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Game Review – Firefly the Board Game

November 18, 2015 by Bel Leave a Comment

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Chris bought this Firefly the Board Game at London Film and Comic Con last year, along with a few expansions for it. While I wasn’t with him at the time, I believe he got “quite a bargain” and paid a lot less than it usually sells for in the UK – since its a US import. For those of you who don’t know, Firefly is a TV series that was far too short lived and has now become part of cult tv. The show features a spaceship called Serenity, of Firefly class (its model basically). It’s crew is a band of misfits, brought together through various stories. If you haven’t seen it, then you definitely should. There is literally only one season of it but its great and really worth a watch – if nothing more than for the fact Nathan Fillion is in it (and he gets naked at one point!). It’s also by Joss Whedon – master of all things geek.

Anyway, back to the game! The really great thing about this board game is that you can play it alone. Don’t ask me how as I haven’t done so – but it was one of the biggest selling points for Chris. He has played it by himself and I believe he found it enjoyable. He has also played it once with myself, Jon and my brother, once just him and Megan, then also with myself, Nat and Jon.

While at first the game seems a little complicated, it isn’t really. You pick a ship and a captain, then add money, fuel and parts to your hand. You gain jobs from various people around the ‘Verse and depending on which “goal” you’re playing, have various tasks to complete in order to win. There are shops to buy more fuel and parts, along with crew, guns, transport etc. There are ways to be both moral and immortal – there are ways to be both legal and illegal. Its a lot of fun, with multiple ways to play and tactics to use, in order to make sure its never the same game twice.

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I have to admit that I always want to be Serenity and I always want to be Mal. Luckily both times we’ve played, no one has cared that I wanted those specifically. Luckily you don’t actually need a knowledge of Firefly in order to play either – which was good as Nat has never seen it. You do need quite a lot of space to play, but mostly that’s not a problem as we do have a large dinning table. One thing I have found though, is that games seem to take a lot longer than the estimated time on the goal cards – this last game should have been 2 hours but it was over 4 by the time we were packing away. There are a lot of great elements to this game – its competitive but not too much so, its skill based but you also don’t need to be a genius. I have to say that if Chris was to get this board game out every time we had friends round I wouldn’t worry at all. I genuinely enjoy playing it a lot – at least until it gets around to midnight and the tiredness is fighting in. That said, we have a lot of great board games and I’d really like to get a few more out – so stay tuned and I might well be sharing them with you next!

Filed Under: game review Tagged With: board game, Firefly, games, Joss Whedon, Nathan Fillion, serenity, space, tv series

TV Favourites with Freeview Play

November 11, 2015 by Bel Leave a Comment

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I was recently asked by Freeview Play to make a post about my favorite TV shows and while this sounds like a great thing to talk about (and it is!) how do you narrow it down to an actual list of favorites, when you love so many shows?

As most of you who read my blog will know, I started a small sewing business a few months ago and since then I’ve spent more time sat at the dining table, than I have in the lounge. For the first month I got really behind on all my shows, until I decided to use my iPad to catch up and then keep on top of all the shows I love. Not only that but I have been binge watching series’ like Grimm, Switched at Birth, Awkward, Constantine, Orphan Black and many more. I’ve realized that I like so many different types of genre and it doesn’t matter whether it’s a current series or an old one, I’m ready to give it a go! Using a ceiling mount for tv will make your space to look bigger because saves a lot of space and look very modern.

So here are some of my favorites.

Currently running – At the moment I’m really into the various superhero series that seems to be popping up everywhere. I’m watching The Flash, Arrow and Supergirl (which are all DC) and though they’re not currently airing, I also love Marvel’s Agent’s of S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Carter and Daredevil. Other shows that I love and are currently airing are Once Upon a Time, Grimm (which as I mentioned I recently binge watched from series 1-4), Modern Family and Switched at Birth (another one I recently binged on 3 series of). There are of course a few other series that are between series and waiting to start, such as Game of Thrones, The 100, NCIS, Gotham and Vikings.

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British TV – while most of the afore mentioned shows are US ones that we either get a day after the US or wait weeks for, there are a few British shows I love. Casualty and Holby City air every week, while X Factor and I’m a Celebrity are only on this time of year. Orphan Black is also a British show that I recently fell in love with and I’m waiting for it to start again. Though most of these shows are my guilty pleasures, I’m not afraid to say I enjoy them. We’re also watching Release the Hounds which is a recent find but an enjoyable light-hearted watch.

