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Thank you so much everyone for coming back for the next chapter. I appreciate this so, so much.
So I hope you will enjoy this chapter here. A little warning goes with it, because...
... this Chapter contains spiders, a little bit of horror and some gory descriptions of ... some deaths ;)
Please take care of yourself if you decide to read it. ♥
PS: I did A LOT of research about Spiders. O_O''''''
( The Mistress of the Shadowland, Second Book, The next Chapter )
So I hope you will enjoy this chapter here. A little warning goes with it, because...
... this Chapter contains spiders, a little bit of horror and some gory descriptions of ... some deaths ;)
Please take care of yourself if you decide to read it. ♥
PS: I did A LOT of research about Spiders. O_O''''''
MCM Birmingham, Part I
Aug. 15th, 2026 01:02 pmWhen I posted my last update before Birmingham on Friday afternoon, I had no idea what was in store for the rest of the evening. I was incredibly excited, of course, but my first thought was really just hoping that everything we’d planned — the drive with the taxi, the flight, the arrival time, the hotel, and so on — would go smoothly.
I packed my suitcase late in the afternoon, which turned into quite an adventure because Ivi decided that this was her new bed. ;D
I’d open the suitcase — BAM — in jumps Ivi. I’d take the cat out, reach for my clothes - BAM - Ivi’s back in the suitcase; I’d put the cat down - BAM - Ivi’s sitting on my clothes. ;D
And when I finally closed the suitcase, there she was, sitting right on top like the Queen of Sheba. ;D
I think I should just stop buying cat beds for Ivi and simply leave an open suitcase in the room instead. That seems to work. ;D
My mom and I spent the evening chilling on the couch and around 10PM, I went to my room and spent some time on Discord voice chat with Vin, Ace and Sushimi. It was just past 11PM when my mom suddenly came into my room, apologized and said she needed my help. I turned down my headset, took it off and looked at her inquiringly.
She told me she was worried about her swollen foot.
"Is my leg swollen?"
I took a look but didn't know what to say. It was a bit swollen, but I’m no doctor and certainly can’t make a diagnosis. I do remember her having swollen feet last summer, though, and I think it can be caused by the heat. But like I said, I’m no doctor. There is a hotline for the medical on-call service — for finding a doctor or making an appointment — and I thought she could call it; maybe someone there could help her. She asked if I could do it for her, so I did. But, of course, there was just an automated message telling callers to contact emergency services or an emergency doctor. My mother didn't want to do that, though... because she wanted to fly to Birmingham. But there was the — perhaps - well-founded—concern about a blood clot; and you simply can't fly with one of those without risking your life. I told her again that we should call an emergency doctor or go to the hospital. She refused both options and that kind of stubbornness just drives me crazy. I feel so terribly helpless in situations like that, and to keep from losing my cool, I end up getting angry and even mean. :/
I kept telling her I didn't know how to help her. Then she started to cry and said, "I didn't want to tell you, but earlier today, when I went to the pharmacy, I almost lost consciousness. I couldn't catch my breath and could barely walk up the stairs."
That was the moment I said, "Okay, that’s it. I’m calling an emergency doctor now."
And that’s what I did. The person on the line immediately asked for the address and name before I could even explain what had happened. I was quickly told that no emergency doctor would be sent because the situation wasn't immediately life-threatening. Understandable.
But he strongly urged us to go to the hospital to get it checked out. So, I decided that was exactly what we would do. I thanked him for the call and told my mother to get dressed. Then I called a taxi, which arrived to pick us up five minutes later. And as I sat alone in the back seat, my throat felt increasingly tight, and I could barely breathe. But I didn't say anything, since we had already arrived at the hospital and went straight to the doctor on duty.
It was an older woman who examined my mother while she was crying. She was also extremely agitated — understandably so, given the fear of having a thrombosis and not being allowed to fly.
As for me, I was a complete nervous wreck.
So Mom was examined (blood pressure taken, heart and lungs listened to) and then the doctor said she suspected my mother had not only a thrombosis but also obvious heart rhythm irregularities and atrial fibrillation. So we went straight to the emergency room, where at least twenty people were ahead of us waiting for a doctor or an examination. To my surprise, a nurse took my mother in after just two minutes — much to the annoyance of some of the others waiting. And I wasn't allowed to go with my mother, either.
After we’d checked in at the ER, I briefly sent Mom outside and asked — my voice trembling — if they happened to have a paper bag I could breathe into, because I’d been in the grip of a panic attack for at least twenty minutes.
But no, they had neither a paper bag nor any idea how to help me. All they said was, "We’ll take care of your mother. She’ll be fine."
…
And then I sat in a corner outside and cried. I messaged Jutta, and when she suggested a phone call, I said no because I knew I’d completely lose my composure if I had to speak. At the same time, I was chatting with Bel, who guided me through breathing exercises to calm me down. I waited about thirty minutes before the nurse came out and called me over.
She led me into the trauma room (just seeing the label on the door made me cry), where my mom was lying on a gurney, hooked up to numerous tubes and monitors. Then the nurse left us alone, and my first question was: "Okay, how serious is it? Is there a risk you might die?"
I know that sounds strange — and perhaps even highly inappropriate — to many people, but I cope better with situations when I know exactly where I stand. There’s a part of me that can kick into gear then. Sort of.
Mom was still crying and I’d feared the worst, but she told me they’d only drawn blood so far; the comprehensive blood panel would take about an hour and a half to two hours, and we’d have to wait for the results. It was 12:20AM by then.
Naturally, she was hooked up to all the monitors; I’d seen her blood pressure (normal) and her heart rate — which had calmed down over time.
And then we had to wait — and we grew closer again in the process. I knew Mom had really wanted to go to Birmingham — partly for my sake — and felt terrible and guilty because it meant I wouldn’t see Neil. But I told myself, that’s just how it is. Neil isn’t more important than my mother’s health. And it was absolutely clear to me that the trip wasn’t going to happen anymore.
Shortly after 2AM, a female doctor appeared, wheeling in an ultrasound machine. My mother was still very agitated and scared, so I can understand why she didn’t catch everything the first time around. The doctor was also quite rude, which I didn’t appreciate. But I focused on Mom - holding her hand, helping her undress, rubbing her back and trying to calm her down.
There were no signs of thrombosis but the doctor suggested Mom stay in the hospital overnight and be examined again between 8 and 10AM next morning. If nothing pointed to thrombosis then either, she’d get the all-clear to fly.
We agreed but I was certain the Birmingham trip was now a thing of the past. I asked about the condition of her heart and the doctor replied that there were absolutely no signs of heart problems.
The only issue that had come up was a blood clotting problem (a small one), so they wanted to be on the safe side and keep her there overnight.
We said our goodbyes, hugged and I left the emergency room. The man at the reception desk saw how exhausted I was and offered to call me a taxi — an offer I gratefully accepted.
I got home at 3AM, barely managed to undress and collapsed onto the sofa in exhaustion (I’ve been sleeping in the living room since the heatwave started because I can open the balcony door there). I was terrified — absolutely terrified — that something might happen and I wouldn't be by her side. Yet, to my own surprise, I tried to calm myself down with the thought: "Anke, if no one calls you, it means nothing has happened."
In the end, I was so exhausted that I fell asleep and didn't wake up until 9AM. I messaged my mom on WhatsApp, but I didn't get a reply.
