Gareth David-Lloyd Signing - Nostalgia & Comics June 28th report
Fangirling is tiring but oh so worth it. I got up at 5am to get into my Captain Jack Harkness costume ready to catch my train at 6.55am. I slept on both trains as luckilly my destinations were both the last ones at that time of the morning.
Arrived at New Street Station and met up with Lisa dressed as The Tenth Doctor and made our way to the Nostalgia & Comics where the signing event was being held. There was only a couple of people standing there at just after 10am when we arrived and we went inside to have a look round and see if we could pick up any 8x10's of Ianto but they were sadly lacking. We couldnt get the audio books yet as Gareth was bringing them with him. We then went out to join the que which had gotten larger since we went inside. Although all in all i'd say there was only around about 50-100 people there.
The nerves were ok until i actually got to the front door and actually saw Gareth because god he is stunning in real-life. Soi took a couple of pics from the door way while waiting to be let inside to buy the books and then joined the line at the table where he was sitting inside the doorway.
so i sorted the cd sleeves from their cases so Gareth could just sign them when we got to the table and well i just went to mush. lol i sorta just mumble a hi and he just kept smiling and looking at me. I then said thanks as i took my cd sleeves back then i asked him miraculously considering how nervous i was asked him if i could take his picture. Which he said yes sure of course. he then posed for a pic.
Gareth was waiting until the end for pictures as he wasnt sure if he's have time because it wasnt a very big area in store so not really suitiable for pictures.
so we lingered outside and me and lisa squeed quite alot and got fangirled by various people and had out pics taken by a couple before Gareth came out for a photo infront of the shop, so while they did that i took a couple of pics before they had everyone gather around Gareth for a group photo and i'm waiting on a copy of the photo as one of the store owners took quite a few pics of me and lisa with Gareth aswell.
after that he posed for pics with people before going back inside to wait and see if anyone else was going to turn up. We then got a group shot of Lisa, Gareth and Myself and well we got or fangirl sandwich of Jack/Ianto/The Doctor.
the first attempt with my camera due to tradition didnt work so we had to get back into postition for a second attempt at which Gareth accidently bashed Lisa across the back of the head when he was trying to put his arm around her as the ground slopes slightly and he made some comment about trying to kill the fangirls. which resulted in us all laughing somewhat while having the picture taken.
we then went back into the store to do some more shopping as i'd seen a new poster of Jack that i wanted to get. so we went back in and i picked it up and i was about to come up to the tills again and some guy comes up to me and lisa and asks if its ok if he takes our picture for the Birmingham Mail. We of course said yes and went outside. The Store manager took our bags and put them behind the counter while we went outside.
So outside we got to pose with gareth again and had several shots done. the photographer said to us ok Ladies pose with your hands to ur pockets and lean in and Gareth put your arms around them and pull them in close. So we got into position and then we had to wait while the photographer shooed away some people behind us that were in the shot.
Then he took a couple od shots like that before changing lenses and asking us to all lean forwards over him as he knelt on the floor and basically had his camera lense in line with Gareth's crotch. so it'll be interesting to see which shot he uses for the Birmingham Mail.
we then went back inside and i bought my poster and as we were about to leave the guy from the store gave us he details so we could get a copy of his pics he took of us. And we ended up standing in front of gareth's table talking about Dr Who, Torchwood and all manner of random stuff. While there Gareth went out for a crafty cigarette. Obviously on his way back inisde i was in the way and as i moved out of the way gareth brushed against me which was nice. lol
While talking to the guy from the store i could see Gareth and he looked so bored at times and he was rubbing his arms quite a bit, especially where he has the burn mark.
At one stage i caught the woman with him which i assume is his PA pointing towards me and i wasnt sure what she was pointing at and i thought nothing of it and then i happened to look across and Gareth was staring intently at me and he sorta blushed as i caught him staring and he then says i like your bag. commenting on my Captain and The Tea Boy shoulder bag and i said thanks.
we then left and headed off for some lunch and got fangirled somemore in pizza hut.
so there will be more pictures to come once ive recieved them.
Oh and on another note Gareth smells absolutely lovely, i'm not up on blokes aftershaves or deoderants etc but he smelled goregous.
I still cant believe i've met him today.
*** edited to add a link to pictures taken by Martin Tierney from Nostalgia & Comics. More Pics from the signing