I'd like to say this is a true and unbiassed account of TaScape 2002 - but it's not.- it's what I remember - and therefore parts of it may be embroidered a little....but not much....

Towards the end of October last year Deb and a couple of Sydneysiders decided that we in Adelaide and Brisbane were having far too much fun, and it was time for the Sydney mob to stand up and be counted.

As soon as I heard about this I decided there was no way Deb was going to have any fun without me - so I muscled in and told them the rest of us had to come too. After much discussion on our little Aussie bulletin board, Deb, Chelyn and Mark graciously acceded to my whining - especially when the rest of the FARSCAPE Mafia joined in. Towards the end of November, a date was set in the second half of January, and suddenly poor ol¹ Deb was put in charge of organising a gathering of Aussie fans. It probably would have been OK if it had stayed small....but then we wouldn¹t have had nearly as much fun.

We'd set up Hotmail accounts and posted on the bulletin boards we haunted - namely SciFi, f2s, Farscape Anon and Aussie Farscape to name but a few. Then in early December I started the countdown on SciFi. It¹s really hard to say something different every day, I had to draw on all of my skills to make it not sound too repetitive, and sometimes I succeeded.

Then I started finding other people to invite.....Deb was getting worried. As she visits the set, she was going to contact the crew and ask them if they wanted to meet fans, then the cast...it was starting to sound suspiciously like a plan. As we all know, shooting was set back and the crew weren't due to start pre-production until just before Christmas, so this was putting any plans we had of crew involvement in jeopardy.

Then Jonathon Hardy innocently asked one night...."Can I come too?" Silly man! Once we'd all recovered from the shock, we were all over him like a rash. "Yeah, no worries Jon, maaaaate."(Wow!) Things were looking up. Deb had found a Pub not far from the beach, which, unbeknownst to her was impossible to find at 1.30 in the morning, and at any other time. But, they were giving us good rates and they had an NTSC video, so we were in. Chelyn and her sister Chelsee set up the FARSCAPE Aussie Mafia web site and included all the details of planes, trains and car hire, plus other accommodation, and a map! (We should have printed that one out!)

Well into January I had a brainwave - along the lines of ‘why the frell did I not think of this in NOVEMBER?!"I searched the net for Aussie SciFi clubs and emailed them all. Trust me, next year we will have a GREAT response.

Kate aka XenaJules decided she needed a holiday and, as she¹d been asked to present the Roswell Awards that FARSCAPE had won, in Burbank in 2002, she thought it might be nice if she brought one out to Oz and did it here. Good choice. Then Steve Palmer decided he needed a holiday too - and started packing.

Deb was freaking. Numbers were good - but not good enough. I told her we'd get 60 fans - she told me I was dreaming. Lots of SMS and phone calls and virtual hugs, "she'll be right darls" and bravado later...numbers were starting to increase. Chef was brought in to help us figure out how much food we'd need per guest, because Deb, Chel and Mark had foolishly said they were donating the snags and buns for the barby. I felt guilty so I dobbed the Adelaide mob in for salads. Oops!

Mark visited Adelaide just before we were due to make the road trip to Sydney - my sister was adamant she was NOT flying with me again. We all met and had lunch where he gave me the Sydney papers I'd asked for and showed me the columns worth emailing. I put them in my bag, thinking I'd do it that night. Well, one thing led to another and.... I forgot. Thursday morning dawned and Tracey, Valerie (our Artist-in-residence), Mandy (my sister - whom I might add I had to FORCE to watch the show originally. I used to say it took 2 episodes to hook people, you just had to choose the right ones. Mandy took one - see how years of a starvation diet of Star Trek can make you hungry?), and of course me. We were running late, and it was all my fault. Suddenly I remembered the emails I was going to send and yelled at the girls to give me 5. Best decision I ever made.

We drove off in a big hurry - at least 16 hours of driving ahead of us, and me hoping to God I hadn¹t forgotten anything - not that we could have fitted any more in....
We arrived in Maroubra at 1.30 in the morning. I won't say anything about driving in Sydney except that get on the wrong road and you're screwed. We got screwed 3 times for a toll on the same road in ten minutes. I still can¹t figure out how we doubled back so much.
Finally at the beach - after looking in vain for the pub - we decided to just enjoy the night and frell sleep. It was a balmy January night in Sydney, and we all walked down on the beach and just enjoyed it. Several hours later I took some great shots of the most glorious sunrise and we decided to head to the airport and surprise Deb as she picked up Jules.

