Top Gear anyone?

[Doodles :)]

Heloooooooooooooo again guys.

So who's enjoying the new series? I loved the first episode especially the second hand police car challenge which made me almost die. I also preferred the first episode to last Sunday's and was a bit dissappointed that there wasn't much of James . I am looking forward to the next Sunday with a race across Japan. I hope that James and Richard won this one.

On a side note I met James a few weeks back and got to give him a hug .

[Drassil]

Jul 4, 2008 10:14:41 GMT -5 Doodles :) said:

I loved the first episode especially the second hand police car challenge which made me almost die.

Hopefully Richard Hammond will be the last person to almost die as a result of a Top Gear feature.

Do you ever watch Fifth Gear, and if so, how does it compare to Top Gear? (I watch neither.)

And well done on meeting James May. Details welcome.

[Doodles :)]

No I don't watch *yawns* Fifth Gear so I can't tell you. Anyway about meeting James May, depends how long you've got and how much details you want. Anyway brief details was at a book signing in Chelmsford on the 10th June, which my friend went with me and we had a nice day. James is really nice, laid back and down to earth. Do you want the full account of my day? Because as I said it will be a verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry long post. Pictures too?

[Drassil]

As long as you're comfortable sharing more details publicly, then feel free to give as many as you want. I get the sense that you'll get a buzz out of telling the story.

[Doodles :)]

I don't mind because I've shared publicly in a couple of other places and yes that does give me a bit of a buzz too. It's just that it's a bit long that's all. Anyway I have to copy and paste it from another message board because some of my memories have faded since then. Anyway:

I had a great day and loved Chelmsford when I went to a booksigning which James May aka Captain Slow was doing there in Waterstones on the 10th June 08. I am a bit forgetful so am going to do the best I can. Anyway got woken up at 7am (as I requested my mum to do) but went back to sleep so she woke me up at 7.30. I then got up, had breakfast and got ready (what I hadn't done last night). I waited and got a bus to town and was lucky because as I got off the bus the bus to the station was just pulling up so I got that. I got to the station about 5 minutes later and met my friend which we then got our tickets. We then had to wait for a train to come which due to all the overhead cable problems was delayed. When we got on (being that it was the train to London) it was packed but we still had to wait for I guess the platform to clear before it left.

We got to Chelmsford around 10ish or so and popped to a couple of shops. We then got a bus to the town centre which stopped near Waterstones. I then got a couple of items and then at around 10.30 went to queue. I was surprised when we got there that there was only about a 10 people infront of me (because I'd read/heard on message boards that quite a few people were going and had planned to get there about 9.00) and just as we got there the staff started the queue area. My friend had to go off because she needed to get something to eat and couldn't stand in one place for very long. Being disabled and with me a staff member said that she could rejoin in the same place at about 12.20. She went off and did some things and then went back into Waterstones and was told to sit upstairs in Costa Coffee until rejoining time.

I wore a summery top and skirt because it was quite warm but as I was standing I felt chilly so I went to try and find a sleeved top or jacket of somekind and found a cardi in H&M to sort of go with the rest of what I was wearing. I then got back in the queue. By then there was a lot more people waiting.

When I was inside waiting with my friend who I joined close to the signing time I saw James go into the lift I guess to go for another coffee upstairs. My friend said that whilst she was upstairs earlier she saw him but didn't get a chance to speak to him. I was surprised because he got there at about ten past twelve , but James being James (Captain Slow) it was closer to 1.00 by the time he came back downstairs to start the signing .

As he sat down he appeared to smile at me I think because I was smiling at the time. Some press were there taking publicity photos I presume for one or two of the press websites and they were also asking him questions. He mentioned something I think about not signing Hammond's book to which I pointed at the shelves with Jeremy's books on and piped up saying something along the lines of "not his either!". After they asked some questions and took their photos the signing started.

