Category Archives: Travel & Events

Comic Con Midlands 2026

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Comic Con Midlands

Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th July 2026

NEC, Birmingham

Much time has passed since I last attended a Comic Con at Birmingham NEC. However my good buddy, Adam, and I decided to venture back to the cavernous halls of this huge venue, to visit Comic Con Midlands, organised by the Monopoly group. These same guys run the huge Liverpool convention that I’ve been to several times recently.

The reason for our trip was because Adam had convinced me to go halves with him on a photo with a celebrity. This is not usually my kinda thing. I’ve queued up for signed autographs from actors etc in the past, and often (though not always) been very underwhelmed by the experience. For a big cash outlay I’ve been left with a colour pic and heaps of embarrassment. It would take something major to drag me out of my celeb-meeting retirement.

Something big would be the cast of cult 90’s comedy Mallrats, including Jason Lee, Renee Humphrey and Ethan Suplee. The cultured amongst you will know that Lee and Suplee also starred in legendary comedy series My Name is Earl, of which I am also a huge fan. Of course, the really hip cats out there will also know that Jason Lee is also an ex-professional skateboarder – one of the greatest to ever do it and a living legend.

So it didn’t take too much persuasion to sign me up for the My Name is Earl duo photo with Jason and Ethan.

Doors opened at 9am, and we were there bang on time. That meant a very early start for me on a Saturday morning, which is NOT a good thing. Waking up at 6.30am at the weekend? That’s pure criminality. Never mind, there would be plenty to keep us occupied till our photo op at 3.15pm.

Well, you would assume so. Usually these events (and certainly based on previous experience at the NEC) have hours worth of merch stalls to wander round. Merch stalls there were, but not enough – we’d completed a circuit by 10.30am. What??! Absolutely crazy. I mean, OK – I picked up a few comic books for my collection. Action figures were a scarcity, however (this would’ve been unbelievable in the past) – so it was relatively slim pickings on the merch front.

With hours to kill, we did some more circuits of the merch and explored outside the events hall to find refreshment. It was like a ghost town out there – even the Wetherspoons was shut.

Eventually it was time for the Mallrats Q&A session, featuring all three of the guests. The panel was very entertaining and informative, each of the cast members came across very well. They all seemed relaxed, happy to be there and divulged some interesting and funny stories. I later decided to quickly say hello to Jason Lee at his signing station. We had a really quick chat about skateboarding and I got a fist bump from the master. A very cool and memorable experience.

Later (much later) it was time for the photo op. Adam and I waited in line on our best behaviour, and soon enough were ushered in to have our photos taken with Lee and Suplee. Both stars were friendly, greeting us warmly with handshakes. The assistants barked orders at us and the photo was taken, then milliseconds later the same assistants barked at us to get out.

I was left feeling embarrassed and as if I’d been rude to two of my heroes. But the assistants were just doing their job, Jason and Ethan were lovely and I got a cool photo of us all together.

After that, it was time for the journey home. It had been a successful day – my experience of the Mallrats/My Name is Earl stars was very positive and I got a bunch of Marvel comic books. In future though, a later start wouldn’t hurt. I learned to my cost that no one needs to be in Birmingham at 9am.

Welsh Mountain Zoo

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Back in late February this year, we had a family day trip out to the Welsh Mountain Zoo, nestled high above Colwyn Bay in North Wales. Despite the time of year, it was a mild day and no rain – so not too bad being out doors. We were keen to explore somewhere different – all of us had been to this zoo before, but not for a good few years.

We climbed up through the back roads of Colwyn Bay to reach the zoo. The site is spread out across the heights with a grand view of the mountains on one side, and the coast on the other. Pretty spectacular.

There were plenty of other visitors on the day, but due to the time of year it wasn’t too crowded. Ideal to get a good view of some of the wonderful species to be seen here. There’s a wide variety of animals to see – including some pretty spectacular favourites – so no need to worry that we wouldn’t be entertained.

The sea lions were the first creatures we found, looking sleek as they zoomed around doing laps in their pool. There were also flamingos, penguins, red pandas, otters and of course, the ever popular meerkats. I particularly liked seeing the otters, we had to wait patiently for them to make an appearance but it was worth it.

The chimpanzees are always a favourite, and there were several other primates as well: tamarins, lemurs and gibbons for a start.

The big cats were the absolute top tier sight of the day though. The snow leopards looked beautiful as they prowled around. The tigers were amazing and my favourite, without a doubt: it was incredible seeing these magnificent creatures in real life. Sadly, I couldn’t get a decent photo, but just seeing them was thrilling enough.

