Monthly Archives: August 2014

Autographs, Convention, Cosplay, Doctor Who, Fun stuff

Fleet Air Arm Museum’s Dalek Invasion, Somerset-August 2014

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So happy to be meeting a Doctor Who companion!Hello readers! A big thank you to you all – today I have reached the 5000 views mark and I’d like to say thank you for helping me make this possible.

Today I am going to tell you about an adventure that I had planned to tell you about last week – but then I met the Doctor and Clara …

Now we travel to earlier this month and the Fleet Air Arm Museum for the Dalek Invasion!  Fleet Air Arm Museum tells the story of the Royal Navy In the Air and is Europe’s largest naval aviation Museum. It is based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (also known as HMS Heron) in Somerset and regularly holds special events including the annual Dalek Invasion. I have been there before but this was my first Dalek Invasion so I dressed as the Eleventh Doctor ready to kick some Dalek butt (even though they don’t have butts!).

And here is the museum for y'all!

When I arrived I went straight to the main hall to meet the special guests because I was excited to meet them. The first person I met was Nicola Bryant also known as Peri Brown, the Doctor’s companion from 1984-1986. She was sat next to her husband Nev Fountain. Nicola and Nev had replied to a tweet I had sent so they were expecting me, and recognised me from my photo. Nicola was a very nice lady and looked just like she did on TV, but she didn’t sound the same as she had an American accent in the show. She was really friendly but I was shy. She signed a picture of her and the Sixth Doctor with some Daleks and posed for a photo with me. I couldn’t believe I had met a star of Classic Doctor Who – she was my first ever!

Next I talked to Nev Fountain who is a scriptwriter. Nev helped me pick out my first Big Finish CD and recommended some which would be good for a 9 year old. I chose Breaking Bubbles because it had one of Nev’s own stories and I promised Nev that I would listen to it and write a review. (See below). Nev signed the CD and also posed for a photo with me.

Nice to meet you, Nev.

After I met Nicola and Nev I explored the museum. All around me were people dressed as their favourite characters, I could see the Tenth Doctor, Second Doctor, Seventh Doctor, a Silurian, Reinette, Captain Jack and many more. I even saw K9 who was little but very fast. The Daleks were going to exterminate people with their water guns. One Dalek was dancing to Gangnam Style by spinning round and getting close to people! Someone took a picture of the Dalek and he said “I’m sure that’s a lovely picture of my bum.” Awkward! I wanted the Daleks to stay back because they are EVIL.

Next I shifted on to the BAC Concorde which is the actual first British-built Concorde – a turbojet powered supersonic passenger airliner. This was the not the Concorde that disappeared in the story Time-Flight (1982) but that story used a second Concorde as its set. It was the first ever TV show filmed on an actual Concorde or at Heathrow Airport! I was surprised that the ceiling was very low and I had to duck.

Sadly I didn’t fly anywhere on Concorde but I did go on a simulator afterwards. It was of a helicopter flight and it was so fidgety that I kept falling out of my seat!

Next I went to meet Jon Davey who is a Doctor Who monster actor and has played many characters such as an Ood, Cyberman, Whisper Man, Winder and even appeared as an android inDeep Breath (2014). Jon showed a video of him being made up as a Whisper Man. That took three hours but on video was only 50 seconds. He was a Dalek on the Red Carpet at the Doctor Who World Tour and showed me photos he took from inside the Dalek. Maybe I was in one of the photos? I think it must have been very cramped in there. Jon was very nice and spent lots of time chatting. He also signed a picture of him with the Twelfth Doctor and posed for a photo with me.

Ello Jon Davey!

Afterwards I went and enjoyed the entertainment until it was time to go. I had a great workout on the way back to my TARDIS to keep me fit and ready for kicking Daleks out of time! I had a great day and will go again next year – if my TARDIS doesn’t malfunction.

Roger, over and out!

 

Big Finish Audio Adventure Review – The Curious Incident of the Doctor in the Night-Time by Nev Fountain. (From Breaking Bubbles and Other Stories)

This is my first Big Finish so I would like everyone to enjoy this review. I am reviewing this story because it is the only one on the CD written by Nev Fountain and it is my preferito! MINOR SPOILERS!

