Two days to go – where on earth has the time gone? There are just two days until I begin my epic road trip (all 20 minutes of it) to the largest furry gathering in the whole UK. So by tradition, here is my convention meme page.

This meme was taken from SEEMINGLY EVERYONE!

Where are you staying?
The Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel (main venue)

What day are you getting there?
Thursday 22nd, in time for lunch

How are you getting there?
By car! In the time it takes to walk to my nearest train station, I can drive to the venue.

How long are you going?
Early arrival and late departure

Who will you be with?
I am on the Security again this year, so mostly with my colleagues. But I will definitely catch up with everyone I know who's going – and there are a lot of you! Cannot wait to see you all again.

Who are you rooming with?
Once again with  gamepopper!

Where will you be most of the time during the con?
Anywhere I'm needed and anywhere I want!

What suit(s) will you have?
Expect to see a  delphpossum roving about.

Attending any events?
Lots! The Fureoke, the Talent Show… I will also be at the Hoofers meetup and the Marsupials meetup.

What is your gender?
Male

How old are you?
23

How tall are you?
5'10" spot on

Are you mated? In a relationship?
No and no

Can I talk to you?
By all means! Any issues, come up and let me know.

Can I take photos of you/with you?
That is perfectly fine!

Do you drink Alcohol/Smoke?
Alcohol very occasionally, smoking never.

Can I buy you lots of drinks?
Certainly, if you are offering (hint: my drink is Baileys)

Can we hang out?
I am on duty for much of the convention, but do catch up with me when I am free.

Can I dance with you?
Certainly!

Can I hug you?
Just keep it tasteful.

Can I come with you for food/fun/etc?
Do chat with me about it.

Can I invite you to parties?
Certainly!

May I kidnap you to my room?
As long as I am back for my next shift. Otherwise you’ll have an angry German tiger to answer to.

Do you do free art or trades?
I can try. I would not expect any masterpieces though.

Do you do commissions/badges?
Story Commissions, whenever I can.

Other cons you may go to?
Eurofurence, without a doubt.

How can I find you at the con?
Goat conbadge, security gear… or failing that, look for the possum!

What is the best way to contact you?
Twitter or text message

Which languages do you speak?
English, German and French (in that order)

If I see you, how should I get your attention?
Wave and shout "Zieg!"

At the start of the New Year, I was looking forward to spending a good long while in Wales. Now, barely two months later, I am leaving. The reason? I have a new job. But instead of starting in the Welsh office as I expected, the company want me to start at their head office. And so, in a week’s time, I will be moving to… Solihull!

This movie was completely unexpected right up until a few days ago, and I do feel sorry to be leaving behind all my Welsh Fur friends. But I will certainly be coming back to visit, and as I am living in such a central location, there is every excuse to! On top of which, I am far closer to all my friends in the West Midlands. Of course I will still attend Birmingham furmeets, which I have done every month since August anyway, but there will be no more three-hour journeys for me (Birmingham traffic permitting).

This weekend, as well as attending the Birmingham meet (which was great fun as always), I have been looking at places to stay, and I have now narrowed it to two options. In a few hours’ time I will have a new place to live. And this time next week, I will have moved in.

However….

There is a good chance I will be back in Wales after three months. A lot depends on how this new job pans out. Right now though, I am officially a Brum Fur.

To the Midlands!
Zieg

Tomorrow morning, just before 8am, I will board a train out of this small town… and I will not look back. More than last night, tomorrow will mark the real start of the year for me. A chance for a proper new beginning, free from studies, in a city and with people I actually love. So, with this change just 10 short hours away, this is a good place to take stock of the past year, and to speculate on where I am going.

---

A good few people seem to agree with me that 2013 was a poor year in many respects. Several people are no longer in my life, including quite a few whom I considered ‘good friends’, something which really upset me. Many of my friends have been distant, and although I have travelled around a fair bit this year, I can only fit in so many visits. My disillusionment with the world of politics (and with debating) has grown enormously, particularly on a personal level, and while I still maintain an interest, it’s nowhere near as strong as a year ago. I spent the middle part of the year utterly absorbed in my university work, to the exclusion of nearly everything else in my life. After that, everything seemed to stall. And then to round off the year, I spent two horrible weeks back with my relations, an experience which has all but discouraged me from ever living here again.
(And I still have no girlfriend!)

---

But plenty of good things have happened this year, too.
-I have been to furmeets right across the UK.
-I attended  confuzzled for the first time and I served on the Security team (a role which I will definitely reprise in the future).
-I had a wonderful holiday in Switzerland and Germany in June.
-I finished university in September, rounding off 18 non-stop years of study.
-I ran my first half marathon in October.
-I got my first fursuit  delphpossum, and I have taken the fella all over the country in the past two months.

And let's not forget all the wonderful people, old and new, who have kept me company throughout this year. There are far too many of you to name, but I do think of you all, even when I am far away. To everyone whom I have stayed with, spent time with, or simply chatted with online, thank you, and I hope to keep in touch in the future. And to the person who just today has invited me to America, thank you so much, and I hope to take up your offer by the end of the year.

