I just have to post to you all and say what a fantastic weekend I had at the ABBA Generation convention organised by ABBAMAIL last weekend.

Before I say any more, I'd just like to thank Graeme Read in particular, but also Ian Cole, Ian Marks and Fiona Metcalfe for the effort they put into organising the event, and all those who helped them, as well as all those who attended and helped to make it the success that it was.

The convention was over two days, with the program for each day as follows :

Both days :

Merchandise stall ( where I picked up the Mamma Mia soundtrack that isn't available out here yet, as well as some other great buys for the collection )

All meals were also provided throughout the course of the weekend.

Saturday :

A*Teens video footage - A*Teens are not being released here in Australia till next year, so it was great to see and here what all the fuss has been about !

Team exercise - to help us all in our allocated groups to get to know each other.

Video of 1999 highlights - we've had some stuff out here, but to get to see in full some of the many appearances Björn made for the promo of Mamma Mia ! etc was terrific.

Discussion of this year's 25th anniversary celebrations - including some speakers who went to see the premiere in London of MM ! - again, something to envy if you live here in Australia.

Video footage from ABBA's promotional tour to Australia, and other promotional footage as well.

Guest speaker Shelley Benson ( nee Bamford ), who worked on ABBA - The Movie, accompanying the tour group, and assisting Lasse Hallström, as well as the members of ABBA, during their stay here. This lady was absolutley fantastic to listen to, she worked for Grundy's at the time ( who were involved in the movie's production, as well as being the official merchandiser of ABBA goods here in Australia ), before moving on to work at RCA ( ABBA's label here ) and then onto other fields.

Video of A*Teens' concert in Poland.

Club-ABBA disco, featuring apart from the obvious, Frida, Agnetha, Nanne, Steps, Martin and a host of other great ABBA-related music - now this was a highlight, four hours non-stop fantastic music, I danced so much my feet ached all the next day !

Sunday :

Frida video compilation - a fitting tribute.

ABBA swap meet - again, I found myself spending up big here, with all the original '70s merchandise people had brought along to swap'n'sell ( even bought a wonderful postcard signed by the beloved four in gold pen off Graeme Read - who was the original president of the Aust. ABBA fan club - now there's a man whose collection I'd like to see !! )

Video of TOTP2 special ( again, unseen here )

Video from Denmark of early, newly rediscovered ABBA footage.

Video of Gemini and Agnetha.

ABBA Team Trivia competition - boy, have I forgotten a lot about ABBA over the years !!!

Video of One More Time and Nanne

Video of 1979 US tour reports from American TV at the time - now that was something you'd never get to see !

ABBA - The C'ocktail Party - to wind down from a fantastic weekend, and have one last drink together before we had to make our separate ways ( believe me, no-one wanted to go, it was so much fun and went all too quickly, it was hard to leave such a great bunch of people ). During this too we watched the English ABBAMANIA special, which was very interesting to see ( again, something we didn't get out here ).

Much thanks also to the Agnetha Armada, who provided a deal of entertainment over the weekend, and had the Frida Freaks on their guard !! Unfortunately, I seemed to be the only person game enough to represent the Björn Brigade, but being an associate member of the Armada, managed to have a good laugh anyway ;)

Oh, I've forgotten amongst many other things to mention the displays of memorabilia - including fan photos of all four from various times, and other memorabilia from around the world. One thing I should mention was the commemoration of the '79 tour ( which didn't include Australia unfortunately - I'm still upset about that, 20 years on ! ).

There's just so much I've left out, but I simply can't do the weekend justice as far as a discription of how much fun it was and how much I really appreciate the opportunity to participate in an event like this.

If there's an ABBA event going on that you can get to in the future, don't hestitate - you won't regret the chance to be with other fans and celebrate following the best group that ever walked the earth ...

My sincerest thanks again to Graeme Read and all those who made this weekend happen.

Regards,

Cathy - Newcastle, Australia.