This is the story of Michael aged 14. He likes to solve little mysteries made because of invisible rules that he doesn’t understand. One day he was helping his Dad in his DIY shop and said ‘Dad you should change the Do It Yourself Sign because it is rude. At least put a please at the end of it!’. His Dad said that Michael was from another planet and Michael believes him.

His dad had 129 gnomes but one day when Michael counted there were 130. At the same time his Dad had gone missing and Michael suspected his Dad had been turned into a gnome. Michael set out to solve this big mystery with the help of the man in the yellow trousers – (old Sixy) and the girl with a boy’s name (Peri). Michael and the Doctor are very similar because they both like solving mysteries and are very logical.

I thought this story was great because I really liked Michael as he is a very clever boy. The story is also very sad but the Doctor teaches Michael how to time travel in his mind to help him feel better.

I enjoyed listening to the adventure because you can make up the pictures in your head and use your imagination to tell the story. I would like to listen to more CDs in the future.

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Doctor Who, Fun stuff, TARDIS

A once-in-a-lifetime surprise in Parliament Square, London – 22 August 2014

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Say cheese!How do you do?

This post finds me at Parliament Square for a little meeting with the Doctor and Clara! This is the most amazing part of my life so far and I think it always will be. Now I am going to tell you the story of how it happened.

Yesterday I was travelling to London for the day when one of my companions called me to say there was a TARDIS in Parliament Square. I wanted to see this for myself and decided to take a look. And I guess you know what happened next. That’s right!

As I was walking towards the TARDIS I realised that the Doctor, Clara and co were there for a photo shoot. The TARDIS had landed stuck in the middle of Parliament Square and had landed on some dinosaur bones! My eyes popped out because I did not expect to see that. Wow!

I joined the small crowd to watch from behind the barrier and started taking photos. Peter and Jenna were posing on the TARDIS. It was really smoky and Peter was coughing! Big Ben struck 11 and Peter put his fingers in his ears!

I got chatting with some people in the crowd and told them about Project Indigo – well, my companion did. She was telling everyone she saw because she couldn’t believe our luck. Before we knew it we had been given passes so that we could get on the other side of the barrier with the press. Woo Hoo!

Behind the barrier I had the best seat in the house to see the Doc and Clara close-up. People had offered money to get behind the barrier but we were luckier. Peter and Jenna noticed me taking photos and started pulling fantastic poses towards me . I thought I took a lot of photos but when I checked, the camera had only taken 4.  😦 Everyone in the crowd was wondering why I was there – some people thought I had won a competition!

The  people behind the barrier were so friendly and welcoming and kind and arranged for me to meet Peter and Jenna. It was so surprising and a privelege.  I was introduced to Peter and Jenna and shook hands with the Doctor and had my photo taken. I told them all about this blog and some places I have visited. I told them how much I enjoyed watching Deep Breath when I went to the World Tour in Cardiff. It is all a bit of a blur because in my head all I could think was “Woooooowwwww!” Peter and Jenna thanked me for my good review. If I had know I was going to meet them I wouldn’t have been so shy and would have thought of some questions. I would have asked them how much they enjoy playing the Doctor and Clara. I think it must be a really ace job.

The Doctor with his TWO companions!

Sadly Jenna had to leave but Peter stayed to sign lots of autographs for the crowd. In all the excitement I forgot to ask for one myself! Whilst Peter was signing I got a few snaps with the dinosaur bones and TARDIS. Then I was interviewed by Chris and Laura for this video on thisisfoxx’s Youtube channel. I was happy because this was my second interview and I knew what to say.

Peter was taking his time with the autographs and posing for pictures. I was chatting to people who work with him and they said that he is a really lovely man who really cares for his fans. One lady in the audience asked me who he was – she had never heard of Doctor Who! One couple from Poland took a photo of me with my companion – they had travelled all the way from Poland to watch Deep Breath!

Just before 12 it was time for Peter to leave and away he went. I could see him posing for a photo with a child by his car. Awww.I was sad it was over but at least I made the most of it.  Thank you Peter and Jenna and to all the marvellous people who made my dream come to life! I cannot believe this happened and I met the Doctor by accident! I will remember it all my life.

THANK YOU THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bye!

p.s. Did you see my picture on Blue Peter this week? It is available here on CBBC iPlayer for the next few days, The Twelfth Doctor, A Blue Peter Special. You can see me at about 10 minutes in.

