London Expo

This event was held in London UK on the 18th and 19th of Ocotber 2003

I was very lucky to be there I met an few LOTR actors and went to the guest dinner where I sat on the same table as Billy Boyd and in fact right across from him.

Friday Night

Ok from the start all friday I had been getting hyper because not only was I got see billy but I was meeting craig parker and going to the guest dinner. The icing on the cake was the fact I would see all my great friends again Amy, Becca, Claire, Lynda, Marie and Pauline

So Amy is coming over to my house I met her at the bus stop we get some fish and chips and back to mine. Now Lynda had told me to travel light as there was now going to be 5 of us in the car. I tried to listen I did my best my best was not good enough. Ok so I had nearly the same amount as I did for C4 well I had my nice outifit for saturday night and my shoes.

Ok so Lynda picks us up they already have Becca Lynda's daughter in the car and pauline. So we set off a little later than planned but were all so hyper and chatting away. After a while we get stuck in an traffic jam there has been an huge accident in front of us very scary. In this time I manage to do some sewing that's right itabout 9pm dark and I'm sewing in the front seat of the car. I had to redo my hood the other was not long enough.
We end up getting to the travel inn at 12.30 we were very very tired.
Still very hyper though Lynda Becca sharing an room and Pauline is in theirs for the night just me and Amy in ours. Amy is getting scared because it is the first time she has met Billy.
I try calm her don't think it works we go to bed not to sleep mind just to bed we are again hyper and mainly Amy lays there and I itch.

Saturday

We had set both our alarms set we let them go off for an while before we get up and then get all changed and down to breakfast. I think we are the first ones ready because Amy was hyper. We met with Lynda and Becca and head to expo it's an few mins walk away and we get there for about 9am we stand in the wrong queue for an while before finally sorting ourselves out.
Pauline was still at the hotel waiting for Marie and Claire.
So we get in and head staight for Billy so hyper standing in queue chattting they get there about 10.30 I think it was. The queue is moving very slowly I think he is spending a long time with everyone but it was also cool that LOTR guest were altogether so you didn't have to queue for them all seprate.

Meeting Billy

Finally got to Billy now I was kind of scared about all this I said to him at first that I had heard that he wanted to be an Jedi Knight he was like yeah so I passed him the light saber he was like OMG is this for me and that lovley voice of him he was in shock. He was like cool then I said I had an fan book I put together I explained at an bit he was looking though it and it looked like he wanted to read more but of course could not at the time. I then asked him what aftershave he was wearing he had to think a long time before he answered and now I can't remember the name it was not one I had heard of before bad me I'll ask my friend. Then I got out the can of Lynxs explaining it was the same as Axe in the U.S and that he had to put an bit on so I could tell everyone that is what he smelt like. He kind of sprayed it near himself so I smelt him yes I did in that kind of comic way he seemed fine about it and I could hear everyone giggling about it. The Lynxs smelt very strong after an while. I think about this time Craig smelt it to. So an few pics later I move on to Craig Parker this guy is like god he is sooo sexy I was in like shock I could barely speak I thought he was kind of cute before but wow I think I have found another everyone loves him that little bit more now.

I watched everyone with Billy taking pics ect for them Lynda gave him her mug he totally loved it it's that pint thing with the coin sandwiched in the glass at the bottom.Craig even came over to look and they talked about the story with her. Lynda was so happy we then had an little look round and went for something to eat.

We phoned Pauline and it turned out that Marie and Claire had just got there so we all hung around eating till they came I got into my costume then I went with Marie and Pauline to get their Virtual tickets for the LOTR guys looked around stalls abit then went to talk to Claire as she was working for expo although she was stopping people who weren't dealers using the toilets. Hung round taking pictures of the guys and while we were there Billy went to the toliet but I couln't really get an pic because my camera was playing up. Then Craig went to the toliet so we waited for him to get back and he was a right little devil. He ran round the other way so we could not take an pic of him and ran under all the ropes and the desk to get back to his seat. We laughed and gave him an round of applause which he smiled at and waved to us. We waited about a bit and Lynda Amy and Becca decided to go back to get some sleep

Billy visit 2

I went with Pauline and Marie to take some pics for them. The guy was a bit of an ass and would not let me go past an certain point but then I noticed that he was not telling others off for taking pics with them so I had an go at him it did not work though. Then I met with Claire and we went to see Warwick Davies and take lots of pics of the Martix twins *drools*. Claire had some pics with her and Billy taken then time to walk round the stalls again.

Then we heard an accounment that there was going to be an talk from the LOTR guys so we ran down and stood and waited for them.