I was so nervous and shaky and my hands were tingly. My friend went before I did to have her book signed and then I went. I told him I'd brought him a couple of things which he asked what they were and if it was SPAM (which I wasn't one of the things . I wanted to give him something I thought would be different to what others might give him). I mentioned something about Madhur Jaffery to which he brought up a Spice Girl joke which made me giggle. I then asked him if I could give him a hug which he said yes. As I put my shaking arm around him he told me that my hair was tickling his face. I said sorry to him and we got a couple of sneaky pictures with him. I had a photo taken of me just me and him and then I changed sides and my friend stood on the other side of him and just before it was taken he said he'd pull a scared face, which I think was because he was between two women (him and his funny face pulling). I took a few other pictures, just, with my shaking hands, with hardly any of him looking at the camera because all my pic taking skills went out of the window. We then moved on. I feel a bit bad because of being really nervous, I couldn't have a proper conversation with him and ask him some of the questions I wanted to.

After leaving I went to Boots and got the photos I'd got taken so far printed off. We wondered around a bit and then I went back into Waterstones to the other side of the barrier to watch the end of the signing and take some more photos. Had I have gone in about 5 minutes earlier though I could've had a staff member take a couple of good photos. I then lingered around (which there was only about half a dozen people still hanging around to take some last photos). I then stood around nearby for a little longer up until he went back upstairs.

All in all we enjoyed Chelmsford and our adventure and I said to my friend that I'd like to go with her again. I had something to eat, we had a look in a couple of shops and then made our way gradually to the station. We didn't have long of a wait once we got to the platform because a delayed train came in. It was packed again, but it was sort of an express. Once I got to my town's station I got a bus to the bus station but got the one which didn't go to the bus station and when I realised I had to get off and walk from the college. I did get to the bus station about 10mins later after walking through town and got the bus home. I did feel like a complete dunce but I was having one of those days though.

Anyway here's some pictures me (and someone else) took (and yes I do like that shirt he was wearing):

During the press photo session:
i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb120/doodles817/Special%20events%20and%20outings/Chelmsford10June0801.jpg
i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb120/doodles817/Special%20events%20and%20outings/Chelmsford10June0802.jpg
i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb120/doodles817/Special%20events%20and%20outings/Chelmsford10June08032.jpg
i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb120/doodles817/Special%20events%20and%20outings/Chelmsford10June0804.jpg
i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb120/doodles817/Special%20events%20and%20outings/Chelmsford10June08resized21.jpg

Book signing
i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb120/doodles817/Special%20events%20and%20outings/Chelmsford10June0805.jpg
i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb120/doodles817/Special%20events%20and%20outings/Chelmsford100608cropped07.jpg (sorry a bit big there)
i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb120/doodles817/Special%20events%20and%20outings/smile003.jpg

End of signing when I went back:
i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb120/doodles817/Special%20events%20and%20outings/Chelmsford10June0808.jpg
i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb120/doodles817/Special%20events%20and%20outings/Chelmsford10June0809.jpg
i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb120/doodles817/Special%20events%20and%20outings/Chelmsford10June0810.jpg
I think the two following he was having a conversation about planes and flying:
i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb120/doodles817/Special%20events%20and%20outings/Chelmsford10June0811.jpg
i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb120/doodles817/Special%20events%20and%20outings/Chelmsford10June0812.jpg
Signing for staff member:
i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb120/doodles817/Special%20events%20and%20outings/Chelmsford10June0813.jpg
Finish:
i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb120/doodles817/Special%20events%20and%20outings/Chelmsford10June0816.jpg

When the shop assistant came around with the Post Its asking for names and if anyone wanted dedications. I said yes that I'd like "To Debbie, with love from Captain Slow" and here's what he signed:
i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb120/doodles817/Special%20events%20and%20outings/signedbook05resized2.jpg

Anyway I just hope that us two didn't scare him too much although I think he might've been a little bit overwelmed by my friend and I though. Poor guy. I still can't get over the fact that I got to hug him.

I hope that if I ever go to another book signing soon (hoping he comes closer to where I live) that I'm not nervous and get to have a conversation with him and ask some questions I wanted to ask him. He is a gentleman and laid back and easy going.