Cancelled shows – over the years there have been a lot of cancelled shows that I’ve loved, including Buffy, Angel, Firefly and Doll House (all Joss Whedon!). However I recently watched one series of Constantine and really enjoyed it and I started on Defiance (though I’m not sure if I like it or not) and I found out that had been cancelled too. I also enjoyed both The Following and Revolution, both of which have been cancelled and a recent TimeHop post reminded me of a series called Flash Forward which was so good and such a shame it was cancelled. Finally I’m just now catching up a the last few series of Glee. I was a hardcore fan for the first few but it dropped off and while I still enjoyed it for light-hearted entertainment, I wasn’t bothered either. Now, with my VIZIO smart tv I search for shows to watch and have plenty of series to go at, so I’m just making my way through 4-6 with the hope of ticking it off the list.

There are so many more shows I could give a mention to but I would be here all day. I hope to find and enjoy even more over the weeks to come but I’ll be sure to let you know of what I find!

Filed Under: promo, recommended tv Tagged With: Agent Carter, angel, Arrow, british shows, buffy, cancelled shows, casualty, Constantine, Daredevil, Defiance, doll house, Firefly, Flash Forward, game of thrones, glee, Gotham, Grimm, holby city, modern family, ncis, once upon a time, Orphan Black, Shield, Supergirl, Switched at Birth, television, The 100, The Flash, tv series, tv shows, us shows, Vikings, X Factor

Hot Topic – Haul #2

October 29, 2014 by Bel 3 Comments

As you may remember, some time ago, I made a Hot Topic Wish List. Just before that time I’d also placed a small order, to be sent to a friend in America and be collected by Amy when she visited in August. I posted about Haul #1 at the end of September, after I collected it from Amy when I met her in Sunderland. However, I also mentioned that myself, Amy and Kariss had ended up making yet another order – due to a half price international shopping offer that the site had on. I have no idea how much our total order was but I know my part of it was a little over $100! Anyway, it was too much stuff for Amy to post to me so I waited until we visited her this weekend, in order to collect it. As such, I now bring you… Haul #2.

This was my total order!

It consisted of:

  • Beauty and the Beast glass
  • Billy (from Saw) Funko Pop figure
  • Disney Scarf
  • Malcom from Firefly figure
  • Anna (from Frozen) Funko Pop figure
  • Elsa (from Frozen) necklace
  • Mickey Mouse tape
  • Expecto Patronum (from Harry Potter) necklace
  • Disney’s Up necklace
  • Little Mermaid hair bow and Woody hair bow. 

Here are the close ups!!

The Beauty and the Beast glass is for me and if you remember, it was features on my original Wish List. It’s pint glass size and its beautiful. I won’t be using though as I’ve already placed it on my ornament shelf! The Saw Funko figure is for Chris’ stocking. I’m never sure what to get him but these Funko figures seem to be a thing in our house now so it seemed like a good idea and would take up lots of room!

Next up is my beautiful Disney script scarf. This is by far my favourite purchase. Since bringing it home on Sunday night, I literally haven’t taken it off (except to sleep). It’s so soft and much thicker and warmer than I thought it would be. I’m absolutely in love with it!

In this picture you can see the Malcolm from Firefly figure (which is again for Chris’ stocking) and also an Anna figure. I couldn’t get the Elsa one for Megan as it sold out, though luckily Amy spotted it on Amazon and I got it from their in the meantime. The two bows are also for the girls, Ariel for Megan and Woody for Lily. These are to go in their stockings, along with the 2 I previously got in Haul #1.

That just leaves the last few items. An Elsa necklace – this is actually a locket that opens and on the back it says “Let It Go”. This is for Megan, for her stocking. The tape (closer up picture below) is for my scrap book when I go to Florida. It was different and quirky so I thought “why not?”. Next is a Harry Potter necklace, for me. I don’t usually wear gold but I thought I’d give it a go. I actually really like it and again you can see a close up below. The other necklace is from UP. It’s actually a lot chunkier than I thought it would be so I’m not entirely sure how much use I’ll get from it. You never know… you might see it in a prize giveaway, somewhere on my blog in the not too distant future.

I’m really happy with everything I’ve got, but sadly it doesn’t stop me wanting more! Normally, that wouldn’t matter but considering the huge Customs bill the three of us received, you’d have thought that would put us off shopping at Hot Topic again!

