The event: the Grand Cosplay Ball - a chance to dance and drink and socialise with friend and expo and convention attendees in fine outfits and enjoy an evening of burlesque, fire poi, singing and much more.

The place: Clapham Grand - an elaborate piece of architecture that makes you realise just how shit some other buildings look - the interior while a tad retro was mostly fitting and appropriate for the exterior tho a tad more of the art deco look would have been nice inside.

The day: Me and Marc set off around 12.20 to pick up Neko and rejoin her with Ryzy ^^ after a brief stop off at McDonalds we headed to the TravelLodge...

Now a bit of a story before we get to the day...

I recently got a job. This is good however it means not having many funds or much time to embark on a new cosplay venture-Madame du Pompadore from Doctor Who - The Girl in the Fireplace.

I found some fabric which I loved, a taffeta for £6.95 a meter in gold, embroidered with flowers. I also found some gold and cream upholstery fabric to make contrasting front pannels at £2.50 each, both just under a meter in length, 1.5 in width. Its a traditional pattern and very grand. I held off buying it til I checked my other local store and there I found the perfect material - gold, embroidered heavily, beaded and luxurious. Problem - it was £85.95 a meter O.O

So with that as my entire dress budget I went back to my first choice happily and very content to spend my cash on a good comprimise. The next issue...time. I had to work like hell but I got it done It was hardest cutting out the pattern as I have a hernia and leaning on it to cut out the pattern was damn painful. Also my wrists and neck didnt help either.

Kindly my mum lent me some antique lace and some velvet xmas ribbon that was wired. The pattern I had is one I bought to make a different cosplay some time ago but it had to be moddified a lot. It was a dress from a different era entirely.

Ishi kindly lent me his copy of Doctor Who and I got to work. It was a brave venture but a determined one. Then something went tits up at home and I couldnt focus on it. I had two and a half days left...

So I stuck in and worked hard. I was sad and so worried Id let Ishi down but hes inspired me to get on with it. I love him deeply and would never want to let him down. Hes the only person Ive loved like this...

Anyways, I got it done and was happy if not a tad worried that Id look like a complete tit.

So back to the Sunday...We travelled down there and showed Neko the delights of my ipod and I, as usual, sang to anything and everything! We got to the TravelLodge just after 4 with me busting for the loo and unbeknownst to Marc, we had to get ready asap for a suprise at 6. Kindly Liz helped me with my wig while I got ready. Marc got into his tux and looked mmmm mmm mmmmmmmmmm! He looked so gorgeous! If Liz and Jack hadnt been there I may have took him out of it then and there

Liz finished my wig and we headed down stairs looking fantastic and met up with Joe, Ailsa, James, Leena, Alex and Mike and Amber. As we stepped outside, awaiting us were 2 white limos much to Marc and Mikes suprise. We jumped into one of the limos with James and Leena and James cracked open the bubbly it was delicious! We had the limo til 7 then turned up at the ball in such style ^^

As I struggled out (collecting the cork as a momento - something I often do) we made our way to the ball and as VIPs were let in first ^_^ we made our way to our box and left our things taking in just how nice the place was.

We spent the evening socialising, relaxing, dancing and had a photoshoot too ^_^ it was wonderful. We spent the night mostly cuddling and kissing happily and danced so so much x

Favourite outfits of the night...well there was loads. Mike and Amber looked fantastic as did Liz and Jack. Kaka and Laura were very pretty and Neko and Ryzy looked so happy they were together ^^ There was a guy in a FF Crystal Chronicals outfit that was amazing - he did a fantastic job of it and we briefly danced together. I thought it was a shame some people got out of their smart outfits into jeans and casual wear...i mean its a ball, not a party. Princess Mark was at the front of the stage at one point dancing to Sweet Child of Mine in jeans...why? Well I understand he may have wanted to dress down a bit but really it shouldnt have been allowed. But it wasnt just him, it was a few people.

This wasnt like the Amecon ball where there was a party afterwards, it was a formal ball.

I had 2 other niggles. One was people entering our private box - no security to keep them out or nothing... it wasnt on and considering it was extra money, the only advantage was definate seating and the bubbly in the box.

The other was I had to tell a glass clearer to GTFO after he took our full glasses of coke and the staff left me standing in the middle of the hall like an idiot when I complained. I had to tell him to leave and not clear another glass til we were done. We returned to our box at the end of the night and was pissed that the only time security gave a damn about what was going on there was as we had to leave and then I got pressured to get out ¬_¬ they even took our champagn before the end of the night...

I didnt let it ruin the night but these things can ruin a night. All in all the actual event was fantastic ^_^

We climbed into the worlds dearest minicab and headed back.

