Collectormania 3
This event was held in Milton Keynes UK between 3rd and 5th May 2003
I was very lucky to be there I met a great many LOTR actors and went to both the Fellowship and Two Towers screenings which had talks before them.
Will update with more pics soon and write up and need to link to larger pics. I had over 40 pics to scan in.
The Loony report
Friday
Lynda
and I set off about 7 from my house it was meant to be 6 but we had both
been so busy we were both running late. Helen (Jukebox) had been so hyper
she had been sending me texts from 5 she was already in Milton Keynes.
The roads were very busy and we took a rest stop for what they called
food but I was too hungry to turn it down. We got to the Travel Inn at
about 10.30 we had a hard job getting there even though we were following
the map we had from Travel Inn. Far too many roundabouts named with funny
names. We got up to the room and I phoned Helen she was in the pub next
door. Then she say's to me are you at your window and I say no but Lynda
is so I open the curtain and there she is in the car park waving up at
me. It really made me smile the first time to see her.
We met her in the pub next door and she gave us both a drunken hug we
of course started to talk about LOTR straight away and although we were
getting hassled by some weird drunken guy we were having a great chat.
The said drunken man ended up buying us drinks. We went up to our room
for a few more drinks and more chatting I don't know what got into me
but I had a sudden idea apples in pockets call me weird but I had been
thinking about that pic of Billy far to much. So with apples in Helen's
Lynda's and my back pockets we bent over. Claire Helen's friend had the
job of taking the pic poor girl I don't know if I dare let it see the
light of day. We said good bye to Helen and got into bed.
Saturday
So
I wake up at 5 and I can't get back to sleep I hear Lynda drink some water
at 6 and ask her in she's awake I try get her to get up as I'm too hyper
to sleep. We end up getting up at 6.30 get ready and set out we have NO
idea where were going it's 7.30 and were meant to met people in Mcdonnalds.
We finally find someone to ask and get there 5 mins late not bad for people
with no idea at all. I spot some loons from the window Rebecca (LOTR Fan)
is the first one I see. I say hello to everyone and head to get some food.
We sit chatting Jo (Green fay) Rad and a few others. Helen or Ikki is
not there I phone them both Helen hasn't left yet neither has Ikki. We
head off to the hall we get round the corner and I then get really hyper
I do what I normally do in this type of thing I walk very very fast. Were
trying to find Billy's signing area it's like 8.20 or something we walk
round a bit then someone spots and we head over. I notice a few people
in the queue one is Pauline (Concerning hobbits) we stand with them naughty
us and were not there long when Ikki turns up and hands me the great patch
she has done for more it's added to my jacket with the rest of my badges.
So were all in a big group getting hyper. I spot Liz (Zenobia) and go
for an chat with her she's right near the front with Kt and a few others.
Just time for chatting when it gets to 9 with moved along into Billy's
queuing section now time to wait and wait and wait. In this time I've
been spending it trying to calm everyone down. Everyone was getting so
bad I was like calm down remember what you want to say and ask for a hug
and give your pressie's. Billy's section was right next to Andy's in the
signing part and they were away from everyone else. Both were now an hour
late I heard someone say they were going to be late so I sat down. 
Next
minute Billy's sneaking down Andy's side and is going to sit down. I was
in shock I had kind of calmed down. Now I was in a right mess even though
I had all my stuff sorted. I notice he has a grey jacket on and under
it a BLACK SHIRT. Now this may not seem important to others but the girls
over at bb.net will understand I started up a campaign to try and get
support in Billy wearing a Black Shirt hoping that in fact Stewart the
web master and a friend of Billy's would see it and maybe tell him.
I was like oh my god black shirt I shouted black shirt everyone must have
heard me I was just looking at Helen and she was just as bad as me. Helen
was later talking to Stewart on Monday and stew said that he had told
Billy not to wear it but Billy had wanted to wear it anyway. It's not
the same black shirt though as in the Canada one but I don't care I just
wanted black shirt.
I saw Liz and her lot go up they were really hyper and looked to be having
great time. We saw whom we thought was Stewart and then we shouted Stewart
to see if he would look, I think he kind of did not sure. We left it at
that and just kept saying it must be him it's got to be.
It had been agreed that Lynda was going first the first thing she said
to Billy apart from hi was is Stewart here and Billy looked at Stewart
so Lynda hands over the bag with goodies for Stewart he looks in totally
shock but starts to look though it straight away. Lynda kind of looked
in shock she looked really happy. I was a little out of it but I saw Lynda
hand over the Penguin and heard Billy say I think I know what is to go
with this. Next minute Billy is there with Lynda and I've got the camera
and I'm in a mess Lynda's camera isn't working. 
