I have some OCD tendancies

Hello all! Merry christmas and that (I say that now because I'm unsure whether or not I'll posting again before Christmas). 

Now, what was I saying? OH! Yes, OCD tendancies. 

First off, I do not actually have Obsessive Compulsive disorder. I refuse point blank, because it'd just be another thing to add to my growing list of disorders. But there are a few things I get crotchy about if they're not done or if they're not right.

For example, all volumes must be set on an even number. No, I don't know why, it just has to be an even number. The TV, radio and computer systems' voumes must be set at an even number and if they're not, I get cranky and try to get whoever has control to amend this problem. It's not a weakness, just a preference.

My Internet tabs are another area I have some OCD qualities. Hotmail must be the first tab open, Facebook must be the second and if I have Twitter open, it must be the third one. Don't ask, I don't know either.

That's about it really. If I have any other OCD tendancies, I've not found out about them yet. Maybe in 2013...

Live Long and Prosper!

Batman is Right

So today, I watched Justice League: Doom for the first time. For those not in the know, it's based on a Justice League comic book known as Tower of Babel, which is well worth a read. It details how a supervillain, Ra's al Ghul in the book, Vandal Savage in the film, steals Batman's plans to take down a member of the Justice League should he or she go bad. The League is obviously upset by Batman's actions and, after stopping Ra's'/Savage's evil plot, they vote on whether or not to kick him out of the League.

But you know what?

Batman's right to have those plans.

Every single member of the Justice League, past and present, is a Superhero. On their own, they've got amazing powers. In a group, they're practically an unstoppable force. If any one of them went bad, it would be a majorly bad situation. And the thing is, it's not unheard for any member of the League to go nuts and start randomly killing people.

Just look at J'onn Jonzz! In the storyline where he got over his phobia of Fire, he became a giant, firey rage monster determined to burn the world in order to create MORE giant, firey rage monsters. After the destruction of Coast City, Hal Jordan fell under the influence of the Parallax and killed dozens of fellow Green Lanterns. And I have lost count of how many times Superman has been brainwashed into a mindless destruct-o monster. Even Green Arrow, who's only power is his dry sarcastic wit, would be a danger, since he probably has a mini-nuclear arrow in case Mongul decides to attack Star City.

So yes, I am in full favour of Batman having these plans. If I were in the DC universe and didn't have powers, I'd want something like that there, just in case. Some people have suggested that had Batman told the other members of the JL that he had these plans, they wouldn't have minded AS much. 

I call those people idiots.

As soon as you find out that someone has a plan to take you out, the first sensible thing you'd do is figure out the various ways that you could hypothetically be taken out, and take measures to avoid them being effective.  

As for Batman's so called contingency plan to take himself out being the Justice League... that's a really shitty plan, considering that he has just proven that he can take out the entire Justice League, and when you realise that this is Batman we're talking about, you can bet that these are just the plans he wrote down on his computer, and that he has at least ten other ways of taking you out.

After all, He's BATMAN!

Excessively paranoid? Maybe, but he has damn good reason to be.

Live Long and Prosper

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry (1932 - 2008)

I can remember first seeing Majel Barrett-Roddenberry only in a vague sense. The year was 1993 or 1994 and I was about 5 or 6 years old. My family and I sat down to watch the newest episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. It was during its final season, and I had very vague memories of previous series (we had a few VHS but nowhere near the complete set). Then Lwaxana Troi appeared.

I had absolutely no idea who she was. 

I asked my source of Star Trek knowledge in those days who she was, and Dad smiled at me and said "She's the computer." Naturally, this confused me even more, and it wasn't until a few years later that I realised he thought I was talking about Majel Barrett, not the character. 

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry was known as the first lady of Star Trek, and for a very good reason. She was involved right from the very beginning, appearing in the pilot episode "The Cage" as the unnamed Number One, first officer of the USS Enterprise. Although the option for a second pilot was picked up, the network told Gene Roddenberry to drop the Devil alien and the woman from the bridge. Roddenberry kept Mr Spock and, after the series ended, married the woman.

This was far from Majel's role on Star Trek, however, as she later came back with dyed blonde hair as Nurse Chapel, a regular fixture opposite DeForest Kelley as Doctor Leonard H McCoy, appearing in 25 episodes of the series, 9 of the animated series and two movies. When The Next Generation came along. Majel protrayed the character of Lwaxana Troi, mother of regular Deanna Troi, in 6 episodes of the series, as well as 3 appearances on Deep Space 9. She also wrote the final episode in which Mrs Troi appeared. 

But this is was not the end of Majel Barrett-Roddenberry's involvement with Star Trek. As I said earlier, my father informed me that she was the Computer. What I didn't understand at the time was that Majel Barrett-Roddenberry also voiced the ship's computer. Thanks to voicing the Computer, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry has been a part of every single Star Trek series produced, as well as the last five films, as well as a voice role on Family Guy. In an episode of The Next Generation, there is a scene in which she acted alongside herself, protraying Lwaxana Troi interacting with the Enterprise's computer.