---

Also for the first time this year, I am going to set myself some goals!
1. Run 5km in under 22 minutes
2. Learn Welsh: get to the end of my Welsh book
3. Get back into writing
(I am likely to add to this list)

So, roll on 2014. I have a feeling, I just have a feeling, that it’s going to be a good one.

PS I know that 2014 is the Year of the Horse
PPS I know we are still in the Year of the Snake, technically speaking.

Three years have passed since I stumbled across a hidden corner of London one Saturday, and entered the world of the London Furs. In those three years I have been to countless meets and parties with the group, and loved every minute of them. So as the annual Winter Party approached, I knew it was going to be good. But nothing could prepare me for how absolutely brilliant last Saturday was! Here is a very brief summary of an unforgettable day in the City.

---

Arrival
The day started reasonably early, and by 7am I was on my way to London. Despite the motorway into West London being closed, we eventually made it to the centre, where it was a surprisingly quick ride to the venue. Once again, our base was the superb Amber Bar, two Tubes and just half an hour away from Victoria. After a short wait, the doors opened, and the party could kick off. The first hour or two of these meets are always quieter, but still a good chance to grab a drink and have a quieter catch up with friends. Great to see Gamepopper, Typhon, Naima, Bolly, Faust, Axxis Wolf.

Lovin' it!
Lunch today was McDonald's. Standard fare, but another chance to catch up with friends. Especially Tiff and Eda. I look forward to seeing your sculptures in the Tate Modern one day!

Security!
This was a pleasant surprise: an impromptu reunion of the Confuzzled security team! Great catching up with my fellow team member including Dhary, Codewolf and Jason.

Fursuit Walk
A major draw of any furry event, and particularly exciting for me as my first fursuit walk with Delph Possum in London! Our route today took us through the City, past Liverpool Street station and into Spitalfields Market. It's been a delight watching photos appear over the last few days: keep 'em coming. In those two hours I hung out with Russ, and it was also lovely to meet the talented Pickled Lemur.

El Viaje (The Journey)
After meeting up with Fabi, Avalon, Ant and Typhon once more, we decided to all head to a little Italian restaurant in the West End. But when we got there it was fully booked for the next three hours, unfortunately (for us). So rather than wait three hours for a table, we went for tapas instead. Muy bien!

The Last Dance
Back at Amber, there was just enough time for a final dance and catch up with yet more furs (Garnet, Rabbet, Flannell, Blacksnip, Thayne, Katsuo, Azra, Misty... please let me know if I've missed you off!). Soon though, it was time to say goodbye to furs as they made tracks. Unfortunately my own time came to an end. With commitments back in Wales on Sunday morning, much as I'd like to have stayed, it just wasn't possible. So I pack my bags and head on the long journey home. Thankfully the coach driver let me off early, cutting 15-25 minutes off my journey home.

---

After a couple months of away, it was great to make it back to the Old Smoke. But that's what I love about this Fandom. No matter the distances, there are always events like these where you can meet up with friends like you last met yesterday. So, thank you all, and have a very Merry Christmas!

I miss the North of England. I'm not going to pretend otherwise. Not only was it my home for three years, it's the place where I really started getting involved in this great little old Fandom of ours, nearly four years ago now. Any opportunity to travel back, however rare, I will take up. So when I had a free weekend, with not one but two furmeets... well, I simply had to go!

---

Manchester
My original plan didn't involve stopping in Manchester at all, only travelling through it. But once I realised there was a furmeet on that day, of course I was going to visit! Arriving at the city's Piccadilly station shortly after 9, there was little to do besides wait for the first to arrive. And sure enough, shortly after 11, a familiar kind of group began to converge on the concourse (complete with large suitcases, of course). Hey, it's been four years, I can spot a furry gathering now! Just as well, it doesn't work the other way around (apparently I am "the most normal-looking fur ever". Thank goodness for conbadges.) Soon our band of animal-folk had left the station, and we trekked through the city to our venue and my first ever furmeet in the city.

This meet had all the features which makes each and every meet great. Familiar faces, brand new ones (from Europe and beyond), a great deal of catching up, the break for lunch (a little local cafe, the fursuit walk, and time at the bar come evening. In Manchester, everything seemed to pass by quickly, no doubt due to my limited time. But it made for a fast-paced meet, with pelnty of entertainment packed in.

Unfortunately though, it was soon time to head for my train, happily unaware of the fun that lay in wait. A great crowd of passengers, a pathetically short train, and a cock-up with the platforms which meant that I lost the seat which I had reserved and paid for. Still, without help from skawinski and xolani, I (with my two cases) may not have boarded that train at all. Oh well, it's a great way of getting up close with your fellow passengers. And besides, travelling First Class from York onwards somewhat made up that. Eventually though I made it to Newcastle, and after a (heavily delayed) Metro ride I met up with my host for the weekend rambrissot, ready to rest and prepare for meet number two.