I had spoken to Jutta on the phone the evening before and asked if she was still willing to come over, even if we couldn't make the trip to Birmingham. She said it was no problem at all.
So, I waited.
Shortly after 10AM, my mom called to say she was waiting for her second ultrasound. We talked about the trip and I suggested calling the taxi company to ask if they could pick us up forty-five minutes later. So, that’s what we did.
Around 11AM, the doorbell rang, and Jutta came up the stairs. She was surprised to see that I still hadn't received any news from my mom or the hospital.
About 15 minutes later, my mom called to tell me she had been examined and given the all-clear to fly.
I couldn't believe it.
Normally, the taxi was supposed to pick us up at 12:30PM - before I pushed the pickup time back - and my mom got home at exactly 12:25PM. She quickly changed and got ready, and then it was time to leave the apartment and wait for the taxi.
Part II will follow soon. And if you have read this, thank you so, so much!!
Much love,
Anke~
I packed my suitcase late in the afternoon, which turned into quite an adventure because Ivi decided that this was her new bed. ;D
I’d open the suitcase — BAM — in jumps Ivi. I’d take the cat out, reach for my clothes - BAM - Ivi’s back in the suitcase; I’d put the cat down - BAM - Ivi’s sitting on my clothes. ;D
And when I finally closed the suitcase, there she was, sitting right on top like the Queen of Sheba. ;D
I think I should just stop buying cat beds for Ivi and simply leave an open suitcase in the room instead. That seems to work. ;D
My mom and I spent the evening chilling on the couch and around 10PM, I went to my room and spent some time on Discord voice chat with Vin, Ace and Sushimi. It was just past 11PM when my mom suddenly came into my room, apologized and said she needed my help. I turned down my headset, took it off and looked at her inquiringly.
She told me she was worried about her swollen foot.
"Is my leg swollen?"
I took a look but didn't know what to say. It was a bit swollen, but I’m no doctor and certainly can’t make a diagnosis. I do remember her having swollen feet last summer, though, and I think it can be caused by the heat. But like I said, I’m no doctor. There is a hotline for the medical on-call service — for finding a doctor or making an appointment — and I thought she could call it; maybe someone there could help her. She asked if I could do it for her, so I did. But, of course, there was just an automated message telling callers to contact emergency services or an emergency doctor. My mother didn't want to do that, though... because she wanted to fly to Birmingham. But there was the — perhaps - well-founded—concern about a blood clot; and you simply can't fly with one of those without risking your life. I told her again that we should call an emergency doctor or go to the hospital. She refused both options and that kind of stubbornness just drives me crazy. I feel so terribly helpless in situations like that, and to keep from losing my cool, I end up getting angry and even mean. :/
I kept telling her I didn't know how to help her. Then she started to cry and said, "I didn't want to tell you, but earlier today, when I went to the pharmacy, I almost lost consciousness. I couldn't catch my breath and could barely walk up the stairs."
That was the moment I said, "Okay, that’s it. I’m calling an emergency doctor now."
And that’s what I did. The person on the line immediately asked for the address and name before I could even explain what had happened. I was quickly told that no emergency doctor would be sent because the situation wasn't immediately life-threatening. Understandable.
But he strongly urged us to go to the hospital to get it checked out. So, I decided that was exactly what we would do. I thanked him for the call and told my mother to get dressed. Then I called a taxi, which arrived to pick us up five minutes later. And as I sat alone in the back seat, my throat felt increasingly tight, and I could barely breathe. But I didn't say anything, since we had already arrived at the hospital and went straight to the doctor on duty.
It was an older woman who examined my mother while she was crying. She was also extremely agitated — understandably so, given the fear of having a thrombosis and not being allowed to fly.
As for me, I was a complete nervous wreck.
So Mom was examined (blood pressure taken, heart and lungs listened to) and then the doctor said she suspected my mother had not only a thrombosis but also obvious heart rhythm irregularities and atrial fibrillation. So we went straight to the emergency room, where at least twenty people were ahead of us waiting for a doctor or an examination. To my surprise, a nurse took my mother in after just two minutes — much to the annoyance of some of the others waiting. And I wasn't allowed to go with my mother, either.
After we’d checked in at the ER, I briefly sent Mom outside and asked — my voice trembling — if they happened to have a paper bag I could breathe into, because I’d been in the grip of a panic attack for at least twenty minutes.
But no, they had neither a paper bag nor any idea how to help me. All they said was, "We’ll take care of your mother. She’ll be fine."
…
And then I sat in a corner outside and cried. I messaged Jutta, and when she suggested a phone call, I said no because I knew I’d completely lose my composure if I had to speak. At the same time, I was chatting with Bel, who guided me through breathing exercises to calm me down. I waited about thirty minutes before the nurse came out and called me over.
She led me into the trauma room (just seeing the label on the door made me cry), where my mom was lying on a gurney, hooked up to numerous tubes and monitors. Then the nurse left us alone, and my first question was: "Okay, how serious is it? Is there a risk you might die?"
I know that sounds strange — and perhaps even highly inappropriate — to many people, but I cope better with situations when I know exactly where I stand. There’s a part of me that can kick into gear then. Sort of.
Mom was still crying and I’d feared the worst, but she told me they’d only drawn blood so far; the comprehensive blood panel would take about an hour and a half to two hours, and we’d have to wait for the results. It was 12:20AM by then.
Naturally, she was hooked up to all the monitors; I’d seen her blood pressure (normal) and her heart rate — which had calmed down over time.
And then we had to wait — and we grew closer again in the process. I knew Mom had really wanted to go to Birmingham — partly for my sake — and felt terrible and guilty because it meant I wouldn’t see Neil. But I told myself, that’s just how it is. Neil isn’t more important than my mother’s health. And it was absolutely clear to me that the trip wasn’t going to happen anymore.
Shortly after 2AM, a female doctor appeared, wheeling in an ultrasound machine. My mother was still very agitated and scared, so I can understand why she didn’t catch everything the first time around. The doctor was also quite rude, which I didn’t appreciate. But I focused on Mom - holding her hand, helping her undress, rubbing her back and trying to calm her down.
There were no signs of thrombosis but the doctor suggested Mom stay in the hospital overnight and be examined again between 8 and 10AM next morning. If nothing pointed to thrombosis then either, she’d get the all-clear to fly.
We agreed but I was certain the Birmingham trip was now a thing of the past. I asked about the condition of her heart and the doctor replied that there were absolutely no signs of heart problems.
The only issue that had come up was a blood clotting problem (a small one), so they wanted to be on the safe side and keep her there overnight.
We said our goodbyes, hugged and I left the emergency room. The man at the reception desk saw how exhausted I was and offered to call me a taxi — an offer I gratefully accepted.
I got home at 3AM, barely managed to undress and collapsed onto the sofa in exhaustion (I’ve been sleeping in the living room since the heatwave started because I can open the balcony door there). I was terrified — absolutely terrified — that something might happen and I wouldn't be by her side. Yet, to my own surprise, I tried to calm myself down with the thought: "Anke, if no one calls you, it means nothing has happened."
In the end, I was so exhausted that I fell asleep and didn't wake up until 9AM. I messaged my mom on WhatsApp, but I didn't get a reply.
I had spoken to Jutta on the phone the evening before and asked if she was still willing to come over, even if we couldn't make the trip to Birmingham. She said it was no problem at all.
So, I waited.