I just have to say one thing though because I don't mind saying this is that because of health issues that was real progress for me to be able to do that. Earlier this year I went really down, wouldn't go out of my room yet alone get on a bus and definately not a train. However after about 5 or 6 month slow progress I had my first train ride since then and got away from my town for a whole day. Definately finding the courage to actually say a few words to James and even ask if I could give him a hug (even though I was shaking like anything) was definately a massive achievement for me (and one memory to treasure with the photos).

[Drassil]

I liked reading that story. And it's especially good to read how much it meant to you to go there and meet him. By the sounds of it, you've had a difficult year but certainly aren't in reverse gear.

P.S. I can't help but think that if it had been Jeremy Clarkson, you wouldn't have got a hug. ;D

[Doodles :)]

No I doubt it because either I'd need a ladder or he'd have to get onto his knees if he was to give me a hug ;D. On a serious side I've heard that all three of them are really nice, down to earth and approachable. This is from people who have actually met them at say TG filming or other events.

Thanks, I have had a bad year and went downhill at the start. Things are gradually going up hill for me now with the odd setbacks now and then. Having help and support has been good as well for me. That did mean a lot to me and took a few weeks to sink in. One thing I like about James though is he is who he is and isn't one of those celebrities who you can't approach or talk to. I don't consider him as a celebrity but just an ordinary person who just happens to be famous and he'd probably agree with that statement. I just hope that there is a next time and that I could actually manage to talk and say something properly to him.

[Doodles :)]

2 more photos. I've cropped myself (and my friend) off so I've added them too:

i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb120/doodles817/Special%20events%20and%20outings/Chelmsford100608cropped08.jpg
i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb120/doodles817/Special%20events%20and%20outings/Chelmsford100608cropped09.jpg

[Drassil]

With all this photo work, cropping and posting etc., have you found time to read his book yet? ;D If so, would you recommend it?

[Doodles :)]

You were right. I have been getting a buzz out of telling my story there.

No not yet. I am not the person to reccommend things though because I am useless at it and some people tend not to share my likes. The book is about inventions in the 20th Century and normally I don't find that stuff like history interesting. However when I watched his 20th Century series that did keep me interested. So if you like that sort of stuff then I'd probably say yes. Maybe the best idea would be to watch the series and then that might give you an idea about the book.

I used to love watching Brainiac Science Abuse when Richard presented it but got bored after Sky kept repeating the same episodes from the same series. I then couldn't get into it when Vic Reeves took over. Now there's a couple of things I've enjoyed which Richard has presented such as Battle of the Geeks, The Gun Powder Plot special and the special where he met Evel Knievel. However I couldn't get into the Timewatch special on Omaha he did.

[Drassil]

I think all three of them have been on Have I Got News For You, either as a guest or as host, at one time or another.

I read that Mr. May has a new series starting in the autumn. With his name in the title again. ;D

[Doodles :)]

Not sure about Richard, but Jeremy's been on atleast once and James has been on too.

Yes he does and it does have his name in the title. Him and Oz have also been filming their next adventure around the British Isles to find Britain's top drink, which is also due if I remember to be shown in the Autumn. James has been towing a caravan. New series of TG is also due to start towards the end of October.

[Drassil]

I caught a glimpse of the Top Gear presenters on the news yesterday, driving a tank across Tower Bridge. If you're going to take a tank out for a spin, I suppose it's better to do it for a publicity stunt than for war! Here's the report, complete with James May's hair blowing in the breeze:

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7592869.stm

[Doodles :)]

I know. I saw images and a couple of clips. Now that's what I call going in style, although looking at pictures none of the guys looked very dignified on dismount from the tank though, especially James who someone said he'd looked like he'd been turned upside down. Actually talking about James, a bit of a long story. But there's a guy on my course who's a mate of James' so I found out on Wednesday. On Thursday I was trying to talk the guy into letting me say hello to James and he said that he might be able to sort that out. So I might be able to say hello next week. Small world definately.

[Drassil]

That must have been an exciting discovery. Have you met him yet, and if so, have you recovered yet? ;D

I watched (most of) an episode of James May's Big Ideas last week, since he gets the odd mention around here. I liked his presenting style, and was impressed to see that he can play the piano - rather well.

I wonder how many Top Gear fans were unamused by the recent comedy sketch 'Clarkson Island', complete with James May at 0:44...