---

Newcastle
So there I was. Back to the city where everything began, all those years ago. Furs may have come and gone from the meets, others like me may have left that part of the world. But for me, a Newcastle meet will always be a homecoming. And meeting up with all my old friends was just fantastic. Once again, thank you all for making me feel so welcome. It was also a joy to head out fursuiting with
 delphpossum  omgnightwind  rambrissot  tobiasth
No worries, just out there suiting and doing what we love. Cards Against Humanity in the evening was a great laugh too. I would have won if I hadn't taken that break for Subway!)

The next couple of days I spent at leisure, visiting the city's Hancock Museum (which has a mountain goat on exhibition!), and stocking up on North-Eastern goodies like stottie cakes and Fentiman's.

---

All in all, a great few days out. Needless to say I will be back again soon!

Goat out.

"Wir sind Böcke. Widerstand ist zwecklos."

Switzerland is a unique place. Landlocked, at the heart of Europe, but outside the European Union. Indeed I have been to France, Germany, Italy and Austria, but never to the small nation at the heart of them all. And so last weekend, it was my pleasure to visit this country for the first time, to look beyond touristy ideas of chocolate and cowbells and alphorns, and to get a glimpse of the real Switzerland.

Half the excitement of any trip is in getting there, and in the absence of local flights to Switzerland, my journey started by coach. I am used to night coaches now. They might not be getting any more comfortable, but they still get me from A to B and give me a chance for a few hours of 'rest'. And so I reached the airport just before dawn. After the usual rigmarole of security checks and waiting around at the airport, it was time for my early-morning flight to Zurich, a really easy 90-minute jet. Over there I met up with bocki, and no sooner had I left the airport than we were whisking our way into the city centre for a spot of sightseeing.

With its narrow streets, churches and lake, Zurich is a perfectly agreeable city. Interestingly however, in the largest city in Switzerland, it is almost impossible to find Swiss food. Italian, Mexican, Japanese all fine, but hardly anything Swiss. Eventually we came across what seemed to be the only Swiss themed restaurant in the city. Rösti and Raclette cheese were on the menu, and delicious they were too. Switzerland is certainly on the pricey side, but hey, Switzerland is one of the most affluent countries in the world. The Swiss can afford it, and I was on holiday!

Later that day we headed over the border into Germany. I can think of few things more German than burning down the Autobahn, in a Mercedes, blasting out German techno music. The next couple of days were suitably leisurely. Out and about, we climbed the volcanic peaks of the Hegau, many of which have castle ruins perched high above them. Back at home, we chilled with some videos and music.

On Saturday, we drove over to East Switzerland to meet up with knuddelbock. The place I stayed was picture-postcard Switzerland: a wide valley of wooden houses and farms and grazing horses, surrounded by steep mountains with their tops shrouded in cloud. The next couple of days together were also nice and chilled: games and films and videos with the Bocks, a drive to see mixxiwuff in her art shop, a trip into Liechtenstein, a morning with moonlightpaw, and more rösti!

Those of you who have followed me a while will know that I love travelling. And with foreign travel not only are there new places to explore but also whole new cultures and often new languages. Switzerland has four official languages (German, French, Italian and Romansch clinging on in the south). Each canton (state) will speak one, two or even three of these. The most widely spoken is German… but not as you may know it. Swiss German (Schwyzerdütsch) is an interesting dialect, and listening to it on a daily basis was certainly an unusual experience. It is a sing-song dialect, almost Italianate at times, loping and rolling along just like the Swiss Alps. Form and pronunciation can vary completely from Standard German or Hochdeutsch, not to mention their lovely unique words like Stutz and Knöbli and Chuchichäschtli. And as befits what is essentially a collection of 26 mini-republics, each part of the Swiss Confederation speaks a slightly different version (Is it Drei? Drää? Drüü?) Still, I was starting to pick up the pronunciation by the end.

Overall, despite the time being much too short, I had a wonderful time. And so, to:

 bocki  knuddelbock  mixxiwuff  moonlightpaw
Many, many thanks for a lovely weekend and for all of your hospitality. And I hope we can all meet up again soon: in Switzerland, in the UK, or elsewhere!

"Laugh at death. Embrace der Hosenbügler."

"Aww, Wingardium Leviosaaah!"
"Stop it Ron, stop!"

How do you create the most amazing and fun-filled five days imaginable? Simple: take a hotel in rural Leicestershire, add 870-odd wonderfully crazy furry folk, and watch the magic and fun unfold. Yes, this was Confuzzled, the largest furry gathering in the UK and the second largest in Europe. These conventions are always a spectacle to behold, but this year's event surpassed all expectations by miles. And so, here in this journal, is my super-compressed summary of the past five days.

Arrival
This being a UK convention there were no flights for me this time, just a couple hours' train ride to the other side of Birmingham. But all through Thursday morning, watching my Twitter feed and with the album Sam's Town spurring me on, the excitement just kept rising. At Hinckley I met up with the lovely  rachez: we jumped in a taxi for the final two miles of our journey, to the Hinckley Island hotel… and a whole new world. Our 'furry Puma home' had pulled out all the stops to make this convention a success, right down to hotel staff wearing their own convention shirts. Just walking down those corridors for the first time, surrounded by giant critters, you could tell this was going to be an unforgettable weekend.

