Diplomacy World #103 - Fall 2008 Issue

I. Lock the Door Before You Leave
World DipCon 2008 European Tour
By Andrew Goff
By and large, I am a fairly calm, cool and collected kind
of guy; relaxed and easy going and not stressing too
much about things. So as I walked calmly around on the
ceiling of my apartment my flatmate was quite right to
comment “You’re a bit excited by all this aren’t you?”
This whole adventure was made possible in January
when I won the Australian Championships; the prize
(very generously donated by Sean Colman) was a trip to
Vienna for the World Championships. Fortunately, I had
about 6 weeks of leave saved up so I extended my visit
for the whole month. Europe here I come!
The initial reaction to winning was “wow: I am the
Australian Champion.” Strangely enough, it was talking
to my mum that really changed that into “wow: I just
scored a free trip to Europe for playing Diplomacy.” So I
must admit at this point in my preparation it is Europe I
am most excited about. If you want to skip the travel
diaries and go to the Diplomacy I won’t hold it against
you!
I only forgot one camera accessory, and forgot to lock
the front door. I packed my suitcase four times. I should
have packed flip flops (What kind of Australian am I???)
but as it was 11 degrees and beyond miserable in the
middle of an Australian Winter I think I can be excused
for my oversight.
II. Come Fly with Me
It is a 21 hour flight, not including transit times, from
Melbourne to London. On QANTAS, that is life
threatening. 21 hours rapidly became 23 hours after a
work experience student completely stuffed seat
allocation and we sat on the ground at Singapore for 45
minutes... missing our Afghan fly over window (now that
is scary – circling over the Pakistan/Afghan border in a
plane with a poor maintenance record) and thus
completely missing any chance of Landing at Heathrow
without further circle work. QANTAS: Shocking.
Diplomacy World #103 - Page 36
Drama aside, I did watch three movies, including
Casablanca. This came back to annoy a lot of people
later during the trip. Frankly I don’t give a damn. The
food was bad but edible, preparing me nicely for
England. Best of all, I managed to sleep for 10 hours, so
when I landed at the delightfully simple Heathrow, and
faced the friendly and courteous staff at the well
resourced British border security point I was bright and
chipper. This of course led to me being asked to go
through “that door over there”. After a luggage search
where they managed to break TWO things (a blow up
Aussie hand Sean had given me and a zip on my
favourite jacket) I was free to enter the country (and this
is a real quote) “but on this visa you are only welcome so
long as you do not engage in any business or terrorist
activity”.
III. Mind the Gap
I got an Oyster. I put it in my wallet. Either you know
what this means, or you think I am insane. Shortly after I
am on the slow boat to the centre of London watching
some very “Coronation Street” scenery going past and
then, before quite realising it the Underground lives up to
its reputation, going underground. Crazy, huh? “Mind
The Gap” for the win! Cool.
I am staying at a “cheap” backpackers just near
Piccadilly Circus. Strangely enough I get off the tube
there... and reality hits home. I don’t think we’re in transit
anymore Toto.
The first thing that struck me about London is the
astonishing vibrancy and diversity of the City. I think the
popular perception of London (in Australia at least) is a
very British one – a financial capital with men in suits
wearing bowler hats and carrying umbrellas. I was under
no such misconception going in to this, expecting a