Oh yummy yummy, isn't he a bit of terrific? Gah!
Is this the right place to put my report waffle? I shall post it anyways, please delete if necessary PK. I think maybe my waffle is more suited to LJ and just post a link here...what do you think? We had a great nights sleep after having a wonderful time at the Event and woke up in good time, 5 am, to get coffee and shortbread and a shower and get down into the hotel lobby for 6.30 am where we met the others.
Did the checking out thing and I forgot to give in my keycard! Forgot I even had one. Oh well. Should I post it back I wonder? So we all enquire of each other if we had a good night’s sleep and we mostly did and then the taxi comes yay.
I wasn’t really looking forward to the journey, thinking we’d all be squashed in and very uncomfortable and the things we do for James, but it was fine really except Saraz had to stay behind and catch the train and went onto Crewe by mistake with that nice girl...Janet I think her name is, not me another one.
I sat in the back with Ladyflame in the middle next to PurplePauline and DeeDee, Merce and Alicia sat opposite. We chatted and dozed our way up the motorway. I mostly dozed and got a crick in my neck ouch.
Merce is mostly quiet, I think she finds it hard with being Spanish and all and I don’t know where Ladyflame gets her energy from, she is never still or quiet!
The conversation was interesting, veering between gossip about James, BtVS, makes of cars and Spike. We made very good time and arrived in Manchester via the scenic route and I knew I was home when I saw The Swan. I was expecting to come in past the Trafford Centre but the satnav took us up the A56 so I gave everybody a very boring tour ie., on the left Bingo! on the right The Mersey, on the left The Old Cock, on the right my daughter’s flat, on the left Salford Quays with White City on the right…etc.
Except when we got into Manchester proper I wasn’t sure about GMex as I've only ever come in on the tram! Not to mention it’s changed its’ name! Well I don’t get out a lot and certainly not to Manchester. I go the other way into Sale and Altrincham. I can count on one hand the times I visit Manc in any one year…oh well, I just came across a bit dense but never mind.
The taxi driver went around the block twice not realising we were there but I knew Alicia was booked into the Premier hotel opposite and I asked if that's where she was staying but she thought there might be another one...no that was the one! We went past it first time around anyways…soon got back on track though.
We all got out in front of the steps when I’m used to just stepping off the Metro and going in the other door that’s what threw me. Have they closed that other door off or something? I never did find the actual GMex station. PurplePauline was very impressed with the Midland Hotel opposite. She likes buildings and stuff…so do I. All that nice red brick.
So we go in and it was a bit of a surprise. I was expecting like Milton Keynes but of course it’s a completely different type of venue. It was sortov muffled and quiet with not as many peeps not being a shopping centre. I enjoyed myself immensely of course but when my daughter and her boyfriend came later they were a bit disappointed at the lack of atmos and crowds plus they thought it was a bit expensive paying for autographs and pix and things and he can’t understand why we all want to see James over and over when we’ve met him once already…once?!
Anyways…we managed to grab a table in the café which we kept for most of the afternoon as a base. There was always someone coming and going though. DeeDee got talking to a very nice lady and her friend (edit/ it was Rosie!!!) It was their first time meeting James. She’d only just got into BtVS. Yay another convert. She was all squee and excited about having her photo taken with James. She had myriad coloured tickets.
We all exchanged email addy’s and she may call in at Bloody Spikeless. I told her to Google it.
We had a bit of a walkabout and found James in the middle of the row of celebs at the back. I was surprised they’d not put him separate but it worked out okay coz it wasn’t as crowded as Milton Keynes. Rimmer and Lister were next door but one to him but I never did get to see them. I have eyes for none but James. I was a bit gutted I never saw Buffy's Mom!
Lisa and Steve Himber and them were at the merchandise table at the front of the James’ area and we must always remember not to stand in front of the table…Ladyflame this means you!
Me and DeeDee went up for our autograph and I took pics of DeeDee then tried to film James on my rubbish camera. I was nervy again though and when he made eye contact I forgot all about the camera and it was dangling from my wrist. Nice shots of the floorboards.
When Alicia went up for yet another autograph she gave the pic that she’d had re-taken yesterday and where she’s looking all watery. She told James his manager made her cry and he said he’s always making him cry.
We weren’t going to go up till the last minute for our photo session so that we’d have something special to look forward to all day but I got into a panic remembering that first year at Milton Keynes when peeps got turned away coz there were just too many of them and me and DeeDee didn’t even get near him that first day. Thankfully he was there the next day and we made up for lost time.
So we went up to the back of the hall and were just in good time to join the queue coz our tix were blue and they were already lining up. We checked our bags and stuff and then went into the little enclosure. Stewards were entreating peeps to buzz off if they had the other colours and come back later but nobody wanted to move away and can you blame them? We got nearer and then there he was posing and being adorable as usual. He was in fine fettle so if he was partying last night it didn’t show…well not so much…not on the photos anyway. He just looked a bit tired around the eyes close up on getting an autograph coz he worked soooo hard this weekend.
