What will happen at the auction? Here's what we know.

  December 12, 2002 at 1:31 AM ET
      The Leaky Cauldron
 

Its getting exciting, isnt it? Heres what we know: when the days auctions get to a few lots before ours (#517), someone from Sothebys will call me. (The expected time of this phone call is between 12 and 1pm EST, or 5 and 6 pm GMT. The 2:30 time is when the set of lots they're auctioning go on sale; they're starting in the 300s, we are lot #517.) When the auctioneer gets to our lot, he will first sweep those present for bids, and then go to phone/absentee bids. Ill be asked if I want to go in on the lot, and hopefully, we will still be able to.

We know that Lizo Mzimba and his fellow BBCers will be in the auction room filming. However, Sothebys does not make clear who is on the phone with whom; unless Lizo and his crew know who were on the phone with (and they just might), they wont know which bidder we are. This is for security and anonymity purposes, and is Sothebys policy. Even when the lot is sold, Sothebys does not release the name of the bidder. Youll have to come here to find out if we won.

We will update the site the second the auction is over.

I will be in my home, probably in constant communication with B.K. and Heidi, and most likely ready to pass out from nerves. Ive never been to a proper auction and Ive never bid on anything (except during my familys traditional Christmas-day merchant card grudge match). Not worried, no, not at all. ;-)

In all seriousness, Im not worried, because the Sothebys people are nice and understanding, and Im sure well be fine. They walked me through the steps this morning.

As long as I dont pass out, we are in good stead to win. Keep your fingers crossed. Keep your eyes peeled. Know that if we dont win, we will still be donating a huge sum of money to a charity that promotes literacy. As someone said today, What if you couldnt read the Harry Potter books? Thanks to you all, a whole lot of people wont be finding out. Even if we dont win that card, I count that as a victory.

Off to make final preparations&.