Thanks to her marriage to Gene Roddenberry, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry became known as "The First Lady of Star Trek".

After the death of her husband, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry helped two other series he had written be produced, Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda and Earth: Final Conflict. Her final role was, perhaps predictably, voicing the Computer on Star Trek, J.J. Abrams reboot of the Trek Universe. Her part in the film was announced just 8 days before her death.

Four years ago yesterday, the news broke that she had passed away following a short battle with Leukemia.  She was surrounded with friends and family, including her son Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry Jr. 

Rest in Peace
Majel Barrett-Roddenberry

A couple of quotes that I absolutely love

That's the thing about Faith. If you don't have it, you can't understand

it. And if you do have it, no explanation is necessary. 

Kira Nerys, Ascension

There is no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes.

The Doctor, Robot

I'll admit that the part of me that is leaving will very miss the part 

of you that is staying.

G'Kar, Objects in Motion

And of course,

Live Long and Prosper

Spock & others, various.

2012 updates

Right, it's coming up on Christmas, so I thought I would do a blog to update you all on wonderful "old" me. Here it is, so enjoy.

First off, health updates. Since being put on a new medication who's name alludes me, I've had a lot less migraines (save for a couple last week). This makes me happy, since it means that I've spent a lot less time in pain and more time running around the Internet, looking for adventure and amusing sites - also, LOLcats. 

In other health news, I was due to go to the hospital for my annual check-up on the 10th. Unfortunately, Snow prevented this. We got as far as the Eldwick Moors near where I leave before Dad decided to turn around and, after a brief stop at Burger King, we went home instead. Fortunately, I'd not developed any new symptoms, and the appointment was put off until January. Should be interesting, to say the least.

On the Job front, I attended a Recruitment pitch for Call Centre work. I had been told it was an interview, but it wasn't. It also turned out to be commission based work, which is not something I'm looking for. Ultimately, they didn't call me back so it didn't matter, but I would've have taken the job had I been offered. So I've decied to cease continue looking until the New Year.

My birthday came as well. It was a very good birthday. As was traditional, I went up to Scotland the weekend before hand, and enjoyed Scottish banter, food and drinks (even if I was overcharged for the drinks part of that equation). My birthday night out was spent in Bradford, followed by a hasty return to Alex's house. I woke up feeling a little bit rough to say the least. Fortunately, by around 2pm, I had improved enough to enjoy food and Doctor Who dvds. 

That's really about all with this update. Return to your regular lives and I will probably update at some point in the New Year. Enjoy yourselves,.

Live Long and Prosper

My first blog as a 24 year old.

And I know, you're hoping for some words of wisdom or maturity that's associated with that age. Instead, HAVE A FREAKING LOOK AT THE TWEET JERI RYAN SENT ME!!!!!

This made my already brilliant birthday perfect!!

My journey up to Glasgow

It's 01:27, and I can't get to sleep. You know what that means... story time. 

This one, surprisingly, is once again set on a train journey up to Scotland. This is unusual for several reasons. One, that I was travelling by train. Usually I go up to Scotland with my friend Jeremy and his Dad, who drives us up, but this time I went alone, so I went up by train. Two, its unusual because unlike journeys before and afterwards, it was very much a spur of the moment decision to go up.

It was Kerri's birthday, and she asked me up or I invited myself up. I forget which. It's irrelevant to the story which. The fact was that I was going up, and that it was spur of the moment. Well, I say spur of the moment. It was actually made about a week before the day I was due to set off. Dad agreed to loan me the money for the ticket, which we booked online, and we were all set.

Cut to a week later, and the morning arrived. I'd packed the night before, including Kerri's present, and got up early in order to enjoy breakfast with Dad before I set off. I got to the station with plenty of time to spare before the train was due, in order to get the ticket. I put my debt card in and...

and the machine asked for a booking number.

A tiny bit of background. Last time I booked tickets online (chronicled here in fact), it didn't ask for one (which dates it). You just put your card in and the tickets came out, just like at the cinema. I was flabbergasted. Fortunately, I had time so I called Dad... who didn't answer. I tried him twice more before giving up and calling Jeremy. Luckily, he was in and so I asked him to log into my hotmail account, gave him my password and told him to give me my booking number. 

He read it off and I tried to input it.... repeatedly. The damn machine wouldn't react to my touch in the slightest. I'd managed to get it to read two or three digits before it would decide that my time was up and clear my efforts. By this time, the train had come in, so I was a little panicky and between you and me, when I panic, I get angry. I was about to thump the machine when I heard it. my boarding call followed by the beeping of the doors and then...

The train was gone.

Panic transformed into blind panic, so I called Oma. Dad happened to be there, and he appeared by my side a few minutes later, put the code in successfully the first time (bastard) and got my tickets before announcing he would drive me up to Carlisle. That was all there was to it. We were racing my train. I rang Kerri to let her know about the delay before relaxing a little and chatting with Dad.