Along with a camel and whole bunch of reptiles and amphibians, there was plenty for us to do before the inevitable trip to the gift shop. The Welsh Mountain Zoo was an excellent day out, it was fun and educational, learning about the impressive conservation work they’re involved in. We’ll visit again. In the meantime, this report and a few photos will commemorate our adventure nicely.

Visit he Welsh Mountain Zoo here.

Liverpool Comic Con 2026

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Liverpool Comic Con

Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd May 2026

Exhibition Centre, King’s Docks, Liverpool

Last year, I only made it to one Comic Con, which was of course this fabulous event in Liverpool. 2026 was a no-brainer in terms of attending again, so we made a family day trip out of it. Here’s a brief over view of our time at the convention, with a bunch of photos to give it some flavour.

On a personal note, this was a big event for me: it was the first time that I actually dressed up as a character. Yes, I made my Cosplaying debut (if you don’t count that time I went to Wales Comic Con dressed like Tony Stark).

And what was my choice of character? Well, after seeing them live recently, and acquiring some of their gear – what else could I go as, but a member of The Aquabats??!!

It was good fun dressed as an Aquabat all day. I thought the outfit was a bit niche and no one would know who I was, but quite a few people “recognised” me, and even asked for a photo! I was very happy – and honoured – to oblige. After all, it was kind of nice, in a way, to repay all the photos of Cosplayers I’ve taken in the past.

I wasn’t as popular as Daughtertron, however: she was dressed as Applejack (from My Little Pony) and she had many more photo requests than me!

There were plenty of other people attending the Con in fantastic and extremely clever costumes, some of which I managed to photo and include here. There were many I glimpsed but missed the opportunity to ask for a photo, as well. Far too many. If you posed for a pic, thank you!

Great to see lots of Star Wars outfits too, with May 4th the very next day!

Other than that, there were many celebrity guests on site, though I didn’t get any autographs etc this time. There were quite a few interesting guests, but no one I wanted to splash the cash for. I did get some pics of several of the props, vehicles and so on that were on display, however. Some great photo ops there.

The rest of the time was all about perusing the many stalls, reviewing the merch and spending money. There were several stalls selling comic books, so I was able to fill some gaps in my Marvel collection. The only let down was a distinct lack of action figures – gone are the days when I could increase my vast Star Wars collection with convention purchases.

The day was a great success, and we all had a great time. I think we’ll try and attend more conventions this year – maybe including the next Liverpool event later in the year.

The question is – do I dress as one of The Aquabats again…?

Ancient Anglesey – Bodowyr

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Our family archaeological exploration of the wonders of Anglesey in North Wales continued with a visit to the ancient tomb of Bodowyr.  This particular site was more challenging to find, requiring us to drive round many winding lanes.

Described as a chambered tomb, Bodowyr is an impressive site when located.  Looking almost abandoned in a random field, the huge capstone is mushroom shaped and easily identifiable.

This site is fenced off, but visitors can get quite close all the same. 

A superb little monument that’s well worth tracking down.  I’d make sure you have a sat nav handy to find it, though.

Find out more on the Cadw site here.

Chester Zoo

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Recently, I spent a day with some work colleagues doing some voluntary work at Chester Zoo. Despite living fairly close to the zoo, I’d not been there for a good few years. I’ve taken my daughter when she was younger, but haven’t been since.

After a hot day in the fields cutting down and then stripping willow branches for them to be used as food for the animals, there was some free time at the end of the day to have a look round the zoo itself. The sun was burning down that day, but I decided to have a quick look round to see as many of my favourite animals as I could – a “Greatest Hits” tour, if you will.

So I raced around and saw some rhinos – always one of my favourites since I was a little kid. Magnificent, huge animals, they were busy sunbathing or chomping away on food (provided by some other voluntary group?). Giraffes were next: if you didn’t know these creatures were real, you’d swear they were the invention of a crazy mind.

Elephants are always a joy to see, and the Asian specimens at Chester Zoo always remind me of Disney’s The Jungle Book (which I love).

Then it was off to find the lions. I was unlucky here though, sadly – they were all hiding in the shade. Fair enough, really. I was much more fortunate with the jaguars. One of these beautiful big cats was contentedly wandering around their indoor pen and came up really close, providing a fantastic close up.

After quickly checking out the penguins and a Komodo dragon, it was time to split. There was time on the clock, but I really needed to get home for a shower after such a hot day!

As a result, I missed out on some of my other most admired animals, such as the tigers, chimpanzees and the amazing bats in their night zone. But having had such a good time, I decided it won’t be long till my next visit to see what I missed.

Thanks to Chester Zoo for a fun and educational day.

