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.

What's On Stage Awards - February 2014

Red Carpet Season is here, which means for me and Rachael a trip up London for the What's On Stage Awards. This year they were held at the Prince of Wales Theatre, currently home to Book of Mormon.

We ended up arriving a full five hours before anyone was due to arrive but we were the first there meaning we were able to get a prime spot. The number of fans waiting swelled quicker than it had the year before, causing havoc before the first star stepped out of a car. People were told to move to the point they ended up standing on the road and I am amazed no one got run over even with buses going past!

I am not going to do a long blog this time. Just going to note some a couple of good parts and then all photos. First up, celebs we met, but did not get a photo with Rosalie Craig and Daniel Mays. Very annoyed it took till after I had met him to realise Daniel has been in Doctor Who, otherwise I would had got a photo. Next, very grateful to Louise Dearman, stopping and remembering us! Both her and Lauren Samuels were worried about their new hair cuts but both look amazing and that they appreciated. We also had a good giggle about the fact there was no red carpet despite being a red carpet event! Also appreciate each and every celeb who stopped for us and the fact they were so nice especially to Rachael, especially Rupert Grint, who came back to us so Rachael could also have a photo.

With Leigh Zimmerman

With Louise Dearman, my favourite musical theatre actress

With Lauren Samuels

With Daniel Boys

With Gavin Creel

With Alex Gaumond

With Alexia Khadime

With Carrie Hope Fletcher

With Zrinka Cvitesic

With David Walliams

With Rupert Grint

The Big Reunion - February 2014

After the huge success of last year's series of the Big Reunion, it was really no surprise when it was announced a second series had been commissioned. The obvious problem was whether they could follow it up with more amazing acts!

At the end of December, the answer came and six acts were announced, much to my excitement. Announced were Eternal, A1, Damage, Girl Thing, 3T and newly formed boyband (though I feel manband is more appropriate), 5th Story, formed of Dane Bowers, Adam Rickett, Kenzie, Kavana and Gareth Gates.

The moment the tickets went on sale, after the first episode had aired, I was straight on booking my ticket. Desperate not to repeat having to stand on my tip toes like last year, I went for the stalls and ended up 19 rows from the front! Admittedly, had I got tickets for the circle, I would had been able to meet a few celebs who were sat up there, including some of the acts from last year. But it didn't bother me too much, as opportunities may arise for me to meet them and I wanted a decent seat more than anything this year!

The format for show was changed slightly for this year's gig at Hammersmith. Andi Peters still introduced the show, the acts took in turn to perform and the video clips played between each act. However this year, we got a 20 minute interval, to allow for costume changes and the acts got to sing a minimum of four songs each. I have to say the changes worked well and improved the quality and running of the show.

A1 opened the show with their number one hit, Take On Me. The boys were without Paul, but quite honestly, it made no difference as the boys sounded fantastic as always, with Christian and Ben taking over Paul's vocals. Their second song was Caught In The Middle, which they performed with instruments. I was so glad to see they were able to do this and it was great to see Mark get behind his keyboard and Christian giving it his all on his guitar. For the final set of the show, the boys performed Everytime, which I have to say I did not expect, especially the great list of songs they have to choose from. I also noticed with the absence with Paul, the vocals for this song for changed round quite a bit, but it sounded better the recording! The final song was Same Old Brand New You, which was led in with a great joke about their dancing! A1 were definitely my fave act of the night, having been a fan since they lost out to Westlife (or Westside as they were known  then) in the Smash Hits Polls Winner Party Tour Act Award.

Next act was Eternal. Now being that my brother was more the fan than I was up when we were kids, I have to admit, I can only name three out of the five songs they sung. The songs I can remember are Stay, Power of a Woman and I Wanna Be The Only One. I think one of the other two is called Don't You Love Me No More. Either way, these girls have still got it. Esther's voice, especially, was outstanding, definitely providing the best vocal performance of the night. The best part of their performances was when Bebe Winans joined them onstage for their final song, I Wanna Be The Only One. I have to admit this was never a fave of mine, but that night I loved it! Bebe and Esther gave one hell of performance! It was also nice to see the way the girls interacted on stage, proving it is possible to put the past behind you and just get back to enjoying the music.

Next up was new manband (definitely sounds better to me), 5th Story. I have to say I was intrigued by the choice of singers and it was simply one of those ideas that was either going to crash and burn or be amazing. Luckily for the boys, it definitely turned out to be amazing. Throughout the night, they performed 6 songs (with two being done as a medley). They started with a song from Dane's former band, Another Level, Freak Me. Excellent choice as it got the crowd screaming. I was fan of the song the first time round, but they managed to make it better, with Kenzie taking on some of the verses and the harmonies were so much stronger, especially with Gareth and Kavana's voices! They also performed Kavana's I Can Make You Feel Good, Adam's Breathe Again (again improved, with Kenzie taking on the bridge and the additional voices for the chorus), Gareth's Spirit in the Sky (which was the closing number and a good choice at that) and a medley of Blazing Squad's Crossroads and Flip Reverse It, which again sounded amazing with the stronger harmonies. If these guys choose to make a go of a career as this lineup, I think they could potentially make it with the right songs and right promotion, but they definitely have a fan here!

