[Guest]

The gift shop is mainly clothing, T sh*ts, scarves, hats etc. Some nice things but quite expensive. The only card item is a chocolate frog box with a 5 sided card. I think there are 4 to collect and they show the 4 founding house heads. Have a fantastic time on Thursday.

I was lucky enough to go on the making of Harry Potter studio tour on Saturday and what can I say but WOW. It was one of the best 3 and a half hours of my life. To get up close to some of the sets, see all the props & costumes and see how everything was done was fantastic. Everything was better then I could have hoped it would be.

The staff there were really friendly and helpful, a lot of them were fans themselves so were happy to talk about all things Harry. You could take as many photos as you wanted of whatever you wanted. It really felt you were being welcomed into the Harry Potter family. The first half hour was the tour element and then you could wonder wherever you wanted and take as much time as you wanted with the rest. Without giving too much away the highlights for me were the Great Hall, Diagon Alley and castle model. I went with my 20 year old niece and we kept going back to the model as it was breathtaking.

I took a liking to the butterbeer they had on sale although it was a bit sweet. The tour is over 2 sound studios (by coincidence they are studios J and K) and the outdoor back lot which housed larger things like the Knight Bus, Chess pieces and number 4 Privet Drive – another wow moment.

I learnt so much about the films I will never look at them in the same light again. I am in awe of the work, love and craftsmanship that was poured into them. For example all of the paintings were hand painted by portrait artists and each wand box in Ollivanders had a hand written label, even if it was not seen.

If anyone was thinking of going I would urge them to do so and if you do go remember to keep looking up so you don’t miss a thing.

Did they say if they would be returning the original redemption card along with the Gambon replacement.

Best of luck Chris. I have put in a bid on your Jamie Yates auto card. I see your Mad-eye is doing well, lets hope it makes a good price for your furniture fund.

Mine has arrived too here in the UK.

Redemptions received from Artbox today. All in except for the Radcliffe/Felton card. Note saying that they are still waiting for the card to be returned from the actors. As for the rest the letters were numbered as follows.

Emma Watson as Hermione Granger AR 7064
Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore AR 7062
Helena Bonham Carter as B. Lestrange AR 7061
David Thewlis as Remus Lupin AR 7065
Maggie Smith as Prof. McGonagall AR 7063
Ralph Ineson as Amycus Carrow AR 7067
Suzanne Toase as Alecto Carrow AR 7066

An update - I have just choked on my tea and toast. Just how hard can it be to update your own site with your own products; everyone else in the world is able to do it. I won't hold my breath or I might start to go a bit blue around the edges.

Guys, I have just bought an item from Rich and can I say what wonderful service I received. Friendly emails, fast delivery and excellent packaging. 

Has anyone experienced any delays in things arriving from the US to the UK in the last month or so. One of the things I am waiting for is from Tom and you know how quick he is at sending things out. I am wondering if the recent postal strike has affected mail coming into the country and I am getting all other mail ok.

Does anyone know if mail sent out of the UK is ok as I have recently sent items off to the US and Australia and am wondering if I need to warn my buyers of the delays.

I have been going through boxes of collectables that I haven't looked at in years. Some are duplicates and some need to go to a home where they can be appreciated rather than packed away in a box. They are mailnly X-Files, LOTR and Harry Potter. I have started to list on ebay but with the amount I things I have it will go on for months. All prices are low and here is the link in case something might interest you.

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/southalla/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1

Stoney, I am in the UK so fingers crossed you should get yours soon. 

I am also waiting for the Jason Isaacs, Tom Felton (MM2) and Brendan Gleeson (OOPU). The big question is will the Brendan Gleeson auto ever be sent out. Surely the man isn't that busy that he hasn't had time to finish signing them.

With the Artbox letters dated the 4th August I have today received the auto cards of

Double - Pedja Bjelac & Stanislav Ianevski AR-6060
Double - Henry Lloyd Hughes & Clemence Poesy  AR-6061
Double - Daniel Radcliffe & Gary Oldman AR-6062
Apple Brook AR-6063

Also enlosed was a slip advising that the Jason Isaacs & Tom Felton are still waiting to be returned from the actors.

David & Russell To Attend Comic Con
 
In support of BBC AMERICA’s U.S. premiere of four Doctor Who Specials, the Doctor himself, David Tennant, will appear alongside writer/executive producer Russell T Davies at this year’s Comic-Con in San Diego.  They will take part in a Doctor Who panel along with executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn, Sunday July 26, 10:00-11:00am PT.

