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[jayes_musings]

Got back last night and I had a wonderful week. Absolutely smashing. Collectormania was fantastic...I spent two days there going with an old friend and her hubby. Both of whom are also big LOTR fans. I got autographs of Craig Parker (of course!), Paul Norrell who played the King of the Dead (and Falafel in Xena/Hercules), Brad Dourif (Grima), and Jed Brophy who was an Orc. They were all great, although Brad seemed a bit offish *shrug*.

Craig was fantastic...he was just so friendly with everyone, even getting late on Sunday, he was still as enthusiastic as when I saw him on Saturday morning.

I did catch a glimpse of Brian Blessed...he was so busy, probably had the longest queue of anyone there...and Patrick Stewart dropped by unofficially.

Also met up with two BABEs...It was great seeing Jemstone again and also to finally meet hmpf after many attempts at hooking up.

Then there was Wednesday



When I went to London and met VALENTINE PELKA!!!!!!!

I'm still flying high on that one. Before I'd left, I found out that Val was in a play in London and that May 5th was opening night (actually preview night). I met up with another member of his fan club...also fortitiously on holiday...and we went to see the play, Arthur Miller's The Archbishop's Ceiling.

Just wonderful. It was a tiny theatre, with the seats all around the stage area. It wasn't exactly a stage as the audience was level with them. Me and Creatch picked front row seats and were no more than ten feet from the actors at all times. It's set in Czechoslovakia during Communism and is about a novelist who is under threat of arrest for writing undesirable works, and his friends try to convince him to leave. Val plays the novelist, Sigmund, and just brilliantly. And he looked wonderful...with a beard.

Afterwards we waited for him in the bar...and he's just so sweet. He bought us both a glass of wine. Got to meet his dad as well. Pictures were taken (will take a while as I took Mum's camera...didn't want to be lugging mine around London) and he autographed my programme. He knew Creatch from previous cons, and so he was chatty with her, while I'm sure he was thinking who the hell's this woman about me *grin*

But really, he's a darling. Just thoroughly nice.

Comments

[evankasparov.livejournal.com]

Squee!!!!!!! That's so very cool. Valentine Pelka...and his dad. How cute is that?

[simplyjaye.livejournal.com]

OH...it was very cute, and he's just as lovely (and still with a strong Polish accent). Oh and Val was wearing a leather jacket as he left...Kronos moment! *g*

You should try and make it there, if you can at all. It runs through the end of May, I believe, at the Southwark Playhouse. It's a wonderful little play.

[evankasparov.livejournal.com]

mmm....leather. :) I'll look into it. Thanks for the rec.