Memorabilia – 29th November, 2003.
The madness started at 5am when my alarm went off for the second time that morning (after having set it for 4.45am and then deciding I wanted an extra 15 minutes in bed). After getting fed and dressed, I made a quick run-though to check I had everything I needed (tickets, phone, purse, keys, cameras – 2 disposable and one digital – and a notebook and pen, just in case) before going out to meet Sarah and Emma at just after 6am.
Now, you’d think that getting up at such a god awful hour would have some form of calming effect on me, but who are we kidding – I was going to meet Craig Parker! It didn’t exactly help my hyperness that Sarah (star that she is) had checked the snooker results and allayed my fears that Matthew Stevens wouldn’t get to the final (he’d beaten Jimmy White 9-7). All in all, I was feeling pretty good for 6am. (Though I’m sure I must have seemed far too energetic to the other two…)
When we got to the station, we bought out train tickets and then went to see when the train was. First potential stumbling block – the train we were catching was due to be 13 minutes late. Strangely, though the other two seemed pretty concerned by this, I wasn’t panicking quite as much as I’d expected to – perhaps it was the Craig fever, perhaps I was just being particularly optimistic, but I was confident things would work out.
So, train comes, we get on and off we go. And, as we pass the stations, we figure we’re making up time – we were only 8 minutes late at Stafford and 5 mins at Wolverhampton, so things were looking hopeful that we might actually get our connection in Birmingham New Street.
New Street arrived, and we got off the train – with about 2 minutes to find our connection. We decided to find one of the station workers, who helpfully (so we thought) informed us that the next one would be leaving from Platform 2. So, off we rush all the way over to the platform, to see the train we thought he meant pull out as we get there. Just as we were about to panic, Sarah spotted a train on Platform 3 that was going to Birmingham International. So on we hopped and continued on our way.
Once in International, we had to find our way through the NEC to Hall 12, which is where Memorabilia was being held. So off we toddled, following the arrows, and eventually we got to the right hall…and a rather large queue (though not too huge).
We were in the queue for about 15-20 minutes, during which time I found myself getting even more excited. We whiled away the time by singing, quoting and tigging (me and Sarah) or standing quietly to one side and quite probably getting amused/on the verge of disowning by aforementioned antics (Emma).
Finally they let us in at 9am. First stop – find the stars. After a few minutes of walking through the rather large hall that was packed with stalls, we spotted a fairly promising direction and headed off in it. Sure enough, there was the stand we wanted.
First point of excitement – the stars we wanted to see were all sat in one row, all next to each other. Going from left to right, we had Jorn Benzon (Rumil) – who we decided was the “super-special guest” advertised on the website – Craig Parker, Mark Ferguson (Gil-Galad) and Amber Benson. How useful?!
Anyway, as we were marvelling over this, Sarah points over and goes, “Look, Craig’s here!” Cue much excitement from me as I rush to grab the camera – after all, it’s Craig! So yes, mad excitement from me and then we realised – there seemed to be no ticket system. Indeed, there was no virtual queuing – you just queued whenever. So we went up to see Craig (we were one of the first ones there) and Sarah and I got our autographs – and when he saw my coat, Craig was like, “That’s a cool coat. It’s shiny.” (So my PVC coat now has the Craig stamp of approval!) Then he asked us what time we’d got up and where we’d travelled from.
After I got my autograph (and Richenda’s, cos she’d asked me to get one for her), I asked if I could have a hug, which he said yes to (nice hugger!), and then I asked for a picture with him. After brief consultation with the woman looking after him, he said he wasn’t sure if they were allowed to, but if we did it kinda sneakily then they couldn’t be told off. Then as he was signing Sarah’s picture, I remembered that I had to ask about the pig Alex gave him, and said, “I’ve been told to ask about the pig you were given at London Expo.” He replied, “Yeah, I remember being given a pig,” so I asked him if he’d named it, and he said, “No, it’s just Pig.” So I gave him Alex’s suggestion of Alastair, which Sarah helpfully pointed out, “After your character in Mercy Peak.” – he seemed to think it was a good idea. After that, he saw the next couple of fans and then there was a bit of a lull, so he was like, “Quick!” and I had a quick picture taken with him. (Later it transpired that they were allowed to do pictures, but we did it the sneaky way – it’ll make sense later…).