The airport was easy to find, we just followed the blue plane signs, and figured out where we went wrong hours before when we went through the same frelling toll again. Big hugs from Deb and Steve Palmer who'd arrived a couple of days before. Jules finally made it through customs and in no time we were chatting like old friends, which, in a way we were. God we were shagged! We found the motel at last and checked in. The staff from the outset were wonderful, and we are definitely going back next year. We all tried to have a kip, but Jules and I kept talking, so we only had about half an hour - but hey - who needs sleep? Steve and Jules had presents to give out. My dear Bob (UCSBdad) had sent over Jelly Bellies! and a Penn State Uni cap - which I will wear with much pride. Jules had brought the tees from Hell - literally! and lots of goodies for the raffle we hoped would cover our costs. Steve had Sees Chocolates and wine.....bliss! Mark rocked up and we all headed to the bar for drinks, he decided to place a few omen bets, and blow me down if ‘Prowler' doesn't come through with the goods! $70 later he'd bought us all Chinese and we were on the promenade at Maroubra while it was blowing a gale, eating take-away, and totally freaking that we were all finally here! Deb and Tracey were VERY happy, I was sober, which made my next actions totally inexplicable, except for perhaps mass hysteria? I am just really glad it was pitch black........

Saturday was plan B. Deb recovers quickly, which was just as well because she was the only one who knew where we were going. Mandy, Deb and I nicked over to Thrifty to pick up the Transport pods and back to the Sands to pick up the Mafia. De and the Brissy girls had rocked up and there was more kissy stuff before we finally put the signs up 'Transport Pod 1'and 'Transport Pod 2'. I found out MUCH later in the day that the sign on the back of the one I was driving read, not as I had thought 'Farscape', but 'I'm not lost. I'm someplace else'. I am sorry to say it was very appropriate, as five minutes after we left Deb turned left and I kept going. It is very hard to turn around a 12 seater mini bus in traffic across a 4 lane road. An hour later we caught up again (thank God for mobile phones), couldn't find what we were looking for and headed to Mecca - Homebush! Some of us had been there in August and well remembered standing forlornly outside the gates taking each other's photo. The security guard on duty at the front gate was John. Poor John. My most vivid memory is of him running to and fro, dropping off a camera, only to pick up another one so all of us had a group photo in front of the FARSCAPE sign.

Onto the Olympic site. They were pulling bits down and making it all different so we all took more pics and did a late lunch at Maccas. The roundabout evoked memories of another one at the Opera House "Just one more time Deb, I didn't get a good shot!!". The Japanese tourists who followed us for the fourth and final lap were laughing and gave us the thumbs up - no doubt wondering what the hell we were on. On to the Chinese Gardens. Now this was more like it, as the last time we were there the trees were bare, this time it looked just like it did in ‘Look at the Princess'. A magical place. We spent ages there, and lots of money, before wandering to Darling Harbour and taking in the sights. Lots of tomfoolery ensued, and we had to drag Richard off the highest ever score on a pinball machine to go to Fox. Dropped into Kings Comics and they remembered us! We had a lovely time and some of us stocked up on FARSCAPE goodies before having a look around the rest of the place. Mark, meanwhile, was patiently waiting back at the Sands, with chocolate cake, so we finally herded everyone together and went back to Maroubra, where we picked him up and drove to the beach. The Seals Club beckoned - a good cheap meal was in order - then back to the pub. We really needed an early night - but did we get one? Hell No!

I haven't mentioned the names of all the Scapers who finally joined us - because there are just too many - suffice to say they were all fabulous people intent on having fun - and some of them had come from an awful long way away.
Deb and I had heard that there was a slim chance that Wayne would show up - we were skeptical but hopeful so we had a quick meeting in Deb's room. I was loudly confident, telling Deb that we would get 80 fans the next day - she told me I was still dreaming. Secretly, I thought she was right.

We got together with the others and eventually sorted out who was going on first shift to grab the barby spot, and what raffle prizes were on offer, then tried to get to sleep. Some people just never learn! Tracey and Deb just HAD to enact the ‘Meltdown'scenes for Chel - poor girl is scarred for life!

6 a.m. and we kicked out Jules - who couldn't sleep anyway - and the rest of the early mob. 7 a.m. and Deb, Mandy and I roused ourselves to get the Transport Pods back to Thrifty on time. I¹d gotten over my fear of driving in Sydney and really quite liked it in the end. I even learned a few new gestures. But now I was panicking. I'd left a message with one of Jonathon's students the day before, and hadn't heard back. I was beginning to think he wouldn't show. Then, as we sorted out the pods, I received a breathless message on the mobile, the BEST news,"³Sue, I am just leaving for Sydney...." Yes! The bloke in Thrifty won't forget me in a hurry!