Shortly after 10AM, my mom called to say she was waiting for her second ultrasound. We talked about the trip and I suggested calling the taxi company to ask if they could pick us up forty-five minutes later. So, that’s what we did.
Around 11AM, the doorbell rang, and Jutta came up the stairs. She was surprised to see that I still hadn't received any news from my mom or the hospital.
About 15 minutes later, my mom called to tell me she had been examined and given the all-clear to fly.
I couldn't believe it.
Normally, the taxi was supposed to pick us up at 12:30PM - before I pushed the pickup time back - and my mom got home at exactly 12:25PM. She quickly changed and got ready, and then it was time to leave the apartment and wait for the taxi.
Part II will follow soon. And if you have read this, thank you so, so much!!
Much love,
Anke~
Hello my dear ones. Thank you so much for being here and reading the next chapter. But first, I will explain a little bit what is going on, I think.
In this chapter, a new character appears who will play an important role later in the story.
This character is Linet, a young maid in a sexual relationship with Teárlach.
Their relationship is characterized by very intense, rough sex, but it occurs with Linet's consent, as I'm placing her within the realm of BDSM. This means we're entering the darker aspects of sexual experience, which are nevertheless based on Linet's consent.
I've done a lot of research on this topic, and I hope I'm meeting the needs of the sub/dom community (BDSM).
It's up to you whether you choose to read this chapter or not. Whatever you decide, please take care of yourself. ♥
Content Warning: Blowjob, Deepthroat, Dirty Talk, Dom/Sub
( The Mistress of the Shadowland, Second Book, The next Chapter )
In this chapter, a new character appears who will play an important role later in the story.
This character is Linet, a young maid in a sexual relationship with Teárlach.
Their relationship is characterized by very intense, rough sex, but it occurs with Linet's consent, as I'm placing her within the realm of BDSM. This means we're entering the darker aspects of sexual experience, which are nevertheless based on Linet's consent.
I've done a lot of research on this topic, and I hope I'm meeting the needs of the sub/dom community (BDSM).
It's up to you whether you choose to read this chapter or not. Whatever you decide, please take care of yourself. ♥
Content Warning: Blowjob, Deepthroat, Dirty Talk, Dom/Sub
Here is the next chapter. Please enjoy it and thank you so, so much for reading. It still means the world to me and will probably never change. ♥
( The Mistress of the Shadowland, Second Book, The next Chapter )
Please enjoy the next Chapter! I am excited to her what you think about it! ♥
( The Mistress of the Shadowland, Second Book, The next Chapter )
Okay, at first I have to apologize because this chapter is really small. I think, it is the smallest I have ever uploaded here, but I have to re-work the next chapters (searching for typos etc) and I didn't because it was Christmas-Week. I apologize and hope, you will still like it.
Thank you so, so much for reading nevertheless. It means so much to me. :3
( The Mistress of the Shadowland, Second Book, The next Chapter )
Thank you so, so much for reading nevertheless. It means so much to me. :3
Please enjoy the newest chapter. It is a little bit smaller for this week and I hope you don't mind it. Nevertheless, thank you so much for reading! ♥
( The Mistress of the Shadowland, Second Book, The next Chapter )
Please enjoy this chapter and thank you so, so much for reading and commenting. It means the world to me!!
( The Mistress of the Shadowland, Second Book, The next Chapter )
Heroes Dutch Comic Con / The Panel
Dec. 13th, 2025 12:36 pmAfter getting my photo with Neil, my legs and hands still shaking, we headed towards the main stage, which was only a few steps away, as we knew that the Baldur's Gate 3/Expedition 33: Claire Obscure panel was coming up next. We sat down to the side, but still had a pretty good view of the stage.
I was able to catch a bit of the previous actor's panel. Unfortunately, I can't remember his name, but I think he was in one (or more?) Marvel movie(s). I just love seeing how interested the fans are, what questions they ask, and how the person being interviewed responds. The last question asked of him was who his superheroes are, and his answer was: My parents.
Awww! That melted my heart a little. :3
I think my mom came back before the panel started because she had a photo booth appointment with Dominic Monaghan. She was so excited and beaming. XD
Giving her this photo was a damn good idea. ;D
And just a moment later, the trailers for BG3 and Expedition 33 started playing. When the panel started, Sarah quickly got in line to ask a question, while I sat in my seat and waited. I was lucky enough to see some of the Baldur's Gate 3 cast at a panel last year, but the fact that Neil was there this time... that was just special. I had never seen him live before, and when he came on stage... wow, that was a really great moment. The man has incredible charm and charisma. Everyone waved to the crowd, and Neil said something in Dutch that I didn't quite understand. But the crowd laughed and seemed to enjoy it, so I knew he had won everyone over right away. ;D
I would say that a good 85% of all fan questions went to the Baldur's Gate 3 team, and the people from Team Expedition 33 didn't get quite as many questions. But Neil and the others always included everyone in the team so that no one felt left out. There were two fans who came up to the front of the stage, but instead of asking questions, they gave gifts to Neil and Tim. I know that was a very kind gesture and both of them were very happy about it, but I felt sorry for the fans who wanted to ask a question and couldn't because the 30 minutes were up. That's what happened to Sarah and one other person, because if those two had left their gifts at the table, she and the other person would have been able to ask their questions.
Most of the questions were about working as a voice actor or which character people would like to play if it wasn't the one they had played before. Astarion was the clear winner. Pretty much everyone would want to play his role. ;D
There was also a question where the Bg3 team was asked which of their favorite songs they would compare to their character, and Neil's answer was that he doesn't reveal anything personal about himself. Nevertheless, he would choose “The Doors” ‘People are strange’, which made my old hippie heart beat faster. It seems like we have similar tastes in music... which may also be because we are the same age. ;D
The really funny thing was that Tim was then asked if it was really true that he used his daughter's closet to record himself speaking as Gale. His answer was that he had to say various spells, all in Latin, and he was sure that they weren't supposed to be pronounced that way. It was about the Italian accent, and he and Neil had made fun of the fact that Gale could have recited his Latin spells with an Italian accent. “It's a me, Gale.” XD
Tim then said that he was really standing in his daughter's closet, that it was one of the hottest summers of the Covid pandemic, and that he also had to vocalize different ways of dying, whereupon his four-year-old daughter stood in front of him with wide eyes and asked him if he was dying now. XD
He said that in the heat, he really felt like he was going to collapse at any moment because he was covered in sweat.
Neil then said that he had also recorded his lines at home, standing naked in the room, always making sure that his camera was only pointing at his face, and I thought to myself, omg, don't say that. Lol. THIS is personal. XD
But it seems at least that he and Tim did it like that. XDDD
One of the moments that was also very funny was when Tim said that he had visited the Efteling amusement park on Thursday and every Dutch visitor in the audience was thrilled. ;D
He said he had really enjoyed himself and that he loves how excited everyone in Holland gets when he says he visited Efteling.
Tim said the British are snobs and would probably just roll their eyes if you had something like that in England and were excited about it.
We're just way too cynical for that kind of thing. XDDD
It was just super funny and I absolutely adored how Neil and Tim acted together. The Panel was really great.
