"THE PAPER DOLL KITS!"

WEIGH-IN WEDNESDAY

Well, something had to be done after the critical mauling I received last week - mainly from my chief nemesis - THE EVIL ONE - So I am pleased to announce a partial damage control this week of a 2lb loss. Well, anyway, it's a start in the right direction - so let's hope I continue down that road

LONDON COMIC COM

EXCELL CENTRE

Docklands

 Last weekend it was back to the EXCELL CENTRE in the Docklands for another Convention.

Yes - it really is the Gift that keeps on Giving! I swear the only reason I turn up at these events is

so I can share the wacky photos with you! It's kind of like Halloween every day of the year for

some of these guys. This weekend was no exception and provided some of the best outfits I've 

seen so far - here are  a few of my favourites - Enjoy!

During the Event a fan called SYLVIA dropped by. I remember meeting her at other Conventions along the way. This time she had a gift for me. Something she had come across whilst she was browsing stuff on Ebay. What she gave me - made my weekend. She had found a PAPER DOLL KIT of my Character BERT LARGE in the TV Series DOC MARTIN. It had been drawn by the American Artist called SUE DICICCO.

Sue DiCicco (born California, April 28, 1959) is an American sculptor, children's book author and illustrator, and founder of Armed with the Arts Inc., and the Peace Crane Project. DiCicco was born in Southern California, and started in the film industry as an animator at the Walt Disney Company, having attended the California Institute of the Arts. Her classmates were Tim Burton, ( Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, Sweeney Todd, Batman, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, etc, etc) John Lasseter, (A Bugs Life, Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Cars, etc, etc,) and Chris Buck (Tarzan, Surfs Up, Frozen)  After two years at Cal Arts, she worked for Disney and other studios as an animator before opening her own studio. She is best known for her many children's books and bronze portraits. DiCicco was commissioned to sculpt a heroic sized John Denver statue^[1] for the Windstar Foundation in 2002. In 2013, the Windstar Foundation closed its doors and donated the statue to the Colorado Music Hall of Fame.^[2] The statue was unveiled at its new location at Red Rocks Amphitheatre near Morrison, Colorado in the spring of 2014. The bronze study for the statue is used as a fundraiser and as the annual "John Denver Spirit Award".^[3] The initial sketch of the statue was used by the Taylor Guitar Company to create a limited edition John Denver guitar, released in 2003.

Quite an amazing woman and by the entry in Wikipedia - a pretty high achiever. So what on earth she was up to - drawing a Paper Doll Kit of Bert Large in Doc Martin (and the rest of his cronies) - I've no idea!! Well here they are and I must say they knocked my socks off - Enjoy:

I wrote to Sue DiCicco to thank her for making time in her busy schedule to create such wonderful creations as the DOC MARTIN PAPER DOLL KITS - this was her amazing reply:

Hello Ian,

Thanks for the lovely post. And, thanks for the inspiration. Really, if I had known you’d see it, I would have made you better looking! Next show you’re in, I promise I’ll do better. (Taller. Slimmer. Hunkier. Escorting a supermodel)

Shortly after I posted the dolls a few years ago, I got an email from Rubia Braun in India, telling me she ran a fan site and asking for a link to the dolls. 30,000 copies of the dolls were downloaded in the coming weeks from her link. Much random email followed, fans gushing their devotion to all of you. Some, inexplicably, thought they were writing directly to you all. More than a couple of people asked if I knew where Louiser bought her clothes. Surprisingly, no one asked about the origins of Bert’s green sweater. (Fashion tip: Maybe you could speak to wardrobe and find out where Louiser shops.) hehe. So anyway, quite an interesting ride, and you may have heard this, but the fans love you and all things Doc related. !

  I was launching my idea to unite every kid in the world thru the arts. Rubia decided to make a video about it, which won a prize from the UN Peace Day NGO, and a showing on their Peace TV broadcast. This gave the Peace Crane Project a huge boost. 18 months later, I’ve got Rubia on my board of trustees, and we’ve hosted 154 countries and hundreds of thousands of school kids, connecting them to exchange art, culture, and greetings. Fascinating to think Doc Martin had a significant role in our early exposure and success. I love the show, but will always think of you and thank you for bringing Rubia to my door and giving us such a tremendous launch. 

I’ve attached a photo Rubia took of you for me a few years ago. Do you remember it? 

Much love,

Sue.

Here is a link to the Rubia Video - well worth a look:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YpXKIPKYZM

Here is the link to the Peace Crane Project.

http://peacecraneproject.org

PITCH and PUTT

On Monday Cindy and I returned to my favourite Pitch and Putt Course at Palewell Common in East Sheen. It was a gorgeous sunny day - if only my golf performance could have been as sunny and gorgeous! Sadly something has happened to my drives off the tee. Instead of hitting them in a nice straight line in the air - they are tending to dribble along the ground either ending up in the rough grass (un-playable) or in a bush (lost forever)!! Still I seem to be able to make it up a little with my short game - a few pretty little chips on to the green and a few lengthy putts into the holes - so all is not entirely lost. Really hope the good weather lasts a bit longer as it is a cracking way to get out walking for a bit of exercise.

  

BRENTFORD FOOTBALL CLUB

Brentford Football Club - which I am now a Member of - have been in touch:

The problem is - both of my Sons - who are mega-crazy about football and who encouraged me to become a member of my local football team in the first place - are out of the country and nowhere to be seen. So who do I go with now????!!!!!

