Blog Your Heart Out

This is obviously a blog entry that strays from my usual entries but I have been tagged by Rilly to do this. Seems about time I gave everyone an understanding as to why I blog what I do! So bear with me as I attempt to answer these few questions!

Who/What encouraged you to start blogging?
I started this blog due some rude comments made about me on Facebook. Someone, who I sadly now longer speak to, had said I met celebrities for the sake of meeting of them and another person, who I am still friends with and did apologise for the comment, called me a stalker. I wanted to be able to share my experiences without fear of being criticized and so I started this blog where I was able to share more than I had before.

How did choose what topics to blog about?
Well it was quite simple to decide as the blog was designed specifically for me to share my experiences of meeting celebrities. I have two other blogs, one dedicated to my photography and another that tends to get used when I feel the need to rant, but I rarely use that one. This one now includes entries about concerts and shows even if I don't meet anyone.

What is something most people don't know about you?
I am a very honest person so there is not much most people people don't know about me. The one thing most people don't know, and chances they would never believe, is I am actually quite shy and hate to be centre of attention. Obviously, once I get to know people then I am more confident and could chat anyone's ear off! Now if any of my friends or even my family are reading this, then all I can say is think back to when you first met me or when I was little, cos trust me I was and can still be shy!

What three words best describe your style?
Oh this is hard one to answer.......I think I would use the words, HONEST, PROUD AND HAPPY.

What do you love to do when you are not blogging?
Love photography, always have my camera with me on days out and special occasions. Love the theatre and music so whenever I can, I love to go and see a show in the West End or a concert at the O2. Obviously I love to meet celebrities. Otherwise I am busy studying for my degree in social sciences through the Open University or spending time with my husband and four children.

So that is that and now I need to tag somebody to do this, so I choose my dad, Dave, Ann and the husband, Jon.

Cardiff Film and Comic Con - March 2014

The moment I got home from the last convention in Cardiff, I went straight online to book my hotel for the dates in March! We had such a great time that I knew I wanted to come back, plus I had promised Rachael and Mattie that we would attend the Doctor Who Experience (see previous blog entry for more on that). I had originally booked us in for two nights, but in the end after seeing the ridiculous high cost of the train to travel Friday evening, I decided that travelling up on the Saturday morning would be the cheaper and easier option!

This year, the lineup of guests was fantastic. For me, it was definitely one of the longest list I have had for a convention and the first time I would attend on more than one day. Rachael had also decided she wanted to cosplay, dressing as Rapunzel on Saturday and then Stephanie from Lazy Town on Sunday. On upon arrival in Cardiff, we quickly popped across to our hotel to leave our luggage and then headed over to the Motorpoint Arena where the convention was being held.

Saturday was quite a quick visit for us, as Mattie was feeling very tired from travelling so early and for so long. Luckily, despite being packed we were able to get around to each guest very quickly, spending less time there than I had anticipated. We met Bernard Cribbins, Nicholas Briggs, Julian Glover, Hattie Haybridge and Danny John-Jules. I was very impressed with the crew working Bernard Cribbins' queue as they brought us up to the front of the queue, due to the extra help pass we have for Mattie, meaning less stress for me! Actually the entire crew were superb all weekend!

Bernard was absolutely lovely, though I think I may have shocked him with how quickly I took the photo as I was using my DSLR which works much quicker than my other camera when taking a selfie! Nicholas was fantastic, though Mattie was a little scared as he voices the Daleks in Doctor Who! Julian Glover was amazing and so lovely. He was quite bemused by the fact that there were no 10x8 Photos of Aragog (who he voices) from Harry Potter on his table for him to sign. We had chosen a shot of his character in Doctor Who and because it was before we were born, he very sweetly put the story he was in on the autograph! Hattie Haybridge was lovely too and I have to say she has aged well, barely looks a day older than the last time she did Red Dwarf! As both her and Danny were off to a talk, we didn't get a chance to get Danny's autograph but Hattie got him to appear in the photo. As Danny has cancelled a couple of times for conventions, I really had the wrong impression about who he was, but it turns out he is a friendly guy, encouraging both Rachael and Mattie to be in the photo with us, though Mattie did refuse!

Sunday we spent a lot more time at the convention, despite only have five guests we wanted to meet. As we had shot off after our final guest on Saturday to check into our hotel and then go to the Doctor Who Experience, Mattie had missed out on going to the gaming zone and we had not had the chance to browse the stalls. So I made a deal with Mattie that for every guest I met, immediately after each one, we would go to the gaming zone so he could have a game! This made him very happy and the guests we met were, Devon Murray, Hannah Spearitt, Caitlin Blackwood, Sophie Aldred and John Rhys Davies.

