WEIGH-IN WEDNESDAY
Well here I am in a hotel room in Adelaide, Australia without
my trusty heavy duty scales. So unfortunately for you, but
rather lucky for me, there will be no "reckoning" this week.
I'm sure being away from home without being able to keep
an exact eye on every calorie I devour, has had a negative
affect. The Emirates Business Class food was extremely tempting
to name just one indulgence on offer. I can just hear
Wicked Evil Uncle Monger recoiling in horror at my lack of
will power. Sorry Mate!
LETTER FROM OZ
Well, it all happened very quickly last week, and before I knew it
I was on a Flight to Australia to attend a couple of Sci Fi Conventions
in Perth and Adelaide. The actress Billy Piper had pulled out at the
last minute - so it befell on me to fill her skinny tights! My agent
had been contacted with an offer which she managed to double
and she also secured me some Business Class Tickets - God
Bless her. I told her I wanted to break the journey with a Sleep-
Over. They came back with a choice of Airlines: Emirates via
Dubai or Malaysia Airlines via Kuala Lumper!! No prizes for guessing
which one I opted for!!
Pretty nice cabin staff too!
You can see from the following photos just how comfortable I was.
The seat went all the way back - so you could actually lie down flat.
And the TV screen was virtually wide screen - amazing!
After a stop-over in Dubai, I arrived in Perth with one night before the Convention. There was a Cocktail Party in the Hotel - so the Platinum Members of the Convention could mingle and schmooze with guests of the Convention. I was the only Brit - most of the other guests were stars from the US from TV shows like 90201 (Sharon Doherty), Stargate,
(Amanda Tapping) and Battlestar Galactica, etc. Stargate is big in Oz.
Here I am with some of the Platinum Fans - all women of course:
AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL
That night I watched something I had never seen before:
This is an incredibly fast & exciting game and as far as I could work out,
only played in Australia and only in this half of the Country - I may be wrong about that. I'm sure my Ozzie Painter Friend David will put me right.
There are four Goal Posts instead of two in our British Rugby - with a lot
of kicking over the Posts for Goals:
FIRST NIGHT IN OZ
(Shopping for Diet Provisions at the local Coles Supermarket)
DOC MARTIN IN AUSTRALIA
OMG! If I had a dollar for every person who has come up to me since I have
been in Australia and said "are you the guy from Doc Martin?" I'd be a happy
boy. Airports, on Flights, in hotels, in Super-Markets, in Restaurants,
on the Streets, where ever, I've been approached. It really is amazing how this little show has touched so many people all over the World. Its the same in the USA. It really is great and allows me to be seriously cheeky - like recently, when I got talking to this middle-aged couple who seemed delighted to meet me. I was completely outrageous and asked them if they might be free on the Monday, after my Week-end Convention in Perth, and before I flew out to Adelaide. "Of course!" said the delightful Christine Mathews and agreed to pick me up from my hotel at 10:30am on Monday - in return for me buying her lunch at the Cottesloe Hotel Restaurant overlooking the beach - fabulous!
Here are some photos from our travels - mainly with other fans!
Coffee in KINGS PARK, PERTH with Hilary & John Fans from the
North of England. My "Date for the Day" & trusty guide,
Christine Mathews is on the right!
Lady Fans in the Kings Park Gift Shop!
Cottesloe Beach
This family were celebrating their daughters 21st Birthday
and requested she had a Birthday Photo with "Bert"!!
"The Birthday Girl"
Fisherman's Wharf in Fremantle
Fisherman's Wharf in Fremantle
Another Fan at the Fisherman's Wharf in Fremantle
So the Comic Con lasted for two days over the Weekend and turned out to
be a lot fun. I had a couple of good Question & Answer Sessions on
the Stage. They had put together a Show Reel of my Film & Tv Shows
to kick it off. The fans who came up to say "hello" & have a signed
autograph were genuinely pleased I'd come over - I had to stop myself
saying the Fee was the only reason I was there - Just Kidding!!
Here are a few of the more wacky ones:
And finally here is my lovely helper Merri who looked after me over the
Weekend. She was a real star - nothing was too much trouble - I lose her
when we go to Adelaide she'll be looking after Benedict Cumberbatch -
My Loss - His Gain, sadly!!
PERTH AIRPORT
My Driver who took me to the Airport when I flew to Adelaide was a French Man called Richard - He asked me what I was doing in Perth - in passing I mentioned DOC MARTIN - "Mon Dieu!" hé cried "We 'ave 'zat show dans France, qui, qui, I 'zinc your character iz called Monsieur Grand! (Bert Large in the UK!). I laughed a lot & am now desperate to see my French counterpart!
OZ FINALE PART ONE
Well there it is... the first Letter from Oz - there will be one more from Adelaide next week. As always thanks for all your comments - much appreciated - they mean a lot. Sorry "No Weight Loss" to report this week - but hopefully I'm not too much off track! Here's hoping any way!
