My First Con: A Year On

My First Con: A Year On.

During this past week, Facebook memories informed me it had been a year since I attended my first con. Attending a con was something I wanted to do, it was just a decision of which one. At the time of booking the tickets for Heroes and Villains FanFest 2017, there were a lot of actors I wanted to see. Whilst the ones I saw on the day were fantastic, some of the ones I originally wanted to see had to cancel because of filming commitments. 

I plan meticulously for events, I like knowing my transport, the plan for the day, and the level in which I have to "parent" the person I'm with. But the friend (who I am leaving nameless, and I forgot to ask if they were okay with being named) I went with didn't need that much help navigating London, although travelling from London Waterloo station after a weekend of being at the con meant my patience wore a little thin with the question, "are you sure we're not the right train?" I digress though, for the rest of the weekend was fun. 

I enjoyed the con, though there are a few things I wished I'd known beforehand. I'd done my research into the venue, and transport links. Even so, doing your con research, and attending it in real life are two different things. 

What I leaned being there? I learned that you should always know where your nearest cash points outside the venue are. You should always allow twenty minutes before and after a meet and greet/photo op/talk etc, to allow for longer wait times for these things. If you want to attend a talk, make sure you get into the queue fairly early. Always take cash, especially if you are taking part in the meet and greets - most of them didn't accept card payments. And never be afraid to talk to the people cosplaying. 

Would I have changed anything? The only think I'd change is not getting a picture with the Kylo Ren cosplayer. The story is great, but I was just in awe, overwhelmed and tired at that point, that I just got all shy - cosplayers don't bite! The rest of it, I wouldn't. I got to explore more of the high streets, and it was a nice enough weekend that I didn't mind the extra walking. I adored the meet and greets and though I spent way more than I should have, it's the memories that count and make it more special.

There are cons I wish to attend in the future, however, I haven't bought tickets for them. I'm sure I will definitely attend some more in the near future. 

I hope you've enjoyed reading this post! Below are a selection of pictures from the con. A lot of them are merch items I bought. 

I have permission from the friend I was with to post the Stephen Amell photo of us. I have more than these, but those are of my friend and I thought I'd only post the one with the two of us in it. 

Any vendors I remember buying from, I'll list them with the photos.

Newt Scamander Pop Vinyl. The Flash Pop Vinyl Key Ring Vendor: A Place in Space

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone ScriptSupernatural Season 1 Episode 1 Pilot ScriptAll autographs are reproductions of the originals.Vendor: Cowazinga

The Flash Season 1 Episode 1 Pilot Script
Arrow Season 1 Episode 1 Pilot Script
All autographs are reproductions of the originals. 
Vendor: Cowazinga. 

Crash Bandicoot Print
Vendor: Cowazinga

The Hogwarts Express Print
Vendor: Cowazinga

Tinkerbell Print
Vendor: Cowazinga

Heroes and Villains FanFest Poster
Vendor: Heroes and Villains FanFest

Heroes and Villains FanFest Top
Vendor: Heroes and Villains FanFest

Harry Potter Time Magazine Front Cover Poster
Vendor: Laser-Moon

The Flash Running Poster
Vendor: Laser-Moon

The Flash and Arrow Time Magazine Front Cover Poster
Vendor: Laser-Moon

Arrow Poster
Vendor: Laser-Moon

Me with Richard Brake

Me with Sean Gunn

One of the many photos I took in Michael Rooker's Panel.

Sean Gunn and Michael Rooker Autographs
Top: Primark

Stephen Amell Autograph

Myself, Stephen Amell and my friend. 

The Flash Logo Top

Arrow/Stephen Amell Top

Thank you for getting this far. I hope you enjoyed the photo spam. 

See you next week!

Shows I'm Currently Watching

TV Shows I'm Watching

For the past few years I haven't considered myself an avid TV fan. At least, not for shows aired in the UK. And that is true. I still wouldn't consider myself an avid TV watcher, but I am watching quite a few shows right now. 

So I thought I'd share with you the shows I'm watching and why I love them. I'll also be including shows on my to watch list, as some of those are airing, but I haven't caught up with them yet.

 

Supernatural

It has only been in the last three years I joined the Supernatural fandom. Second hand fandom knowledge on Tumblr finally compelled me to watch the show. 

