The Loony report
Friday
Lynda
and I set off about 7 from my house it was meant to be 6 but we had both
been so busy we were both running late. Helen (Jukebox) had been so hyper
she had been sending me texts from 5 she was already in Milton Keynes. The
roads were very busy and we took a rest stop for what they called food but
I was too hungry to turn it down. We got to the Travel Inn at about 10.30
we had a hard job getting there even though we were following the map we
had from Travel Inn. Far too many roundabouts named with funny names. We
got up to the room and I phoned Helen she was in the pub next door. Then
she say's to me are you at your window and I say no but Lynda is so I open
the curtain and there she is in the car park waving up at me. It really
made me smile the first time to see her.
We met her in the pub next door and she gave us both a drunken hug we of
course started to talk about LOTR straight away and although we were getting
hassled by some weird drunken guy we were having a great chat. The said
drunken man ended up buying us drinks. We went up to our room for a few
more drinks and more chatting I don't know what got into me but I had a
sudden idea apples in pockets call me weird but I had been thinking about
that pic of Billy far to much. So with apples in Helen's Lynda's and my
back pockets we bent over. Claire Helen's friend had the job of taking the
pic poor girl I don't know if I dare let it see the light of day. We said
good bye to Helen and got into bed.
Saturday
So I
wake up at 5 and I can't get back to sleep I hear Lynda drink some water
at 6 and ask her in she's awake I try get her to get up as I'm too hyper
to sleep. We end up getting up at 6.30 get ready and set out we have NO
idea where were going it's 7.30 and were meant to met people in Mcdonnalds.
We finally find someone to ask and get there 5 mins late not bad for people
with no idea at all. I spot some loons from the window Rebecca (LOTR Fan)
is the first one I see. I say hello to everyone and head to get some food.
We sit chatting Jo (Green fay) Rad and a few others. Helen or Ikki is not
there I phone them both Helen hasn't left yet neither has Ikki. We head
off to the hall we get round the corner and I then get really hyper I do
what I normally do in this type of thing I walk very very fast. Were trying
to find Billy's signing area it's like 8.20 or something we walk round a
bit then someone spots and we head over. I notice a few people in the queue
one is Pauline (Concerning hobbits) we stand with them naughty us and were
not there long when Ikki turns up and hands me the great patch she has done
for more it's added to my jacket with the rest of my badges. So were all
in a big group getting hyper. I spot Liz (Zenobia) and go for an chat with
her she's right near the front with Kt and a few others. Just time for chatting
when it gets to 9 with moved along into Billy's queuing section now time
to wait and wait and wait. In this time I've been spending it trying to
calm everyone down. Everyone was getting so bad I was like calm down remember
what you want to say and ask for a hug and give your pressie's. Billy's
section was right next to Andy's in the signing part and they were away
from everyone else. Both were now an hour late I heard someone say they
were going to be late so I sat down. Next minute Billy's sneaking down Andy's
side and is going to sit down. I was in shock I had kind of calmed down.
Now I was in a right mess even though I had all my stuff sorted. I notice
he has a grey jacket on and under it a BLACK SHIRT. Now this may not seem
important to others but the girls over at bb.net will understand I started
up a campaign to try and get support in Billy wearing a Black Shirt hoping
that in fact Stewart the web master and a friend of Billy's would see it
and maybe tell him.
I was like oh my god black shirt I shouted black shirt everyone must have
heard me I was just looking at Helen and she was just as bad as me. Helen
was later talking to Stewart on Monday and stew said that he had told Billy
not to wear it but Billy had wanted to wear it anyway. It's not the same
black shirt though as in the Canada one but I don't care I just wanted black
shirt.
I saw Liz and her lot go up they were really hyper and looked to be having
great time. We saw whom we thought was Stewart and then we shouted Stewart
to see if he would look, I think he kind of did not sure. We left it at
that and just kept saying it must be him it's got to be.
It had been agreed that Lynda was going first the first thing she said to
Billy apart from hi was is Stewart here and Billy looked at Stewart so Lynda
hands over the bag with goodies for Stewart he looks in totally shock but
starts to look though it straight away. Lynda kind of looked in shock she
looked really happy. I was a little out of it but I saw Lynda hand over
the Penguin and heard Billy say I think I know what is to go with this.
Next minute Billy is there with Lynda and I've got the camera and I'm in
a mess Lynda's camera isn't working. So I've got mine and I'm
trying to take a pic and I'm shaking and I hear Pauline say stop shaking.
