I am more than a bit late on this, but
forgive me - getting back to the flat last night was bloody hard - due to
closures between Hastings and Charring Cross.
But, anyways! This past weekend was amazing. For those of
you who aren't delightfully British (and making fun of me for trying to sound
like a Brit) Hastings is a sea-side town.
The beautiful area is well-known for facing
France across the English channel, boasting a large history of pillaging and
burning raids - which it traded in the heat of the moment with France. Also for
other battlerific reasons you should know Hastings.
Anywho, the walk to the Hospice - from the
Sea Spray Hotel took about ten to twenty minutes. The air was fresh and the
morning was rather warm and pleasant.
However, I would like to say - because it
was after all the great T-Bomb I was meeting - I soldiered on ever after the
uneven stone sidewalk nearly twisted my ankle into oblivion. But - the thought
of Tom Baker made it worth it.
Myself and my three wonderful friends -
hereby affectionately referred to by the acronym AES - accompanied me and we
arrived a full hour early. That put us at the beginning of the que - which
b-dubs always stayed the same length even to the end of the signing.
Now, since Tom has affiliations with the
community as well as property in Hastings he donated art, books (signed and
unsigned), and D-Who paraphernalia for low prices. I was happy to donate to the
Hospice and am now the proud owner of:
1. Who On Earth is Tom Baker? the
Autobiography
2. The Boy Who Kicked Pigs
both of which were pre-signed copies. I am
super excited.
I have also got a picture of the wonderful
Tommy-B signed for S.J.D., as I felt guilty for not printing Charcoal Tom out
and getting it signed - and because her original of Tamm and Tommy is going to
my dad.
Anyways - taking a picture with him was
hilarity. I shook his hand and we
exchanged a greeting. Then the first attempt failed and the camera made a weird
noise. Tom and I sat there for a few minutes and then burst into laughter - at
which point SNAP went the first photo. Then on cursory - in case that didn't
turn out well SNAP for the second
.
I will skip the boring part of waiting in
line (although I did wear an outfit that made me think of Elizabeth Sladen
R.I.P. Sarah Jane:
After a lot of aching joints and resigned
thoughts toward the rain - although I blame the people behind me for jinxing
the clouds - I finally had my big moment with Tommy-B and I am so glad - as a
relevant tangent - to have such a fantastic roommate!
go to the next entry to see the moment in
scene.
Tom Baker glances up when his agent
interacts with the girl wearing a pink
dress. His eyes are bright and a smile splits his features before his brow
crinkles in confusion.
"It's all a bit mystical isn't
it?"
The girl tilts her head asking, "What
is?"
"Weren't you wearing glasses
earlier?" Tom asks.
"No, but I've got glasses. I've been
wearing contacts the whole time."
There is a brief pause before he reaches
forward slowly lifting the drawing of Romana and The Doctor (4) toward him.
The girl stands on the balls of her feet -
although the blisters make it painful -
waiting in anticipation. He pulls it closer pausing for a long moment.
"It's very good," he says.
The girl nods. "My friend drew it for
me," she says with pride. "I think one of my other friends - Amber -
gave you some artwork that the girl who drew the picture made a few years
ago."
Tom tilts his head slightly regarding the
picture. "Ellen... et enough Ellen's to fill a boat."
The girl doesn't correct him. Before she
can speak the agent leans forward - to hurry Tom along - and says, "Who do
you want him to make it out for?"
The girl answers, "Richard."
She watches - knowing how great the moment
of gifting will be when her dad opens the papers to see To: Richard Cooke Tom
Baker written on the drawing.
Then, as he goes to hand it back he turns
to his agent, "It's Tamm," he says dreamily.
The picture is handed back and he says,
"It's so romantic. I look so chevalier."
The girl beams pleased with the
compliments. Then he asks if there is anything else to sign. She pulls out his
photograph and asks,
"Can you make this out to Stephanie?
The friend who drew the picture?"
He begins writing then pauses. "Is
that Stephenie?'
The girl thinks for a bit, "No, it's
S.t.e."
"p.h.a.n.i.e," the agent
finishes. After the photo is signed she shakes his hand walking back to her
friends and waiting near the exit.
~ H.C.
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