Shortly afterwards me, Marc, James, Mike and Alex headed to a garage only to be told of a 24 hour mcdonalds - it seemed a good idea at the time...

Mike and me decided to come up ith the most vile sounding names for McDonalds food - I suggested 20 McFlanges and extra stinky sauce and Mike actually ended asking for a McBacon Bastard...then a McChristmas with cheese...then said goodbye to McFly hehe! We trundled back very late with our food then I started to doze on Ambers bed around 3.15 so we headed back to our room for snuggles and nuzzles ^_^

It was a lovely day and the monday was fun as we headed into london.

Ive never considered myself a princess sort but I certainly felt it at the ball! I'll add pictures of the dress and detail soon!

I didnt get my outfits done aside from 1 and wish I had done the others and not the one I did...why?

The expo itself was well laid out and great! The aisles were wide, the layout well thought out and aside from only 1 guest going I like, it was good. I didnt get Ibuki or A.B.A as I put my effort into Princess Daisy so wore Cabbit Sora instead. My mum was rushed to hospital the wednesday before expo so only finished what had to be done (Marcs formal MGS Snake, Bens Archer etc).

The ball was not a ball. It was a party...why did I spend so much money and time on an outfit for a party when i coud have turned up like some people did in ordinary cosplay...like a Sasuke in sandles...or a guy in jeans and a shirt...I was looking forward to a proper dance with my boyfriend and some other girl got one as we thought there'd surely be some more. It seemed a concern to turn up and be told that sound checks hadnt even been started at 7...

Seans Band (Project 37) were great but until I physically dragged the self concious crowd forward, no one really got into it. Soma were AWFUL and sounded like cats wailing. It gave me a head ache but I endured waiting for the ball music afterwards and my dance with boyfriend and the friends who requested one.

What we got was a DJ who had no concept of the event being a ball. He played the fucking macarana...I mean seriously...I wanted to cry. It was the BIGGEST let down at an expo. I was disgusted. Over half the people left in disgust during Soma. The room was virtually empty by the time the DJ came out. The playlist requested on the forums wasnt played, the dress code wasnt enforced, I was told the food was a disgrace and frankly it spoilt the evening.

If it was listed as a party I can understand but it wasnt. I have been inundated for requests for another party which I would prefer to do tbh. There was more dancing space in my bedroom than at the Ball, due to the obstruction of 2 large columns in the middle, the bar was overpriced and it took ages to get a drink as the foreign barman argued with each other, taking more time to dry glasses despite customers clearly waiting. They also served people who just turned up instead of people clearly waiting...it was a fiasco.

Outside the hotel was a riot apparantly linked in with a "peace festival" in Excel, due to work going on at the halls (which NO ONE was made aware of) I had to walk through a builders site and brambles to get to Novotel where it was being held and the last straw was just seeing so many people disappointed and upset. Ive not heard one good thing about the ball/party aside from Project 37.

I should have expected this but I put so much faith in Expo organising a proper formal function and even told others to have faith. I didnt expect a ball like Amecon but to have people begging me to redo ABC and one even angry I didnt do it is heartbreaking. Marc was clearly gutted as was I. We left around 1130 and crawled into bed. Thank god Family Guy was on to brighten things up!

So overall for Expo, I will say the main event was good aside from the lack of reasonable stars (proper SCIFI esp and the lack of chillerfest!) and the layout was the best ever but the ball ruined everything...

I was glad to see my friends there and sucessfully avoided certain people I have no wish to see. I feel sorry for Dimensional Manga who have clearly been ripped off but thats their problem. I missed Neon Martian due to going there when they were at their busiest O.o and I didnt have enough money due to 2 people letting me down ¬¬ aarons car got broken into after he foolishly left the satnav in it ><

Good things tho:

Video Games Live - epic! Felt like squeeing all night

Friends - always a pleasure, never a chore!

Hentai stall - funny as but the guy on the yaoi stall calling out "get your wet hot man love" at a family event is wrong!

Street Fighter 4 - woargh!!!!

Dead Space - double woargh!!!!

Making new friends - wonderful!

Only buying 2 alcoholic drinks but still finding everything hilarious - epic!

Finding a free place to park saving £40 - fantastic!!!!

Doing it all again Wednesday - Yays!

Finding out Saturday I have a job - FRICKIN AWESOME!!!!

Its only at PoundLand but its something ^_^ induction soon so wish me luck!

If I didnt see you at expo, sorry >< hope to see you soon and catch up more.

So its nearly upon us again and this is what I'll be doing for expo:

Saturday til Masquerade: Ibuki from Street Fighter 3

Saturday Masquerade: Pleinair or Disgaea knight and Usagi-san

Saturday Ball: Princess Daisy (attending with Ishino ^_^) from Super Mario Bros.