David will travel to Comic-Con, fresh from the Doctor Who set, having shot his final scenes as the tenth Time Lord.  He and fellow panelists will discuss the latest incarnation of television’s longest running science fiction series and take questions from the floor. There will also be exclusive sneak peeks from the upcoming specials.   

Fans can visit the BBC AMERICA booth (#3629) to capture their own photograph alongside part of the Doctor Who set - as well as purchase exclusive merchandise including David Tennant figures.

Fans of BBC AMERICA’s highest rated show ever, Torchwood, which will have just completed the five-part special, Children of Earth, will get to chat with the stars and makers of the show first-hand.  Just 48 hours after the last episode, the show makes a return visit to Comic-Con with a panel featuring star John Barrowman, writer/executive producer Russell T Davies, executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn, Sunday July 26, 2:15-3:45pm PT.

As part of the same panel, Sunday July 26, 2:15-3:45pm PT, catch the talent from BBC AMERICA’s most buzzed about new sci fi drama, Being Human.  Creator and writer, Toby Whithouse, plus lead actors Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner, talk about the inspiration for the show and what it’s like to play three twenty-somethings with secret double-lives – as a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost.  All four panelists will be signing exclusively at the BBC AMERICA booth, Saturday July 25, 3:00-4:00pm PT.

Cult comedy favorite and BAFTA-nominated, The Mighty Boosh, comes to Comic-Con for the first time to celebrate the airing of all three seasons on Adult Swim, and the BBC’s DVD release, just two days before the convention begins.  Inspired by the Perrier Comedy Award-winning live comedy show, creators-stars Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding, along with actors Michael Fielding, Rich Fulcher and Dave Brown, will be on stage to discuss the magical, bizarre and exciting world of The Boosh, Friday, July 24, 4:45-5:45pm.  The hit UK comedy series follows crazy zookeepers Howard Moon and Vince Noir and was described by The San Jose Mercury News as “an acid-trip fantasy-comedy [that] is seriously deranged and seriously funny.”

Fans can also catch exclusive BBC AMERICA screenings during the convention with back to back episodes of Doctor Who and Torchwood.  Key talent from both shows introduce the last episode of the five part series Torchwood: Children of Earth and a U.S. premiere viewing of Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead, the first of four specials starring David Tennant.

Underground Toys (#3949) will be selling their entire Doctor Who and Torchwood lines of toys and novelty items. In addition, this year they will once again introduce new limited edition Comic-Con action figures that have never been seen before.

Could it be something to do with this (from the BBC Doctor Who site)

If you're missing the monsters and mayhem that Doctor Who delivers then tune into Tonight's the Night, presented by Captain Jack himself, John Barrowman!
John's BBC One show helps ordinary people live out their performing fantasies for real and true to its aim of making dreams come true, Tonight's the Night has run a competition giving one viewer the opportunity to take part in a special Doctor Who scene, working with the Doctor Who production team, and shot on the set of the TARDIS. The scene will star the winner alongside show host John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness.
Viewers over 18 were invited to submit an application featuring a photograph of themselves in a home-made alien costume, along with information about their alien, such as where it's from and its characteristics. The entries were a fantastic mix ranging from fearsome to funny but all of them were imaginative, eye-catching and full on! Over the next three weeks viewers of Tonight's the Night will see a parade of aliens and John Barrowman, Doctor Who casting director Andy Pryor and a team of judges will be selecting the best.
The top ten aliens will be required to face the judges - assuming they have faces - and may be assessed on vocal ability, movement and quite literally, star quality. Three finalists will then undergo one further series of alien orientated challenges, but only one will win this once in a lifetime experience.
The winner will film a scene in the TARDIS to be broadcast on May 23rd. John Barrowman was delighted to make a dream come true for one lucky Doctor Who fan, commenting, "This is a fantastic opportunity and I can't wait to see the winner experience performing on the set of Doctor Who."
Tonight's the Night: Saturdays at 6.55pm on BBC1

He is 26 and to me that is young. Oh to be 26 again.

Thank you Secret Santa for my wonderful present of X-Files I want To Believe cards - the perfect gift. What did everyone else get?

Hasn't anyone else received their Secret Santa yet? I do hope mine made it to its recipient ok. Still afew days to go before Christmas but I sent mine off at the beginning of November.

Thank you to my Secret Santa. I got home from work today and there it was waiting for me, all I have to do now is wait for Christmas to open it.

The BBC site has its annual Doctor Who advent (adventure) calendar. Here is the link, no chocolate behind the doors but this is much more fun.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/

Interesting as in the list of owners number 4 was down as belonging to Darren from Cards Inc. at one time. The auction number is 120316102444.