Nostalgic, Starstruck & Inspired at Comic Con

Wales Comic-Con left me feeling nostalgic, starstruck and totally inspired!

My first ever Comic-Con! I didn't know what to expect. I'd done a couple of smaller one day events with my Husband who goes to most of the Comic-Con and Brick shows as a trader with his business Demonhunter Bricks. But this time my in-laws had agreed to look after our two boys for us and after weeks of preparation, we were on our way to Wales Comic Con! I was excited for the weekend away together and the fact that I'd be helping Adam on his stall, but I'd definitely overlooked just how exciting the actual event would be and how it would unlock a part of me that made me feel more in touch with myself!

As we walked into the main hall of the International Convention Centre (or ICC for short), my eyes began darting around at the many stalls and people setting up. As traders we were there earlier than the opening time to give us time to set up, but this also gave us a chance to look around the stalls and to meet some of the other budding enthusiasts. We found a lady who had made and was selling her own cupcakes, 'Oh my gosh! I'll have the Buffy one!' I exclaimed when I saw a cupcake with an edible Buffy the Vampire Slayer topping to it. I loved Buffy as a kid and this seeing it gave me a bit of joy and nostalgia!

I wandered around admiring everyone's stalls throughout the two days that we were there when I had a chance to and I had my mind blown over and over again! I found so many stalls being run by the most creative people, even one man, Art of Fish, who I got chatting to after I was stood at his stall admiring his work whilst he juggled painting whilst trading! His skill blew me away! Not only that, but he was really friendly to chat to and he told me about what he does and even introduced me to his daughter who was with him and showed me some of her drawings which were absolutely incredible!

And the friendliness continued throughout the rest of my time at Comic-Con - everyone I spoke to was so down to earth. People would happily chat for ages and if you asked them would stop for photos if they were cosplaying and dressed up. The whole vibe was just amazing! It felt like people were just able to be themselves without judgement in a safe and fun place and I loved that!

There were also celebrity guests there that you could pay to meet and have photos with and I spotted quite a few I knew from TV shows that I've watched and loved which was SO cool! Personal favourites were the actress from Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Carl from The Walking Dead and Steven Ogg who I've seen in The Walking Dead and Snowpiercer. What was lovely to see, was that the guests seemed to be spending lots of time chatting to each person that had paid to meet them. Some of them would even pose for selfies despite the fact that there was a separate time and charge for photos.

I decided to pay to have a photo with James Marsters who played Spike in Buffy and was probably my favourite character. I had um'ed and ah'ed about it because of the cost, but it was SO worth it even though it was very quick. Meeting and having a photo with someone I watched and loved on the TV as a little girl just made me feel so happy and I spent the rest of the Comic-Con with a big smile on my face thinking what an amazing experience it was to have been able to see him in person!

After that I was like a different person; I realised the power of nostalgia and that unlocking our interests, filling up our cups and embracing our inner geeks is so much fun and so important! I started to think about all of the things I love and make me 'me' and I decided on a little section for me at home in our office. Two shelves where I can display some of my interests and the first thing on it is the photo of me and Spike! Do you have a space for a few of your favourite things?

As a trader or as an attendee, if you go for one day or two days, Comic Con is awesome and I highly recommend experiencing it for yourself, they are great events to go alone, with friends or even as a family and there's quite a few on all year round as you can see from the list I've created below.

If you do get to Comic-Con, look out for our stall and do come and say hi! See you there!

Read more here:

Perfect Summers Trip 3

Perfect Summers Trip 2