After that, we went on to Jorn, sat right next to Craig. We only got his autograph (I SO should have asked for a hug! I did with the others!), but we managed to get it for free, cos they hadn’t quite got everything set up yet. (oops…ah well, not our fault…)
Next up was Amber, for whom we had to wait a little while because there was quite a queue there already. But eventually we got to her, she signed the pic – she got a little confused over it, but once I’d spelt it out, she was like, “Rhiannon, like the song!” – which was kinda cool. Then I asked for a hug and a picture, to which she was like, “Sure.” Sarah got her autograph and pic, and then I think Emma got her autograph but didn’t get a picture. Sarah also almost left the digital camera with Amber…
After Amber, we realised that the C4 thing had happened again – within less than half an hour, we’d seen everyone we wanted to see. So we took a few pictures round by that section, and then wandered off so that me and Sarah could do a little bit of Photojournalism work – and shopping, of course…
As we browsed one stall, the guy running it suddenly asked, “Were you at Collectormania?” We were like, “Yes…” – obviously we’re famous! And another stall guy asked us the same question – we are recognised! (I’m hoping it’s a good thing…)
After browsing a few stalls, Emma decided that she wanted to go back and get Craig’s autograph and Sarah decided she wanted to get a hug off him (since she forgot the first time), so we went back over to see him. While we were waiting to see him, Mark Ferguson was like, “Ah, Elf fanciers.” (What, do we have big neon signs over our heads?!) Then he was saying how he liked my bag (my Fairy Goth Mother one) and asked where I got it. So I said, “A shop in Aberystwyth,” and instead of adding the sensible description of, “in Wales,” I instead said, “Where I’m originally from.” (Yes, I have no brain – hey, it was the Craig effect!)
Then we got back to Craig. First Sarah asked for a hug, then I asked for another hug (hey, I know I’m cheeky – he said yes, though!) and then he hugged Emma as well before signing her pic. Then he saw Sarah’s scarf and was like, “Is that a Gryffindor scarf?” to which she said yes. Then he saw the tag on it and was like, “It’s an official one. Why didn’t you just knit one?” Sarah was like, “Because I can’t knit,” so he said, “Get a gran to knit you one,” and Sar replied, “I don’t think she can knit either.”
Then I showed him my scarf and he was like, “That’s Slytherin, isn’t it?” and then said, “That’s the House I’d want to be in.” Cue an excited/amazed, “Really?!” from me – HOW cool?! And incredibly bizarre at the same time…I’m so proud!
Once that excitement was over (and we’d taken a few more pics) we did some more wandering around the stores – and this time we were serious, having decided that we had to do some Christmas shopping while we were there. Naturally, this meant that we had to go out in search of a cash point, because as with C4, we underestimated how much we’d need over the course of the day. So we got our hands marked with this really groovy pen that only shows up in UV light and then went out to try and find a cash point. While we were there, there was a load of people dressed up as Star Wars characters, so Sarah and I got some pics for Photojournalism. Then as we were looking through them, one of the Storm Troopers came over and suddenly asked, “Am I in any of them?” This kinda freaked Sarah a little, since she wasn’t expecting it. Then one of the other guys came over and said, “I hope you got my good side.”
Over the course of the day, I got Sarah’s, Chend’s, Al’s and Alex’s presents (which I’m not going to discuss further because I don’t want them to know what they’re getting ;) ) and also got my mum’s (a film-strip board from The Tigger Movie) and part of my dad’s (some CSI trading cards).
