Today is meant to be the hottest day of the year. Having booked some time off work over 5 months ago I wasn’t to know that fact and it’s just a fortunate accident that I don’t have to work and I get to sleep in late and keep cool with a nice cold beer and a Dyson fan. I had planned to sit in the sun for a bit but despite the high temperature of 36c it isn’t very sunny. So, I find myself getting Moliblog updated.
Some time ago I attended a Sherlock convention at London’s Excel. The organisers really failed in my opinion to deliver a good and memorable experience. The desire for such a gathering was clearly there with rows and rows and rows of fans having travelled from all over the world to share their love for all things Sherlock. We had to wait in very long lines in one of the big halls and depending on how much money you have and the pass you bought you get to go in earlier than the other poorer people. The ticket prices were extortionate and misleading. I bought a Saturday ticket for £29. I thought this was expensive for just a one day event but I really wanted to go. Once I bought them and got my confirmation email I then had to pay another £2.50 to validate the ticket otherwise they wouldn’t be valid for some reason. I’ve never heard something so ridiculous but I paid it because I wouldn’t want my tickets that I bought to attend the event not to be valid. Why they didn’t just charge me the extra amount at the time I really have no idea. I wonder what would have happened if I didn’t pay? Sorry, you can’t come in with your £29 ticket as its not valid???
The time between buying these tickets passed and the guests were announced which included Sherlock himself, Benedict Cumberbatch. He was giving a talk, having pictures taken with fans and signing autographs. However, all this was only open to the quickest and richest fan with tickets up to £3000. I did pay through gritted teeth to attend the talk but at £35 it was more expensive than the ticket I bought which I assumed was to attend talks anyway. Then to rub salt into the wound I had to validate that ticket too. For Fucks Sake!!! I’ve gone from feeling excited about attending the first Sherlock convention to feeling ripped off.
The long, long line of people were then led into the main hall and the ticket class system just broke down with a mad rush to get inside and see all the surprises on offer. Sadly I was met with more lines of people waiting to visit a room full of shops with frankly not very much on offer that you couldn’t get online already and cheaper. Did my £29 really go on this? There was the special effects stall that was fun. Sugar glass and fake rubber arms to play with and the special effects artists were very informative. However, apart from waiting in line to have my picture taken outside the Sherlock front door and a London bus which given I live in London, I’ve already done. I want my money back!!!
The talk that I paid a fortune for was far from an intimate affair. Thousands of people were crammed into a big hall and once again., depending how much money you have, you got closer to the man himself. I was several miles away from the stage but I had to admit that apart from the tiny arse seat, the hot conditions and the elbow knocking of the woman next to me, Cumberbatch was interesting, informative and funny. I really enjoyed listening to his views on acting and how he approached the role of Sherlock. However, that should have been for the price of admission and not for the grand sum of £69. The stewards didn’t know anything and just told me to ask someone else when I had a question about where to go or what I should do next. There were other talks from production crews but these were so disorganised and if you wanted to attend one it often clashed with another. The guests looked bemused in most cases and failed to give any real insight into their thought process for production design or costume. It felt like they were just pushed on stage and told, get out there. Very poor!!!
Somebody is clearly laughing all the way to the bank and I’m sure it will be back for a second helping of this cash cow in the near future. I, however, won’t be.
Don’t be poor and like Sherlock, you’ll get left behind!
M
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Earlier in the week HMS St Albans paid a visit to London and today I was lucky enough to be able to go on board. The security was very high in these challenging times but they still let me walk around this Type 23 frigate. Royal Navy personnel were on hand as always to offer information about the ship and its operation and they were very approachable and informative. Here are some of the pictures I took today. 
