The Hub 3

Oct. 26th, 2009 08:13 pm
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Under the cut is my very inarticulate report and few photos from my weekend at The Hub 3 convention in Birmingham this weekend. I'm totally exhausted so please excuse the huge gaps in detail and memory.

OMG so tired )

Erm ...

Jul. 27th, 2009 01:56 pm
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Okay, following on from what I just said in my previous post, I may have found a tiny spark of fandom glee. David Tennant kissing John Barrowman at Comic Con. EEEEEE!

YouTube
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I'm not going to say much because I'm feeling a bit tired tonight, but I thought both plays were far better than Asylum, and The Dead Line made me choke up twice (which wasn't at all convenient because I was listening at work on my iPod). But seriously, Gareth gave a phenominal performance. Heartbreaking.

I remember when the only 'tie-ins' we had were the first three novels, and I was bitterly disappointed in, not only a great lack of pre-Janto flirting, but a huge lack of poor Ianto himself. But look at what we've got now! It almost feels like Torchwood was climbing into a cold swimming pool. First it dipped its toes, then it decided the water wasn't as cold as it thought so it dunked a leg in, then it decided the water wanted to be swum in and braced itself for a waist-height sink. Then, when a bunch of excitable people splashed in at the other side and waved it over, it smiled broadly and went for a big gay swim.

I love my Torchwood. Please don't let CoE be the end. It's time to sample the ocean.
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I want to say lots of wonderful things about this radio play, but unfortunately I'm struggling to think of anything. You guys know how much I love my Torchwood, but I have to be honest. I thought it was boring, I thought it sounded unrehearsed and I thought it was a sad waste of forty-odd minutes that could have been used to hook some news fans. Don't get me wrong, there was potential there, but on the whole it fell flat.

The first problem was the lack of jeopardy. I, at no point, felt at all worried, about anyone, and when you consider I get palpitations at the mere thought of anything happening to my Ianto, that really is saying something.

Basically, it was a nice idea, but the writing let it down. Unrealised concept and dialogue that felt off. At times I wondered if Gareth and Eve felt the same way, because they did not sound like Gwen and Ianto. John was just John, bless him. He did his best with the little he had to work with.

The humour was all wrong. It wasn't Torchwood humour. There was a major opportunity for some classic comedy near the start in the SUV scene, and while I did find it amusing, it didn't make me laugh out loud. Again, the writing was off.

I'm going to make a bit of an unfair comparison now, but hopefully you'll get what I mean. Compare Asylum with the fantastic, recently released audio book Sin Eaters and what you see (hear?) is a half-arsed piece of fiction that would sell a maximum of ten copies on CD if it didn't star the Torchwood cast.

Asylum Verdict: I want to end on a positive note so I'll just advise you to rush out and buy Sin Eaters instead, a piece Torchwood kit every fan should own.
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[livejournal.com profile] kitty_poker1 and I just got tickets to the SFX Weekender Convention EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

So far the guests are James Marsters, John Barrowman, Robert Rankin, Paul Cornell and China MiƩville.

This almost too much excitement all in one day!
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I'm supposed to to be under radio silence while I finish my essay, but I needed to pop my head up briefly to tell you about last night.

[livejournal.com profile] kitty_poker1 and I went to see John Barrowman in concert at the Royal Albert Hall. I'm not completely sure what I expected, but I am sure that I got more. He was absolutely wonderful. His singing was powerful, his dancing wonderfully camp and choreographed with the other dancers, and his little stories between songs were hilarious. I can happily say that Kitty and I had the most fantastic evening. It was well worth every penny of the ticket price and I would see him again in a flash.

The Royal Albert Hall was amazing. I'd never been there before and, as it turns out, John had never done a show of his own there before. You could see immediately that he was awed by it, then he made us all shout a word and then ran off giggling that he'd just made the Royal Albert Hall shout 'SHITE!'.

I nearly cried twice. First time when he dedicated a song to his dogs who had passed on and photos of them flashed up in the background. Second time when Daniel Boys sang Somewhere over the Rainbow, because that's the song my sister sang and recorded for our brother's memorial. And by the way, I'm so buying Daniel's album because he is an awesome talent. The duet with John was unbelievable.

At the end of the evening, John got a standing ovation and after a moment there was some murmuring from the front rows and I couldn't work out what they were 'ahhh'ing about until I heard John's voice crack. He cried into his towel, bless him, which nearly started me off again. But typical John, afterward, he blew his nose loudly into the towel and gave it to a girl in the audience.

Highlight of the evening? The leather kilts and John's parents dancing onstage with him.

Overall verdict: I wish we'd booked more than the one date. Should have gone to Brighton, too. And Cardiff.


Right, I'm going under again. Will be able to catch up with comments and stuff owed in a day or two.
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Did I say dancing and romancing? Sorry, I meant telly and biscuits.

After my Firefly marathon yesterday, I quite fancied more Joss, and after the Marstersclass, I also fancied some Btvs and School Hard. So I watched that episode last night and followed it up with Spike as blondie bear in Harsh Light of Day. My goodness James looks so young! And bare-chested. And biteable.

Today I have been watching Torchwood Season 1 on Blu-Ray. Now you might be tempted to say I'm daft for buying it on Blu-Ray when I already own it on DVD, but I can tell you it's worth the money for the unbelievably beautiful picture. You can count all the cute little freckles on Eve's face, even the ones you didn't realise she had. And John Barrowman's teeth gleam like the sun. I now have teeth-shaped spots in front of my eyes when I close them.