Season 13 is just starting to air in the UK, and after the first episode, I am so excited to for the rest of the season. Even with knowledge on what happens in later episodes (thanks to being on Tumblr so frequently), I still didn't expect the emotional roller-coaster that came from the first episode. 

I love the characters and narrative of the show (for the most part anyway). I started watching the show on UK TV when Season 11 aired, and re-watched the entire box-set of Seasons 1-12 before this semester started in January.

MacGyver

The reboot of MacGyver is one that originally, I wasn't that invested in. It was only after episode 13 of Season 1, that I became hooked and heavily invested in the show. 

Again, I have prior knowledge of later episodes because of being on Tumblr. However, that doesn't deter me from wanting to watch the episode. If anything, some of the spoilers I see make me want to make it even more. 

The UK is currently halfway through airing Season 2 (whilst the season finale airs in America on May 4th), and I have been loving it. I did have to spend time over the Easter holidays playing catch up with the show, but I enjoyed watching episodes in bulk, something I haven't done since I binged the box-set in two days.
I adore the characters and the story arc is even more compelling than Season 1. Definitely one of my favourites.

The Resident

The Resident is a medical drama, and if you asked me a few months ago, I would have said I am not a fan of medical dramas. However, since the pilot in the UK a couple of weeks ago, and it kept popping up whenever I logged into Sky Go, I thought I'd give it a go. 

For the most part, the show focuses a lot more on the drama, rather than medical accuracy, and at times was slightly predictable. But it's the characters that are keeping me invested in the show. There are some I despise, some I love, and one I love and hate simultaneously.

Without any prior knowledge of the show (aside from the fact Season 1 is still airing in America), it's definitely not all what I expected. I'm going to keep watching and give it a fair chance, but I am really enjoying it so far. 

The Good Doctor

Another medical drama! However, ever since I first saw promotions for the show last year, it is one I wanted to see, but never got round to watching. I'm only two episodes in, but I love it. 

It's more medically accurate than The Resident, but again, it does focus on the drama to drive the characters.
The only context I had with this show, was Dr Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) was autistic. They represent his autism really well and it's great to see a character that isn't perfect. 

It is a show I'm definitely playing catch up with, but I can't wait to continue watching the show. 

Doctor Who

I always love coming back and re-watching episodes from Doctors 9-12. I have my favourite episodes I like to revisit (the Weeping Angels will always be my favourite), and most likely watch 10 (David Tennant) and 11 (Matt Smith) more than I probably should. 

I'm going to be re-watching these Doctors in the run up to 13 (Jodie Whittaker), and will probably always continue to revisit these Doctors every so often. 

Friday Night Dinner

I  only recently found out this was on Netflix. I went straight to it and watched a couple of episodes. I adore this show, if for nothing more than the fact I get to laugh out loud at least once a week. I will definitely be re-watching Seasons 1 and 2 before Season 3 airs on May 4th. 

Catch Up?

There are a few shows that I need to catch up on before I watch their most recent episodes. These are all shows that the catch up sessions need to start from Season 1 so I can understand the story clearer. The three I can think of off the top of my head are: Arrow, The Flash and Criminal Minds. 

Arrow

I have Seasons 1-5 on a box-set and I know that Season 6 is currently airing in the UK. However, I missed a lot of Season 5 and thought it was best to start again. Although I've had a spoiler given to me (you know who you are), it's one I'm annoyed with since I haven't caught up with the Season they spoiled. It won't deter me from watching, but I would have rather found out about it myself, rather than from someone else.  

The Flash

The Flash is one I only [seriously] got into prior to Season 3, because I knew Tom Felton would be on it. Though I hardly watched Season 3 (due to university), now Season 4 is out and I'm getting spoilers on it through Tumblr.

I want to re-watch because I do need to understand the story again. Knowing what I'm like if I don't, I'll be a confused child and hate the show, and I don't want to hate the show. 

Criminal Minds

Criminal Minds is one I've dipped in and out of over the years. I got up to a certain point, then stopped watching. I can't actually remember the reason why. 

But the reason I want to re-watch the show is because of Dr Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) appearing on my Tumblr and Wattpad recently. Spencer was one of my favourites when I watched the show, and now we're on Season 13, I really need to catch up so fanfictions don't spoil episodes for me.