We made very good time. Dad dropped me off and I asked a guard where the train up to Glasgow was. He pointed to one and I climbed aboard, secure in my knowledge that soon, I would be meeting up with Kerri and beginning my holiday in earnest. 

Of course, it was the wrong bloody train.

The doors closed and the train set off... back the way I'd just come. A second or so later, the driver announced we were on our way to London just as the Conductor appeared. I sheepishly admitted that I was on the wrong train and he gave me one of the most withering looks I've ever received, and I've gotten looks off some of the best. This guy was simply not impressed, and to show it, he took my ticket off me (bastard).

Fortunately for me, the train wasn't an express, and I headed off to Lancashire. The driver said we'd be there in about 20 minutes, but did not take into account the fact a train ahead of us broke down. Once again, I rang Kerri to let her know I'd be even later. By this point, she had to go to work, and practically begged her mother to pick me up when I finally arrived.

About an hour after boarding the train to London (and telling Jeremy I'd given up on Scotland and was headed to the Capital for the weekend instead), I arrived in Lancashire. Of course, I did the smart thing and called Dad to let him know. He promised to put some more money into my account, so I'd actually have something to spend in Scotland, before telling me to just buy a ticket and go have fun.

Thus calmed, I followed his advice and finally arrived in Scotland without further incident, until Kerri rang and told me to get a train to Cumbernauld. I was in Glasgow Central, and the trip involved going to another station in Glasgow. Initially I had no clue where this 'Queen Street' was, until she said 'Do you know where Forbidden Planet is?'

I have a Forbidden Planet sense. Once I've been to one, I will NEVER forget where it is and always be able to find my way back to it. Fortunately, we'd gone on a previous visit, so I knew exactly where it was and how to get there. I told her so, and she pointed me in the right direction. To cut the rest of the story short, I arrived at the station, Kerri's mum was there to meet me and after a quick stop off at Kerri's work place to let her know I was alive, I finally began my holiday in Scotland.

To put a little perspective into this tale, my original estimated time of arrival was about 1-ish in the afternoon. I got there at about 18:10pm. But the most important thing - I had fun. Her birthday was fun, we made and I painted the Solar System. Good times were had and that's the important thing.

Well, that and having a laugh at my expense.

Live long and prosper

My favourite Sci Fi Series

Continuing the theme of favourites (my last blog was about my favourite Doctor), I decided to write this entry instead of doing something sensible, like sleeping.

I am a massive Science Fiction fan. I watch Science Fiction on TV. I read Science Fiction novels. I write Science Fiction stories. Science Fiction is very much a big part of my life. I am a Trekker, Gater, Whovian, Browncoat and because I can't think of any more fan names, I also love Battlestar Galactica, Babylon 5, Fringe, Warehouse 13 and countless other Science Fiction series. I blame my parents. Had I been exposed to something "normal" at a young age, instead of Star Trek: The Next Generation, my life might have turned out very differently (in a bad way, I mean).

And yes, people also ask me what my favourite Science Fiction series is. Most assume its Doctor Who, because of the sheer amount I talk and write about it. Others assume that its any of the Star Treks, again because of how much I talk and write about it. I have MASSIVE figure collections from both franchises, as well as almost the entire line of Babylon 5 figures, a few dozen Star Wars figures, and merchandise from half a dozen franchise. To judge me based solely on my collections, though, is wrong. A lot of Series don't get much in the way of merchandise, and what they do get is WAY out of my price range. 

The truth will disappoint you all, save those who actually know.

I don't have a favourite series. 

Don't get me wrong, I watch Doctor Who and Star Trek a LOT, probably more so than any other series. I'm a walking encyclopedia about both series, as well as a couple of others I listed above, but that doesn't mean I'll always watch them though. What I watch is all dependant on one very important thing:

My Mood.

If I am in the mood, I will watch hours and hours of Star Trek: Voyager. Likewise, Peter Davison's adventures as the Fifth Doctor might take up a significant amount of my TV viewings. However, you're just as likely to catch me watching Babylon 5, Firefly, Stargate or anything else on that list. Or something, maybe even something that ISN'T science fiction, like Gilmore Girls (on really low so no one else can hear me watching it - it'll be our secret, internet blog) or something animated like Family Guy or South. 

And don't point out that I usually end my blog posts with a Star Trek quote, because if you look back, I used to end it with one from Battlestar Galactica. Like I said, it all comes down to whatever I am in the mood to watch. The examples I named aren't the only ones I watch. They're just the first ones that came to mind when I thought "what do I watch?"

Anyways, its time for me to sleep now, so please leave, kay. 

Live Long and Prosper

My Favourite Doctor

As what some would call a "die hard" Whovian (Doctor Who Fan), I get asked one question more than any other. "Who is your favourite Doctor?" Well, loyal readers, I will now answer that question.

It is an impossible question to answer. The Doctor in every single of his regenerations have brought something new to the character, but they've also built on what their predecessors left behind. I for one do not think the Ninth Doctor would've been as angry had it not been for the Sixth Doctor, just like the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors wouldn't play the clown without the Second Doctor. 