I just can't help it what the hell is up with me I manage to take 2 hoping
at least one comes out ok. I've spent so long trying to calm others down
that I haven't worked on myself. Before I know it I'm in front of Billy
I pass the pic over to be signed and look at Stewart
and pass him the bag with the beer in and card. I then give Billy the banjo
he puts it on the penguin straight away then poses with it. The
next few mins are a little hazy so I might get it a little mixed up. I remember
I said to him that I had got him practical things then he say's I like practical
things it was really funny the way he said it. Then I handed over the hand
cream and say it's because your hands are really going to hurt by the end
of this. Straight away he put some on and he was being really nice about
having it saying he had not used it before. Then I pass over the Foot Lotion
I then said this is for when you get back to New Zealand. After he had managed
to read it and realise what it was he said how much the feet hurt and how
useful it was going to be. I have got a pic of him looking at the cream
and he does look a little puzzled. I do have to point out it is very good
cream from Body Shop and it really does work. I then asked for a hug and
got ONE! I then asked his I could have a picture with
him he said of course and posed away. I left then Billy feeling very out
of it as soon as I left I was saying to people what happened what did I
say. It had totally gone from my mind. I think everyone thought I would
be the calm one and were surprised with the way I acted. I managed to get
a picture of Pauline and she then came over and showed me what she had got
signed it all looked very nice.
My over all impression of Billy a very nice chilled out guy who tries to
make every fan feel special he also seems very funny. I was very nervous
in a way hoping he was what he seemed to be. He was a much more when asking
for a picture he was very willing saying of course. He also went out of
his way to try and talk to fans instead of just signing and smiled and made
eye contact with every fan.
Rebecca and I then made our way over to Tom Felton's area and got a ticket
for him.
Rebecca went and I made my way over to where Lynda was with a whole heap
of other Loons having some food and drink in a near by café. We saw
another loon while there Billie; her husband was roped into taking a lot
of pictures. We then decided to go get a ticket to go and see Andy there
were already well into giving the tickets out.
Next stop was going to see Sala Baker he wasn't signing for anyone so we
walked straight up. I went first and he was very nice and kind and was willing
to give out hugs. There was a lot of us there but he smiled and let took
it all in his stride. Bruce Hospkin's table was right next to his and so
we went straight over to see him. This was it the handing over of his wee
scarvie find out more at this site Fellowship of the Wee Scarvies. It's
a bb.net thing many of the actors from LOTR now have them as well as fans
from all over the world. Shout out to Jennie is in order who makes them
for free and is great lady. He seemed a little puzzled at first but then
looked to be very happy after we explained. He posed with it for all our
millions of pics. Sala was watching and Bruce turned to him and said you
didn't tell me about this and Sala replied I got mine last year with a big
grin on his face.
Then off to put some films into the one-hour store and a look round the
stalls we went to check on how Tom's line was doing and it was time for
us to go see him. It was just me and Liz that went although I did phone
Rebecca to see where she was like most other people that weekend she was
still in John Rhys Davis queue.
I got to the front and asked Tom to sign it to Cat and the guy next to him
just said he's not personalising now. I didn't know what to say Tom looked
quite in shock too and was then to left to watch Liz get hers signed I managed
to take a pic and got a few of Devon Murry who plays Seamus.
Now going on to Andy it's getting late now 3 and I had arranged to met some
loons at 3.30 but we get there and we know we have to stay in the queue.
I phone a few people all of, which are not here BHS so it looks like a run
to BHS straight after. I get to the Andy and he smiles as I hand over the
picture to be signed and tell him what name I want it signed to. I then
tell him how much I admired what he did at the Oscars he smiles and say's
thank you. I then give him a small white ribbon it's a peace ribbon that
I made and another for his wife. Andy was such a nice guy he must have had
a million request to do his Gollum voice and not one did he turn down in
fact it seemed they got longer talking. He was also very very funny in the
question and answer sessions, as were all the LOTR guests.
After Andy I waited for the others and we had to run up to BHS to met loons
we had something to eat and a nice chat then off to the hotel to freshen
up. We head straight out to cineworld we got there for just after 5pm and
already there is a queue to go in. We get in and sit down the actors are
a little late due to the fact they still had a lot of signing to do. The
questions start straight away it's takes everyone a while to get going but
then there is no shortest of questions. We even end up singing the drinking
song from the green dragon, which is a lot of fun. I even got my question
answered mine was the one about the audio recording. I also was very cheeky
and carried on asking questions after that the next 2 are mine as well.