UPDATE: Please see here for a really cool time lapse video of when the TARDIS crash landed in Parliament Square!

Doctor Who, New location

The Doctor Who Experience, Cardiff Bay – August 2014

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Walking in Trenzalore!Hello again,

We’re back in Cardiff for another post for you.  We are off to The Doctor Who Experience on the 4th August, on a lovely sunny day and I am so excited. I am going to the door and ooopps, sorry CLOSED! Retake!  Awwww!Wearing my Blue Peterbadge, ready to go in. Oh wait, closed! Sorry!

But I walked around the side and noticed  some SFX trucks. There was some filming going on in there! I wonder why…… A Christmas Special? Five-ish Doctors Sequel? A new intro? I’d love to know.

(UPDATE – I have now found out that Peter Capaldi was inside filming a new version for the updated experience! )

Day 2, ready to go in. Open! Yay!

Now it is the next day, sorry about that, now it really is open and I went in to see the action. I didn’t have to pay because I used my Blue Peter badge! It was very busy (like it always is) because the Doctor is famous worldwide and this is THE place to come to if you are a Doctor Who fanatic. I have been there three times now- August 2014, February 2014 and August 2011 when it originally opened in Olympia in London, before it moved to Cardiff. I came back to see the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, for the final time before the Experience closes on August 31st to change over to the Twelfth Doctor.

The clock strikes 12 – The Time of the Doctor, 2013

Inside the walls are covered with loads of fantastic Doctor Who artwork. I don’t know who did it but they are a great artist and I wish they could decorate my bedroom!Sadly this is not my bedroom wall.

First stop was the interactive experience, it was my last chance to save the Eleventh Doctor from the Pandorica. I stepped through a crack in time and went on a real journey through time and space! First up, Starship UK then I went into the actual TARDIS which really was bigger on the inside, it’s true. I met the Daleks and Weeping Angels and helped rescue the Doctor- who was really silly to get stuck in the Pandorica for a second time! Some children were crying because they were scared but I wasn’t one of them luckily!

Straight out, I went to get a photo taken. There were lots of props to choose from so I took a Fez, bow-tie and a Sonic Screwdriver. I posed in front of a giant green screen and first pretended I was afraid to be on Trenzalore and then flew the TARDIS. I felt a bit weird because there was a big queue and everyone was looking at me but it was good fun and I chose to buy the photos of me on Trenzalore. I had two photos and they were e-mailed to me as well.

Fezzes are cool.I wasn't really in Trenzalore, I was just fooling!

Next I travelled around the exhibition. This is actually a filming location, not only for The Day of the Doctor (2013) where they filmed the Tenth Doctor at his TARDIS console but also An Adventure in Space and Time (2013), which is a film about the creation of Doctor Who, and The Five-ish Doctors Reboot (2013), which is a really funny film about the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Doctors trying to get in on the 50th Anniversary episode. I have met Andrew twice, and he is featured in The Five-ish Doctors Reboot as one of the employees who took John Barrowman CDs from the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Doctor as payment for getting into the Experience! He is a very nice man and let me take a photo the first time I met him.

I took this photo in Feb 14
I took this photo in Feb 14

The exhibition has the worlds largest collection of items that have been used for filming – costumes, props and sets. This time there were even more than the last time I went as there were lots of items from the Christmas special, The Time of the Doctor (2013). These included the puppet theatre, Tasha Lem’s bed-shaped altar and poor old Handles, the Cyberman head who helped the Doctor on many occasions and became his best friend when he stayed for Christmas.

You can see all the characters including Daleks, Cybermen, Ood, Abzorbalof, Zygon, Smilers, and a bunch of others too many to mention. You can see costumes for all the Doctors and lots of the companions and the Doctor’s old TARDISes. You can control a Dalek, watch some making of Doctor Who films, learn to walk like a Scarecrow and a Cyberman, and listen to the sound effects. Everybody inside is so joyful to see and do all these things and they take lots and lots of photos to remember the day. Everything you see makes you go ‘Wow’!

Now we have left the exhibition we are in the shop which is crammed full of Doctor Who items such as pictures, Sonic Screwdrivers, T-shirts and loads of DVDs and magazines to choose from. I bought a Cybermen wristband and a keyring with my favourite Doctor, number Seven on it.Dr Who merchandise and memorabilia - as far as the eye can see

I had a brilltastic day and can’t wait to go back again. I hope I get to see the Experience when it has regenerated into the Twelfth Doctor’s story. Have you been there? Please leave a comment and tell me what you liked best.