And to be honest, it's not the story of eleven different people. The Doctor is one man. Eleven personalities, each with their own habits and quirks, but ultimately they are one and the same. So when someone askes me "Who is your favourite Doctor?", I just smile and answer "The Doctor." Occasionally I will explain, as I have here, but most of the time, I just walk off and start talking to someone else.

Eleven faces, but one legend

And yes, before someone tries to be clever and asks the obvious question, I give a virtually identical answer for "Who is your favourite Master?". 

Live Long and Prosper!

Movitation

Movitation is a very tricky business, because what movitates one person will put off another. I know for a fact that the promise of reading a new Star Trek after doing a little more work on a script would be enough to get me writing, but at the same time, it would be enough to make some of my friends throw the table up in despair.

Like Frank (picture)

However, I realise that I need movitation in my life. I need it in order to actually make my Doctor Who Figure Adventure Series. I've got some reasonable scripts, a couple of good mock-ups of what potentially it could look like on film, but I lack the movitation (and the Printer Ink but that's another issue) to take it to the next level and actually, you know, make a proper video. What can I do about this?

That's right! Provide my own movitation. But what? I can't drink, due to the fact it makes me vomit when the alcohol mixes with my various tablets. I can't smoke, primarily because I only really smoke when I've had a bit to drink, and that involves stopping my tablets for three days and that's complicated and also because I don't like the taste of cigarettes. I could award myself by watching a DVD, but I do that while I work because I find it easier to work with noise in the background. I could work that rush of satisifaction I feel when I finish something, but that takes ages to kick in and is rarely worth it at the best of times.

So I need to come up with something really good.

And if someone suggests not buying figures until I do work, then I will simply laugh in your face before I call you an idiot and walk away, still laughing. In fact, I'm laughing right now imagining if I actually did that. 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Anyways, I'm done laughing and I need to figure it out because I now plan to have at the very least the first Special (IE my pilot that reintroduces David Tennant thanks to the old "Alternate Timeline" excuse JJ Abrams pulled for Star Trek excuse) up on Youtube by Christmas, as well as a trailer for my first series made, which I intend to come around May time, as well as three episodes (note: episodes, not stories) made by my Birthday, which is steadily approaching.

So help me with an idea for motivation, otherwise I will just steal someone else's idea and smoke a cigar for every completed story (that's two ten minute episodes) I successfully finish to my satisifaction. 

Long Long and Propser. 

Michael O'Hare (1952 - 2012)

It is with a heavy heart that I must report that Babylon 5 actor Michael O'Hare has passed away, aged 60. On the series, he played the role of the Station's first CO, Commander Jeffrey Sinclair. O'Hare left the series after its first series after he and the writers felt that his character had been written into a corner. He continued to guest star until the middle of the third series, where his character reached the end of the arc originally intended for Jeffrey Sinclair.

Not a lot of people out there view Babylon 5 as a good piece of Science Fiction, but I am not one of them. I feel that, in many ways, it paved the way for a lot of things to come. For example, it is one of the first series to employ CGI instead of miniatures for its space scenes which, while they look dated now, were revolutionary in the day. It was also one of the first serial series. Events that happened in the very first episode were referenced and had repercussions even to the final episode. Everything was planned out well in advance. Characters were written in such a way that if the actors or actresses chose to leave, it would have a minimal impact on the overall story. 

I'm afraid that, as usual, I don't know a great deal about Michael O'Hare's career outside of Babylon 5. It was my one and only exposure to him as an actor, but if it was any indication, he was a damn good one. Jeffrey Sinclair could be a firm and hard when he needed to be, but there was still a gentleness about him. There was a great mystery about the character, one which would remain unresolved until his final appearance.

Michael O'Hare suffered a heart attacked on the 23rd of September 2012 and lapsed into a coma. He died yesterday. Once again, I feel that another Babylon 5 star has left us too soon. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time. 

Rest in Peace, Michael O'Hare

On a slightly happier note

My friend, Kerri, who's blog is linked here, got a reply off Neil Gaiman from Twitter.

For people who do not know who Neil Gaiman is, shame on you! Also, here is a bio on him for you.

So say we all

Neil Armstrong (1930 - 2012)

Yesterday the news broke that Neil Armstrong passed away due to complications from blocked coronary arteries. 

As nearly everyone on the planet knows, Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the Moon. The quote "That's one small step for man... one giant leap for mankind" is engraved in the memories of children across the generations. He and fellow Astronaut and friend, Buzz Aldrin, spent three hours on the Moon. He is absolute proof that the human spirit can never be beaten. If we dream it, it can happen (unless you dream about your best friend giving you a makeover. Never going to happen, Paul.)

Neil Armstrong was a hero and a pioneer. 

In a statement released by the family, they stated that "The next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink."

I don't know about the rest of my readers, but I certainly will.

