Another Grand Result for Marc Oberon

Watching Marc compete in the International Weekend close up contest I started to wonder a couple of things. Firstly, is it possible to make a living by going around the world winning magic contests and, secondly, will Marc be the first person to win both close up and stage competitions with the same act? He won the first prize of a thousand pounds with the "act as seen" The bit with the gold and glittery stuff doesn't do anything at all for me but his work with his stacked deck and finding any card named at any chosen place is a thing of wonder. It is so good that at times you would think he used a stooge...but he wouldn't do that would he? It is a competition act through and through where as James Brown's stuff was clearly simply what he does for a living. He got second place without even removing his registration badge from his hip where he had chosen to wear it. Total confidence and completely comfortable to such a degree that my girlfriend (who was watching formal magic for the very first time) thought he had a tendency towards the arrogant...initially I didn't agree but after introducing and watching him at his lecture I can see where she is coming from.

Dynamo came third with his usual fare with cards and an unusual effect...a colour changing Trainer. He has improved his presentation a thousand percent and is a very interesting young man. I hope he spends his winnings wisely.

Here we are...another day another convention...

Been offline for ages...actually my computer has been so corrupted by bastard hackers it now takes months for the thing to boot up...that's my excuse. I have a pop up telling me I have a pop up problem and trying to sell me a program to stop pop ups when the only bloody pop up I get is their one. If I could get hold of the guy who thought up that little beauty I would gladly give up a life time of pacifism and throttle him slowly and, with luck, painfully. What the hell Norton Security, Panda Anti Virus and the other one whose name I forget do for their money I will never know...

I have spent a small fortune on anti virus, anti spyware, anti this and anti that, registry cleaners and miracle cures without complete success...I'm fed up...

but...

Ron's Day (weekend actually) is coming up. Yes the International Day (weekend actually) of Magic is this weekend. I leave Avelar, Portugal tonight and park near Lisbon airport to be ready to get an early (for me) flight to Gatwick.

This year's convention will have a different slant to it given that my new lady friend Sheila is joining me for the weekend. How she takes to a bunch of nutty magicians will be interesting to find out...

I don't know much about the line up this year but I do know David Sousa, FISM manipulation winner (and in my opinion far better than the Grand Prix winner) will be seen in England for the first time...it will be the fifth and sixth time I have seen his piece and I can't wait...

Because of the current circumstances I will be staying in the convention hotel and hope to post breakfast details in due course...at the money the hotel is charging they better be good.

Last year I had the good fortune to see Rick Merill for the first time. If I see a competition act anywhere nearly as good as he is the trip will be worth it...and if Man City beat Liverpool at Anfield I will be in seventh heaven despite the grief it would cause Paul and Ben Stone...