, Kiddo and I met up with some of our friends to peruse the Art Show and wander the Dealers Room again. It was all incredibly casual. The first thing I had scheduled in any way was a brief meet-up with a friend while Kiddo and I ate food-truck lunch on the patio.

This leisurely pace continued until 2:00—absolutely unheard of for me—when our little gang convened in Program A (in the center section, only about seven rows from the front!) for the live commentary on “The Halloween Apocalypse.” Moderator Adrienne Enderle was joined on the couch by Chris Chibnall, director Jamie Magnus Stone, and actor Craige Els, who played Karvanista. I was extremely grateful that the episode was run with captions (in part because that’s how I always watch TV these days), because it made it much easier to follow both the episode and the commentary. Good banter, good details, good fun.

It’s here again! The most wonderful time of the year, Gallifrey One, is back in swing. This year one of my daughters has come along, which is lending an extra special something to the experience.

We arrived Wednesday evening and crashed early. Thursday morning we slept in a lot (for us), and got up early (for the time zone). The Lobby was still filled with a slight majority of non-Gally folx, but as the morning wore on, there were more of us here.

It was a nice, slow, ramping-up day. The rest of my close Gally friends arrived (some with significant others who are now my new acquaintances), we got our badges (and Diamond Passes! I’ve learned the hard way that I don’t want to wait in a line as long as I’d have to without those), went to dinner at my traditional Thursday-night place (Aliki’s Greek Taverna is fabulous; both the food and the service are top-notch, in my book), and attended the ice cream social (I got a new folding fan!).

Friday morning rolled around, and Kiddo and I were up (local) early again. Bonnie Langford went through Starbucks as we were finishing our own coffee, which set a Gally tone for the day. She was also the first one we saw in the Dealers Room for autographs. We managed to get Bonnie, Katy Manning, and Sophie Aldred all checked off our list early in the day, and wander the Dealers Room for a casual Friday morning.