Rest in Peace, Neil Armstrong 

Rory Williams action figure

So, after nearly three years, countless fan requests and a lot of complaining on our parts, we have finally received the news that we are getting a Rory Williams figure! In fact, two have been announced and images of them have been released! Today is a good day to be a Doctor Who Fan! 

First up, the general release one!

and secondly, an exclusive to the BBC shop

Both, to me, are brilliant. The only thing that lets it down to me is the hair. The face sculpt is an amazing likeness to Arthur Darvill. The figure is a good example of what Rory wore during the fifth series of Who. The hair, however, is too short and it is the wrong colour. That said, I am fairly certain that in person, I will not care.

However, before I return you to your regularly scheduled lives, I will give you this extract from a Twitter conversation between the highly talented Philip Lawrence, creator of action figure theatre and Alasdair Dewar, who works for Character Options.

Live Long and Prosper

Winnie Johnson (?1934 - 2012)

Winnie Johnson, mother of Moors Murder victim Keith Bennett, died today after a long battle with cancer. Ordinarily, I would not post anything about this, but her story touched me. 

Her son, aged 12, was a victim of the Moor Murderers, a couple team who killed young children and buried their bodies on the Saddleworth Moor. Most of the bodies have been found, but sadly, Keith Bennett was not one of them. For decades, Winnie Johnson fought to find her son and to give him a proper christian burial. Through solicitors, she appealed to Ian Brady to help her, but he consistantly ignored her. All she wanted was to see her son's body at peace before she herself passed away.

Sadly, that will not happen now. Her family will continue the fight in her memory.

In an almost cruel irony, the police are investigating the possibility that Brady in fact gave the location of Bennett's body to his mental health advocate in a letter. However, he gave the instruction that it is not to opened until after his death. Mrs Johnson apparently did not know about this, since her solictor felt that she would not be able to handle this information.

In a way, her situation is worse than that of the McCanns. the McCanns have hope that their daughter is still alive. Winnine Johnson knew this was not the case, but her son was equally lost to her. The fact that she knew where her son was potentially buried, but was unable to find him must've caused unimaginable pain to her.

She never gave up though because, in the words of David Kirwan her solictor, "She was Keith's mother" 

I hope that in death, she is able to find the peace that forever eluded her in her life, and that she is reunited with her beloved son, whom she spent so many years fighting for.

Rest in Peace

Storytime

For my hundredth blog, I thought I'd say something about memories.

Everyone has one memory, one absolutely glorious memory that cheers them up regardless of whatever situation they're in. Mine is so precious to me that I rarely think back on it, because I don't want it to become "just another memory". It's a wonderful story to tell.

And I'm not going to tell you it.  

Read what I wrote in my opening paragraph. This is a memory so personal to me that I have told one other person. Just one. Someone whom I trust so much I'd share it with. Who? You ask. I'll leave that for you all to guess, but let me tell you - it wasn't Kerri, Jeremy or Paul. One day, perhaps, I will share that memory with you, but its not today. Instead, let me tell you about my first ever shift as a student nurse.

It was on a stroke rehab ward, which is basically where people who have had a stroke and recovered sufficently to begin thinking about going home get discharged to. It's an interesting place, and the perfect spot to send a First year student who thought he knew it all, and let me tell you, it happens to every student. They spend three months or so learning basic stuff and think they're ready to take on the World.

The First placement is always an eye opener.

It's a place where you quickly discover how little you actually know. Sure, you know how to do a manual blood pressure and what a normal temperature is, but that's only the tip of the ice berg. My first day, I met a patient with a wrapped up leg. Why? I had no idea at the time, but a Staff Nurse pulled me and the other student into her room and told me to assist him in changing the dressing. 

why two of us?

Because he wanted to open our eyes. As he unwrapped the bandage I was holding, I noticed a strong smell coming from the wound. It was so strange and impossible to describe, but it's a smell I'll never forget. It was rotting flesh. The woman had had a stroke, but also had an open wound on her leg which had become infected with gangrene. How the hell do you treat gangrene? I hadn't a clue! 

And here I was, holding this leg up while the Nurse unwrapped it and then rewrapped it. It was, without a doubt, a truly disgusting and one I will not describe because it will make me gip. Even thinking back to that day does. It was just so awful, and this poor woman was on a very high dose of morphine because of it. She never recovered from it sadly, but I owe her a debt.

She showed me that I could do the job. That night, I did a bit of research on Gangrene. How it forms, how its treated etc. I also owe a debt to that Staff Nurse. He deflated my ego and showed me how much I needed to know.

On average, a third of a nursing class drop out after their first placement. A third. They realise they can't handle the stress or there's something about the job they just can't deal with at all so they leave. It's not their fault. They just find out that Nursing is not for them.

But that day, I found out I could.

Live Long and Prosper

COSTUME: Steampunk Sherlock

Hello again! Welcome back and all that bull.