And yes, I took a lot of pictures! I'm sorry that my description of the panel itself is kinda poor and that I can't remember every question. My attention was mostly focused on just looking at Neil and Tim and enjoying the whole situation. Seeing Neil “in real life,” so to speak. ^^
If you want to see a few photos, just click on the link. <3
( The Panel )
I was able to catch a bit of the previous actor's panel. Unfortunately, I can't remember his name, but I think he was in one (or more?) Marvel movie(s). I just love seeing how interested the fans are, what questions they ask, and how the person being interviewed responds. The last question asked of him was who his superheroes are, and his answer was: My parents.
Awww! That melted my heart a little. :3
I think my mom came back before the panel started because she had a photo booth appointment with Dominic Monaghan. She was so excited and beaming. XD
Giving her this photo was a damn good idea. ;D
And just a moment later, the trailers for BG3 and Expedition 33 started playing. When the panel started, Sarah quickly got in line to ask a question, while I sat in my seat and waited. I was lucky enough to see some of the Baldur's Gate 3 cast at a panel last year, but the fact that Neil was there this time... that was just special. I had never seen him live before, and when he came on stage... wow, that was a really great moment. The man has incredible charm and charisma. Everyone waved to the crowd, and Neil said something in Dutch that I didn't quite understand. But the crowd laughed and seemed to enjoy it, so I knew he had won everyone over right away. ;D
I would say that a good 85% of all fan questions went to the Baldur's Gate 3 team, and the people from Team Expedition 33 didn't get quite as many questions. But Neil and the others always included everyone in the team so that no one felt left out. There were two fans who came up to the front of the stage, but instead of asking questions, they gave gifts to Neil and Tim. I know that was a very kind gesture and both of them were very happy about it, but I felt sorry for the fans who wanted to ask a question and couldn't because the 30 minutes were up. That's what happened to Sarah and one other person, because if those two had left their gifts at the table, she and the other person would have been able to ask their questions.
Most of the questions were about working as a voice actor or which character people would like to play if it wasn't the one they had played before. Astarion was the clear winner. Pretty much everyone would want to play his role. ;D
There was also a question where the Bg3 team was asked which of their favorite songs they would compare to their character, and Neil's answer was that he doesn't reveal anything personal about himself. Nevertheless, he would choose “The Doors” ‘People are strange’, which made my old hippie heart beat faster. It seems like we have similar tastes in music... which may also be because we are the same age. ;D
The really funny thing was that Tim was then asked if it was really true that he used his daughter's closet to record himself speaking as Gale. His answer was that he had to say various spells, all in Latin, and he was sure that they weren't supposed to be pronounced that way. It was about the Italian accent, and he and Neil had made fun of the fact that Gale could have recited his Latin spells with an Italian accent. “It's a me, Gale.” XD
Tim then said that he was really standing in his daughter's closet, that it was one of the hottest summers of the Covid pandemic, and that he also had to vocalize different ways of dying, whereupon his four-year-old daughter stood in front of him with wide eyes and asked him if he was dying now. XD
He said that in the heat, he really felt like he was going to collapse at any moment because he was covered in sweat.
Neil then said that he had also recorded his lines at home, standing naked in the room, always making sure that his camera was only pointing at his face, and I thought to myself, omg, don't say that. Lol. THIS is personal. XD
But it seems at least that he and Tim did it like that. XDDD
One of the moments that was also very funny was when Tim said that he had visited the Efteling amusement park on Thursday and every Dutch visitor in the audience was thrilled. ;D
He said he had really enjoyed himself and that he loves how excited everyone in Holland gets when he says he visited Efteling.
Tim said the British are snobs and would probably just roll their eyes if you had something like that in England and were excited about it.
We're just way too cynical for that kind of thing. XDDD
It was just super funny and I absolutely adored how Neil and Tim acted together. The Panel was really great.
And yes, I took a lot of pictures! I'm sorry that my description of the panel itself is kinda poor and that I can't remember every question. My attention was mostly focused on just looking at Neil and Tim and enjoying the whole situation. Seeing Neil “in real life,” so to speak. ^^
If you want to see a few photos, just click on the link. <3
It is the time for a new chapter, right? Sorry, that my upload took a little bit longer than usual. I hope you will enjoy it. And thank you so, so much for reading and commenting. ♥
( The Mistress of the Shadowland, Second Book, The next Chapter )
Heroes Dutch Comic Con / The Photobooth
Dec. 1st, 2025 01:21 pm
Sunday.
Our smartphones woke us up at 7:30 a.m., so we all got up on time. I quickly jumped in the shower, and since I knew there was no seat or handle to hold on to, I just got under the water, washed myself quickly, and was done in no time. The whole shower only took two minutes, but by then I was already at the end of my tether.
I had decided to wear my medieval dress and, unsurprisingly, the zipper broke when my mother tried to close it.
Somehow, I had the feeling that fate just didn't want this trip to go well or work out. Everything that could possibly go wrong did. We all got ready and ordered a taxi for 8:30 a.m., as we had an early access ticket that allowed us to enter the convention hall at 9 a.m.
The taxi driver was nice, but he had one problem. He didn't know where to drop us off.
Jaarbeus is a huge complex with numerous hotels, theaters, museums, and restaurants, and to be honest, you don't know where to go. O.O
It's probably easy for people who live in Utrecht, but not for someone who was there for the first time.
The taxi driver was so kind that he only charged us 13 euros and didn't charge us for the time he spent looking for a place to drop us off.
At some point, we all thought we were halfway there when we saw a lot of people walking past us. Always follow the crowd, right?
We paid the taxi driver, got out of the car, and were shocked by the freezing cold wind blowing.
I wished the entrance had been a little closer, as I have trouble walking, but there was nothing I could do about it. So we just followed the crowd until we reached the entrance.
I was filled with nervousness, fear, and such stress that, after the chaos with the hotel and our car breaking down, it just felt unbearable. We then joined the queue for the early access entrance. I was surprised that the hall was already open, as it wasn't even 9 a.m. yet. There were a few people ahead of us, but everything went quite quickly and without any further problems.
The nice thing was that right behind the entrance, you entered the main hall where the main stage, the photo booths, and the signing tables were located. We all walked back and forth, looked at everything, and then asked at the photo booth how the whole procedure worked. I was so incredibly nervous that I wanted to know everything, step by step, because if I know something like that, I can “work” with it and give myself the confidence/security I need.
I have to admit that I was already at the end of my tether, as I can't really walk “that much”. For everyone else, this isn't a problem or a real issue, but for me, unfortunately, it's not that easy. My mother and I sat down at a table, talked a little and watched the people, while Sarah walked around the hall a bit and looked around.
I sat there the whole time watching the photo booth to see how many people would line up. On the one hand, I didn't want to be the first one there, but at the same time I was afraid that something would happen again and I wouldn't be able to take the photo with Neil.
I was just so incredibly nervous and anxious after everything that hadn't gone so well.
It was just before 10 a.m. and Neil was scheduled to arrive at 10:15 a.m. Since there were already a few people in line, Sarah suggested that we join the queue. And at that moment, it was over for me. I was filled with fear, felt sick, and had unbearable stomach pains. But everyone around me was super nice and took care of me. My mother kept stroking my back, Sarah held my hand, and the young women from the convention asked me a few questions to see if I was okay and if I needed anything. To our right was the line for people who didn't have early access, and a young woman said to me and my mom that we looked great. Aaawww! :3
It was soon 10:15 a.m., but Neil took his time arriving. It was 10:35 when my mother and Sarah said at the same time, “Oh, Neil's here, we just saw him.”
Did I see him? Of course not, lol. XD
I thought it was pretty cool that suddenly music started playing, which was probably his idea.