You can check out Chester Zoo here.

Ancient Anglesey – Barclodiad y Gawres

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Continuing our explorations of ancient sites around the Isle of Anglesey, earlier this year we paid a return visit to Barclodiad y Gawres. Not far from our regular haunt in Rhosneigr, on the road to Aberffraw, this ancient tomb is one I’ve visited before – but it’s well worth another, better documented trip.

Barclodiad y Gawres means “The Giantess’s Apronful” in English. There are carparks nearby to reach the site, followed by a short walk along a pretty spectacular coastal path, with great views across the beaches towards Rhosneigr. The monument is visible from the road, and eventually you’ll reach it standing atop a hill.

The entrance is gated, though it is opened up to the public at certain times. You can see inside the tomb regardless, and discern some of the stones within. I’ve not been directly inside yet, but it’s certainly something I’d like to do. Some of the stones contained inside feature patterns made by the ancients – which would be a fantastic thing to see.

The location makes this site an atmospheric viewing. With Porth Trecastell on the far side, it’s surrounded by some wonderful scenery that really makes this a wonderful, magical place. Barclodiad y Gawres is an intriguing place and worth repeated visits – the Jones archeological team shall return.

For more info, visit Cadw.

Liverpool Comic Con May 2025 – Part 2

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Liverpool Comic Con

Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th May 2025

Exhibition Centre, King’s Docks, Liverpool

In part 1 of my report from Liverpool Comic Con, we looked at the event overall and I shared some Cosplay photos. This time around, let’s take a look at the vehicles and props that were on display in the huge arena.

I’ll keep the words brief, as it’s the photos that tell the story. All I need to point out is the huge arena housed numerous vehicles, including some very cool cars from TV and Film (the Starsky & Hutch Gran Torino was probably my favourite).

There were also various props and sets for photo opportunities, including some great Star Wars items. The absolute highlight for me was the full scale AT-ST – otherwise known as a Scout Walker – towering over everything, including a mock up of the Imperial bunker on Endor.

Of course there were still plenty of attendees in costume wandering about, lots more stalls and even live bands on stage. Overall great entertainment and an action packed day out. Liverpool Comic Con must be the biggest convention in the country now? It certainly offers a fun filled event for all.

Liverpool Comic Con May 2025 – Part 1

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Liverpool Comic Con

Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th May 2025

Exhibition Centre, King’s Docks, Liverpool

Now, I need to start this blog post with an apology. The last time I went to Liverpool Comic Con in November 2024, I took my trusty Canon camera and took loads of photos of Cosplayers and props etc. But, when I got home, the memory card died on me. Meaning that all of those photos were lost forever before I could back them up. So no November 2024 blog or photos.

This time around, I just used my brand spanking new Samsung phone for the photos, and they turned out pretty good. I’m going to keep the words to the minimum this time around though, and let the pictures fo the talking.

I will mention that there were some big guests again at this event. Star Wars was well represented by Hayden Christensen and the very lovely Rosario Dawson. I may well have a huge crush on Rosario Dawson, but decided not to meet her as autographs cost an absolute fortune. And she would’ve immediately fallen for me and wanted to elope, which would be kind of unfair on our families. So it was for the best.

But yeah, lots of interesting guests including a load of Starship Troopers people (Denise Richards!), Michael Ironside, Dirk Benedict and so on.

As these photos hopefully show, there was a respectable number of amazing Cosplayers frequenting the event. Daugthertron went dressed a Monster High character this time, but again I’m forbidden from sharing the pics. Well done to all the other costumed visitors, you were fantastic. Thanks for letting me take your photo.

Other than that, there were some great props and famous vehicles, plus dozens of stalls selling all manner of wonders. But we’ll cover those in Part 2 – stay tuned!

What an excellent way to spend Star Wars Day. May the Force Be With You!

Berlin Wall: A Piece of History?

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Tat or treasure? That’s what we’re investigating in this edition of the Tat section, here at Platinum Al’s Virtual Hot Tub. We have an item that could be a genuine piece of history, or it could just be pure junk.

The item in question is a piece of the Berlin Wall. Or at least, it claims to be.

Sometime in October 1990, I was on a school trip to Berlin. The wall separating East and West Germany had come down the year before, a momentous event that heralded the end of the Cold War and huge changes in Europe. Studying the Rise of Fascism in Europe as part of my History A Level, a trip to the once and future German capital was an appropriate field trip.

Most of that visit involved my friends and I drinking lots of German beer rather than any serious historical study, but whatever.