Love to all!
SPECIAL SHOUT OUT
For my daughter Maisie and her Mother Kate, who recently flew to Santiago in Chile to spend quality time up a Mountain & down an Amazon River with my Son, Angus.
Cindy sent an email to Angus asking if they had arrived safely?
This was my Son's response:
"Safe and sound! Mum is sitting on the sofa and Maisie is shitting xxxx"
Angus graduated from STANFORD UNIVERSITY in CREATIVE WRITING.
At least it wasn't, Maisie is sitting on the sofa and shitting. Another great blog but sad no weigh in. X Ems
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think that's going to be the general flavour of the comments this week, Ems!..xxxx
DeleteI am in bed and Maisie is shitting beside me....We loved reading your blog...how do you do it---all those women falling at your feet. We are fine-thanks for asking--not hit by eartquake. Love you to bits and back. Kate xxxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteAnother great blog! You are so cheeky and I love it. "Oh you like my work, how kind. Listen, why don't you and some friends show me around the town and make sure I have a good time." We commoners have no idea what it must be like to have that power over strangers. Too funny.
ReplyDeleteI am continually impressed, although knowing you, not surprised, that you wring out as much fun as you can out of these comi-con/sci-fi trips. I know plenty of people who go on business trips to exciting places and never explore.
And now off to Adelaide! I know it's difficult not being able to weigh in, but keep walking, and keep healthy eating in front of mind and who knows, you might have another 3.5 loss to celebrate in Brentford when you get back.
Lots of love,
Jenny
OK, Sweetie! Let me get this story straight.....You are hired to replace Billy Piper at the Oz Com, which basically might mean that any future acting parts that Ms. Piper turns down, might now go to you. My, you have lost some weight, haven't you? And obviously your feminine side is going from strength to strength. Secondly, from the above photo, you are flying in style and comfort which makes me think that you probably are residing in a 4 Star Hotel (maybe even higher) and usually a place like this will have a gym, sometimes they even come with scales. Did you bother to check it the fuck out? And I'm sure if everyone in Perth and Adelaide are recognizing you, then you can ask where the nearest heavy duty scales be may located. And you can always meet a new fan and have HER take you to a big scale on your way out for lunch by the amazing ocean views, you bastard! Glad you are having fun sweetie! Love all your photos, especially the 21 year old sitting on your lap. You are such a piece of work! Monsieur Grand, tu iz ze cat's meow, qui qui, oh, mon dieu! I loves ya baby! Rock the fuck on! xxoo
ReplyDeleteJesus Christ look at all of those ladies. PIMP DADDY! Stop flirting and find some scales to hop on to! We are all dying to know. Enjoy your travels, don't be too naughty, eat healthy, and bloody enjoy yourself. Looks like an absolute blast. Love, Trav
ReplyDeleteI don't know how you do it! Where ever you go the people flock! Your seat in the plane looks amazing, mum and I nearly did as well on the way over here! Oz looks great fun and looking forward to hearing more about it when I see you! Keep up the good work, by your success and dedication over the past months I know you will be fine once you get on those scales!! Love you Dad xxxx
ReplyDeleteWhat a great trip! I love the pictures from the convention - and if you keep slimming down you may get more work yet as Billy Piper's body double. I am absolutely obsessed with Aussie Rules football - it's an incredible team sport - let's watch a game next time around Dorey House. Love you lots, and stay off the airline food! Gussie xxx
ReplyDeleteHunny Bunch, well done again! I love all the pictures as well! When are we seeing you again? S x ps still can't do the comments bit, but still with you all the way! S x
ReplyDeleteSent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Thanks Susie Dickson for all your sweet comments!
DeleteThere are obviously some benefits to being lithe and down under! Having got roasted in the cricket, at least you are winning some admirers from the Australian public. I gather you've turned my sister's kind invitation for supper down (not to mention our lunch invitation!) - Australia - what a flimsy excuse! Suggest you have a listen to this if you're at a loose end - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/willy-nilly-12th-mans-biggest/id738312544 . Keep the good work going, respect. Bertie x
ReplyDelete...Finally had a chance dear Ian to catch up on this blog. Was a frantic week for me when you posted so I put it aside (like a good box of chocolates or a fine wine) for a time when I can sit and savour it. It's "Ozzie Painter Friend David" here and yes, I can comment a little further on the football in the world -- Aussie Rules. Son Joe Hinchliffe was a great little Aussie Rules player in his day. Not sure about whether he's been able to keep up the skill in soccer-mad Santiago. Australia has 4 football codes -- soccer, Rugby Union, Rugby League and Aussie Rules. Soccer is played around the country. Rugby Union and Rugby League are played principally in New South Wales and Queensland. In the last 30 years Aussie Rules has travelled from its home base in Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart and Perth to New South Wales and Queensland, so it's now very much a national football code. I'm sure if you google it, you'll be able to find plenty of games to watch while you're working out in the gym.
ReplyDelete