And then the line started to move... O_O
And with every step, I felt more and more nauseous and the fear was just so intense. They asked me if I wanted to include the walker in the picture (no!) and then allowed my mother to come with me —also for emotional support— and take care of the walker while we took the picture.
The closer I got, the more anxious I became. The only thought I had was: Please, Anke, don't throw up on his shoes. Please.
Then I stepped around the corner and there he was. I kind of assumed he would be there because I had seen the photographer and the other fans, and everything happened so fast. It was as if I didn't dare to look at him. And suddenly he was standing in front of me and looking at me with this really sweet smile. I don't think I've ever felt as comfortable and welcome as I did in that moment. It was as if there was only me, as if this was a bubble in which I was safe, secure, and accepted. I then approached him very slowly and shyly with my walker and put it to one side.
He then said with that warm smile, “Hi, I'm Neil. What's your name?”
And he held out his hand to greet me, which I then took and shook.
I was still so anxious and uncertain that I almost whispered, “Hi. I'm Anke.”
At that moment, my mother came up behind us, took the walker and tried to walk past, but Neil quickly realized what was happening and took a step forward. He then leaned forward and greeted her with a “Hi.” I told him that she was my mom, and he replied, “I thought so.”
Neil then turned to my mom and asked her her name. I thought it was sweet to see her pause for a moment, as she wanted to answer him in perfect English.G
“My name is Christine and... I... I like you.”
I saw him smiling when he said, “Awww, thank you, Mami! (He called my mum Mami, squeee!!). Nice to meet you!"
Then he turned back to me and looked at me as if he wanted to ask me what my idea for the photo was.
I thought long and hard about what that would be, as I don't really feel comfortable in front of the camera. Yes, I sometimes take selfies, but they are always taken from a special angle so that I find myself halfway tolerable. I avoid looking directly into the camera and, above all, showing my entire body. I'm happy for anyone who can do that, but I have such problems showing myself. So I thought about it long time until I had an idea. So maybe we could just look at each other? And I wanted to ask him if that was okay with him, because... maybe it would be too personal or uncomfortable for him and I didn't want to upset him.
So he stood in front of me, looked at me questioningly, and I wanted to explain my idea to him. My words were: “Actually, I'm afraid to look into the camera...”
And at that moment, he took my hands in his and said, “Look at me.”
And I did. He was so smart, he reacted so quickly to my words, and that was exactly what I was looking for. I don't feel comfortable with staged photos, I don't have the confidence to show myself, I just wanted a picture that captured this moment.
The moment I had been waiting for so long.
And it seemed as if he understood immediately. The touch of his hands was so soft and the smile he gave me was so honest and warm. And then I thanked him several times and said goodbye again and again.
When the photo was printed, I heard young women saying over and over how cute it was and how good we both looked. :3
And then suddenly Sarah was standing next to me, who also had her photo with Neil. Since the next event was the panel with the Baldur's Gate 3 team and the people from Claire Obscure 33, we went straight to the main stage and found a place to sit. :3
Saturday.
I woke up at 6:30am and decided to feed the little cat right away and then lie down again, as I was really tired. I had gone to bed shortly after midnight, but I was so nervous that I couldn't fall asleep until around 2am. And despite my nervousness, I managed to fall asleep again until 8:30am.
I then got up, enjoyed a nice, warm shower, got ready, and spent the time on the sofa, as we didn't want to leave until around 10am.
Shortly before it was time to go, I put Ivi in my room for five minutes and closed the door behind me so that she wouldn't suddenly dash out while we opened the door to the apartment to carry all the luggage to the car. When we were done, we went back upstairs, took her out of the room, of course, and gave her a long hug goodbye.
I must admit that I was a little tired, but the prospect of arriving in Utrecht around 2:30/3:00pm and then being able to spend the whole day in my hotel room gave me the strength to push through.
I wasn't nervous or anxious at all; I just felt that the possibility of meeting Neil wasn't real.
I was in complete denial, possibly to protect myself or to keep my fears and insecurities under control.
There wasn't much traffic on the highway, and we had been driving for about half an hour when suddenly, out of nowhere, our car started to “stutter” and steadily lost speed. On the highway... with numerous cars traveling at a minimum speed of 120 km/h.
120, 110, 100, 90, 80, 60, 40, 20... and with the last stutter, we were just able to pull into a parking bay on the side of the highway, with an emergency phone just a few steps away.
I will always remember my mother's words... Our car is broken.
I can't even describe how I felt. Numb, hopeless, sad. We looked at each other, and the next thing we did was reach for our handbags and wallets to get out our ADAC customer cards ( The ADAC, officially the Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (lit. ‘General German Automobile Club’), is Europe's largest automobile association. The ADAC is the largest Verein (club) in Germany, with around 21 million members. Its headquarters are located in Munich. Its original and most well-known service is roadside assistance.)
I hate talking on the phone, I really panic about it, but I know that my mom has poor hearing and that it was simply not possible for her to make a phone call in that situation. You have no idea how incredibly loud a highway is when you're not driving on it.
So I called the ADAC hotline and had to wait about two minutes until I got a man on the other end of the line, to whom I then explained everything, i.e., what had happened, whether the car was still running (surprisingly, it still started, so apparently there was no engine damage), when it happened, and where exactly we were.
I do have a smart phone, but I'm not particularly interested in it. I use it to take photos or listen to podcasts. So it was really stressful for me to explain to the man exactly where we had ended up. I then realized that we had only managed to travel 40 km. :/
When I told the guy that we were right next to the highway (or actually right on it), he said that we had priority over other broken-down cars that, for example, wouldn't start in a town or were stuck somewhere on a country road. I cautiously asked how long we could expect to wait, and they said between 20 and 30 minutes. If the ADAC was nearby, they would call us back on our cell phone and let us know.
Okay.
The next step was to get out of the car and seek shelter behind the guardrail, wearing our safety vests, of course. And then we waited.
So we stood behind the guardrail at -6 degrees Celsius, and since I'm apparently not the smartest person, I had imagined that I would just get in the car at home and drive straight to Utrecht, and that it would be enough to wear a thin wool jacket over a thin sweater....
It was cold. Freezing cold. And we stood on the side of the highway for 1 ½ hours waiting until a man called to tell us that the ADAC tow truck was on its way. Then we had to wait another half hour.
I was frozen to the bone. At least my mother was smart enough to bring a blanket in the car that I could wrap myself in.
While we were waiting, we talked about what we should do.
If the car starts, then we can continue our journey, right, Anke?
My answer was that we should drive back. My mother was upset because she knew how much the trip meant to me and that I wouldn't get back a large part of the money I had spent.
But I was far too afraid to continue. What would happen if it happened again? What if there was no parking lot nearby? What if the car broke down in Holland? How would we get back? How much would it cost?
The young mechanic took a look at everything, even kneeling down several times to look under the car. I sat next to him while he started and stopped the car and drove it forward and backward. He couldn't find any problems. He speculated that it was either the engine or something else (unfortunately, I can't remember what) that works with the engine and that something was broken.
He then asked us what we wanted to do. Continue driving? Or should he take us back, in which case he would have to call his boss first to clarify the situation.
We are very grateful that the ADAC gave us the go-ahead to take us home, because we only have basic coverage, which would have taken us to the nearest repair shop. But since it was Saturday, they were already closed, so we were taken home. I sat in the back of the tow truck and texted Sarah on my cell phone to tell her what had happened and that I couldn't come. Without hesitation, her response was: I'll pick you up....
