Newsletter 10 - July 2025 - Better Than a Poke in the Eye
1. Editorial
This month we say goodbye to Ken James. For Discworld fans that spent any time in Wincanton over the year would know Ken. Ken was responsible for helping Bernard build the Discworld Emporium's shop. When the game Thud! was first developed (and before it came in a commercial box) Ken hand crafted the boards. We have a Ken James Thud! board here at the Better Than a Poke in the Eye headquarters.
Our thoughts are with Diane and the rest of Ken's family. We'll be popping down to pay our respects to Ken later this month.
#GNU Ken James. #Mind how you go.
While we remember Ken I'd like to also add a GNU for Ozzy Osbourne. Having enjoyed his back to the beginning concert just a few weeks ago, hearing of his passing really hit home. Ozzy has been part of my life's soundtrack. I guess it's a sign of aging where we start to lose all our heroes. Ozzy was one of a kind. #GNU The Prince of Darkness.
Llamedos Holiday camp still have a few tickets available for The Hogs Ball at Llamedos in March 2026.
The International Discworld Convention have launched their 2026 website and included pricing information about tickets. Their tickets haven't yet gone on sale but a newsletter should be coming soon with details. The convention will take place in August 2026.
International Discworld Convention
The Irish Discworld Convention is quickly approaching with the doors opening this October. We visited the 2019 Irish Convention and had a lot of fun. We wish all the attendees a lot of enjoyment in Cork.
There is only one more week to purchase Early Bird tickets to the The Australian Discworld Convention which takes place in Sydney in April 2026. After August 9th you will need to pay full price for tickets.
Australian Discworld Convention
Finally I'd like to thank everyone that came to visit our Portal to Discworld at the recent Fantasy Forest event. It was incredible to meet so many Pratchett fans and to be able to talk to so many people about Terry. We like to feel we are keeping him alive in our hearts when we speak his name.
I particularly enjoyed running a couple of sessions of the new Adventures in Ankh-Morpork Table Top Roleplay Game with 12 willing volunteers over the two days. We played the starter adventure and it was fun to feel the story unfold differently each time. The game is currently in development but is still open, for now, to late pledges. We've backed it and can't wait to get our physical copies of the books which are now due in early 2026.
Until next time, be safe and mind how you go.
Jason
2. News Feed
Our news feed always has the most up to date information. Click on the titles below to read the full articles on our website.
The 14th International Discworld Convention now has a new website.
The team at the Discworld Convention have been working hard behind the scenes to prepare their new website.
Head over to dwcon.org for more information.
The website includes useful information about the various tickets types etc.
3. Articles
We have an extensive archive of articles we have written in our archive index
Portal to Discworld returned to Fantasy Forest 2025 (Sudeley - July)
We visited the Fantasy Forest event at Sudeley castle in July and brought our Portal to Discworld with us. Over the course of the weekend we had hundreds of fans visit our marquee. Where we all talked about Terry and spoke his name.
4. New, Updated and Upcoming Events
Remember to visit our events page to keep up to date with all the latest events / stage productions.
Guards! Guards! in England
Dates: Wednesday 6th - Saturday 9th August 2025
Production Company: Peterborough Revellers
Location: Peterborough, England
Website: www.facebook.com
Monstrous Regiment in Scotland
Dates: 11th-14h August 2025
Production Company: Strawmoddie Theatre
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Website: www.facebook.com
Box Office: www.eventbrite.co.uk
Monstrous Regiment in Scotland
Dates: 15th-16th August 2025
Production Company: Strawmoddie Theatre
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Website: www.facebook.com
Box Office: www.eventbrite.com
Paul Kidby Exhibition in England
Dates: Saturday 13th September 2025 – Sunday 4th January 2026
Location: Worcester, England
Website: www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk
Box Office: mailto: gallerymuseum@museumsworcestershire.org.uk
The Hogs Ball at Llamedos Holiday Camp in Wales
Dates: 6th-8th March 2026
Location: Llanelli, South Wales
Website: llamedosholidaycamp.com
Box Office: llamedosholidaycamp.com
5. Readers' Letters
If you want to send us a readers' letter, send an email to info@betterthanapokeintheeye.co.uk.
# From: "SANEAlex" sanealex@gmail.com
I was reminded by the Nerdforge letter about the Complete Discworld Book that if I ever became famous enough to appear on Desert Island Discs the book that I would want to choose would be the complete works of #GNUTerryPratchett so it almost exists not that I am ever likely to appear on it but for those fellow fans unaware and not heard it pTerry did do the show and although it has not always been available it is currently as of writing this email link below
Terry Pratchett - Desert Island Disks on the BBC
**SANEAlex** (Part time fictional character Some Acronyms Not Expected)
BetterThan replies: It's been a while since we've listened to Terry's Desert Island Discs episode. Terry did quite a few things with the BBC has over the years. It's worth taking a look at their archive for hidden gems.
6. The End
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