Damage were the next band to take the stage. I have to admit I forgot how much I loved them and just how gorgeous their vocals were. They definitely had the tightest vocals and harmonies of the night. They started with Ghetto Romance, and also performed Wonderful Tonight, Forever and Love II Love. They were also a member down with Corey having refused to be a part of the reunion, though he did take part in the interview portion of their episode, but again I hardly noticed him not there. Jade's fiancee, Emma Bunton, was there, sat in the middle of the front of the circle and every time the boys were on stage, she was up on her feet dancing, singing along and cheering for them. She is definitely been a huge supporter of Damage's reunion and that is something great to see.

Girl Thing were next up. I was definitely worried how the crowd would react with many people having claimed on Twitter not to know who they are, but there was definitely a lot of love for them. I do remember liking them the first time and being a huge fan of their first single. It really is a shame that they never got to have a better career. They performed Last One Standing, Girls On Top, Pure and Simple and Roar. Pure and Simple was their chance to show everyone what they could do with the song that was originally theirs and they sung it beautifully. Roar was performed due to them not having been able to release their album over here till just this year, but it really gave them a chance to show the crowd what they were capable of vocally. I have to admit I don't expect them to continue, but if they do I shall be supporting them, especially as I determined to get my daughter into their music!

Final act to take the stage for their first song was 3T. The response was much bigger than I was expecting to the point the screams were deafening! I have to admit I only really knew two of the songs they performed, Anything (which I love) and Why (a duet with Michael Jackson). Couldn't name the other songs if you asked me! However, these guys did a fab job and it was beautiful to see them pay tribute to their Uncle, the great late Michael Jackson. The tribute was well received by the crowds. Really hope that despite every bad thing that seems to hang the Jackson Clan finally lifts to allow these boys to get back to what was once a great career.

Overall, the show was fantastic as were all the bands. I do hope they get to do a tour like last year's act, though whether I go remains to be seen.  But with the announcement that there WILL be a third series, chances are I will definitely be back for the Hammersmith gig next year!

Once the Musical - January 2014

I have to admit I have been in two minds about going to see the show since it opened. To be honest I am not sure why, I think perhaps because it is not your typical musical, considering the entire cast plays instruments on stage, without support from an orchestra. Yesterday, I finally decided it was time to go and see it with Rachael and our friend, Harriet. We decided against booking in advance due to costs and instead go for Day Seats. We arrived 9:30am, about half an hour before the box office was due to open. While there was a queue, we were able to secure three seats for the matinee show. The great thing about day seats is that they are inexpensive (in this case £25) and great seats (for us, Row D in the stalls). Definitely something worth considering if you love the theatre but cannot always afford to go.

We arrived back at the Phoenix Theatre about half an hour before the show was due to begin. I had been to the theatre before, around 15 years previously to see Blood Brothers, but I had forgotten just how small the theatre is. The size, however, was perfect for an intimate setting in which a show like Once deserves and needs. The theatre actually opens 90 minutes before the show as the bar on stage is in fact a working bar, where the audience can relax and have a drink before the show and during the interval. It was absolutely packed when we arrived, so we chose to wait till the interval and instead enjoy the pre-show, where the cast come on stage and play a few songs not part of the show. Once the audience has left the stage, they go straight into the show with the house lights coming down slowly in the middle of the first official song.

The show itself is absolutely fantastic and I definitely want to go again after the cast change in March. The stage set is basically just a bar, with the walls covered in mirrors. You have to imagine the different settings they are in, but it means the songs stand out without the need for big set changes. The mirrors, for me, are such a clever piece of stage design as it allows you see things you would perhaps miss otherwise. You can see all the instruments being played when the cast member is not facing you. The cast are all ridiculously talented, not just acting, singing and dancing but playing their own instruments as well. This element makes this musical so unique and makes it stand out amongst every other musical currently playing in the West End.

One of the biggest stand out parts of the show for me, was the well written lead characters, only known as Guy and Girl, with no given names and the actors who were cast in the roles. Declan Bennett and Zrinka Cvitesic were fantastic and sung every song so beautifully. Zrinka's character I absolutely loved as you rarely get to see a female part in which they are so bold and blunt on stage. The pair also a great chemistry, something which is really needed in this show! Their duet on Falling Slowly was stunning and one of the highlights of the show. The show was so fantastic that the cast were given three standing ovations!

After the show, we went round to the stage door to meet the cast. Sadly we did not get to meet Declan and Zrinka this time, but as they are nominated for What's On Stage Awards, we are hoping we will get to see them there instead. However, we did get to meet Valda Aviks (Baruska), Ryan Fletcher (Svee), Aidan Kelly (Billy), Gareth O'Connor (Eamon), Michael O'Connor (Da) and Jos Slovick (Andrej). Aidan even apologised to Rachael for the swearing but we told him we had heard far worse when we saw Billy Elliott!

Having now seen the show, I am hoping it does well in the upcoming What's On Stage Awards and Oliviers! So if you haven't seen it, go and see it!