Back at the barby site things were moving at a leisurely pace. Jules was hanging out for coffee and people were wandering down from the pub. Someone brought a cassette player, and music was playing in the background while people mingled and chatted. People were looking at me. Oh strewth! I was supposed to be telling them what to do! OK - relax while I get food. When I come back with food - prepare food. Registration? No worries - Sarah and Carolyn were right on it - I needn't have worried. Jay's fantastic banner was up and proudly proclaiming the FARSCAPE zone. Mandy went off in search of veggie burgers - she also took all of the salad bowls and stuff which were in the back of her car.....Tracey and I nicked up to the Greengrocer's and bought up, then hit the supermarket for extras. Deb waited for the butcher to open and Chelyn and the girls guarded the rolls from the baker. Back at the site we handed over the food to Chef who started cracking the whip. Those there started washing, chopping and peeling the veggies - who needed bowls - we had a cabbage! When Mandy finally came back hours later, they just put the cabbage bowls into the salad bowls. Brill! I stood back and watched them, I have never been so proud of a mob of people, everyone pitched in and did what needed to be done. Food prepared, snags gently cooking, people playing board games and others playing a bastardised form of cricket - perfect!

My phone rang - it was Jonathon - "Where are you? I can't find you!" 2 minutes later he was walking across the lawn. I have never been so relieved to see anyone in my life. I walked over and hugged him, and received a crushing hug back, accompanied by something cheeky I cannot repeat. Jules introduced herself and then it was on. The sun was warming up, the snags were cooked, and I wanted to get Jon out of the sun, comfortable and fed. The reaction to him turning up was so special. He charmed all of us. We all knew he'd be there for a while and no-one rushed him, just quietly approached and had a few words. Jon was enjoying all this immensely, holding court, like any self respecting Dominar.

I was standing back some time later thinking how lucky we were, when out of the corner of my eye I spotted a blonde woman. Fair dinkum I thought I was hallucinating. Those who know me will tell you that I am not a person often moved to tears, but when I saw Tammy MacIntosh, Lani Tupu, Wayne Pygram, some gorgeous bloke smiling so wide I thought his face would break, Dave & Lou Elsey, Col and Sheldon and family, all following Tammy over to where I was stumbling, I choked. I held onto Tammy for grim death, all the while whispering ‘I can't believe this!'She said something like ‘it's OK, don't worry'while she hugged me, patted my back and cried too. Gradually it sunk in to the rest of the mob that they really WERE here.

I honestly have very little idea of what happened next, my head was spinning and I forgot to take pictures, and people were milling about all over the place. Suddenly Deb and I were legends, then we were hugging and crying, and it was as if everything we'd gone through for this fabulous show was suddenly all worth it. It was then we heard that Wayne had been reading the Daily Telegraph on set on Friday, and had seen a small article.......OMG....the 5 line jobby I'd dashed off as we were leaving was what had finally done it! Tammy had told everyone that it would be a good idea to go along and they'd all agreed. I found myself sitting next to Lani Tupu. I am gushing I know, but truly this man is beautiful, and he was so relaxed and friendly. I've been to a few cons in my time, met quite a few OS guests, but this bloke was still enjoying it. Well, I suppose we are a novelty to him. Wayne was such a dag - hamming it at every opportunity, and eager to tuck into a plate full of food some brilliant person had remembered to get. Angie often talks about being a turnip - I think I know what she means - I was definitely a veggie that day. When I turned around - there was that lovely man in the orange shirt - still smiling hugely - and obviously having the time of his life. It was then I realised this was David Franklin. OMG. If he'd scowled I would have known him instantly. I think we all fell a little in love with him that day, he was so sweet, and very yummy, and very funny. Someone spotted the tees I had made - the front being a special pic created by Peter from Canberra, and the back reading ‘Farscape ...Don't get comfortable...', and they were given one. Then everyone got one. OK, so I frelled up and should have just ordered them for them, but hey guys - the cast are wearing MY tees - how cool is that? We all got our tees signed - well I missed getting Wayne¹s - and after reading what Jonathon wrote on my back, it may never see the light of day again! After a while Jules thought we should be presenting the Roswell, so she stood up on a table to give her speech. Tammy grabbed my video and started filming - I'm so glad she did, as I would have forgotten to turn the bloody thing on. If you ever get your hands on a copy, and it will be doing the rounds I¹m sure, you will understand how mad it all was, and PLEASE listen with the sound off before and after the speech. If I could have edited me out I would have - I embarrassed myself. Wayne was heckling Jules (as Scorpius), David was behind her doing Tigger impressions, and Jonathon was wearing my huge pink hat and threatening to take a Rygel sized bite out of Jules' leg. Tammy was enjoying her cinematography debut immensely, and Lani was just standing there grinning. Dave, Lou and Col were on the side wetting themselves, and Sheldon and his family were around behind me still stoked by all the attention. The awards was finally given to Lani, and then Tammy decided someone should be filming HER, because she had something to say. Somehow I got my camera back, and then Tammy was telling us all the story of how they came to be there, and that they now wanted a photo of everyone there, a big group shot, with the banner we'd all signed.
We had to show everyone how, from little things, big things grow.

