This is what it was like at my first comic con since lockdown began

In normal times, I would spend many weekends each year with friends at cons from Portsmouth to Glasgow.

Conventions attract all types of people - families, cosplayers, as well as comic readers, collectors and creators.

Some have guests from the latest stars of film and television, while others focus on comics themselves, cosplay (where people dress as their favourite characters), or just providing a good day out.

It was the latter that was the focus of Bristol Comic Con and Gaming Festival held at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol this month.

It had been 16 months since conventions were last held, the last I attended was True Believers in Cheltenham in February 2020 before the UK went into lockdown.

I attended with my friends Mark and Amy Adams and their four children aged between four and 12.

The convention, one of the first in the UK since the start of lockdown easing, a dinosaur display, Lego exhibitions, a gaming zone, and traders selling all kinds of geeky goods.

The children had a great day. They all love Star Wars and Lego, and enjoyed the opportunity to see elaborate cities inhabited by superhero mini-figs and others models of Minecraft worlds.

It was a great opportunity for them to spend pocket money and energy amassed during months of lockdown.

Dinosaur-mad Aidan, aged seven, enjoyed the dinosaur display, that featured a life-sized Allosaurus.

Aidan said: "It was the best day out ever!"

Meanwhile, Leon, nine, and Jamie, four, enjoyed a lightsaber dual with a Jedi (the sabers were sanitisd between little Jedi and Sith).

12-year-old Chloe enjoyed meeting other young cosplayers and exchanging Instagram and TikTok details.

It was almost business as usual.

However, organisers had taken every effort to make sure the event, held at a venue also used as a covid vaccine centre, was as safe as possible.

The number of people attending who all were required to wear face coverings while inside, was limited, and there was handsanitiser placed throughout the concourses.

Being among so many people did feel strange and a little uncomfortable after living so long under restrictions.

I'm still not sure I'm ready to attend a post-Freedom Day event without the comfort of face masks and social distancing.

However, with tickets for Thought Bubble and Wales Comic Con in November, I am hoping things have improved in time to meet up with people I haven't seen in more than a year.