Security
This was a new experience for me. This year for the first time, I joined the Security team. Under the steady paw of our Head of Security, Dhary Montecore, the job involved guarding doors, marshalling the Fursuit Parade, keeping an eye out for trouble, and generally making sure everything ran smoothly. It was a fascinating insight into the workings of a large convention, and I am joining next year's team without a doubt.

And so, to Bad Boy Bunny, Bezel, Capeh, Codewolf, Crimson, Cueball, Dief, Drayygon, Flake, Geo Panda, Mooie, Oddity, Raithsphere, Ravell, Remco, Rwylin, Shiinsuh, Silva Wolfie and Venom: it was an absolute pleasure serving alongside you all, and hopefully we can work together again, very soon.

Events
But there were still plenty of chances to take part in events. From the Opening Ceremony to the Closing Ceremony, this year's schedule was packed with events. The Fureoke has to be my pick of the events: I gave a rendition of Holding Out for a Hero, and, well, when people were holding up signs afterwards reading 'Hero!' and 'Best Singer Ever'… that was a real honour. I'm delighted you enjoyed it so much. Great performances too from Jess Lyra, Avon and Bjorn.
You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWoa8V80N5c

The Dealers in their Den had plenty to offer for my hard-earned shinies – pictures to be uploaded in due course. Unfortunately I was outbid on everything in the Art Show, but it was still a chance to marvel at the talent in this Fandom. Dance Dance Revolution was great fun – picked up bronze in the Beginners' competition. The Artists' Alley was a quieter venue, and it was really nice getting to know Amethyst Mare, Rin and Pegla up there.

But even just sitting around chatting was a pleasure itself. In the two bars, in the restaurant, outside, afternoon or evening, there was always somebody willing to chat. And that was great.

Furs and friends
Every corner of the UK I have frequented, every meet I have attended, they all had representation here at Confuzzled. So many great people I have had the pleasure of meeting these past 3-and-a-bit years, all concentrated in one place… nothing can properly prepare you for what a joy that was. From Durham to Newcastle, Cardiff, London, Cambridge, York, Leeds, Birmingham and beyond! It was a joy to see each and every one of you. Already I am making plans for a few trips: London in July, Newcastle hopefully in August, and Leeds in October. I cannot wait to see all of you all, over again!

Special thanks
Because of course, a convention would be nothing without such a fantastic group of people. And so I say thank you, to each and every one of you. Now, with so many furs to meet, it is inevitable that I will miss some folks off the list. But I will do my best. My thanks go to:

My brilliant room-mates:  gamepopper and  meatsnack1
Dhary and the Security team
The Tyne Furs: Ram B, Autumn, Fawnspots, Freaky, Garnet, Jonnee, Miku, Neko-San, Rabid, Tera, Toshi, Tobias, Urban
The Leeds Furs: Avon, Skavi, Lupestripe, Arcais, Draken, Cheetahkid, Fioxy, Mikune, Oracle, Rushy, Stray Jim, Wally, Wolfiee
The Cambridge Furs: Harlequeen, Felder, Ponpon
The Midfurs: Rizzo, Equium, Snugglebunny, Awkore, Chad, Galli, Raze, Sayre Foxx, Tiff, Typhon
The Welsh Furs: Amethyst Mare, Neonpossum, Saethwr and Tenshi
The Londonfurs and Kent Furs: Apes, Azra, Blacksnip, Russ, Sethvir, Misty, Thayne
Furs around the world: Kruzer, Taya, Rufus, Zenon, Bloocat, Ultraviolet, Lev, Bjorn, Bandittails, Kyth, Jess Lyra, Toonie, Fabi, Pegla, Rin, Ant
The Confuzzled staff
And the team at the Hinckley Island Hotel – you shall be missed.

And so, bring on Confuzzled 2014!
Ziegenbock

Figured I should put this back on my home page. Not long to go now!

With one month to go, here is my pre-Confuzzled journal. Taken from… far too many people to list!

-
Where are you staying?
The Hinckley Island Hotel (main venue)

What day are you getting there?
Thursday 30th, lunchtime

How are you getting there?
On the train! Going right through Birmingham, so who knows, may bump into a couple of you there.

How long are you going?
Normal convention period, Thursday to Monday

Who will you be with?
I am on the Security team this year, so mostly with my colleagues. But I will definitely catch up with everyone I know who's going – and there are a lot of you! Cannot wait to see you all again.

Who are you rooming with?
 gamepopper and  meatsnack1 !

Where will you be most of the time during the con?
Anywhere I'm needed and anywhere I want!

Attending any events?
The Sparring Class and Medieval Warfare Display, with any luck.
Otherwise, Pawpet Show, fursuit walk, writing panels, DDR… anything I can!

What is your gender?
Male

How old are you?
22

How tall are you?
5'10" or thereabouts

Are you mated? In a relationship?
No and no

Can I talk to you?
By all means! Any issues, come up and let me know.

Can I take photos of you/with you?
That is perfectly fine!

Do you drink Alcohol/Smoke?
Alcohol very occasionally, smoking never.

