18-21 NOVEMBER, 2004 RYDGES LAKESIDE HOTEL • LONDON CIRCUIT, CANBERRA PAUL NORELL King of the Dead BRETT BEATTIE Gimli - Scale/Stunt Double THOMAS ROBINS Deagol ANDREW STEHLIN Stuntman Four Big Days. Eight Fantastic Guests. STEPHEN URE Grishnakh/Gorbag DAVID WEATHERLEY Barliman Butterbur DANIEL FALCONER WETA Senior Designer MIKE GREALISH WETA Craftsman LETTERS Following the convention, we usually get a number of emails from those who attended the event - including our special guests. With the authors permission, we are happy to put up people's comments (good or otherwise) on our website. We really thank all of you who take the time to write to us and let us know what you thought of the convention. The Lovely Adele, I arrived home early this morning and have just completed a huge day filming on the new comedy show I am in. I am shattered and am off to bed as I desperately need some sleep! I just wanted to send you a quick email to say thank you so much for a lovely weekend. It seems that my first instincts about you were right - you were a fabulous host who looked after all of us so well. I know for a fact the other boys thought the same and all enjoyed the show so much, Mike especially told me that he couldn't remember the last time he laughed so much. I hope I went OK for you and was worth bringing over. I do apologise for the directing workshop, as it didn't go exactly as I planned but I hope those who attended it thought it was OK. It was a brilliant convention Adele, I know the fans loved it and I hope you and all your lovely crew did also. If I write a message to the fans is there any chance you could put it on your website for me? I would like to say hi to all of them as well if possible. Finally please thank all the BOBW staff who were all wonderful and made my stay so much fun. . All the best to you and Brian. Thomas Robins (Deagol) Dear Adele and Brian, I just wanted to say once again, many thanks for everything. Mike and I had the best time. We thoroughly enjoyed the five days we spent with you all and came away sad to be leaving all our new friends. You folks took such great care of us and your crew was incredible. It was by far the best convention experience I have yet had. . Warmest regards and hugs, Daniel Falconer (WETA) Hi Adele, I would just like to say how much I enjoyed the LOTR convention, you are to be congratulated on putting on such a successful show. I had the time of my life, especially with Andy and Brett on the Thursday workshop and again on the Sunday. All of your guests were so approachable and easy to talk to plus very entertaining. I had a wonderful time and I know Lisa did too (except she got a bit tired towards the end). Love Pam Whitty Dear Adele, Well, just when I thought it couldn't get any better than March, you proved that when you want to you can just raise the standards so high that no one will ever be able to reach it. That was, without doubt, the best five days of my life!!!! I have heard people making claims to be holding the best convention ever but until they have been to a BOBW weekend they will never understand what it means to organise something that brings such joy to all, including the guests, that nobody wants the time to end. Making new friends, renewing acquaintances, it's like leaving your family when it's all over. I want to thank you for going out of your way to make my time so special and for extending to us that much desired opportunity on the Saturday night and the invitation to join you all on Thursday, there simply isn't enough words to describe my gratitude. Would you also please convey my appreciation to all in your entourage for their assistance, company and their entertainment. Glen and Cathryn were particularly amusing on the Thursday night with the whole "blood mash" incident!!(they might need to explain this one to you). I hope that all the guests understand just how much we enjoyed their talks and workshops and that the extra effort they gave us throughout the parties just confirms what I always suspected, that these are genuinely wonderful people. I have already sent an email to WETA concerning Daniel and Mike, thanking them for allowing time with these two delightful gentlemen and am hoping that if I put an email together for Thomas Robins that perhaps you could pass it on for me?! Winding up I would just like to say again that if there is ever anything that I can do to help you out in any way, big or small, you have only to ask. Say hello to Brian for me and tell him that maybe we can continue our discussion on Riverstone in the "old days" next time. Till then, Take care of yourself, Kathleen Meehan YAY! Thank you so much! I can't express how much I love you all!!! You have become like a second family to me! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!! Lysha All letters are reproduced with the express consent of the author.