So having posted promising to post more, I thought I'd do another one tonight, and tell you a bit about my latest costume. As some know, I've attended a few costume parties just recently (the last year or so) and have come up with some crackin' ones. I knocked together a reasonable Fourth Doctor one last Halloween, and I went as a Red Shirt to a Dead Celebrity Party.

So when my friend Ellen invited me to a costume party at her house, I knew I had to come up with something to top the previous costumes. To the end, I considered all my options and decided on Sherlock Holmes. However, a Sherlock Holmes costume is easy enough to put together. Get a Deerstalker, a magnifying glass, a long cape and a pipe and you're sorted. 

So I decided to make it into a bit of a challenge. I looked at previous Sherlock Holmes, and thought "why not Steampunk it ?" 

Alas, a brilliant idea was born.

The Costume 

the costume itself is fairly simple. I deliberately went as far away from the established image (below) as I could. There will be no deerstalker, no magnifying glass and no long cape. The pipe's staying simply because I like pipes. Grandpa used to have several. Instead, I decided to create a smart Victorian Gentleman look for the occasion, since Sherlock is usually described as being well dressed.

The sterotypical Holmes

To the end of creating a Victorian Gentleman look, I bought a beautiful black frock coat which comes to just below my knees. It's the type of coat I've been after for a while as an alternative to my leather trench coat. I also bought a red patterned waist coat to wear above a white, striped shirt. Tomorrow I will buying a simple pair of black trousers to match the jacket, and a black tie completes the look. After that, it's a simple case of waiting patiently for the small 'steampunk' touches, all of which were acquired at joke.co.uk

(Beware, this next paragraph will be link heavy.)

First up, a pair of Victorian style glasses. But Sherlock Holmes never wore glasses, I hear you cry. That is true, he did not. However, in lieu of a magnifying glass, I bought these. I think they're quite niffty, and that it is something Sherlock Holmes (particularly Robert Downey Jr's version) would wear if he had the chance. Last up is a pocket watch. There's nothing special about this watch, it's just something you see all gentlemen from that era wearing (plus it looks cool). 

The Pipe is a cheap model I acquired off Amazon, as well as a set of white gloves. To complete the look, I purchased a small cap gun, since Sherlock usually entered the field armed.

The great thing is my brother, Simon, is attending the same party and, after some subtle manipulations, has agreed to attend as the Watson to my Sherlock, also with steampunk touches (although he will be more armed than Watson was in the books lol)

However, this costume will reused in parts. With a black waistcoat instead of the red and none of the steampunk gear, the Victorian Gent outfit will be my Doctor's outfit. Photos of both costumes, as well as some with my brother, will follow.

Live Long and Prosper

New things to come

First and foremost, I'm dropping the italics. A few people have complained that it made it harder to read, so for the sake of all three of my readers, I'm returning to a standard font. That is not a big change, I know, but I felt it worth pointing out. 

Secondly, I will post more. Yes, I know I've said this before but this time, I have a plan to follow it up with. I will attempt to post at least once a week. Even if I have nothing to say beyond a mad pile of rambles, you will get a mad pile of rambles. I also intend to cut down on my posts on Doctor Who. That's not to say I will cut it out completely, but it is just one part of a bigger machine. (me, in this metaphor, I am the machine) 

Thirdly, it's time I stopped moping after the woman I have feelings for. My friends are sick of hearing about it, and frankly, I'm sick of talking about it. She has found the man of her dreams, and it isn't me. Enough. Time to call it quits and find someone who will love me for me. It might take a while, but a very wise person once said "Good things come to those who wait."

Which actually leads nicely into my fourth point. 

For the last 18 months, I have sat on my arse each and every night. I've let my illness dicate my life. It would be fair to say that my life is in a rutt. No more. It's time for me to go out and have some adventures. And I'm not alone in that. Dad has expressed similar wishes, and so the pair of us will start going out again. We'll push each other to do it. But I won't just do it with him. I'm 23 years old. I can have my own adventures, and I will be making an effort to go out and see people. So that's what I'm going to do.

My fifth point. I am going to figure out what the hell I want to do with my life. I refuse to be sat here, three years from now with no changes. I want to do something with myself, be it a job or another course of some sort. By this time next year, I will be doing something! 

As some of you, I feel I have developed some minor abandonment issues, due to the sudden absence of people I care a great deal about. I want to work on them, and I know I will need help doing so, so I'm asking my readers to provide that help. Do that, and I will be eternally grateful. 

Finally, I'm going to actually make those Figure Adventures I've been planning for nearly three years. Planning is one thing. I've been putting off and putting off, finding excuses to avoid making it. No more. Kerri for one will be glad to hear that.

So yeah, that is my plan. Wish me look.

Live Long and Prosper

My brand new costume

As many of you know, I intend to play the Thirteenth and final Doctor. It's a bit of a pipe dream at the moment, considering I'm not an actor, nor have any training beyond a few church plays and a failed GCSE. However, to amend that slightly, I've been writing my own series of Doctor Who, played out with figures. My friend, Kerri will be protraying my Companion and the Master is, as of yet, uncast. 