Finally, they really had to go, Tammy was the last, and she was dragged off by Lani. I filmed them leaving and turned to the others and yelled "Can I get a Hell Yeah?"The response was deafening - I'm sure they would have heard it, unfortunately the veggie in me had already turned off the frelling video. It was so hard to carry on after that, but we had a raffle to draw, and we¹d sold a lot of tickets. The magic Dave Elsey had donated some wonderful signed prints from the Creature Shop, and these were hastily added to the list. We had so many prizes, all donated, from the action figures Jules sent over, to key rings, trading cards and ScaperCon paraphernalia. So many people won prizes, I was especially happy for those who'd come a long way, who were now going home with tangible mementos. I lucked out on the Creature Shop pics, but Valerie has graciously said I may photocopy the one she won. At the end of the raffle Jay donated the huge banner she'd made - if you see the pics make sure you check it out - bloody fantastic. Making quick calculations I said 'great - let's raffle it!' Rhonda, who'd been brought by her husband, who only came along to give her a ride home, won it, and I don't think I've ever seen anyone happier. Dave (her husband) came over after and said that he hadn't thought he'd enjoy himself but he had - and it was worth it all to see the look on his wife's face. Aaaaw!

Things were winding down. Our fabulous new friends were quietly packing up and clearing away the detritus, when my bloody phone rang again. (I never thought I'd be sick of hearing Carmen!) It was someone from the pub - Jon had come back and wanted to party on. I was pushed into a car and told to go and keep him company, so more hugs, and a large bunch of flowers later, Jonathon was shouting and I was in heaven again. More people drifted up from the barby and we sat around chatting. Jon and I were discussing Opera at some point, our favourite composers and who was better, Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo (for the record - Pavarotti in his heyday - uncontested), when he started to sing to me. My goodness, I am tearing up as I type. I have never been able to resist a tenor singing a love song. Then we both sang the last verse of my absolute favourite - ‘Nessun Dorma'by Puccini. Jonathon has the most lovely voice and I felt very privileged.

As if on cue Carmen rang again - this time OMG - Froon! Froon had wandered around to the barby area and HE was ready to party. Mandy bundled him into the car and he was mobbed - sedately - as he walked into the pub. He stayed for 6 hours, the only reason he left was because they were closing the pub. Gorgeous Guy, the barman, played photographer, and took photos with everyone's cameras (except mine again. Damn!) I had to sit on Froon's lap 3 times, because in the first one Froon and I both agreed I looked like a dog, we didn¹t think the second one worked, so we had to take a third. I now have 10 photos - mine and others. Jonathon, Froon and the rest of us chatted, laughed, and Froon signed shirts until Jon said it was time for him to leave. It was hard to say good-bye, we've all become very close to him over the last few months, but I am sure we'll catch up soon. Dinner time and we all ordered - Froon had Spag Bol - Dominic the chef must have wondered what the frell was going on. After dinner someone asked if we were going to watch a video, as many still haven¹t seen much of the show. We had one fan who's only seen 8 episodes, and she came from Brisbane on the strength of that. Froon asked what eps we had - after he'd told us we were all under arrest for having illegal copies, then said that if we put on Season of Death, he'd commentate. Folks - what an experience. We sat there entranced, alternatively quiet, or yelling ‘Hell Yeah!'with John, and some of us mouthing dialogue we knew off by heart. I've never heard a writer give commentary on an episode before, and at the end of it we gave a hearty round of applause. Froon - you ARE a legend - and after that night Aussie fans will love you no matter what.....unless you kill John or Aeryn. None of us wanted him to go, but of course he had to, they were closing the pub. We gave him our signed banner and, waved him off, and just stood there with stupid grins on our faces. We all knew it was magic - it will never be as good - this was the first - and it was special.

People gradually drifted off upstairs and Deb and I were left downstairs, sitting on the floor in the hallway, crying. Even now, I find this part difficult to describe. The whole six weeks or so that we'd been seriously organising this, over the internet, was suddenly such a small price to pay. We'd proved how easy it was to get people together who shared a common interest, and to make them happy. If Jonathon had been the only person who'd shown up, it would still have been a fabulous day because he really IS larger than life. We sat there quietly for a while, trying to make sense of it, trying to remember it all at once, scared to forget a microt......

....I know I've rambled, but I‘ve forgotten HEAPS. I haven't even mentioned visiting the shoot at Middle Head on Tuesday, and getting more hugs from David Franklin, and meeting Sheldon (who by-the-way is a make-up artist) again.

I wanted all of you to share our joy and excitement, and I hope that soon you get the chance to meet some of these great people who make up our FARSCAPE universe.

Sue

All gobbed out.

For more info about Ozzie news,photos and happenings go to http://magicmonster.com/FAM/