Lastly I shall tonight commence Operation NCIS. I have three whole seasons to watch. I saw season 1 a few months ago and fell a little bit in love Tony. Now there's a man I would like to strip naked and cover with Muller Fruit Corner.

I have also pre-ordered Queer as Folk Seasons 4 and 5. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
suki_blue: <lj user=suki_blue> (TW -- Gwen by equanimousicons)
I'm back from The Hub 2. I'm tired, my throat hurts, my voice is nearly gone and I'm almost totally broke. But I had the most awesome time. Everything was right and nothing was wrong. It was everything I dreamed it would be. I'd like to do a coherent report, but my eyes are rolling up into my head so I'll apologise now for the typos and randomness.

Cut for random excitement )
suki_blue: <lj user=suki_blue> (Christmas! Hogwarts)
[livejournal.com profile] hd_holidays starts today. Big yays. The first fic to be posted is Master Work.

Harry's eighth-year at Hogwarts is going about as well as all the others. Someone is out to get him, Aurors keep questioning him about the final battle and, worst of all, Draco is determined to repay his life debt to Harry.

I am so very particular about HD fic these days. I've gone way past the I'LL READ IT ALL!! phase and settled stubbornly into the Only the Best Will Do stage. I don't rec this stuff lightly. This is a good fic, a nice long read with great characterisation and an interesting storyline. But the best part is the humour. It's funny all the way through with Draco exactly as I like him, sarcastic, slightly camp, completely capable of causing a scene without realising it, and witty. Great stuff.


And while I'm here: Whoops, Mr Barrowman. What's that cliche about making a mountain out of a troll hill?

Edit: John has now apologised Bad timing, honey, that was all. I for one squee at the thought of his fruit and nuts.
suki_blue: <lj user=suki_blue> (Spander Scooby Business)
Recs first.

Compromise by [livejournal.com profile] sam_storyteller -- Jack/Ianto

After the Beacons, Ianto's inner censor is offline and Jack refuses to go home. German expressionism ensues.

Post Countrycide fics are among my favourites in this fandom and this is the one I feel I've been waiting for all my life. As always with this author, it's beautifully written with perfect character voices, bouncing dialogue and interesting narrative. Plus, it proper hits the H/C buttons.


Children of Time is a relatively new Doctor Who/Torchwood fic archive run by our very own [livejournal.com profile] shannon730. Clear, well orgainised and thought out, it rivals and, in my opinion, betters A Teaspoon and an Open Mind.


It's Spander comm [livejournal.com profile] bloodclaim's 5th birthday coming up (tomorrow?) and in celebration of this, the gorgeous and talented [livejournal.com profile] literati has posted a big batch of Spander icons. Lit is a good friend of mine, but putting that aside for a brief moment, these are the best Spander icons I've seen in a very long time.


Now on to the chatter.


I took my iPod to work yesterday and I have now therefore listened to John Barrowman's new album, Music, Music, Music twelve trillion times. Along with the two tracks I mentioned last time, What About Us? and I Know Him So Well, I am now completely in love with the grand campness of I Am What I Am and the quiet Angel which I'm positive will make me cry if it catches me at the wrong/right moment.

Does anyone else find this news story about Gay Penguins Stealing Eggs absolutely heartbreaking?

And speaking of eggs:
Adopt one today! Adopt one today! Adopt one today! Adopt one today!
suki_blue: <lj user=suki_blue> (JB singing POG Show)
John's album arrived today. Yays! And it's very good! It's actually better than Another Side. Music, Music, Music seems to have more energy. It's more poptastic. My favourite tracks so far are What About Us? which is the song Gary Barlow wrote for him, and the duet with Daniel Boys, I know Him So Well, which is just utterly fantastic.

For any one interested in hearing the duet here's John and Daniel performing it live. I Know Him So Well

In other news, my dragon eggs developed soft shell and had to be fogged. But they're okay now and sitting happily on my profile page awaiting some love.
suki_blue: <lj user=suki_blue> (John B Doggy!)
Just watched John Barrowman on The Paul O'Grady Show. These aren't normal endearments to use on a grown man, but John was enchanting and radiant. He was incredibly funny, as always, and his single What About Us? was brilliant. I love that cute little jiggy dance he does. Auw.

I'm so smitten.


And [livejournal.com profile] kitty_poker1 has corrupted me with dragon eggs. We met for lunch today and we got some very funny looks from the adjacent table when Kitty squealed, 'And when they crack it's so exciting!' Haha, it's okay, we always manage to make some sort of scene. At least this time it wasn't a discussion about Superman bending Nightwing over any available surface.

Clicky my brand new shiny eggs please?

Adopt one today! Adopt one today! Adopt one today! Adopt one today!
suki_blue: <lj user=suki_blue> (TW -- Jack big smile by Lenyia)
[livejournal.com profile] kitty_poker1 and I are going to see John Barrowman at the Royal Albert Hall in June next year. OMFGSQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

I'm so excited, I just had to come back online in the I'm a Celebrity advert break to have a little squee.

Also excited about the following:

Going to see my sister and mum tomorrow.

My plush Adipose just arrived.

I only have 8,800 words left of NaNo.


I'm going offline again now to watch Celeb (I feel very sorry for Timmy; George or Joe to win!) and then I must go pack and have an early night. Speak to you all probably Sun night when I get back from my sister's.

One more time: SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
suki_blue: <lj user=suki_blue> (TW -- Countrycide by laura_guerin)
Anyone in need of a roommate? The lovely [livejournal.com profile] accioscar is looking for someone to share with.


Also, you know you've not done a good days work when all you've done is sit at your desk pondering whether John Barrowman is a bottom.

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