Over the past month or so, I've been gathering the parts for a costume of my own (Because I can) and today, thanks to the arrival of an amazing parcel, it is almost complete. 

Photos coming soon!

Stay turned!

So Say We All

Mary Tamm (1950 - 2012)

Today the news broke that another former Doctor Who star passed away. Sadly, this is becoming more and more frequent, with Nicholas Courtney and Elisabeth Sladen last year, and Phil Madoc and Caroline John this. Now another name must be added to the list.

Mary Tamm played the first incarnation of the Time Lady Romanadvoratrelunder or Romana for short (or Fred depending on who you ask). With this character, she became a first for the show. She was the first companion designed to be the Doctor's equal. In theory, she would be every bit as intelligent as him. Her first appearance, The Ribos Operation, certainly managed to achieve this. 


However, as her one and only series progressed, Mrs Tamm felt that her character had evolved into a 'damsel in distress' and it is for this reason that she choose to depart the series. In her last appearance, The Armageddon Factor, she actually acted alongside the actress who would replace her, Lalla Ward. 


As with many Who actors, she returned to the role in the Big Finish Audio Adventures. In there, she acted alongside Lalla Ward as Romana II, as well as John Leeson as K9. Her final contributation to the series will come in a series of audios alongside Tom Baker's Doctor, presumably set between Armageddon and Destiny of the Daleks. 


My introduction to her came when I bought The Key to Time boxset. While I was aware that Lalla Ward protrayed the second Romana, I had no idea what Mary Tamm's version of the character was like. Let me tell you. When I watched The Armadggedon Factor, I was hooked! Her Romana was more poised and graceful, but also more snobby than her replacement. As the serials passed, she mellowed a little, but remained graceful, and I would've loved to have seen more of her character's evolution had she remained with the series.


Unfortunately, like with Caroline John and Liz Shaw, it was simply not meant to be.


Following an 18 month battle with cancer, she passed away, leaving behind a husband and daughter. My sympathies go out to them and the rest of her family during this difficult time.

Rest in Peace, Mary Tamm

UPDATE: It was reported that mere hours after giving her eulogy, Mary Tamm's husband, Marcus Ringrose, died suddenly from a heart attack. My deepest sympathies go out to their daughter, Lauren Burlingham, and her son. 

DOCTOR WHO FIGURE: Regen 5th Doctor and the Master's TARDIS

In a surprise move, Forbidden Planet announced a new Classic Doctor Who Exclusive Figure set (pictured below). It features a new Regeneration Fifth Doctor, the Master's TARDIS in Column form, and a shrunken figure.

Some people are disappointed by the lack of Ainley figure. Personally, I am not one of them. While I would love an Ainley Master in his iconic penguin suit outfit, I actually like this new 5th Doctor figure. Yes, we already have a regeneration 5th Doctor (in full Season 18 outfit - picture below), this is the outfit he remained in for most of the Serial (until he changed into his new one.)

Also, it is not like we don't have an Anthony Ainley Master (OKAY technically we don't but still). We have one from the serial 'Planet of Fire'. That Ainley actually looks brilliant. The face is a brilliant likeness to the actor, and the suit is rather menacing. People will complain because they want him in his iconic look, but I don't mind either way. I'm sure sooner or later we shall get one.

The highlight of this set, for me, is the TARDIS. When I talk about the Master's iconic TARDIS, two come to mind. Delgado's Grandfather clock and Ainley's column TARDIS. Thanks to The Keeper of Traken set, we have the Grandfather clock, and now we have that Column. The Rani's TARDIS from Mark of the Rani would also be a nice addition to the growing collection, but for the time being I am happy with these.

I will definitely be buying this set!

So Say We All!

Caroline John (1940 - 2012)

Today, the news broke that Actress Caroline John had passed away. On Doctor Who, she played Elizabeth Shaw, scientist and the first Companion of the Third Doctor, played by Jon Pertwee.

Liz Shaw came in at a changing point in Who's history. No longer did the Time Lord flutter about through Time. He was stranded on Earth and working for UNIT. Another major change was the fact it was filmed and broadcast in colour. 

She appeared alongside the Doctor in his premiere story 'Spearhead in Space', featuring the Autons. She stayed through The Ambassadors of Death, Doctor Who and the Silurians and Inferno. She was and still is, notable for being the first full time Companion who never travelled in the TARDIS. She was only on the series for one series, however. When Barry Letts took over the series, he choose not to renew her contract. That said, she was pregnant at the time so it is very possible that she would not have returned anyway.

Despite leaving Doctor Who, she reprised her role twice, once as a 'phantom' in The Five Doctors and once again in Dimensions in Time, as well as a four adventures under the title of PROBE. It is PROBE that I first truly came to appreciate Liz Shaw. I had seen any of her time on Who at the time, but because of PROBE,  

Like many actors, she returned for the Big Finish Audio adventures. Outside of Who, her only acting credit that I know of is a non speaking role in the highly successful Love Actually. She also read the majority of Elisabeth Sladen's autobiography on audio, with David Tennant, Brian and Sadie Miller reading their respective parts.