Can I buy you lots of drinks?
Certainly, if you are offering (hint: my drink is Baileys)

Can we hang out?
I am on duty most of the convention, but do catch up with me when I am free.

Can I dance with you?
Certainly!

Can I hug you?
Just keep it tasteful.

Can I come with you for food/fun/etc?
Do chat with me about it.

Can I invite you to parties?
Certainly!

Do you do free art or trades?
I can try. I would not expect any masterpieces though.

Do you do commissions/badges?
Story Commissions, whenever I can.

Other cons you may go to?
Well, London Summer Party, but Confuzzled is my only convention this year.

Are you doing anything re. the Theme?
That is unlikely. Could take a fencing sword, but that probably wouldn't be setting the best example.

How can I find you at the con?
Goat conbadge, security badge, radio… I should be rather distinctive.

If I see you, how should I get your attention?
Wave and shout "Zieg!"

-

Well, see you all there!
Z.

If there was an award for 'Best Furmeet', the furmeet in Leeds this weekend would definitely be in the running to win. I have been to meets up and down the country, and I have enjoyed every single one of them. Even so, to find such an enjoyable meet was a real pleasure. My last visit to Leeds was a year ago, so a return trip was well overdue. And I can honestly say I am delighted that I went.

My weekend actually started on Friday afternoon. Meeting my hosts in the evening, there was time for a delicious Indian meal before catching some much-needed rest. And then, on Saturday, it was into the city centre for the meet itself. The new venue, Baa Bar, is a real find: furry-friendly, lovely staff, and to top it all off they even offered a full range of furry-themed drinks! (A Good Hard Buck... now that's my kind of drink. The discerning fur could also pick a Tail Raiser or a Fur Fox Sake, if they preferred.)

Naturally, events were not just confined to the bar. Lunch at a new burrito restaurant was a pleasant change; and come mid-afternoon, the fursuits were out in full force ready for our furwalk around Millennium Square. Photos, hilarity and priceless reactions ensued. I tell you, seeing a child's face light up when they see a giant fox or a fluffy pink puppy... that's always a delight to see.

In the evening we relocated to another nearby bar for more drinks and chats. Then, while some of the group 'split' to head bowling, I joined a group heading for dinner at the Japanese restaurant Little Tokyo. With its low ceilings, Oriental ornaments and natural wood tables, it's an impressive dining experience. And the food was gorgeous as well. My first teriyaki in my first bento box, and needless to say I will be back again for more! And even a crowded rail-replacement bus could not detract from a superb day as I left the city behind, once again and all too soon. A lazy Sunday morning, and then it was off to the station for the long ride home.

So, for a truly unforegtatable weekend, all I can say is thank you. It is testament to each and every one of you up there in Yorkshire. That's as true for the superb organisers
 wolfieuk,  lupestripe and  arcais,
as it is for every meet-goer, old and new. Thank you to everyone who took time to chat with me, including but by no means limited to:
 avon  skawinski  cheetahkid  englishmuttley  enteirah  foxb  kisaro  kyuubikira  mikune articuno southpaw suburbanfox taneligepardi tynedragon wallymunster wierdgoku wolfieoracle
(Now I know I have missed some people out, so apologies, I've tried my best!)

And, hooves crossed, I will see you all in October!

I have certainly had to climb and descend a few of those in the past. And the past two months have been no exception. So what has happened? Peaks first: I have to mention five furmeets in four weeks. Cardiff, London, Birmingham, Cardiff again, and Birmingham again - brilliant and frantic. Fencing just keeps getting better and better. And once again I have had the support of some truly sterling people, furs and non-furs alike.

And the low points? Well, nothing majorly bad has happened, just a lot of little things which have added up. Tedium, ennui, routine. An absolutely packed schedule and a few deadlines too. A mistake which, despite my best efforts, now looks irreparable. And a serious re-evaluation of who I am and where I am going.

Bottom line of it is, I needed a break.

So here I am, in a frozen corner of East Anglia. I will be staying here throughout the Easter break. And now I am here, I am just going to relax. I have a bit of work to do, but my other main priority will be commissions for  mulgerehircum and  alfuria (with any luck I will be re-opening in a few weeks). You can still contact me on the usual channels, although I may be around more infrequently now.

Aside from that, I hope to see you all again real soon, at a furmeet sometime, or even at Confuzzled!

Goat Out.

(Closed)

 apes is holding a raffle for two Real Gold Conbadges. Not one, but two! Ending tonight!
Take a look here, quick: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/4323096/

Hey!

Just a reminder I'm open for Short Story Commissions, only £10 each. Contact me in the next few days, and I can guarantee a fast turn-around.

More details here: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/3932856/

(Closed)

So  xdyuxd is holding a raffle.
Take a look: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/4292576/

Just a quick note to say I'm heading back to Wales tomorrow morning. Looking forward to getting back to work, and of course to the Cardiff meet on Saturday!

Also, I'd just like to say, thank you very much for all your messages after what happened on Monday. I really appreciate them.

Z.

What a horrible start to the New Year.