The Talk

It was so strange just out of the blue not many of us around to watch but it was fun it seemed that Craig got the most questions to answer and I have to say I think it is because he has now won the hearts of an lot of people. Quite an few questions were asked mostly silly things like Did Dom use the pulling pants we threw to him? Also someone asked Craig if he was pissed off Haldri was killed off. It took an while for that question to be said as Craig was rubbing his thighs at the time and putting off the girls in question. He also asked the girl to reharse the question as children were in the audience. His answer to that was that he had cut in line for dinner in front of Peter and then that was it for him. He then reinacted the death scene which was funny but looked an bit painful on landing. Billy was asked if there was going to be any more filming for the extended dvd of Return of the King he said there wasn't because had done alot of extra filming and he thought he had plenty of film. It was surprising but he also added that nothing would surprise him with Peter though. That was basically all there was for the talk it was very short but fun.

We then headed back to the hotel to get changed for dinner.

The Dinner

We don't look scared at all do we

At first the dinner was meant to be held on an yatch which I thought was an really good idea now it had been moved so I wasn't very happy we had been told it was going to be a better place but when we finally found it we weren't that happy. We got there and found the guy to ask where we were sitting we looking down the page and who the hell are we sat next to but Billy Boyd we are in shock. We sit down and freak out a bit calm down then freak out again when we see that Billy and Craig are having an right laugh at the bar. Louise walks past us and smiles and we tell her about Billy and ask her where she is sitting it turns out she is sitting with us we are so happy. So then Billy sits down we all go quite introduce ourselves then I think this is where we all started drinking well me Claire and Louise did. We asked Billy a lot of questions and we talked about us and him and bb.net. I think he was a little up set when he found out Pauline in fact likes Orlando too. I have decided not to go into detail on what we talked about as I feel it is an personal experince me and my friends had as we sat down for dinner with Billy for about 2 hours those 2 hours flew by. Billy in fact bought us some drinks and it was so nice to see him a little more chilled. For those who want to know His favourite food is Thai he eat for starter fish cakes main steak and he didn't have an dessert. Before he went we had pics with him and Craig. I really made Craig laugh I said he was my first elf and I was gald it was him I met first then I said he looked great and that he dresses way better than Orlando.

So with that Craig and Billy were gone we got more drunk danced a lot and just about made it back to the hotel by 1.30. Then to bed we had not planned to go to expo the next day but I guess plans change.

These are Marie's Pics

DO NOT TAKE ANY OF THESE PICTURES I HAVE PERMISSION TO USE THEM DON'T CHOP BILLYS HEAD OFF EITHER.

The story of why Billy is writing on Marie's t-shirt will be told soon.

Lynda's Pics

Getting the mug with the coin in the bottom he's explaining to Craig about it.

Getting the Light Saber

Getting the Fan Book

Dinner time

Sunday

We got there later than the day before yet we still managed to get nearer to the front of the queue than before. So we got in and ran to the LOTR guys section we did only have like 2 hours there before we had to head back home damn work for making me work at 5pm. So while waiting in the queue we noticed that they were replaying the talk from the day before so as Becca Lynda and Amy had missed it they headed off to watch it while we waited in the queue and saved they places. The LOTR guys arrived at about 10.45 this time and they had changed the way you saw the guys. Last time it had been Billy first then Craig then Jorn now it was the other way round and I'm sure this way making money out of Jorn this way. When we got to the place where you pay for your autography we looked up and noticed Billy was looking at us we waved and he smiled back. We had an very short chat with Jorn this was the time I gave him his wee scarvie we asked him if he had one and it was so cute staight away he tied his to his necklace.

We said hello to craig first and I think an couple of us got another autography Marie was wearing the t-shirt she had made. It had things written on like the lycris to the drinking song and Haldri lives and an added bit that had been done that morning to cheer Billy up. We love Billy more than Orlando. When Craig saw this he crossed out Billy and put Craig also at the bottom he noticed Marie had put we had dinner with Billy. He added (and he had terriable table manners) We got to Billy and this time Pauline managed to hand over her t-shirts she had made for Billy and Dom she had forgot the day before and at dinner as well. I was too skint to get another autography but everyone had one with something an little more special written on it things like That's for an Lovley Evening. Marie showed Billy her t-shirt that Craig had changed and he then made and arrow and added and Billy too it was all very sweet and now finally he remembers Claire's name.

We had an group photo with Craig and Billy taken which I will put up soon. Lynda also posed for an pic with billy and just before I took it I asked Billy if he could kiss Lynda on the cheek and he did and as you can see the picture is above. It was very an very good weekend and I wish I had been able to stay the whole day but I could not I will next time. Craig was and real star and I recommand that everyone go met him I was unsure about meeting him but he won me over as soon as he entered the room.