Of course, on trips like these, it was customary to take souvenirs home. And what better souvenir than an actual piece of the Berlin wall? At a stall near the Reichstag building and mere feet away from the wall, I bought the small, plastic box shown here, containing brightly coloured fragments of the infamous construct.

I’ve heard since that visit, that the only way to be sure of owning an actual piece of the wall was to hack some of it off yourself. Pick axes were available to hire at the site for that purpose, and indeed some of my friends tried that approach (with little luck).

So the question remains: although bought at the site, is this an actual piece of Berlin wall – or did some unscrupulous Capitalist scumbag spray some random concrete in lurid colours and pass it off to me as the genuine article?

What do you think?

Disneyland Paris

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August 2024 saw our family venture on a different kind of summer holiday – for us, at least – with a trip to Disneyland Paris. Both Mrs Platinum Al and Daughtertron are huge fans of all things Disney and theme parks as well. Myself, I like a bit of Disney – Jungle Book and a few others are great – though I can never forgive the Mouse for the vile dollop of vomit that were the Star Wars sequels.

Also, theme parks are not my thing. I find them boring. Roller-coasters may be fun when you’re riding them for a minute, but that enjoyment is hugely counteracted by waiting in a queue for three quarters of an hour. I just don’t get it. Alton Towers is my idea of hell. I’d much sooner go to Rhyl – there’s shops in Rhyl and you can buy vinyl, action figures, comic books – all manner of treasures.

And if I want to ride something really dangerous that can scare the life out of me, I’ll stick to my skateboard.

While my preferred break would have been chilling by the pool in Greece with a good book and a beer, I was prepared to rise to the challenge and try my best to enjoy this new experience.

And truth be told, it was a lot of fun. There was a lot of walking between rides and waiting to go on rides, but being in Disney is still exciting. The landscape is full of amazing delights and it’s very easy to get caught up in the childlike wonder of it all. Seeing that huge pink castle in real life is quite astounding. Disneyland is full of sights that make your eyes pop, as you recognise elements from your entire childhood realised in glorious, reach-out-and-touch-it-to-see-if-it’s-really-there, 3D realness.

For example: we witnessed the parade, where huge floats with Disney characters roll on by. The first float was the main Disney characters, Mickey and Minnie, Donald Duck, all those guys. Fun to see. But even I lost my cool and shouted aloud “It’s Woody and Buzz!” when the Toy Story display came by.

Some of the rides were good entertainment (despite the queueing). Big Thunder Mountain and the Indiana Jones roller coasters were thrilling, and I also liked the Phantom Manor for spooky haunted house chills. It’s a Small World is unmissable cheese, though very dated and surely on the cancel list. I liked it, even though Wales doesn’t exist according to Disney.

The Ratatouille ride wasn’t that great and not worth the wait. And there was some toy soldier parachute thing where you get flung into the air that was a bit boring. Nice view though.

dav

My absolute favourite thing to do though was the Star Wars ride, Star Tours. I’ve wanted to go on that ever since the American parks launched them in the late 80s. The ride is actually just a viewscreen showing a filmed adventure in the Star Wars galaxy, in a pretend space craft that rattles and shakes so it feels like you’re flying. Not the most sophisticated ride, but utterly engrossing and immersive for me. I could’ve stayed on it all day.

Plus: the Star Tours shops sold Droid Factory action figures! You could build your own R2 unit from different coloured parts to create a unique astro droid. I made two! I was ecstatic, this was a dream come true. Finally I was able to enjoy one of my favourite activities, buying action figures!

We stayed in Hotel Cheyenne, a Wild West themed area that was updated with a Woody from Toy Story vibe. It was a pretty cool looking environment, and our room was simple but clean and comfortable. I’ll also shout out that the staff at the hotel (and the whole resort) were exceptional. And the food (we booked a deal to cover us for breakfast and evening meal), whilst not super high quality, offered a buffet with a wide variety that was very welcome and enjoyable.

My only real complaints were the lack of costumed characters that I expected to see milling about. We only saw Captain Hook and Peter Pan hanging around for photos with guests. Plenty of Disney Princesses but they didn’t seem to stop and engage with anyone. I wanted to meet Chewbacca, damn it!

Oh, and there was a distinct lack of Jungle Book characters or action of any kind. I think King Louie was bunged on the Lion King float in the parade with Simba and those other losers. Not good enough.

On the whole though, the three of us had a memorable time. We did loads (no space here to list everything), had fun and it was a good adventure. There was a lot of walking though. And standing in queues. I did over 25,000 steps one day, my feet were killing me. So be warned.

Visiting Disneyland Paris was indeed a magical experience. But it’s a once in a lifetime experience for me. Next time, I’m going to Greece.