Toffee, my Lionhead Dwarf rabbit and only pet, has passed away aged 9 and a half. I know he was 'only a rabbit', but I still miss him. It's the first time in fifteen years that I've lost anyone important to me. I wish I could have done more with him when he was alive. He had a whole range of health problems, and he also had one leg amputated, having lost it last year in suspicious circumstances. No matter: he is at peace now.

It's over. I'm fine. We will bury him in the morning. I'm going to carry on with my work now.

Toffee - born 17 May 2003, passed away 31 December 2012.
Requiescat in pace.

How can the light that burned so brightly,
Suddenly burn so pale?

Furmeets, late-night coaches, old friends and new places... Yesterday I arrived back home from my first long trip in several months. Over those five days, I took in three nations, two furmeets, and a whole host of new experiences. A really interesting little journey! Here's what I got up to:

---

Saturday 1 December - London
A 4am start, and by 5.15am I was out bracing the freezing Welsh winter air. My coach left at 6, and by 9.30am I arrived at my first stop... London! From Victoria I made a quick trip to Barnet, then back into the City and to Moorgate station for the London Furs Winter Party. My first visit to the Old Smoke since the Olympics, and my first Winter Party. It was good to see my old friends, and as always it's a pleasure to meet the new furs. And let me just say, what a great venue! All the right ingredients were there: great people, fursuits galore, a fun little walk, and of course a good supply of Baileys, a newly-found fondness of mine (I blame you  kai-llewellyn!)

It's a shame I had to leave early... okay, it was only half an hour early. But still, I had my next coach to catch. So a quick Tube journey back down to Vic, and by 11.30pm I was back on my way, on to my next destination...


Sunday 2 and Monday 3 - Newcastle furmeet
On an overnight coach, luxury is hardly the name of the game. You sleep as best you can. And it's annoying to say the least waking up halfway through the trip, thirsty as anything, and finding your bottle of water's disappeared without a trace. Thank goodness for the 3am service station stop. But that's all part of the fun: a new experience, leaving one fantastic destination and reaching another, and enjoying the ride too!

And at 6am on Sunday I had arrived at my next stop... Newcastle! My plan was to wait in the bus station until the meet. But it was closed for the next four hours, and freezing outside! So for the next few hours I wandered the city, as the sun rose over those famous bridges. Soon the first shops opened: I took a paper and took up station in Starbucks for the next couple of hours, readjusting to the Geordie way of life, with the help of some Dire Straits on the radio.

For me this was something of a homecoming: my old home (about 15 minutes down the road), and the first furmeet I ever attended nearly three years ago. Meeting the  tynefurs at Central Station is always a pleasure, bleary-eyed as I was. Indeed it was a joy to see the first furs I ever met, way back on that February morning. Brilliant.

Most of the day was spent at our 'base' bar, drinking, chatting, and just generally catching up after my few months away. There was a break for lunch at a Japanese restauruant, an old favourite, and a trip around the bars in the evening. Then it was on the Metro, and on to Sunderland for the night.

Monday was a day at leisure, time to shop, to refuel and to enjoy another day in north-east England. Thank you very much to my hosts for the two nights.


Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 - Edinburgh
Everyone loves Edinburgh. Whoever you talk to, they all say it's a lovely city. And they're right. From the history and heritage of the Royal Mile, to the splendour of the Georgian New Town, Edinburgh is a capital which the Scottish people are righty proud of. This visit was actually a study trip organised by my University. It was also my first visit on over four years, so steping off the train at Waverley station, I was fairly excited.

Tuesday afternoon our University group reconvened for some talks, before we headed down to the Scottish Parliament (striking, confident, and as different to Westminster as you could imagine). Afterwards there was time for a meal and drinks, before we headed to the hotel.

Wednesday morning there were more talks, and Wednesday afternoon we were free for shopping! Unfortunately we ran out of time to see pandas at the Zoo, but a spot of Christmas retail therapy gave us plenty to focus on.

Soon though, it was time to leave Auld Reekie once again. A bus to the Airport, a stroll through Security, and an hour and a half airborne. And an hour and a half after that, I was home!

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So, any plans for the future? Well,  eda and I are travelling up to Birmingham this Saturday, and I'm heading back to East Anglia for Christmas. At some point I'd like to make a longer journey like that, but travelling with someone. But right now, I guess it's back to work!

Simply. Cannot. Wait.

In just thirteen short hours, I will be on my winter holiday. My first journey will take me into central London for the biggest UK furry event this winter: the London Furs Winter Party. My first trip to London since the Olympics, and the party's promising to be massive! So many people I'm looking forward to seeing, some of you I haven't seen since Eurofurence, or even before then. Far too many of you to list, but I'll do my utmost to say hello to everyone.

Going to have some tea in a short while, and get an early night. Then, I'll be up before dawn for my coach into London. Those of you who are going, see you in Town. Everyone else, see you soon!

Z.

I'm still open for Short Story Commissions, only £10 each. You can find all the details here:

http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/3932856/

Once again, I am opening for my Short Story Commissions. Since moving away from home and starting my Master's degree, I have had course and living costs to budget for. These commissions will go a long way to helping me meet these costs, so please do consider commissioning me. Otherwise, same rules as before!