Devon was great to meet and Rachael was very excited to meet him! Meeting him meant we had met two cast members of Harry Potter within a week of each other! Meeting Hannah turned me into a babbling idiot! I have met her while she was part of S Club 7 and I never managed to get photo with her and I did tell her this, so obviously after 15 years of waiting, I was very happy to get that photo. We also had a chat about the Big Reunion and that people were calling for S Club 7 to reform for it, which she found funny. Caitlin Blackwood to those that don't know her name, played little Amy Pond but trust me she is not so little anymore, I mean she is taller than me! She was sweet and reserved and even cam out from behind the table to have a photo with me and Rachael. Sophie Aldred was companion to the Doctor and my first companion, so it was absolute pleasure to meet her and she was even ignoring the sign behind asking for no posed photography!  Finally was John Rhys Davies, who most definitely likes to talk, A LOT! But even so, he was fantastic to meet. He helped clear up our argument to whom he had voiced in Spongebob and then went and gave us an additional one, which got signed specifically for Owen for his birthday!

We had a fantastic weekend at the convention. We came home with a variety of comics for the kids, a Captain America mask, a Merida and Belle figurine and some free posters. Mattie got to kick my butt at Super Smash Bros, though I stand by that I should have won the last game and have challenged him to a rematch at the next convention we go to if the game is available to play! Sadly we are unable to go to the next Cardiff convention due to lack of hotel rooms available the weekend it is on, due to the international rugby match that also happens to be, so I have decided that instead we will go to the Newcastle convention instead next March! Any excuse to photograph a new city!

Doctor Who Experience, Cardiff - March 2014

After our trip to Cardiff last August, I promised Rachael and Matthew that the next time we were there we would take a trip to the Doctor Who Experience, which is located on the bay. Knowing that we were going to be attending Cardiff Film and Comic Con again, I arranged the trip with plans to include their request, booking tickets for the last available slot of the day on the Saturday. Tickets are a reasonable price, especially in comparison to Harry Potter Studio Tour prices (but then again, they seriously differ in size of their exhibitions).

After a quick visit to the convention and then checking into the hotel, me and two very excited children headed over to Cardiff Bay for our visit. The site is about a ten minute walk from the train station, but if you walk directly down to the bay, you can take in the sights, many of which have appeared in Doctor Who and mainly Torchwood. You can see the big blue building across the water! If you get lost, look for the brown road signs use to signal directions of tourist sites and if you find one with a dalek on, you are heading in the right direction. Walking across, we also spotted BBC Wales, where Doctor Who is filmed.

The first part of the experience is a walk through adventure with specially filmed scenes featuring the 11th Doctor, as played by Matt Smith. Sadly, we never made it through the entirety of this as Mattie got very scared and needed to leave. We managed to make as far as the Tardis, which Rachael got to help fly, but the moment the smoke started, Mattie got so scared. As we were making a decision over what to do, the group moved on to the next section and Mattie heard the Daleks, which made the decision for us. Luckily the staff were very understanding, they led us out and told us to speak to security, who could take us into the exhibition section instead as to avoid a wasted trip.

One of the best parts of the exhibition is the chance to have a green screen photo. When it is your turn for the photo, you get to choose from a trunk full of well known accessories the doctor has had from the 11th Doctor's Fez to the 4th Doctor's very long scarf. Everyone gets to have a sonic screwdriver, because you get to be the Doctor! Rachael and Mattie both chose a Fez, whilst I went for the scarf. I did start with a Fez but it looked stupid on me so I chucked it aside! There is a range of backgrounds that can be chosen with the chance to have photos against all of them, even if you choose not to purchase them. We decided to stick to the interior of the Tardis. Mattie originally did not want to be in the photo but changed his mind when he saw he would get to wear a Fez!

The downstairs' part of the exhibition was mainly costumes and a selection of the Tardis interiors. Each outfit worn by every Doctor was displayed, with all other costumes being from the companions, with a focus on Matt Smith's tenure. This included a slab of concrete in which were Matt's hand prints! Upstairs was the huge variety of the Doctor's foes, ranging from the Daleks to Sontarans. Again, these were mainly from newer series. There was a whole section showing the evolution of the Cyberman, which I have to admit I found funny to look at as the earlier ones do not seem as scary as the current ones.

There was an extensive section for the Daleks, one of the most recognizable enemies! There was even a Dalek that you could operate. Mattie is petrified of them and was not immediately impressed when he saw a moving one but when he discovered it was someone inside doing it, he immediately wanted a turn and became much more relaxed around them.

One of the best things about coming when we did was how up to date the exhibition was. It included a whole range of things from the most recent series and of course, the 50th Anniversary episode. This included each Tardis used by the war, 10th and 11th Doctor. The end of the exhibition included wigs, costumes, sketches and a variety of photos from the series, whether it was behind the scenes or while shooting. Once we left, we also took the chance to look at some props which were out in the lobby, including Clara's leaf and book and numerous items of River Song, including her famous blue diary!

We only spent about an hour there, though I feel like I could have spent longer, but when one child wants to leave, you have to leave. But it was definitely worth the trip and the money. So if you are a Whovian, go visit if you have not already! However, do note, it is possible that by the time you go, the exhibition may have changed slightly to include new costumes, props and perhaps even new recorded material from the new Doctor, Peter Calpaldi.