13. Return to LFCC to meet two former FBI agents… and a Doctor! 2018
This came about thanks to my friend Mel, who I’d met back in New York in 2010 at the ‘Break Of Noon’ play, and who later joined me for ‘The Truth Is Out There’ premiere in London. We had been thinking about going back to the USA for the 25th anniversary of The X Files. But then to our amazement we discovered David was coming to his very first UK con for the weekend of July 28th & 29th! However it was kind of a last-minute thing, and in my haste to buy a ticket, I clashed with a weekend away I had planned with my friend Denise. We had booked a trip that Friday – Sun to spend in our favourite spot in Wales, which we used to go to every year. She was really understanding though, and was happy to spend a day alone in Llandudno while I dashed off to London on that Saturday! So the very next day I was up at the wee hours of 6am to catch a taxi from our Hotel to the train station. Since I was going to miss dinner that evening (which was inclusive on our coach trip to Wales), the kitchen staff had arranged for me to have a packed lunch waiting at the front desk – or so I thought. It turned out there had been some miscommunication and it hadn’t been prepared. So one of the staff quickly threw together a ham sandwich, packet of crisps and an apple for me. I caught the train on time and after a quick change in Chester which was nail biting, but luckily I had arranged assistance with a porter so was in good hands, I arrived at Crewe, my next port of call. Then on the final train to London Euston I met this really nice lady who told me where I needed to go to avoid the crowds in this very busy station. I’m always concerned with people who don’t realise I’m disabled, and then have a tendency to bump into me!
When I arrived by taxi at the Olympia grand hall where the convention was being held, luckily I met up with my carer at the entrance. I had advertised for someone to offer their help on David Duchovny’s Twitter page, and a young lady called Lynn from Manchester came forward. Incidentally, I had discovered he was returning to the UK next year as part of his second Europe tour, and let her know that he was adding our northern city to his list this time! I had actually suggested this to his music manager Brad Davidson (who had started following me on Twitter) and was very pleased they did indeed choose this place, as it’s closer to home – literally one hour away by train. At the convention, Lynn was so wonderful and held my arm throughout the day, making sure no one bumped into me while rushing to meet their favourite celebrity, and I believe there were about 80 of them there! I ended up buying her lunch to say a big thank you for all the help she gave me. We arrived about noon-ish, and once inside went over to the autograph booth , thinking at the time it was where the photos were going to take place? One of the male staff members was really sweet, and said David would be there at 1pm, and since I was disabled and had a Diamond Pass (which allowed access to entry, autographs, photo shoots and talks), he would make sure we would be first in the queue! After giving us directions which meant finding a lift up to the second level, we finally found the area where photos were being taken. Realising we were late, I thought we’d have to wait as we’d missed the Diamond Pass entries? However when I explained about my disability to another staff member, he let me straight in. I have to commend these people as they really were amazing when it came to helping disabled people at this venue.
So, I walked up to David who was standing against a blue screen, thinking this would be short and sweet. They were literally making folk go up, get the photo and leave as quick as possible. I just said to him, ‘It’s lovely to see you again’, to which he returned the compliment. I have to also say this photo is the best one I’ve had with him. I was wearing the ‘Agents Have The Phone box’ t-shirt again and this time wanted to show it off. So even though he held me close, I then pulled away a little and told him I had to get that t-shirt in the shot! LOL!
Then, when 1pm came around Lynn and I went to the correct autograph table where I explained to a lady there about my disability, and how I cannot stand in queues. She turned out to be the assistant assigned to David that day, and I joked about her being ‘his’ carer! LOL! Then she said she’d make sure I was allocated a seat. I just presumed that meant at the front of the queue? Nope! They actually stuck me inside this little booth close to the table. So, when David came in, I was the first person he saw! The chair was then taken away so I leaned on the table. I went to shake his hand, but he told me he wasn’t doing that and instead offered a fist bump! Then when he’d sat down he asked me what I wanted him to sign? I had bought along a copy of his first novel (and my favourite) ‘Holy Cow.’ But I also had a printed copy of my ‘Lost Within’ fic and that data disc with certain chat transcripts and fics from ‘that’ site) in a plastic sheet. I explained it was the novel I wanted him to sign, and the rest was for him. I’d tried to explain about the ‘stuff’ back in Glasgow, so wasn’t doing that again! I also didn’t have much time as there was a long queue of people waiting to see him, once of which was Mel. So, it was cool to get to meet her again. So, I just told him to put the disc on his computer and he’d know what it was! LOL! Only, I did explain about one of the contents, which was a fic from a lass who I’d met online. She’d had a hellish life and I was determined to get the rest of her fic to him, as apparently he’d received the first part from another fan at one of his gigs, on her behalf. My fic was the one he’d read online and liked back in the past, and I just decided to give it to him in print and sign it! He then smiled and asked the lady next to him (his carer!) to put everything to one side for him. I had decided to add another of my gigs, since I’d already shared the UNICEF one with him back in New York. This one happened to have my performance of ‘Wild Horses’, which is one of my favourites. A week later I discovered from a fan online that she’d asked him at the London con what his favourite Rolling Stone song was…and he’d replied, Wild Horses! I noticed it also got a mention in his latest novel, ‘Truly Like Lightning.’ Another weird coincidence (maybe?) happened 3 weeks later when he was at a convention in Chicago. I came across it on You Tube and realised the subject matter he was talking about referred to one of our chats in the past! Hmm? Methinks he had checked out the disc on his computer by then! LOL! I mentioned I’d seen his gig in Glasgow and really enjoyed it, to which he thanked me. Also, how I was thrilled he was coming to Manchester the following year, as it’s a lot frickin’ easier to get there than London, as it’s nearer my home. His reply was, ‘I suppose it is.’ Which made me think, when did I ever tell you I lived near Manchester? Perhaps he read it on Twitter or Brad had mentioned it, who knows? Speaking of whom, I then asked him if he knew why Brad was following me? He told me he didn’t know what Brad did. To which I gave him a surprised look, and said, ‘Not that I’m complaining or anything.’ He then grinned and said, ‘No really! I don’t know ‘what’ Brad does.’ LOL! I told him well I’d probably be seeing him in Manchester then, and he replied, ‘Okay’.
