Hitler’s third testicle
Yesterday, then. What can I say - other than it was one of the best days I have experienced on this planet. That’s not to say that I have, in fact, visited other planets and enjoyed good times there too. Oh no, that would be a ridiculous thing to claim.
No, yesterday morning I RAN from Charing Cross station to HMV in Oxford Street to get there for opening at 9:00 AM. Old school friend, Dazz B. contacted me on Sunday asking if he could join me on this little outing. So don’t worry, I was not the only fat twat running through the streets of London on this occasion.
We were the second & third customers in store, promptly purchased our Red Dwarf VIII DVDs (yes, that’s my third copy) and secured ourselves a limited wrist-strap/ticket each for the signing event later in the day. And I’m not talking about semiotics.
After killing three or so hours in McDonald’s, we went back to HMV and waited, excitedly, to meet Chris Barrie, Danny John-Jules, Robert Llewellyn and Chloë Annett in the flesh. I was so excited all two of my nipples were tingling.
On that subject, I didn’t get any sleep whatsoever through excitement on Sunday night/Monday morning - which sounds incredibly childish I’ll be the first to admit. But a) I don’t care. And b) this was an event that celebrated fifteen+ years of complete devotion on my part. And being the last series’ DVD release, I felt it necessary to attend should The Movie not happen for whatever reason. You know, last chance and that.
Anyhow, whilst waiting in queue, Disc One of the three-disc set was playing on the various monitors. Most surprisingly, the Data Doctor character got laughs from many. As did the Reservoir Dorks scene. Extraordinary, eh?
Once up close to the cast, it became clear that others had brought additional items for them to sign. I didn’t bring anything extra because I followed the rules. But there you go.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed proceedings. The bouncer was ushering everyone along the length of the table very quickly, but I made sure to have brief conversations with each member of the cast, expressing my undying love for them and whatnot. Much like other events that see you getting all hot & sweaty, this was over fairly quickly. But I’m not complaining - it was indeed a butterfly-crushing moment for me.
As if that wasn’t enough celebrity action for one day, however, I then went out again in the evening with Elliot S. to see Ricky Gervais, Sean Lock, Lee Mack, Stewart Lee, Robin Ince and Alan Carr (and Russell Brand as compere) at the Royal Albert Hall for an evening of stand-up in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust.
“Ricky Gervais and friends” was how it was billed; we thought the “friends” in question would be a bunch of unknowns, so were dead chuffed when we heard that line up. Each act was excellent, really funny. And there was some fine heckling too.
Quick amusing story: The shawl of the girl sitting next to me caught onto a button of my jacket as I walked past in the interval. And I didn’t notice until she screamed… because it was wrapped around her neck at the time.
Then, in the early hours of this morning, Elliot and myself walked around the Isle of Dogs taking a series of fun & artistic photographs of each other until it started raining. But by then we already had a load of great shots and Elliot had even managed to put his hand in a piece of dog’s excrement. Boy, did I laugh at that.
So all in all, a fantastic day. Huzzah!