One of the things I've really missed since the Covid 19 pandemic is going to the various conventions, model events and comic marts, and meeting up in person with like-minded folk.
I did manage to get to a very enjoyable event this year, in a beautiful picturesque location - Cromford Mills near Matlock in Derbyshire.
I got to see and chat with quite a few familiar faces, and took a few photos of the displays.
Here's a few reminders.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! I've posted some prezzies and written some cards for the family and after going home again to get my forgotten wallet I actually got them to the post office.
Most of the stuff we've bought online as gifts has arrived except the main one for Moonbase Junior our Grandson, a new Microscope. Despite a second one being sent out by the company neither have arrived yet and the first one was returned to the supplier severely damaged in transit! At this rate we'll have to give him a magnifying glass we got in a cracker last Christmas! Have you got everything you need?
Speaking of damaged goods, I went to see Spider-Man No Way Home last night in a very empty screening with my friend. At two and half hours long it was a bit of a chore to get through as it seemed like a mess to me. Marvel have thrown everything in it except Steve Ditko's kitchen sink! There were some enjoyable parts and the small kids in the audience clearly liked it going on the whoops we heard. If you're a big Spidey fan then you'll no doubt love it. At £15 entry I personally regret not seeing Ghostbusters Afterlife instead! Do you go to the cinema readers?
Another hefty price tag was the £4.40 I've paid this lunch for a battered cod. I'd forgotten how much a single fish would be. Still, with plenty pf salt and vinegar and a round of bread and butter flanked by a mug of hot tea it was a tasty treat at the start of my Christmas fortnight break, Do you like chippy fish?
After writing a few more cards I plan to go into the attic and find a model airport building that's hiding in there somewhere. It'll make a fun setting for my newly restored bodgemobile number two. Thinking of the attic reminds me of how I used to listen to audio tapes and radio programmes whilst I was selling full-time on Ebay back in the mid-noughties. A couple of them from back then spring to mind.
One was called Zap I recall, a one-off radio programme hosted by Alice Cooper, who was talking about the history of comic books. I remember taping it on my old Matsui music centre but for the life of me I cannot find that tape, probably because I had a cassette purge a few years back and it may have been binned. Anyone recall Alice Cooper's Zap?
Another thing I like to listen to were horror audio tapes. The ghost stories of MR. James and the tales of Poe and Le Fanu like the Cask of Amontillado, one of my favourites. It was great fun listening to Poe whilst wrapping my Ebay sales up in the attic office. Did you listen to audio tapes? I wonder if you ever bought anything off me on Ebay? Over the many years I did it I went by the names of Moon Zero Toys, Outerspaceman and Madaboutmonsters.
Ah well, time for some more Yorkshire tea!
Yet more old plastic toy Model T Fords - at least I think they are! The plastic Secret Service! And both remote controlled!
Have you seen any more model T's?
I'm pleased to see the reaction to my recent nod to the Zeroids by Ideal. Here's a few photos I took a long while back showing the Zeroid family.