Sunday: A.B.A from Guilty Gear

I have also a list of commissions to finish so wont be online much but sure that wont disappoint many.

I'm off for a week now so will see you when I get back armed with photos ^_^

Good luck with your sewing ppl!

I have so much to update here but gawd what to say.

Im looking forward to expo of course. I'm not happy about Joe going - frankly Im disgusted he's not in prison. I'll be honest and admit I'm scared. Im not scared of him - the guy is a social retard and a poor excuse for a man, human, furry and cosplayer. Im scared of myself.

Last May I saw a side to me that hadnt surfaced for years. A side that can just switch on and off like a light. It doesnt come out very often or for long but when it does, so much changes. I know in myself I've changed yet cant stop myself. I stand back like a passerby viewing a carcrash - knowing I should do something but I cant. I watch myself become who I was briefly then am left to return to a bitter scared shell.

This may seem horribly deep but being sexually assaulted doesnt tend to bring out the best in you.

This time Im attending with someone special to me and I dont wish this side to return. I wish I could explain what this part of me is like but if you didnt see it, you'd be sadly way off from how you'd imagine I snap.

Theres several sides to me, the funny over confident one which most of you see and struggles to stay at the surface, the quieter understanding one (the mother hen), the very deep one (typing this now), the one that just sits and does nothing, the one that puts everything aside for one thing, the nervous and timid one (thats never far away) and the twisted one that delights in the social taboos - we all have this, that sick ounce of racism taught by a friend or family member, the perverse side, the one that delights in the downfall of a miserable shit that deserved it and the one that takes a fetishesq delight in pain but this side rarely comes out in public for any of us...then theres 2 others.

Theres a side of me that just cries for hours on end with no clue why...since April til August that one controlled who I was and drained the life out of my once exhuberant flesh and I suppose the other is my Mr Hyde...

You know what? Lifes too short to be spoilt by a handful of dipshits.

Im going to enjoy this expo and there isnt a God damn thing thats going to stop me - not Joe, not Aaron NOTHING!

On another serious note there are a number of people who have taken advantage of my kindness and treated me like shit when they woke up to their sad little reality...be warned fellas - the cheque is due...you best make it up to me fast, back the fuck off and stop being a selfish one track minded cock or suffer the realisation that Im not taking this crap any more. You misused my trust and kindness, knowing how I felt then wiped your feet on me like a door mat. But remember - when you wiped your feet, you left a foot print at my door and it wouldnt take much for that to bite you in the arse. You know who you are and have decided to run like cowards with your tail between your legs.

Just remember Im still here with my trusty MSN logs...

Im going to enjoy my expo this time and nothing is going to stop that. I will update you with more pictures soon and thank you for your kind comments to date.

A friend of mine who worked with me at the Student Web of my uni once described me as the cutest sweetest fluffiest bunny you could imagine...who then reached behind pulling out the biggest fuck off gun you'd ever seen.

Be warned...its Duck season...

No more shit.

No more hassle.

No more drama.

I know who my realy friends are and I know whose not. I also know who I value more than anything and am sure they know who they are too...thank you for saving me from myself more than once x

Good night and I wish you all the best in this final month *hugs*

Ok this may be totally inappropriate but I dont give a damn anymore and this is why I wont go to the meet:

Basically I started getting to know Tamaska1/Joe Lynch for a short while after some friends suggested we date. At my Birthday meet we shared a room as we had no time together due to work and other commitments but it was made clear that it was just room sharing for the night. After my op I was in no mood for anything physical. JOE DIDNT LISTEN TO THIS OR RESPECT THIS!!!!He even aknowledges what he did, admits he was wrong but wont do ANYTHING to help himself.

Now I may be naive but NO means NO! I had to say no 6 times and he still didnt respect that.

So why am I posting this? Well its so none of you girls dont put yourself at risk be it at the meet, at expo or any other event! This is also the reason I wont go to any meets now that Joe is at and why I flipped at the after meet at Premier Inn. I am angry at myself as I feel that I should have warned people earlier. Now there are two sides to every story and Joe, you are free to defend yourself but I still have our MSN chats. But after all the problems a certain R.G caused, I feel others deserve to know.

I dont want a "poor Rach" or any thing else- just dont want what happened to me to happen to anyone else. I dont want ANYONE doing anything out of order as I am dealing with things but while they run their course I feel people should be warned. A lot of you hardly speak to me now after expo anyways...I know this may get deleted unfortunately I feel it will have the required result here. Thats my lots on this subject. I still wont be going to the meet but I feel it has to be said.

Sorry for any upset or distress caused and wish you a good meet.