Thanks for posting pics and videos - will watch when I have typed my account of the rest of the day.
So where did I get to - we were queueing.
Approx 11.40 Security man opened the double doors to the centre and a member of staff stood in front of the queue. She escorted us up two flights of stairs and along the gallery to another waiting area. We all made pretty sure we kept up with her - noone was going to overtake us ;D
11.45 am - we were shown into another room where we had to put our mobile phones and any cameras into a small plastic bag (like a sandwich/freezer bag). We were given a sticker with a number on to keep. We were then told to go wait in the next room.
We were all still at the front of the queue and we stood waiting outside a set of double doors. There were port hole windows in the doors and Kath and I were peeping through for any Rufus action. All we could see was a landing area with a few staff milling around getting boxes of 3D glasses (we got eye contact with a few staff and couldn't helping grinning at them).
12.00 ish The doors were opened and we were allowed across the landing - staff were standing either side handing out the red 3D glasses. Kath and I were first into the auditorium with Nell and LTM behind us. As soon as I walked in I spotted a desk near the door, to the side of the big screen, with microphones on it. I thought that's where Rufus will be and immediately sat down - the seats were not immediately in front of the desk, just a little to the side. (There was an aisle in front of the desk). The auditorium soon filled up - 500 seats.
We all sat down and started fiddling with the 3D glasses, you know putting them on and taking them off again. Kath said she could see funny colours in front of her eyes with her pair. I thought it may be because she wears glasses. She tried my pair and said they were better and so she kept them. I could see funny colours in front of my eyes and went to change them, but the staff said no keep it - "its supposed to be like that - it will be better when the film comes on".
Then I heard a very excited voice coming from LTM's direction saying "its Rufus, its Rufus" Well, he did sit down at the desk very close to us (with a member of staff - the chap that interviewed him later). All that waiting was worth it because he looked so handsome and gorgeous. He was announced I think as the main character in ALVH. Rufus said we would watch a trailer in 2D and then there would be a 3D trailer.
The film looks fantastic - a bit gory - so be warned!! I found that my glasses didn't work at all. The screen was showing as black and white with colours flashing over it. I removed the glasses and could see much better without them. At one point a vampire jumped out and I am afraid to say that Kath and I jumped rather a lot and may have squealed slightly. I could hear Nell sniggering at us.
The trailer finished and the interviewer chappie said there would not be a Q & A in the auditorium, but at the Film stand in the front of the buiding at 1.15 pm. That's great I thought - I know where that it so we could go straight to it. Rufus left very quickly.
The auditorium emptied and we had to queue to go into a room to collect our phones. I was separated from the others briefly and surrounded by lots of people. I could hear them all talking about the film and how brilliant it looked. I thought how odd they really came to see the film - not Rufus ;D I will be polite and say it was not very organised - the staff were very slow to return the phones. I remember Nell looking at her watch and saying its ok we've got half an hour before the Q & A. Kath and I got ours and went off to the loo and Nell & LTM said they would meet us downstairs.
12.45 pm We met outside the toilets and I said I know where we have to go - its this way -across the hall and down the stairs. As we got closer to the stairs I could hear Rufus talking - we all did - and quickened our step. He had already started the Q & A
I stopped half way down the stairs to look at him and I'm not sure where the others went. I had a good view. I couldn't see the others, but as you see from the pics, they had an excellent view!!
I don't need to go into details about the Q & A as it is all on video I think.
!.15 pm Rufus finished his interview. By the time I got down the stairs he was surrounded by lots of people - all holding cameras, etc. He was so kind and had lots and lots of photos taken with various people and signed lots of autographs. We stood to the side a little so that's why you can't see us in the photos already posted. After he had spoken to about 3/4 of the crowd Nell and LTM made their move with me just behind them.
Nell spoke to Rufus first and asked him to sign a photo and had a very nice picture taken with him. Then LTM stood by him and showed him her necklace and asked him to sign a photo and have her pic taken. I was standing by them and a little voice in my head, said quickly get your camera out and take some .... photos. I took 3 - one with Roof & Nell, one with Roof & LTM and one with all three of them in it. LTM asked if she could give Rufus a kiss on the cheek and he gave permission ;D Please show your picture LTM with Rufus - you look so pleased with yourself.
If you look at the picture with LTM, Rufus and Nell in you can see a halo of red/ginger hair behind Nell. This belonged to a staff member ( I think) who kept saying "I'm sorry Rufus we have to go, we really have to go, we have to go now" Rufus said I am sorry I will have to go (I think I let out a panicked OOOH). He then said I can do these - pointing at us three but no more. He looked at the people waiting behind us and said sorry he had to go - I remember thinking how good it was of him to acknowledge that he had to disappoint them.
It came to my turn and the dreaded staff member was still saying "we do have to go NOW". I stood in front of Rufus. Rufus very quickly signed my copy of the book ALVH (I think the signature has half the letters of his name in it - he had to be so quick!!). As he was signing it he said "whose pen is this - is it yours". I said no. With that we both turned sidewards so we were standing next to each other. LTM took a picture with her camera (there wasn't time to give her mine). And then he was whisked away by the staff member. My one to one with the lovely Rufus lasted less than 30 seconds. Sorry we just didn't get the time to ask any questions or find out any news.
All that queueing, but the 30 seconds was so worth it
As we were putting our cameras away - I heard the man next to us ask " has anyone seen my pen?"