So
I've got mine and I'm trying to take a pic and I'm shaking and I hear
Pauline say stop shaking. I just can't help it what the hell is up with
me I manage to take 2 hoping at least one comes out ok. I've spent so
long trying to calm others down that I haven't worked on myself. Before
I know it I'm in front of Billy 
I
pass the pic over to be signed and look at Stewart and pass him the bag
with the beer in and card. I then give Billy the banjo he puts it on the
penguin straight away then poses with it. 
The
next few mins are a little hazy so I might get it a little mixed up. I
remember I said to him that I had got him practical things then he say's
I like practical things it was really funny the way he said it. 
Then
I handed over the hand cream and say it's because your hands are really
going to hurt by the end of this. Straight away he put some on and he
was being really nice about having it saying he had not used it before.
Then I pass over the Foot Lotion I then said this is for when you get
back to New Zealand. After he had managed to read it and realise what
it was he said how much the feet hurt and how useful it was going to be.
I have got a pic of him looking at the cream and he does look a little
puzzled. 
I
do have to point out it is very good cream from Body Shop and it really
does work. I then asked for a hug and got ONE! 
I
then asked his I could have a picture with him he said of course and posed
away. 
I
left then Billy feeling very out of it as soon as I left I was saying
to people what happened what did I say. It had totally gone from my mind.
I think everyone thought I would be the calm one and were surprised with
the way I acted.
I managed to get a picture of Pauline and she then came over and showed
me what she had got signed it all looked very nice.
My over all impression of Billy a very nice chilled out guy who tries
to make every fan feel special he also seems very funny. I was very nervous
in a way hoping he was what he seemed to be. He was a much more when asking
for a picture he was very willing saying of course. He also went out of
his way to try and talk to fans instead of just signing and smiled and
made eye contact with every fan.
Rebecca and I then made our way over to Tom Felton's area and got a ticket
for him.
Rebecca went and I made my way over to where Lynda was with a whole heap
of other Loons having some food and drink in a near by café. We
saw another loon while there Billie; her husband was roped into taking
a lot of pictures. We then decided to go get a ticket to go and see Andy
there were already well into giving the tickets out.
Next stop was going to see Sala Baker he wasn't signing for anyone so
we walked straight up. I went first and he was very nice and kind and
was willing to give out hugs. There was a lot of us there but he smiled
and let took it all in his stride. Bruce Hospkin's table was right next
to his and so we went straight over to see him. This was it the handing
over of his wee scarvie find out more at this site Fellowship of the Wee
Scarvies. It's a bb.net thing many of the actors from LOTR now have them
as well as fans from all over the world. Shout out to Jennie is in order
who makes them for free and is great lady. He seemed a little puzzled
at first but then looked to be very happy after we explained. He posed
with it for all our millions of pics. Sala was watching and Bruce turned
to him and said you didn't tell me about this and Sala replied I got mine
last year with a big grin on his face.
Then off to put some films into the one-hour store and a look round the
stalls we went to check on how Tom's line was doing and it was time for
us to go see him. It was just me and Liz that went although I did phone
Rebecca to see where she was like most other people that weekend she was
still in John Rhys Davis queue.
I got to the front and asked Tom to sign it to Cat and the guy next to
him just said he's not personalising now. I didn't know what to say Tom
looked quite in shock too and was then to left to watch Liz get hers signed
I managed to take a pic and got a few of Devon Murry who plays Seamus.
Now going on to Andy it's getting late now 3 and I had arranged to met
some loons at 3.30 but we get there and we know we have to stay in the
queue. I phone a few people all of, which are not here BHS so it looks
like a run to BHS straight after. I get to the Andy and he smiles as I
hand over the picture to be signed and tell him what name I want it signed
to. I then tell him how much I admired what he did at the Oscars he smiles
and say's thank you. I then give him a small white ribbon it's a peace
ribbon that I made and another for his wife. Andy was such a nice guy
he must have had a million request to do his Gollum voice and not one
did he turn down in fact it seemed they got longer talking. He was also
very very funny in the question and answer sessions, as were all the LOTR
guests.
After Andy I waited for the others and we had to run up to BHS to met
loons we had something to eat and a nice chat then off to the hotel to
freshen up. We head straight out to cineworld we got there for just after
5pm and already there is a queue to go in. We get in and sit down the
actors are a little late due to the fact they still had a lot of signing
to do. The questions start straight away it's takes everyone a while to
get going but then there is no shortest of questions. We even end up singing
the drinking song from the green dragon, which is a lot of fun. I even
got my question answered mine was the one about the audio recording. I
also was very cheeky and carried on asking questions after that the next
2 are mine as well. I can't really say more about the q and a as you can
read it for your self. A lot of questions were directed at Billy as I
think that night there were a lot of Billy fan's there. Andy also asked
us a question how many times we had seen Fellowship of the Ring hands
stayed up after 100 for anyone who wants to know I think Pauline has seen
it the most over 200 times yes that's the Pippin alike for you.