Incidentally, I had bought the CD package of the second album ‘Every Third Thought’, which included having your name on the liner notes thanking pledgers for their support of the album, the money of which went to the D’Adarrio Foundation. A non-profit organisation that aims to make music education accessible to kids from all walks of life.
I had also added my stage name I used for my gigs, I really didn’t think they would add this? But to my amazement they did just that! I mean I know David knew I was ‘Penny’s From ‘Evan’ as he’d got my DVD and CD by then. But, wow! That was so kind of them to put this on the liner notes on his album sleeve. Can’t thank Brad enough, bless him!
I had also added my stage name I used for my gigs, I really didn’t think they would add this? But to my amazement they did just that! I mean I know David knew I was ‘Penny’s From ‘Evan’ as he’d got my DVD and CD by then. But, wow! That was so kind of them to put this on the liner notes on his album sleeve. Can’t thank Brad enough, bless him!
After yet another lovely meeting with Mr. Duchovny, Lynn and I then had a look around the building. One young disabled lad really appealed to me, and his costume as Davros, ruler of the Daleks was just amazing
I then came across a green screen set up with the then latest TARDIS console design, and had my photo taken.
After lunch Lynn and I went back to the autograph tables, as I was due to get one with Lance Henriksen. Not only did I like him as the star from another Chris Carter series, Millennium. But I also remembered him from my all-time favourite movie, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind. My husband and myself had recently been to see the 40th anniversary screening in Manchester, and I had the special edition on Blu-ray. He was pleasantly surprised when I showed it to him, and signed it with a gold pen while Lynn took a few photos of us
Later that day while I was waiting for the photo shoot to happen with Doctor Who himself, Peter Capaldi. I met a fellow House of David Duchovny member, who helped run the website. I had met up with fellow members back in London when we went to see Gillian Anderson in ‘The Doll’s House’ play, but had missed Paulina as she came on a different day. So, it was lovely to finally make her acquaintance.
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The short but sweet meeting with Peter Capaldi was so much fun. He immediately noticed my t-shirt had told me how unusual it was. I explained that it was X Files’s Mulder & Scully with the TARDIS, to which he replied. ‘Wow! That’s really cool!” Like Lance, this was the first time I had met him, and he was just as nice, as well as very outward going. We took his famous Doctor Who pose for the photo shoot.
My final photo shoot was with Lance Henriksen, who lit up when he saw me again. And as I was leaving he very slowly let go of my hand as I walked away. He really was such a sweet guy, and I was glad I finally got to meet him.
We were there for about five hours, then I had to leave or would have missed my train back to Wales. The annoying thing though was that I had to miss David Duchovny’s 40 minute talk. Taxi’s were sparse that day due to a bike race in the city that was holding up traffic. I was told by my Black Cab driver when I arrived, to give myself plenty of time to get back to Euston station. However when I got there the bloody train was delayed anyway, so if I had stayed at the convention I would have been at the talk & Q&A – and been right on the front row! Oh well, I wasn’t to know, and if I had missed the train then the next would have meant me travelling through the night back to Llandudno which I did not want to do. I did however come across a clip from David’s talk on social media. The female host was asking him how he felt about being at his very first con in the UK? His reply had been that it was the most polite and busiest he’d ever attended. What a lovely answer!
When I got back to Llandudno I was pretty knackered! Yet still managed to go along to a karaoke night in the hotel, where I belted out a song from Phantom Of The Opera! The next day Denise and I went up Snowdon mountain, which we had been planning to do together during our weekend trip. Originally it was going to happen on the Saturday, but then I had to change it to the next day due to the LFCC convention being on the same day. It had been very hot down in London, so I was glad of the air conditioning in the building. Alas, it was raining the next day, so unfortunately we didn’t get to see the views and the little train wasn’t allowed to take us to the top, due to fog everywhere. However, we did get £10.00 compensation, so spent it in the little cafe after the trip. When I got back to the hotel I discovered the kitchen staff had actually put my packed lunch for Sat, in the fridge! So, I took it with me on the train back to Manchester. It sure had been one heck of a whirlwind trip that weekend!
When I got back to Llandudno I was pretty knackered! Yet still managed to go along to a karaoke night in the hotel, where I belted out a song from Phantom Of The Opera! The next day Denise and I went up Snowdon mountain, which we had been planning to do together during our weekend trip. Originally it was going to happen on the Saturday, but then I had to change it to the next day due to the LFCC convention being on the same day. It had been very hot down in London, so I was glad of the air conditioning in the building. Alas, it was raining the next day, so unfortunately we didn’t get to see the views and the little train wasn’t allowed to take us to the top, due to fog everywhere. However, we did get £10.00 compensation, so spent it in the little cafe after the trip. When I got back to the hotel I discovered the kitchen staff had actually put my packed lunch for Sat, in the fridge! So, I took it with me on the train back to Manchester. It sure had been one heck of a whirlwind trip that weekend!