More Cardiff posts coming up soon, byee!

Autographs, Convention, Doctor Who, Fun stuff

Doctor Who World Tour, Cardiff – 07 August 2014

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Stop staring at me!Hello readers,

Now I am back on English soil and I am going to share with you the surprise I was telling you about!

Yesterday I had a ticket to the Doctor Who World Tour in Cardiff and saw the premiere of Peter Capaldi’s first episode as the Twelfth Doctor – Deep Breath (2014)! It was fan-daby-dosy!

I have been so excited and couldn’t believe the day had finally come. I arrived at the Red Carpet event and the street was very crowded full of people waiting to see the new Doctor and Clara. Some Daleks and Cybermen were going up and down and going up to people – not to exterminate or delete them happily – phew! I was very tired waiting and I thought my legs might drop off but suddenly the crowd pumped up and I knew the stars had arrived. No, don't...!

First to go past was Jenna Coleman but she was very busy and had to rush off to an interview. She was wearing a bright red dress and walked right past me.Jenna Coleman in the flesh

Next to come down was Steven Moffat and I was really glad because I got to say hello and get his autograph! He seemed a really nice guy. Stevie Moffat signing his autograph for meFinally was (who did you expect) PETER CAPALDI! He was so busy signing his autograph on people’s cards, TARDISes and other memorabilia. Just as he got to my section he was dragged away because he was late, which was really sad, but he seemed very sorry himself as if he wanted to meet more fans. He was very smiley and friendly and seemed really happy to be the Doctor!

After Peter went past it was time to go in St David’s Hall. The room was capacious and the seats went so high up. I was only four rows from the front, I had a great view and was so close to the Doctor and co. I felt so lucky and spoiled to have the chance to be there.Everybody was so busy and excited that they didn’t take notice of the rules and kept taking photos! While I was waiting something happened that I really have to mention – I met BlogtorWho! He’s a really great Doctor Who writer and I will be going to see his film Who’s Changing in a couple of weeks. He was a jolly chap and let me pose for a photo with him. 'Ello Blogtor Who!

Finally it was time and Jason Mohammad came out to present the show and said that we were the first audience in the WHOLE WORLD to watch Deep Breath. Next Rhodri Talfan Davies and Faith Penhale talked about BBC Wales and brought out Peter, Jenna and Steven before the episode started. We all agreed to keep what happens in the episode a secret so me is not spoiling it for you!Just before the episode

So, I watched Deep Breath and it was dazzling and Peter Capaldi was EPIC. When I say epic I mean epic. I don’t want to give anything away so I will preview without spoiling. The Twelfth Doctor is funny, serious , smart , Scottish and smelly! The story is cool, creepy, life-changing, terrifying and breathtaking! I had to watch from behind my fingers for a bit but I loved it. 10 out of 10. The new Doctor is great and I can’t wait to see more of him.

When the episode finished Jason brought out Peter, Jenna and Steven again to answer some questions. I didn’t ask a question because I was really shy but I wish I had. Peter said that playing the Doctor was terrifying, wonderful and a dream come true. He said that the show is a good thing that is met with joy and positivity and that he is so proud.My favourite part was when he said he didn’t know he was the only actor to audition for the part, that was so funny.

Someone asked when they would like to travel in time to. Peter said Ancient Rome ( which he has already. Well , Pompeii). Jenna said Ancient Egypt or 1920’s New York. I would like to go to the Norman times or the 1980s.

I felt so inspired by all the answers and very glad that Peter was a fan when he was my age. He is so happy to finally be playing the Doctor.

After the show I was lucky enough to meet Sam Anderson who plays the new companion, Danny Pink! He was very smart with a cool hat and spent ages signing autographs and posing for photos. I got his autograph and he said that no two signatures were coming out the same. Steven Moffat said he is the show’s secret weapon and nothing will be the same again.And there's Danny!

After it was over I was quite sad because I wanted it to go on and on and on. It was THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE.

I’ve had a great week in Cardiff and visited over 20 Doctor Who locations so I hope to tell you all about them. Please come back and read my posts and tell me what you think.

Until next time, cheerio!