The guys then had to head off and the film started straight away I have
to say I have never enjoyed watching a film so much. Yes there was talking
but it was line repeating everyone knew it so well cheer laughing a great
atmosphere for all. I know some people don't like that sort of thing but
nearly everyone loved it and it rounded of the night perfectly. We all
got our things ready to leave when we look up the film was in fact the
version with the clips from Two towers it all made us cheer again what
a lovely surprise.
We then headed off for a mini room party there was 6 of us and I opened
a bottle of champagne and we had buzz's fizz. It ended up Helen and I
talking till about 2 in the morning where I walked back to my room boots
off just like a hobbit.
Sunday
I
was a bit late for the 9.30 met up in Mcdonnalds as we had to pack up
our stuff to leave we had a quick breakfast then over to John Rhys Davies
queue luckily we had got there early enough not to need a ticket. John
was happily signing away and when the group of us got there he was kind
and joking about. We all knew already that John is the type to tickle
people I asked him if he was going to tickle us he said he only tickled
the pretty girls, one of the girls was really ticklish and was finding
it hard to controlled herself we got in for a group pic and I think he
tickled everyone of us. We then got down to Billy and got another ticket
we had decided to get some photo's deveploed and Lydna wanted one of her
and Billy together signed. We had a bit of wait an so we spent the time
eating looking at stalls and watching Billy I know a little sad but every
other loon was there and most of the time we spent chatting to them. We
waited for Billy to go to lunch then went to get a group pic then waited
for them to come back. Then to wait that little bit longer so we could
go in to see Billy again Sarah had been very very excited about going
to see him so I had a little feeling she might either one cry or two not
say anything at all. It had got to that time in the afternoon where they
were trying to cut down the amount of time Billy spent with each person
so he was moving down the line having pictures taken with people. Perfect
Pippin (Marie) was in front of us with a few of her friends. Billy got
to Marie's friend and she asked for a hug and burst into tears he was
holding on to him and we really beginning to think after a while that
maybe in fact she was not going to let him go. After a while she did and
he was kind to her. She was still crying as Billy had his picture taken
with us and moved down the rest of the line. I was trying to calm the
girl down giving her hugs and she was getting ok and had stopped crying
when Billy walks past her and pats her on the shoulder that was it tears
again. All was well though she managed to sort herself out and had her
picture signed. We had a little look round then off to the costume competition
where everyone was waiting.
The first thing I noticed when I got there was the fact there was some
very little kids wearing costumes we all thought that's it everyone's
done for kids are going to win it. It was great though Sala Baker was
there helping to judge it and everyone got signed pictures from him then
the little kid did come away with second prize. We were all very happy
when Pauline in fact was the one to win first Prize.
After that straight to cineworld again for Two Towers showing this was
a different atmosphere from the previous night but still good. John Rhys
Davis seemed to sneak in he was a true champ chatting away giving stories
about different things coming right up close to us all and the story and
acting out of him swinging the axe and falling flat on his face has got
to be on video somewhere. I have to ask I want that video someone please
put it online. The rest of the cast then came in the questions were not
as thick and fast as the night before but still very good. With offers
of chocolate been taken up from Ikki in the front the guys seemed happy.
The highlight of the q and a was Andy whole scene reactment of Gollum's
arguing speech after he had finished we all stood up and clapped it was
great to see it and the way he did it you just know that Andy is the true
Gollum the face movements everything was perfect. It was a much longer
q and a as than the night they all thanked us and went with lots of waves
from all.
The film was great we all loved it again and at the end I was very sad.
I hugged all the girls I had met what a great bunch of loons they were
and with that we went.
Can't wait till October we've been promised a lot more LOTR guests and
fingers crossed for the rumours of Dom being there for a signing session.
Pictures
Please note all my larger pictures are copyrighted if you want to use them email me at hobbitlotrlover@aol.com I will then give you permission and sightly change the writing on it for you. Please do not directly link the pictures from this site please give the link of my front page for them. http://www.boomspeed.com/hobbitlover
Some of these pictures have been taken for me using my camera people who took the pictures are Lynda , Ikki and Pauline. Also I have a lot of pictures that are from my friend Lynda's camera these are mainly the ones with me in them. Two of the pictures are also taken by Pauline with her camera of me with Billy.