Exactly as the title says, I am opening up for written commissions. If you've ever wanted to see your fursona or character feature in their very own short story, this is your chance.

For examples, feel free to look around my gallery, or to take a look at these recent examples (all NSFW):
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8681006/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8825500/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7848641/

As well as furry erotic fiction (my main area), I will accept clean stories, and I am happy to write about most things in a furry/anthro context. There are just a few things which I'd prefer not to write about. These include: scat/WS, babyfurs and hard vore. Feel free to ask me if you're unsure.

---

How to commission me
Send me a note here on FA with your idea (names, species, setting, etc). Your idea can be as simple or as detailed as you like. I will then get in touch with you, and we'll take it from there. When I have finished a first draft you can suggest any changes, to make sure your story turns out the way you want.

Price: £10
For this, I'm not going to set a word limit, because the final length will be different depending on each individual idea. I will aim for a target of between 5 and 10 pages, with a minimum of 5 pages; but in any case you will get a full, unique story featuring your characters. The price reflects my time commitment for each story, and takes into account my day-to-day expenses.

My Paypal: ziegenbockfur[at]yahoo.com
Before I start work on your story, I will ask for payment. Please send payment as a 'personal payment', not as a 'good'.

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Current list:
1.  mulgerehircum - Paid - in progress
2.  alfuria - Paid - Complete

Any other questions, send me a note. I look forward to hearing your ideas!

 mountaingoat dared me to!

Comment on this journal and I'll...

1. Tell you something I learned about by looking at your FA page for 13 seconds
2. Tell you a colour you remind me of
3. Tell you my first memory of you
4. Ask you a question
5. Tell you something I like about you
6. Give you a nickname
7. Tell you the object that is to the left of me
8. Dare you to do this yourself in your journal

"Hey, Zieg, you've graduated from university. So what are your plans for the future?"

Well tomorrow, I will be taking the next big step. Right now I'm at home in East Anglia, where I have been all summer. It has been a long summer filled with meets, conventions, and a fair bit of work as well. Tomorrow however, I will have moved into my new home… in Wales! I will be there for twelve months, studying for a Master's degree in Cardiff.

I can't begin to say how excited I am about this move. Wales is one of my favourite parts of the world: a beautiful country steeped in history, proud and patriotic (rightly so!), which I have been fond of ever since I first visited about ten years ago. Not to mention a fair few more mountains that East Anglia! House is sorted, paperwork all sent off, so all that's left is the drive down tomorrow morning!

Fortunately, I have a few friends living nearby (look forward to catching up with you guys), and hopefully a few more to make as well. I will still be in touch with everyone, however, and I will be heading to meets elsewhere (including the London Furs Winter Party).

Until then however, hwyl fawr!
Zieg

Eurofurence. One incredible week of art, fursuits, events and of course wonderfully friendly people. Europe's largest furry convention certainly impressed again last week, with over 1300 furs in attendance. This year was the convention's 18th staging, its third in the eastern German city of Magdeburg, and my second visit in a row. And so, here are a few highlights of my week in Deutschland.

The Journey
Even after packing late the previous night, I was still up at 4am on the dot, throwing the 6-hour-sleep rule out of the window before I even left my home. But such is a typical pre-Eurofurence Tuesday, and by 5am I was out of the door and on my way. Once again I took the plane to Germany, and very soon I arrived at Stansted Airport, where I met  levlion,  jym and  codewolf. A breeze through security and we were on our Germanwings flight to Hanover. At little over an hour, it's such a quick flight that after one song on my MP3 player, the seat-belt signs came back on. This year I was travelling exactly the same way as last year, so everything fitted together seamlessly. Two trains and a couple of hours later, and we were there. Lev and Jym, you were great company on the way there and back. Thank you for keeping me entertained with your tales of ring-foxes, Devices and dinosaurs!

The hotel
Once again, the four-star Maritim proved a fitting venue. Seven floors and over 600 rooms, filled with furs (with a big contingent in other hotels too!) In the vast glass-roofed lobby, there was always someone to chat with, or a pawful of fursuiters to meet and greet. The hotel had its own pool (although swimming proved to be an interesting exercise), and all the rooms we needed for our events (more below), not to mention the Piano Bar for cocktail nights!

Events
Well, where to start? The Dealer's Den was fun to look around. I was a bit lighter spending this year, but it was good to see my friends getting lots of trade in there. There were no shortage of workshops, and I went to a couple of writing panels and the voice-acting group. Artists' Lounge was fun too, a good place to admire other's artistic skills (or lament your lack of them). The Art Show offered a fascinating glimpse at the varying art styles in the Fandom, and I picked up a lovely piece as well. And the Pawpet Show was entertaining, and a better length at three hours, as opposed to last years' four. Also definitely needing a mention is the Medieval Market, taking place in the city, a superb showcase of food, craft and entertainment from the Middle Ages.