Peeps were having such fun with him posing and stuff. Then the photographer I think it was asked him if he required a break and he’s all Tigger and askance and jumping around flexing and saying he’s ‘someone’s fantasy man, break?' Pfft! Lol. The atmosphere was great. I had two tix which I handed in but I think they were stuck together and they didn’t notice coz I only got one shot though James is slightly different on them so that’s okay. The photographer gave peeps the shot he wasn’t satisfied with so I got two anyways. I was too nervous I think to have another though DeeDee did try to speak up for me. Oh well.
DeeDee had hers taken and she was all posing with him and chatty, then it’s me and I was holding my stupid camera so called to DeeDee to take it off me which threw me even more and also the other steward had all DeeDee’s stuff so it was a bit entangled there for a minute. What JMLive Lisa thought sat watching at the table goodness only knows.
So he’s all charming as always and asking me about poses and being all solicitous and I’m stiff as a board and he’s so good. James please don’t ask me, just do it, I’m very malleable when moved… He was so good though, he always is…a proper gentleman. He realises I’m worse than ever so lets me know it’s okay and he won't push the pose thing and I can hear Ladyflame heckling me from the side saying it’s all an act and I’m not that shy lol. James thought she meant him and she says no her, I know her, it’s all a sham and stuff lol.
The photographer says hang on and I was all aagh no I’m too nervous hurry up I can’t stand it and I got those two shots so it’s all good. I don’t think you can tell I’m freaking on the pics really. James looks gorgeous which goes without saying. Plus I hugged his arm. I didn’t want to let go.
We waited for Ladyflame and Alicia. Their photos were excellent. All the photos at Collectormania were excellent and I squeed over a lot of them. It was all very good fun.
We saw Rosie on the way out stood there with a pile of packages and two light-sabers which she said were nothing to do with her. We believe you, thousands wouldn’t.
Her four photos were fabulous too, she was all happy and glowy and on a James high.
As I was walking away I hear a “Ditto!” and I turn and there’s Emz from the Spikettes! She says ‘I’ve not seen you for years!’ and I didn’t recognise her for a minute, she’s cut off her super long hair. She looks really good. I told her Saraz would be coming asap. She found us again later in the café when Saraz finally arrived via Crewe lol. It was an excellent day and a perfect weekend. Shame it had to end but we were all pretty jaded by the end anyways and they wanted to close up the café so chucked us out!
We then did the milling about and getting lost and finally sauntering off thing again in the perfectly horrid weather. Wet and freezing cold brrrr. I still couldn’t see where the GMex station was which is where I always go to catch the tram after ‘Mind, Body and Spirit’ events. Even though I glanced down that way with DeeDee I couldn't make anything out and couldn't see for looking anyways, so thought nothing for it but to go to the next station which is St Peter’s Square.
I looked back to see DeeDee asking James fans where the next station is lol. Don’t think she trusted me. PurplePauline was yards ahead so I followed her and was very narked to see a big van parked right on the pavement blocking the way. Everybody and Saraz in the wheelie had to go out onto the road. Grrr. Purple wanted to slash his tyres.
Then we struggle with the ticket machine on the Metro station and can’t see the price/ticket display. How hard can it be? Press adult single, press Piccadilly, read 70p, insert 70p and grab ticket. We couldn’t ‘see’ 70p and I forgot to grab my ticket coz I thought DeeDee had it lol. I wasn’t doing very well come to think of it. Ladyflame ended up having to jump but what the heck I didn’t want to wait for another tram I was too darned cold. For three stops we’ll risk the fine! You should light up your ticket machines you stupid peeps.
It was really bitterly cold by this time and I thought I saw snow near Fountain Street but Purple said not. I think it blinking well was! Brrrr. We arrive at the station and then the lift isn’t working. Agh. Up the escalators and into the station main and we grab a coffee, well a hot choc and wait for a bit. Ladyflame, DeeDee and PurplePauline got off after a bit. I don’t think they could take any more of my inane chunterings. Sorry gals. Next time I’ll push off earlier. I ended up getting a taxi coz it was freezing. I’m not good in the cold. Chatted to the nice taxi driver all the way home. He was a Blake’s 7 fan and sorry he missed Collectormania. He’s looking forward to Torchwood and Dr Who next year. He asked how I knew all this stuff and I told him the internets….it’s amazing what can happen when you get on the internets…
I know we'll have already seen him but he'll be there, right there and we're not agh. 
Wicked piccies DeeDee, ;D ;D no wonder you look so happy luv 
Merce is mostly quiet, I think she finds it hard with being Spanish and all and I don’t know where Ladyflame gets her energy from, she is never still or quiet! 