She was also married to Geoffrey Beaver, who played the Master in the classic serial The Keeper of Traken.

She actually died on the 5th of June. However, her family chose not to inform the BBC and Media of her death until after her funeral. This makes a lot of sense, since I doubt they wanted any fans turning up at a deeply personal affair.

She will be missed.

Rest in Peace

The Doctor Who Experience new Exclusive Figure

First off, let me just say this. Aside from rumours, I have no idea what this figure will be. I personally hope it will be a Rory figure. 

seriously, why hasn't one been released already?

Why do I hope it'll be a Rory? Well, aside from finally having a Rory figure, it would probably mean that we get a variant VERY quickly. 

Want me to explain it? Okay. Character Options & Underground Toys have a history of releasing tweaks of exclusive figures. Off the top of my head, I can think of three examples of this, including the previous Doctor Who Experience's Exclusive.

In 2010, one of the Classic Doctor Who Exclusive figures was a freshly regenerated Fifth Doctor, which meant he was still clad in the outfit the Fourth Doctor had worn in Season 18. A lot of fans bought two of this exclusive, and swapped the Fifth Doctor's out for one of the Fourth Doctor. Unlike them, I waited. Sure enough, within a month or so, a Season 18 Fourth Doctor was announced. I own both.

In 2011, again at the San Diego Comic Con, there was a River Song exclusive Figure. This one came with the inside of the Pandorica (to join up with the previously released Pandorica wave). Of course, this figure was well received, considering it was a new River Song (the previous wouldn't work for Doctor Who figure Adventures owning to being in an astronaut suit). 

Sure enough, within a month, a new wave of figures was announced, including River Song. The difference: This one wasn't wearing the woolly jacket the previous release (and obviously, no Pandorica chair.) I own both. 

And finally, in May 2011, the Doctor Who Experience announced an exclusive figure: Amelia Pond (kid version of Amy). This figure has a hat, a coat and a suitcase, and is based on her appearance in 'The Eleventh Hour'. 

Sure enough, another version of this was announced. Amelia Pond in nightgown (sans coat, hat and suitcase) appeared alongside Nephew (from 'The Doctor's Wife') The Doctor in Stetson (actually the Teselecta from 'The Impossible Astronaut') and two Silent variants (from Series 6). Naturally I own both (of the Amelia figures, I mean - although I own four Silents.)

So yeah. I think we'll probably get a variant of whatever the Doctor Who Experience Exclusive. If it is a Rory figure, I think the DWE will be a Roman Rory.

SWISH!

And the one released in a wave will be the 'normal' (IE the one Fans have wanted since Series 5 started and he became a main character) variant.

That's just my thoughts on the subject. What do you think?

So Say We All

WHO MYSTERY: Whatever happened to Ace?

I'm nicking an idea from one of my Doctor Who Sites, and exploring several of the mysteries of the Series. This entry will discuss what happened to the Seventh Doctor's Companion, Ace.

Ace was introduced in the Serial Dragonfire, the final serial of Season 24, replacing Bonnie Langford's Mel. Unlike Mel, Ace's response to a situation wasn't to scream, but to throw a tin of Nitro-9 at it. She was plucky, couragous and above all, loyal, even during their encounter with Fenric. The Seventh Doctor was lucky to have her. 

In the season finale 'Survival', after defeating the Master, she and the Doctor walked off into the Sunset for new adventures. But what happened next? Who knows? All we do now is that in 1996, when the Seventh Doctor returned in the Television movie, he was alone.

and sporting a new look

Ace's fate was left a mystery, since very soon after landing the TARDIS in a back alley in San Francisco, the Doctor was shot. He might've survived these wounds had he not been taken to a nearby Hospital and 'treated' by local heart surgeon Grace Halloway. Despite what many people may believe, it was this and not the gun shots that killed him. 

Differing Fates

Ace's fate has been addressed in numerous non-canon sources. According to the series' original plan, had a season 27 occurred, Ace would've left the Doctor and enrolled in the Academy of Gallifrey to become a Time Lord herself. In the New Virigin Adventures Series, she left the Doctor and became a sort of mini-Doctor herself, protecting a particular section of History.

Also sporting a new look!

And finally, within the pages of the official Doctor magazine, Ace died in an explosion she set to kill something called a Lorbi

Also sporting a new look! 

Ultimately, however, she appears to have survived this fate, and been returned to Earth at some point. In an episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures, Sarah revealed the fate of several Companions. While not specifically named as such, 'Dorothy something' had raised billions with her charity "A Charitable Earth" (look at the initials). Apparently Russell T Davis had a plan to include Ace in a later episode, but sadly, Elisabeth Sladen's death put an end to those plans.

Conclusion

Ace's fate has been left in Limbo for the time being, left for each of us to make our own minds up. Personally, I choose to believe that she was returned to Earth, and is still giving lip to anyone who annoys her. 

So Say We All