   

APPLE-MAC

For a while now I've been thinking of upgrading my Apple Desk-Top. I think the time has finally arrived - take a look below:

Take a look - it's a thing of beauty:

http://www.apple.com/uk/imac-with-retina/?cid=CDM-EU-41821&cp=em-P0016259-

331297&sr=em

FITBIT WEEKLY STATS

Congrats to Jenny McNeice - you rock Girl!

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"Where is THE BEER??"

WEIGH-IN WEDNESDAY

Unfortunately I seem to have hit a bit of a wall. After doing so well - I seem to have lost my Mojo.

I've come back from a trip to Prague with a 2lb gain. Perhaps the Terrine de Foie Gras

wasn't such a good idea - but at the time it was delicious. Yes, I know, I'm going to come

in for a bit of stick this week-  but I have to man up and take the rough with the smooth.

Look out for THE EVIL ONE'S COMMENT this week - it's going to be a corker!!

A SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PRESENT FOR ANGUS

(Angus Birthday Card)

THE RULES for your BIRTHDAY SURPRISE!

1. You will need to bring your Passport with you - Don’t

Forget - Very important

2.  You must be at 14 Dorey House, Brentford by 11:00pm

or 23:00 hours on Monday the 13th October to stay

the night ready for early departure the following morning.

3. You will need to bring 4 clean pairs of briefs, boxer

shorts, Y-Fronts, thongs or what-ever is your Skid-

Protector of choice. 

4. You can make plans to re-visit old or young friends in

London from 10:00pm on Friday the 17th October.

5. Please bring your Computer - incase you need to Skype.

6. Weather will be the same as London - so pack clothing 

accordingly and bring a coat.

It wasn't until we got to HEATHROW TERMINAL 3 and sat down in

Prêt a Manger for a cup of coffee that Gussie sussed out where we all going:

PRAHA - PRAGUE - in the CZECH REPUBLIC. Un-be-known to Angus we

were going to visit his Australian Best Friend Joe's parents - the painter -

David Hinchcliffe and his ex-wife Meg who were on a European Tour of

Prague and Budapest. Angus was instantly excited as he had never been to

Prague and always wanted to go.

Cindy had found this amazing apartment in the Old Town Square very close to the famous

Astronomical Clock which dates from 1410. It is the 3rd oldest in the world and the only one

that is still working.

(We first heard about AirBnB from Maisie and then David Hichcliffe used them to find apartments

to stay in both London and New York. It's certainly a whole deal cheaper than staying in a hotel -

plus you get so much more room.)

This apartment was quite spacious and luxurious:

The only drawback - it was up 3 flights of stairs and NO LIFT!!

Still that would look good on my Fitbit Records - as did the amount of steps I did a day!

MY FITBIT REPORT IN PRAGUE

During an normal week in Brentford on a walking day (Syon Park or Golfing) I would

normally average between 5-6000 steps. In Prague on the Tuesday I did 10, 409

on the Thursday 13,481 and on the Friday I did 10,085 with a total of 21.82 miles.

But once I was back home in Brentford -  exhausted after my trip - I collapsed in front 

of the telly catching up on EastEnders, and The Apprentice and managed a paltry

428 Steps walking to & fro from kitchen for cups of tea!!

CHEZ MARCEL

The first night we were there we went to an old haunt of mine called CHEZ MARCEL.

This was a french bistro in the middle of Prague that I used to go to every night whilst I was

filming:

Baron Harkonnen in "Dune"

Czech food is not the best - so this little Bistro was a saviour during my Dune Days.

When we arrived I got the warmest welcome from one of the staff who remembered me.

A warm welcome from "Marcel" the owner of the bistro - you can tell

that my Jet-Lag is creeping up on me!

With the Australian's Meg & David.

The next day we took in some of Prague's incredible sights.

On Charles Bridge

Gussie was fascinated by this guy

You can watch and hear him play a little when you go to:

http://vimeo.com/109616841

Our new Czech Best Friend.

There was a little visit paid to the SEX MUSEUM and Yes! They did have  a Gift Shop.

Well Christmas is just around the corner!

"Angus search for a Beer Hall in Prague."

"WHERE'S THE BEER?"

Some of you have already seen this Video - for those of you who

haven't - I beg you to watch it - it's hilarious - and for those of you 

who've seen it once - do it again - you won't be disappointed!!

http://vimeo.com/109565029

One of my favourite Prague Photos.

(The Museum of Communism next to....)

I found out something sweet about my Son - when people ask me my name I tell them

MAX because they have problems spelling IAN. I discovered that my Son has similar problems

with ANGUS - so he tells them to write down PETER!!

On our Little Trip to the Lennon Wall we overheard the Guides saying that the Beatles 

had never been to Prague. Our Taxi Driver - who went out of his way to 

show us the wall - said he preferred The Monkees anyway!!

Next we went to:

The Memorial to the Victims of Communism

THE FINAL NIGHT

On our final night we ended up at the HEMINGWAY BAR. But just like the Beatles we found out

that Hemingway had never been to Prague. still that didn't stop us sampling several versions of his popular drink, Absinthe. 

"A Short Video on How to Make Absinthe!"

(cut & paste below)

http://vimeo.com/109642227

"Absinthe makes the heart grow Fonder"

And finally some great views from the Astronomical Clock Tower:

"FAREWELL TO ANGUS!"

Angus has now gone back to Chile for a few days before joining his Girlfriend Lizzy

in Uruguay where they will both work in a Hostel on a beach for a while. It will be

sometime before we see him again - so these few days in Prague will be seriously 

cherished memories:

"WHERE'S THE BEER??"

We love you Gussie...xxx

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