The Furwalk
Once again this was madness, but so much fun. Walking through the shops and streets of a German city, surrounded by literally hundreds of giant wolves and foxes and horses (something in the region of 600). Never would I have imagined, a few years ago, this is how I would be spending my summers! The locals once again were fantastic sports, getting up close with our critters for hugs and photos. So many people, children and adults, had smiles on their faces as our procession came past. And that's what this is all about: bringing a bit of fun into people's lives.

Food!
Goats will eat anything, and Magdeburg offered plenty of choice for the hungry hoofer. House of Steaks was a firm favourite for the first two nights, and apparently not just with our group (fully booked by the third night). There were German treats (courtesy of Kaufland), kebabs, sushi, Greek food… not to mention that perennial favourite, McDonald's. The German version can be pretty generous as I found out having ordered one burger, only to have my server re-emerge shortly afterwards with four. Hey, I wasn't complaining! (and neither was  silveranthony )

Furs
So many furs to meet, familiar faces and brand new ones too. Friends from Newcastle, friends from the London meets, the German furs, and furs from further afield. There are far too many to name individually. So this is a thank you to each and every one of you I met at the convention, spoke to, partied with, played Stylophone with, and otherwise got to know. I couldn't have hoped for a better group of people to hang out with.

Bock-Con 2012
Finally, goats! Okay, nowhere near fox numbers, but still a sizeable herd. So, a special mention to  bocki,  knuddelbock,  twice, Kiki and Rubix, for making Bock-Con 2012 such a resounding success.

For my final thought: I only have positive things to say about another brilliant week in Germany, and at Eurofurence. To the organisers, staff and all the attendees: Vielen Dank!

So, the Olympics are over (with the Paralympics coming up), and it's time to start thinking about my next adventure: Eurofurence! The biggest furry party in Europe kicks off a fortnight from today, so as is traditional, here is my pre-convention journal.

Where are you staying?
Hotel Maritim, Magdeburg

What day are you getting there?
28th, about lunchtime

How long are you going?
The whole convention, plus early/late

Who are you travelling/rooming with?
Travelling with  levlion and  jym (coach/plane/train).
Rooming with  freaky!

Who will you be with?
Including but not limited to:

Who will you hang out with during the convention?
All the above, and many more besides!

Where will you be most of the time during the day's?
The lobby, the bar, the art show, the Dealers' Den, in town... everywhere!

What/where will you be eating?
House of Steaks, pizza, McDo, kebabs... anywhere and anything that takes my fancy! Seriously, you're asking a goat this?

Are there any panels you might be attending?
Whatever grabs me. Writing panels, anything hoofer-related, voice acting, and I'll probably drop in on some RPGs too.

Are you attending any stage or public performances?
Yes!

Do you have an artist table?
Nope

Will you be suiting?
Again, not this year

Do you do free art?
Well, I'll give it a go...

Can I talk to you?
Yes! I speak English, German and French.

How can I find you?
Goat conbadge, simple (There can't be that many goats...)

Can I give you stuff?
As in artwork? Go ahead!

Can I buy you drinks?
Yes please! (Bionade Holunder makes this goat happy)

Can I hug or snuggle with you?
Just keep it decent

Are you taken? Are you looking for a 'mate'?
No and not necessarily

Can I come with you for food/fun/etc?
Do chat with me about it.

Can I take your picture?
That's perfectly fine!

Can I invite you to parties?
Certainly!

Do you do commissions?
I do indeed. Take a butcher's here http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/3665258/ , or talk with me at the convention.

If I see you, how should I get your attention?
Wave and shout "Zieg!"

(This entry was lovingly adapted from the journals of  sketchkat and  kiwie.)

Thank you to everybody who has shown an interest in my Short Story Commissions. I will be away from home for the next few days, and I am unsure how much time I will have for writing. Either way though, I will keep working on them, and I aim to have them all complete before going on holiday on the 28th.

I am currently closed for new commissions, but I hope to open again at the start of September.

Cheers,
Z.

The Great British countryside.
The noise and chaos of the Industrial Revolution.
Evelyn Glennie and a thousand drummers.
James Bond and the Queen... skydiving.
Mr Bean.
The London Symphony Orchestra.
Tim Berners-Lee.
Arctic Monkeys.
David Beckham.
Our next generation of athletes.
And quite possibly the most spectacular Flame Cauldron ever.

Yes, this was the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics, the Games of the XXX Olympiad. I have been looking forward to the Olympics ever since we won the bid, on that July day in Singapore way back in 2005. I'll admit, after seeing previews of the set, I did have reservations about how the show would work out. But yesterday I watched it, and I can safely say, it was amazing! This evening, I have been watching the Opening Ceremony again on the BBC's iPlayer. And believe me, I could watch it again and again for a very long time. The Industrial Revolution set and music in particular were stunning. Words can barely describe it. Go. Watch. Now. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer

So, now that the Cauldron has been lit, what are everyone's plans for the Games? Who is going to see the action live? I will be in London in a couple of weeks' time for the Athletics. As well as that, I will be watching lots of the action on TV, including fencing (naturally), velodrome cycling, and... pretty much everything!

PS Today was my first Cambridge meet of the summer. Old friends, new friends, picnic in the park, aerobie, and liberal amounts of Pepsi! Thank you all for a great day.