That’s not to say we didn’t buy for ourselves – Sarah and I took advantage of a couple of “2 for £10” offers by splitting the cost between us. One of these was at the second stall where the guy recognised us – Sar was browsing for potential presents and while we were there, someone came and bought two of the little 5-picture boards that were 2 for £10 – a Viggo one and an Orli one. So the guy puts two more out – Orli and Elijah. I turned to Sar and asked, “Do you want to split the cost,” while pointing them out. So we bought them and the guy put another Orli one and another Lij one out…and when I looked, the Elijah one had 2 different pictures on it, which I decided I liked more than the ones on my one. So I asked him if I could swap them – I think he was a little confused by it, but the woman helping him at the stall understood where I was coming from – or at least seemed to.
After some hardcore shopping, we decided to take a tea break since we were getting a little tired. As we sat down to drink our drinks, Sarah and I decided that we wanted to get Mark Ferguson’s autograph, since we felt a bit guilty because we’d got the other Elves’ but not his. Then Sarah and Emma wandered off for a bit because Sarah wanted to try and find my Christmas present and Emma wanted to get some more photos. So I spent the next half an hour trying to entertain myself by watching the crowds and playing “Spot the dress-ups”. And also trying not to freeze to the stupidly cold floor I was sat on…
Upon the others’ return, we went off in search of the cash point once again. On the way, we found the Showmasters stand, which had a thing going, “Which major LotR star will be at London Film & Comic con?” So the three of us were stood there having a think of who it could be – Emma and I both decided that if the picture on the poster was an accurate silhouette, then it looked like Sean Bean. Then we started talking to the guy at the Showmasters stand and were there for about 15 minutes – he was asking us if we’d enjoyed C4 and who we’d enjoyed meeting the most and so on. We were also discussing possible C5 guests, and he said he’d sent someone to go and talk to Craig and also that they’d be asking a lot of the LotR cast soon because the premiere is coming up, so they’ll all be in the country.
Then we went off to the cash point. Upon our return, Sarah and I went to see Mark. He signed the pics, then we asked for hugs and photos. So this guy that they had acting as kinda “official” photographer asked if we both wanted to be in the picture. Naturally, we said yes… While we were talking to Mark, Amber had to get his attention because someone had brought a “Mr Pointy” for her to sign (Before anyone gets any ideas, it was a stake as used in Buffy, named after the stake Kendra gives Buffy in Season 2) and she decided he had to see it. Which I thought was quite sweet… Also, while we were with him, I suddenly felt I had to explain to him what the “C4 disease” was officially known as. (Not enough hands) Not sure why…I’m strange…And I nearly walked off without paying…again, I have no brain…My excuse is that normally they ask you for the money before the star signs, not as you’re about to leave. I’m easily confused, after all.
Then I decided I had to ask for a picture of Craig and Jorn together. (Call me sad, but I wanted a picture of the Lorien brothers. I’d decided a while back, but waited til then to ask because hey, I was there.) They agreed, so we both got a photo of that. (While we were sorting out the cameras, Craig decided to briefly go on tip-toe so he was the same height as Jorn. Sadly I didn’t get that, but I have got one of them both.)
After that, it was time for more shopping and then Sarah decided she needed to lose me so she could look again for my Christmas present. So I went back over to the “Elf and Amber” section (as I’ve now dubbed it) and decided to try and use up the last of the second camera (not exactly hard). While there, I saw this group of girls who’d dressed up, so I asked if I could take a photo for Photojournalism (speaking of, people must have thought I was taking some strange pictures…) and they said yes.
Then Sarah and Emma came back and Sarah and I took a load more pics (including some on the digital camera) of the group. The photographer dude was like, “How many pictures do you need of one man?!” – obviously he just doesn’t understand! Once we’d taken as many pics as we dared, we decided that enough was enough, and headed off for home – or, well, the rail station at least (which, naturally, was our route home).
All in all, Memorabilia was a FANTASTIC day, almost good enough to rival C4. And I have now converted Sarah and Emma to the ways of Craig…hehe…One thing I learnt – Early-bird tickets might be a little more expensive, but they are SO worth it.