O_O
I hadn't expected that at all, and I didn't really know if I could accept it. She told me over and over again that it wasn't a problem, that we would find a way to get to Utrecht and have a great weekend.
I remind you that Sarah was at work. We texted back and forth, re-planned everything, and then agreed that she would go home after work, take a shower, eat something, and then drive to meet me.
The trip would take between two and three hours, and we would probably set off for Utrecht around midnight. We got home at around 3pm, which was when we should have arrived in Utrecht. I lay down to get some sleep, but I couldn't manage more than two hours.
I had also informed Jutta that she shouldn't be alarmed when she arrived at our place in the evening, as we would most likely be sitting on the couch waiting. When she arrived at around 6:30pm, we just talked, and despite all the stress, it was really nice to see my best friend again and give her a hug.
From 11pm onwards, I became quite nervous because I was afraid that something had happened to Sarah. A generalized anxiety disorder often leads to imagining absolutely EVERYTHING in an absolute horror scenario. But 20 minutes later, the doorbell rang and Sarah picked us up. So we went down to the car, stowed the luggage and the walker, and then drove off.
And before we set off, I had checked in at the hotel at noon and written to them that my arrival would be delayed. I also booked a room for Sarah at my expense, because that was the least I could do for her after she had decided to pick us up. And there was no question of her spending the night in the car. No way!
The highway was pretty empty and the weather was good - no snow, no fog, no rain. So we left shortly before midnight and arrived in Utrecht at 4:30 in the morning, where we were greeted by a lot of snow. Despite the long journey, the trip was pleasant because Sarah and I talked constantly, moving from one topic to another. We didn't really have a moment of silence because we got along so well. The last 30-40 minutes of the trip were through Holland, and the closer we got to the Dutch border, the quieter I became.
And then, suddenly, I had a panic attack.
I noticed how I was becoming quieter, how breathing was becoming more and more difficult, how my thoughts were really stumbling and I couldn't form a clear sentence anymore.
Sarah quickly realized how I was feeling and helped me through the panic attack with lots of kind words and breathing exercises. (Did I mention that this young woman is an absolute angel?)
So we arrived at the hotel at 4:30am, parked in the last available parking space, and I checked in.
I asked the young man if Sarah could come to our room with us, as I needed help, and his answer was: “Under the circumstances, that's fine with me.” Then he and security carried our luggage and our walker up the stairs.
We went into the room, put our things down, and decided to skip breakfast and lie down until 8:30am so we could get at least a little sleep. And since we had a large king-size bed, we all fit in it and were able to recharge our batteries a bit before leaving the hotel at 8:30am on our way to the comic convention. :3
I woke up at 6:30am and decided to feed the little cat right away and then lie down again, as I was really tired. I had gone to bed shortly after midnight, but I was so nervous that I couldn't fall asleep until around 2am. And despite my nervousness, I managed to fall asleep again until 8:30am.
I then got up, enjoyed a nice, warm shower, got ready, and spent the time on the sofa, as we didn't want to leave until around 10am.
Shortly before it was time to go, I put Ivi in my room for five minutes and closed the door behind me so that she wouldn't suddenly dash out while we opened the door to the apartment to carry all the luggage to the car. When we were done, we went back upstairs, took her out of the room, of course, and gave her a long hug goodbye.
I must admit that I was a little tired, but the prospect of arriving in Utrecht around 2:30/3:00pm and then being able to spend the whole day in my hotel room gave me the strength to push through.
I wasn't nervous or anxious at all; I just felt that the possibility of meeting Neil wasn't real.
I was in complete denial, possibly to protect myself or to keep my fears and insecurities under control.
There wasn't much traffic on the highway, and we had been driving for about half an hour when suddenly, out of nowhere, our car started to “stutter” and steadily lost speed. On the highway... with numerous cars traveling at a minimum speed of 120 km/h.
120, 110, 100, 90, 80, 60, 40, 20... and with the last stutter, we were just able to pull into a parking bay on the side of the highway, with an emergency phone just a few steps away.
I will always remember my mother's words... Our car is broken.
I can't even describe how I felt. Numb, hopeless, sad. We looked at each other, and the next thing we did was reach for our handbags and wallets to get out our ADAC customer cards ( The ADAC, officially the Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (lit. ‘General German Automobile Club’), is Europe's largest automobile association. The ADAC is the largest Verein (club) in Germany, with around 21 million members. Its headquarters are located in Munich. Its original and most well-known service is roadside assistance.)
I hate talking on the phone, I really panic about it, but I know that my mom has poor hearing and that it was simply not possible for her to make a phone call in that situation. You have no idea how incredibly loud a highway is when you're not driving on it.
So I called the ADAC hotline and had to wait about two minutes until I got a man on the other end of the line, to whom I then explained everything, i.e., what had happened, whether the car was still running (surprisingly, it still started, so apparently there was no engine damage), when it happened, and where exactly we were.
I do have a smart phone, but I'm not particularly interested in it. I use it to take photos or listen to podcasts. So it was really stressful for me to explain to the man exactly where we had ended up. I then realized that we had only managed to travel 40 km. :/
When I told the guy that we were right next to the highway (or actually right on it), he said that we had priority over other broken-down cars that, for example, wouldn't start in a town or were stuck somewhere on a country road. I cautiously asked how long we could expect to wait, and they said between 20 and 30 minutes. If the ADAC was nearby, they would call us back on our cell phone and let us know.
Okay.
The next step was to get out of the car and seek shelter behind the guardrail, wearing our safety vests, of course. And then we waited.
So we stood behind the guardrail at -6 degrees Celsius, and since I'm apparently not the smartest person, I had imagined that I would just get in the car at home and drive straight to Utrecht, and that it would be enough to wear a thin wool jacket over a thin sweater....
It was cold. Freezing cold. And we stood on the side of the highway for 1 ½ hours waiting until a man called to tell us that the ADAC tow truck was on its way. Then we had to wait another half hour.
I was frozen to the bone. At least my mother was smart enough to bring a blanket in the car that I could wrap myself in.
While we were waiting, we talked about what we should do.
If the car starts, then we can continue our journey, right, Anke?
My answer was that we should drive back. My mother was upset because she knew how much the trip meant to me and that I wouldn't get back a large part of the money I had spent.
But I was far too afraid to continue. What would happen if it happened again? What if there was no parking lot nearby? What if the car broke down in Holland? How would we get back? How much would it cost?
The young mechanic took a look at everything, even kneeling down several times to look under the car. I sat next to him while he started and stopped the car and drove it forward and backward. He couldn't find any problems. He speculated that it was either the engine or something else (unfortunately, I can't remember what) that works with the engine and that something was broken.
He then asked us what we wanted to do. Continue driving? Or should he take us back, in which case he would have to call his boss first to clarify the situation.
We are very grateful that the ADAC gave us the go-ahead to take us home, because we only have basic coverage, which would have taken us to the nearest repair shop. But since it was Saturday, they were already closed, so we were taken home. I sat in the back of the tow truck and texted Sarah on my cell phone to tell her what had happened and that I couldn't come. Without hesitation, her response was: I'll pick you up....
O_O
I hadn't expected that at all, and I didn't really know if I could accept it. She told me over and over again that it wasn't a problem, that we would find a way to get to Utrecht and have a great weekend.