Sadly it didn’t though and I have since placed another order. Amy even threw in a couple of bits she wanted! Even just today I was looking to see if there was any further update on the shipping info… and got browsing more things I wanted! Seriously, if you’re a huge geek – do NOT check out this website. It will only add to or create an addiction for you! No doubt I will however let you know what I got in Haul #3 – so keep en eye out for that!

Filed Under: haul Tagged With: Anna, Ariel, beauty and the beast, Disney, Elsa, expecto patronum, Firefly, frozen, Funko Pop, hair bow, harry potter, Hot Topic, mickey mouse, necklace, Saw, scarf, shopping, UP, Woody

My Third Loot Crate (September)

September 24, 2014 by Bel 1 Comment

Yesterday my Loot Crate arrived, this time for September. Unfortunately I missed the delivery and had to pick it up from the Sorting Office today. I was eager to see what was in my box but from the moment I picked it up, it felt very light and rattly. I took the box home and opened it up… this is what I got.

Alright, it looks like quite a lot, but sadly I was a little bit disappointed again. Luckily my rule of thumb with these subscription boxes has been three boxes and then cancel – so being my third box, this will be my last.

The contents were:
– A tribble (Star Trek) a Loot Crate exclusive apparently.
– Star Wars magnet
– Alien figure
– Science Fiction figure, blind box
– Apple Pop Rocks
– Firefly money
– Star Wars poster

I have to admit the Tribble is pretty cool. I like Star Trek and I especially like the original series. I used to have a Pygmy Puff that reminded me of a tribble, so I’m fairly pleased to have this.

A fairly random Star Wars magnet (my magnet was actually upside down and I didn’t even realise till I went to place the picture on my blog). Even Chris wasn’t too fussed about it so sadly it went in the bin.

Of all the figures available, I guess the Alien was perhaps the best pick? I’ve seen the movie(s) and I don’t mind them, but honestly I’m not at all bothered about a figure from them. I passed it on to Chris so I imagine it will join his collection of things I’ve passed his way.

My Science Fiction blind box, could have been one of several random figures – from Firefly, to Aliens, to Predator, to Tron. Out of all the 16 or so options on the side of the box, only 3 of them were things I liked. LUCKILY, by some miracle, the figure I got in my box was one I liked. Malcolm from Firefly. So I guess that’s a win?

To be absolutely honest, he doesn’t look a bit like Mal, but as Chris pointed out, the Daryl in his My Geek Box, didn’t really look like Daryl either.

Apple Pop Rocks. I like Popping Candy and I like Green Apple. These are fine though I often find putting candy in these boxes a bit random. As I’m on a diet though, I passed it on to Lily who ate the majority of it and then passed it on to Chris. This was okay though.

Firefly cash. It doesn’t really have a name I don’t think, just money from the Firefly universe. This is probably my favourite thing from the box but at the same time I’m not entirely sure what I will do with it. Sadly, geek stuff like this, without even an ornamental purpose, just gets shoved in a drawer and never really seen. Not only that, but since Chris bought the Firefly board game at LFCC, the game contains fake money – and smaller at that.

Finally, a Star Wars poster. Han Solo in carbonite. Eh… I don’t even know what I can say. It went in the bin.

So that is the contents of my last Loot Crate. Sadly I’m yet again unsatisfied with this subscription and I’m happy to cancel again. My first box was actually pretty great, with its Villain theme – there was at least a t-shirt that warranted majority of the cost I paid. My second box had a Heroes theme and while there wasn’t that much I liked in it – the Groot Funko made up majority of the cost and I loved it. So for this last box, to only have… well cheap rubbish in it really, I’m more than a little disappointed.

Anyway, that’s me done with Nerd Block and Loot Crate. I’ve also done Birchbox and Glossybox as beauty subscriptions. What will be next you ask? Well you’ll have to wait and see! I have made another subscription though, only yesterday in fact.

Filed Under: subscription Tagged With: Alien, American sweets, Firefly, geek, Loot Crate, magnet, nerd, science fiction, Star Trek, Star Wars, tribble

Hi, my name is Bel!


I’m a forty something, mother of two, self-confessed geek!

Here on my blog you’ll find;
books I’ve read, clothes I’ve made, movies I’ve watched, cakes I’ve baked, products I’ve tried, places I’ve been, pictures I’ve taken… plus lots and lots of DISNEY!!

I’m a lifestyle blogger – covering a little of everything I love <3

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