I can't really say more about the q and a as you can read it for your self.
A lot of questions were directed at Billy as I think that night there were
a lot of Billy fan's there. Andy also asked us a question how many times
we had seen Fellowship of the Ring hands stayed up after 100 for anyone
who wants to know I think Pauline has seen it the most over 200 times yes
that's the Pippin alike for you.
The guys then had to head off and the film started straight away I have
to say I have never enjoyed watching a film so much. Yes there was talking
but it was line repeating everyone knew it so well cheer laughing a great
atmosphere for all. I know some people don't like that sort of thing but
nearly everyone loved it and it rounded of the night perfectly. We all got
our things ready to leave when we look up the film was in fact the version
with the clips from Two towers it all made us cheer again what a lovely
surprise.
We then headed off for a mini room party there was 6 of us and I opened
a bottle of champagne and we had buzz's fizz. It ended up Helen and I talking
till about 2 in the morning where I walked back to my room boots off just
like a hobbit.
Sunday
I was
a bit late for the 9.30 met up in Mcdonnalds as we had to pack up our stuff
to leave we had a quick breakfast then over to John Rhys Davies queue luckily
we had got there early enough not to need a ticket. John was happily signing
away and when the group of us got there he was kind and joking about. We
all knew already that John is the type to tickle people I asked him if he
was going to tickle us he said he only tickled the pretty girls, one of
the girls was really ticklish and was finding it hard to controlled herself
we got in for a group pic and I think he tickled everyone of us. We then
got down to Billy and got another ticket we had decided to get some photo's
deveploed and Lydna wanted one of her and Billy together signed. We had
a bit of wait an so we spent the time eating looking at stalls and watching
Billy I know a little sad but every other loon was there and most of the
time we spent chatting to them. We waited for Billy to go to lunch then
went to get a group pic then waited for them to come back. Then to wait
that little bit longer so we could go in to see Billy again Sarah had been
very very excited about going to see him so I had a little feeling she might
either one cry or two not say anything at all. It had got to that time in
the afternoon where they were trying to cut down the amount of time Billy
spent with each person so he was moving down the line having pictures taken
with people. Perfect Pippin (Marie) was in front of us with a few of her
friends. Billy got to Marie's friend and she asked for a hug and burst into
tears he was holding on to him and we really beginning to think after a
while that maybe in fact she was not going to let him go. After a while
she did and he was kind to her. She was still crying as Billy had his picture
taken with us and moved down the rest of the line. I was trying to calm
the girl down giving her hugs and she was getting ok and had stopped crying
when Billy walks past her and pats her on the shoulder that was it tears
again. All was well though she managed to sort herself out and had her picture
signed. We had a little look round then off to the costume competition where
everyone was waiting.
The first thing I noticed when I got there was the fact there was some very
little kids wearing costumes we all thought that's it everyone's done for
kids are going to win it. It was great though Sala Baker was there helping
to judge it and everyone got signed pictures from him then the little kid
did come away with second prize. We were all very happy when Pauline in
fact was the one to win first Prize.
After that straight to cineworld again for Two Towers showing this was a
different atmosphere from the previous night but still good. John Rhys Davis
seemed to sneak in he was a true champ chatting away giving stories about
different things coming right up close to us all and the story and acting
out of him swinging the axe and falling flat on his face has got to be on
video somewhere. I have to ask I want that video someone please put it online.
The rest of the cast then came in the questions were not as thick and fast
as the night before but still very good. With offers of chocolate been taken
up from Ikki in the front the guys seemed happy. The highlight of the q
and a was Andy whole scene reactment of Gollum's arguing speech after he
had finished we all stood up and clapped it was great to see it and the
way he did it you just know that Andy is the true Gollum the face movements
everything was perfect. It was a much longer q and a as than the night they
all thanked us and went with lots of waves from all.
The film was great we all loved it again and at the end I was very sad.
I hugged all the girls I had met what a great bunch of loons they were and
with that we went.
Can't wait till October we've been promised a lot more LOTR guests and fingers
crossed for the rumours of Dom being there for a signing session.
Some of these pictures have been taken for me using my camera people who took the pictures are Lynda , Ikki and Pauline. Also I have a lot of pictures that are from my friend Lynda's camera these are mainly the ones with me in them. Two of the pictures are also taken by Pauline with her camera of me with Billy.