I remind you that Sarah was at work. We texted back and forth, re-planned everything, and then agreed that she would go home after work, take a shower, eat something, and then drive to meet me.
The trip would take between two and three hours, and we would probably set off for Utrecht around midnight. We got home at around 3pm, which was when we should have arrived in Utrecht. I lay down to get some sleep, but I couldn't manage more than two hours.
I had also informed Jutta that she shouldn't be alarmed when she arrived at our place in the evening, as we would most likely be sitting on the couch waiting. When she arrived at around 6:30pm, we just talked, and despite all the stress, it was really nice to see my best friend again and give her a hug.
From 11pm onwards, I became quite nervous because I was afraid that something had happened to Sarah. A generalized anxiety disorder often leads to imagining absolutely EVERYTHING in an absolute horror scenario. But 20 minutes later, the doorbell rang and Sarah picked us up. So we went down to the car, stowed the luggage and the walker, and then drove off.
And before we set off, I had checked in at the hotel at noon and written to them that my arrival would be delayed. I also booked a room for Sarah at my expense, because that was the least I could do for her after she had decided to pick us up. And there was no question of her spending the night in the car. No way!
The highway was pretty empty and the weather was good - no snow, no fog, no rain. So we left shortly before midnight and arrived in Utrecht at 4:30 in the morning, where we were greeted by a lot of snow. Despite the long journey, the trip was pleasant because Sarah and I talked constantly, moving from one topic to another. We didn't really have a moment of silence because we got along so well. The last 30-40 minutes of the trip were through Holland, and the closer we got to the Dutch border, the quieter I became.
And then, suddenly, I had a panic attack.
I noticed how I was becoming quieter, how breathing was becoming more and more difficult, how my thoughts were really stumbling and I couldn't form a clear sentence anymore.
Sarah quickly realized how I was feeling and helped me through the panic attack with lots of kind words and breathing exercises. (Did I mention that this young woman is an absolute angel?)
So we arrived at the hotel at 4:30am, parked in the last available parking space, and I checked in.
I asked the young man if Sarah could come to our room with us, as I needed help, and his answer was: “Under the circumstances, that's fine with me.” Then he and security carried our luggage and our walker up the stairs.
We went into the room, put our things down, and decided to skip breakfast and lie down until 8:30am so we could get at least a little sleep. And since we had a large king-size bed, we all fit in it and were able to recharge our batteries a bit before leaving the hotel at 8:30am on our way to the comic convention. :3
When I found out two weeks ago that Neil —and Tim too— were coming to Utrecht and that this would be my chance to finally see him, I was quite surprised at how quickly I took charge of the situation. First, I looked for a flight, but quickly realized that Utrecht doesn't have an airport and that it would be impossible for me to get to Utrecht from Amsterdam by train or bus. That was the first moment when I thought, hm, this isn't going to work. And then my mother asked how far away it actually was. So I looked it up and found out that it's almost 400 kilometers and takes about four hours to drive there. She then suggested that she would drive me there. I was so surprised that at first I didn't know how to react, but she was completely serious. The next step was to ask Jutta if she was free that weekend. We talked on the phone and she told me she couldn't make it because she was taking a carpentry course on Saturday. That was the second moment when I thought, well, this isn't going to work either. Right?
And then I had the idea to ask if she could perhaps look after Ivi on Sunday so I could go to the Convention, and yes, she could. She even suggested that she would come to my place on Saturday afternoon after her carpentry class and then look after Ivi for half the day, all of Sunday, and Monday morning!
And that was my cue to put my plan into action. So, I bought tickets for the convention (for my mom and me, because I didn't want to use her as a taxi driver and I know how much fun she had at Magic Con), the ticket for Neil's photo booth, and accommodation at the Ibis Hotel, less than a kilometer from Jaarbeus, where the convention was held. And then I counted down the minutes, and when the last week began, I really had to fight hard against my nervousness.
Even in therapy, the trip to Utrecht was a topic of discussion, and Franziska managed to calm me down somewhat.
On the evening when I made all the decisions and placed the first bookings, I was chatting with Sarah. She was incredibly happy that I finally had the chance to meet Neil, but at the same time a little sad because her trip to the convention in Brussel had been rather stressful.
We were both sure that we would find a convention somewhere next year that we could both go to. I then suggested that she come with me and that we meet in Utrecht on Sunday and all go to the convention together. Sarah was unsure because she was afraid of having such a stressful time again, even though she told me that she didn't really think that would happen if we were traveling together. I understood her concerns, and we immediately set our rules, such as that it's okay to split up if she needs some quiet time or just wants to go shopping. That we always have the option to pause and say, “Wait a minute, I need some time to myself right now” or “I'm feeling stressed.” In those moments, we would do what was good for us and meet up at the meeting point. We really planned everything. From our time together, our meeting place, the time, the fact that we would meet at the hotel in the morning so she could store her backpack in my room, etc.
Sarah had booked a bus ticket from Strasbourg to Utrecht for a ten-hour journey from Saturday evening to Sunday morning.
Since Mom and I didn't want to stress ourselves out, I had booked a hotel room for Saturday to Monday. Our plan was to leave around 10 a.m. on Saturday morning, as we wanted to check in around 3 p.m.
We didn't want to stress ourselves out and wanted to take the 400-kilometer journey in a relaxed manner. I was quite calm and relaxed after therapy on Thursday, but then I noticed that I was getting slight stomach pains from excitement.
On Thursday evening, I received a message from the Ibis Hotel...
„Dear guest,
We are excited that you booked a stay with us at ibis Utrecht!
With this email, we would like to inform you about some specifics regarding our hotel during your stay. Due to unforeseen additional work following our renovations, you may experience some noise disturbance on weekdays between 9 AM and 4 PM, and we currently have fewer parking spaces available. Additionally, our elevator is temporarily out of order. All hotel rooms remain easily accessible via the stairs... „
One day and a few hours before we drive to Utrecht to check in. Hey, I have no problem with renovations, and the noise didn't bother me either, since we were there on the weekend, but... the elevator isn't working? And the rooms are “easy” to reach in a hotel that has four or five floors? Honestly, I was pissed.
The hotel has apparently been renovating for quite some time, and I assume they could have informed me when I made the booking... but they didn't.
I was too stressed to look for another hotel so close to my trip to Utrecht. IN ADDITION, as I said, I wouldn't have gotten a refund if I had canceled the stay. If you pay via PayPal, that's not possible... I mean, it's paid for, so why isn't that option offered?
Well, I sat there and thought to myself, OK, this isn't my problem, guys. I'm a guest, you have to take care of it. So I wrote an email and asked for a disabled-accessible room (as described on the website) that was either on the ground floor OR on the first floor at most. I have limited mobility, I have obvious muscle and nerve weakness, and I definitely don't have the strength to carry my 10 kg walker up or down stairs. And I certainly won't ask my 73-year-old mother to do so.
Incidentally, I then received a reply saying that the accessible room (with an accessible bathroom!) was “out of order”...
However, I was then offered another “accessible” room, whose door is not wheelchair accessible. But I could get in with my walker. When I got there, the shower had no seat and the toilet had no handle that I could hold on to or pull myself up with.
Sigh...
