Comic Fair Fun

Pictured with Never say Dai cartoonist
Tim Harries on Saturday

As I descended on the Newport Comic Fair on Saturday morning I wasnt quite expecting to be featured in a photograph with resident Argus cartoonist Tim Harries.

"If I'd have known I was going to have my picture taken I'd have had a shave" I said.

"So would I" said Tim.

The photo taken by Argus photographer Mike Lewis, appeared in today's South Wales Argus, you can read the full story here: Argus cartoonist Tim Harries is a special guest at Newport Comic Book Fair.

Also check out Tim Harries official website 

A Week In Pictures: Week Ending June 8, 2013

We arrived at Legoland's Windsor 
resort on Sunday morning (June 2)

Tom and I getting ready to watch 
a fun filled pirate show

Seren getting friendly
with a lego character

Back to work on Tuesday and 
saw the new masthead
of Stroud News & Journal 
designed by me on
front of previous weeks paper

A view from Ebbw Bridge 
this week matched with sunshine!

BBC Breakfast's Carol Kirkwood
forecasting bright spells for the week!

Spinning some vinyl onto 
MP3 format

Cover of this weeks Guide
featured Ellie Goulding
and my collage of the
cast of Trainspotting

On Saturday, Tom was invited to a
birthday party at Pizza Hut,
so we decided to have a
great pizza there 

Chantel McGregor in Words and Music

Chantel McGregor

As well as going to gigs and concerts I also really enjoy interviewing musicians. Sometimes they can be a bit prickly, clearly not wanting to be interviewed but that was certainly not the case for singer/songwriter Chantel McGregor when I interviewed for The Guide back in January. I found Chantel charming and really passionate about her work which made my job so much easier as I had plenty to write about!

Chantel, 26, whose father is also a musician was playing her fathers guitars from been a toddler: “As soon as I could walk I’d go over to the couch and detune them for him,” she told me, “so as soon as I was three he said ‘right she needs a guitar now of her own’.”

Chantel released her debut album back in 2011 but doesn't get tied down by any specific genre despite comparisons to musicians such as Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Nicks. "My music isn’t really one style it’s not just rock or pop,", she told me,  "the album’s got so many different genres on it. I just look at it as Chantel music now.”

Chantel has just released a cover version of Bruno Mars track Grenade on YouTube, after you've checked that out read my complete interview with her over on The Argus website: Meet Chantel McGregor

Lust for Life: Compiling A Trainspotting Collage

Trainspotting stage stars Stuart Fouweather, Catherine Morgan, Stuart Moss, Ryan Salter, Jonathan Dunn and Emma Brunnock 

I recently got an invitation by Newport Playgoers to see a preview of their forthcoming production of Trainspotting. 

I was intrigued as to how this cult classic by Irvine Welsh would transfer to the stage and you can read about my findings on the Argus website: Cult hit Trainspotting makes comeback at Newport's Dolman Theatre.

As I was writing a preview for The Guide I thought it might be fun to recreate the original poses of some of the characters as used to promote the original Danny Boyle film.

All participating actors were true stars when squaring up for the camera and I compiled the above image in Photoshop, which was then used on the cover and centre spread of last Friday's edition of The Guide.

Catch Newport playgoers presentation of Trainspotting from June 19 until June 22. Visit dolmantheatre.co.uk for ticket information.

 

A Week In Pictures: Week Ending June 1, 2013

Seren jumping for joy in Carmarthen

Tom and I, Carmarthen

Playing Badminton, Carmarthen

Myself pictured with Dad's Army's Bill Pertwee 
in 1998, Bill sadly passed away on Monday.

Jonathan trying out his latest McDonalds toy,
Bridgend

The children with their cousin, Bridgend

A trip to the theatre, Cardiff New Theatre

Family finds in Healthy Planet

Meeting Doctor Who lookalike at Kingsway shopping
centre, Newport

Rachel and Seren pictured at The Premier Inn in Hayes

It was an eventful half-term with plenty to keep us all amused (and my first well -earned break from work for the year). Events included a trip to Carmarthen, Bridgend, seeing Beauty and The Beast in Cardiff and meeting a Doctor Who lookalike in Newport Centre.

By Saturday we were heading to Hayes for an overnight stay before visiting Legoland on the Sunday...