It is done, the hall is booked.
But what an absolute chore!!! (Warning, long boring story alert. If you want to know the dates, skip to the end or wait for the announcement in another thread)
Everytime I go to the hall to book a room they say that I can book from the 1st of the month in person or over the phone on the 3rd.
On Friday I caught a cold and by friday evening I was running a slight fever as well. However, I dragged myself out of bed on Saturday the 1st to go to the event hall at 9am. I got there on time, feeling awful, but ready to get everything sorted out. I went into the office, sat down and told the clerk that I would like to reserve a room. The clerk pulled out the reservations book and placed it between us. He then asked which date I would like. I said Golden Week and he shook his head and said something along the lines of "I'm sorry, we're closed for reservations for May. Come back on monday." I responded, "But I have to work on Monday." He repeated that the reservations for May were closed until the 3rd. Apparantly the 'book on the 1st in person' rule only applies 11 months of the year????
Roll on Monday morning. I had to catch a train to work at 9:15 at the latest, so I got up early, left the house early and got to the booking room at 8:55. There were 2 people there before me and 1 guy came in after me. The staff could see us all waiting, but diligently did nothing until 9 on the dot. The two folks in front of me went to the desk and sat down. The guy after me proceeded to jump in front of me as well. One of the staff finally came over and asked when I wanted to make a reservation for. I told him the dates and he gave me a form to fill in. I completed it and returned it to him and he said something in Japanese I couldn't make out and '11 o'clock.' In my rather shaky Japanese I asked him if he was going to call me at 11. He said no and repeated the bit I didnt get. I said "Wakarimasen, gomen nasai" and asked if I should call at 11? Again, 'No' and the bit that I still didnt get. Eventually he called over the 1 guy who could speak English in the office (who had been dealing with the guy who jumped in front of me) who told me that I couldnt actually book the room at 9. I could tell them I wanted to book the room and that I could come back at 11 to confirm it. I said "I'm working then." He said "sorry."
SOOOO at lunchtime today, I dashed out of work and hopped on a train and dashed to Kanayama. I burst into the room, frantically looking at the clock and the staff came over in a calm, slow manner and proceeded to tell me that the date I was asking for was impossible because the building was closed that day! (Saturday 5th). Why they couldnt have told me earlier was beyond me. But not to fear. "How about Sunday 29th?" I asked. "Its fully booked" was the reply. Fighting the urge to cram the very large and heavy reservations book right down the clerk's throat as he slowly turned the pages, I checked my watch to see if I had time to continue and then asked about Thursday and Friday. "Yes" came the reply and the clerk then very carefully filled out the paperwork and very slowly counted my payment before lazily passing the papers to me.
AAAAAAARRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!! Roboute Guilliman couldnt have written a more restrictive set of rules if he had tried his best and had asked Tzeentch to proof read them!!!
Anyway. My trials are over and the room is booked. Sadly it is booked for the days which nobody voted for, so my apologies to all concerned for any inconvenience this may cause.
NagoyaHammer 2012 is confirmed for May 3rd (Thurs) and 4th (Fri)! I hope you can all make it.
P.s.
If any of the staff asked you if the gaijin responsible for forcing their bookings clerk to devour a large and heavy reservations book is at the event, please just shake your heads and say no.