I had been assured in the email that they would help me with my luggage and walker and bring them to my booked room. I told my mother about this, and she wasn't really happy about it because she knew that it would be very difficult for both of us to use the stairs and, as I said, carry our things upstairs. But I was very aware that I was asserting my rights as a guest. I wouldn't have done that years ago. I would have nodded and struggled my way up with the walker and the luggage. But I am disabled and I need help, and I now demand it.
We spent Friday evening packing my suitcase and her bag. I think we took mostly food and drinks with us, since we wanted to stay in the room anyway. I was nervous, but at the same time excited, even though it felt so unreal that there was a real chance I could meet Neil.
I had been nervous all week about whether he would actually show up in Utrecht, since he had to cancel the convention in Liverpool last week. He streamed in the evening last week and said at the end that he would be going to Holland over the weekend. \o/
One less thing to worry about.
I went to bed around midnight and was surprised that I fell asleep relatively quickly...
( Little Helper! )
Much Love,
Anke~
And then I had the idea to ask if she could perhaps look after Ivi on Sunday so I could go to the Convention, and yes, she could. She even suggested that she would come to my place on Saturday afternoon after her carpentry class and then look after Ivi for half the day, all of Sunday, and Monday morning!
And that was my cue to put my plan into action. So, I bought tickets for the convention (for my mom and me, because I didn't want to use her as a taxi driver and I know how much fun she had at Magic Con), the ticket for Neil's photo booth, and accommodation at the Ibis Hotel, less than a kilometer from Jaarbeus, where the convention was held. And then I counted down the minutes, and when the last week began, I really had to fight hard against my nervousness.
Even in therapy, the trip to Utrecht was a topic of discussion, and Franziska managed to calm me down somewhat.
On the evening when I made all the decisions and placed the first bookings, I was chatting with Sarah. She was incredibly happy that I finally had the chance to meet Neil, but at the same time a little sad because her trip to the convention in Brussel had been rather stressful.
We were both sure that we would find a convention somewhere next year that we could both go to. I then suggested that she come with me and that we meet in Utrecht on Sunday and all go to the convention together. Sarah was unsure because she was afraid of having such a stressful time again, even though she told me that she didn't really think that would happen if we were traveling together. I understood her concerns, and we immediately set our rules, such as that it's okay to split up if she needs some quiet time or just wants to go shopping. That we always have the option to pause and say, “Wait a minute, I need some time to myself right now” or “I'm feeling stressed.” In those moments, we would do what was good for us and meet up at the meeting point. We really planned everything. From our time together, our meeting place, the time, the fact that we would meet at the hotel in the morning so she could store her backpack in my room, etc.
Sarah had booked a bus ticket from Strasbourg to Utrecht for a ten-hour journey from Saturday evening to Sunday morning.
Since Mom and I didn't want to stress ourselves out, I had booked a hotel room for Saturday to Monday. Our plan was to leave around 10 a.m. on Saturday morning, as we wanted to check in around 3 p.m.
We didn't want to stress ourselves out and wanted to take the 400-kilometer journey in a relaxed manner. I was quite calm and relaxed after therapy on Thursday, but then I noticed that I was getting slight stomach pains from excitement.
On Thursday evening, I received a message from the Ibis Hotel...
„Dear guest,
We are excited that you booked a stay with us at ibis Utrecht!
With this email, we would like to inform you about some specifics regarding our hotel during your stay. Due to unforeseen additional work following our renovations, you may experience some noise disturbance on weekdays between 9 AM and 4 PM, and we currently have fewer parking spaces available. Additionally, our elevator is temporarily out of order. All hotel rooms remain easily accessible via the stairs... „
One day and a few hours before we drive to Utrecht to check in. Hey, I have no problem with renovations, and the noise didn't bother me either, since we were there on the weekend, but... the elevator isn't working? And the rooms are “easy” to reach in a hotel that has four or five floors? Honestly, I was pissed.
The hotel has apparently been renovating for quite some time, and I assume they could have informed me when I made the booking... but they didn't.
I was too stressed to look for another hotel so close to my trip to Utrecht. IN ADDITION, as I said, I wouldn't have gotten a refund if I had canceled the stay. If you pay via PayPal, that's not possible... I mean, it's paid for, so why isn't that option offered?
Well, I sat there and thought to myself, OK, this isn't my problem, guys. I'm a guest, you have to take care of it. So I wrote an email and asked for a disabled-accessible room (as described on the website) that was either on the ground floor OR on the first floor at most. I have limited mobility, I have obvious muscle and nerve weakness, and I definitely don't have the strength to carry my 10 kg walker up or down stairs. And I certainly won't ask my 73-year-old mother to do so.
Incidentally, I then received a reply saying that the accessible room (with an accessible bathroom!) was “out of order”...
However, I was then offered another “accessible” room, whose door is not wheelchair accessible. But I could get in with my walker. When I got there, the shower had no seat and the toilet had no handle that I could hold on to or pull myself up with.
Sigh...
I had been assured in the email that they would help me with my luggage and walker and bring them to my booked room. I told my mother about this, and she wasn't really happy about it because she knew that it would be very difficult for both of us to use the stairs and, as I said, carry our things upstairs. But I was very aware that I was asserting my rights as a guest. I wouldn't have done that years ago. I would have nodded and struggled my way up with the walker and the luggage. But I am disabled and I need help, and I now demand it.
We spent Friday evening packing my suitcase and her bag. I think we took mostly food and drinks with us, since we wanted to stay in the room anyway. I was nervous, but at the same time excited, even though it felt so unreal that there was a real chance I could meet Neil.
I had been nervous all week about whether he would actually show up in Utrecht, since he had to cancel the convention in Liverpool last week. He streamed in the evening last week and said at the end that he would be going to Holland over the weekend. \o/
One less thing to worry about.
I went to bed around midnight and was surprised that I fell asleep relatively quickly...
Much Love,
Anke~
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It is the time for a new chapter, right? Please enjoy it and thank you so, so much for reading and commenting. ♥
( The Mistress of the Shadowland, Second Book, The next Chapter )
It's time for a new chapter, right? I hope you'll enjoy it!
And thank you so, so much for reading!!
( The Mistress of the Shadowland, Second Book, The next Chapter )
And thank you so, so much for reading!!
Hey hey, it is finally time for a new chapter, right? I am sorry for the two-week-break but now I am back. I hope you'll enjoy the next chapter.
Thank you so, so much for reading (and commenting), it means the world to me!!
🧡🧡🧡
( The Mistress of the Shadowland, Second Book, The next Chapter )
Thank you so, so much for reading (and commenting), it means the world to me!!
🧡🧡🧡
It's sunday and time for a new chapter! Please enjoy it and thank you so much for reading!! ♥
( The Mistress of the Shadowland, Second Book, The next Chapter )
Please enjoy the newest chapter of the Mistress of the Shadowland. I hope you'll enjoy it.
And like always, thank you so, so much for reading. It means the world to me. ♥
( The Mistress of the Shadowland - Second Book, the next chapter )
And like always, thank you so, so much for reading. It means the world to me. ♥
Hey hey, there is a new chapter waiting for you. I hope you'll enjoy it. And like always, thank you so, so much for reading. It means the world to me!!
Little notice: I changed the family name of Ysilia (oopsie, that was a little spoiler, right?) to Silverleaf instead of Hammond.
( The Mistress of the Shadowland, Second Book, The next Chapter )
Little notice: I changed the family name of Ysilia (oopsie, that was a little spoiler, right?) to Silverleaf instead of Hammond.
