Firefly Archives - Journeys Are My Diary

Game Review – Firefly the Board Game

November 18, 2015 by Bel 1 Comment

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.

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!

TV Favourites with Freeview Play

November 11, 2015 by Bel Leave a Comment

I was recently asked by Freeview Play to make a post about my favourite 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 favourites, 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 realised 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!

So here are some of my favourites.

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.

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 I search for TV 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!

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!

My Third Loot Crate (September)

September 24, 2014 by Bel 3 Comments

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.

Week 31 – Monday Round-up

August 4, 2014 by Bel Leave a Comment

It’s been a great week! As I write this, I’m looking back and thinking how its been a great balance of relaxing, plus getting out and about! Yet another week of school holidays have passed but its a lovely feeling to know there are several more to go!

Monday started off with a family day out – my mum, the girls and I – to Warwick Castle. I’d gotten free tickets with my Sun+ Perks and so we headed out together for the day. It was breath-takingly beautiful at the castle, though mostly the grounds. I took so many photographs, though I have to admit that once we got into the castle itself, it did feel a little too comercialised. The girls seemed to enjoy the day and both left with a quill pen they bought themselves and a bow and arrow that I treated them to. I’m sure Lily thinks she’s Merida now!

Tuesday was a relax day. The girls and I didn’t do very much – in fact Megan spent pretty much the whole day Facetiming one of her friends. It still blows my mind how that’s even possible these days. Lily and I watched 3 movies, back to back; The Swan Princess, Tinker Bell and Princess Lillifee and the Little Unicorn. In the evening, Nat came around, and it was good to catch up!

Wednesday was another fairly quiet day. This time though, the girls and I headed out swimming. We’d been promising to go ever since school broke up but with one thing or another, we just hadn’t got around to it. We had a lovely swim and afterwards I treated the girls to their first proper Subway. We did some shopping in the afternoon and then headed home. Lily wanted to watch The Incredibles and amazingly Megan chose to come off her computer and watch it too. In the evening, my brother and our friend Jon came around to play a board game. Chris had bought the Firefly board game at LFCC and so we all sat down to play that – I even let Megan stay up for it. We ploughed our way through 5 bottles of wine and had a great night!

Thursday the kids were going to their dad’s, though he doesn’t usually arrive until almost lunch. However that seemed to put a stop to us really doing anything, just waiting for him to come and get them. We did of course pack up their bags and just hang out together. Once the girls were gone, I’d had lots of intentions of getting things done. However when the time came, I just wanted to mong! I finished watching Gossip Girl, season 5 and 6 which I had been making my way through for the last week or so. I then moved on to catching up on Misfits, only to realise I’d seen them all. Next I tried 90210 but that was only the first 4 seasons and I’d seen them. Finally I decided to just watch some movies and ended up watching The Big Wedding and Love and Other Impossible Pursuits. As well as watching A LOT of tv, I also caught up on the internet world and my blog. It was a nice day in the end!

Friday and Chris was off work, but I had to pick the kids up from their dad. We headed out about 10am and once we’d picked them up, we decided to head into Lincoln and get the kids school shoes sorted out. It didn’t take us very long, as it wasn’t busy. This was a huge relief compared the usual last week of holiday rush we’re used to. After shoes, we did lunch (Subway again) and then wandered around a few shops. We headed then to mum’s house and picked up Megan’s bike, as well as stopping for a cup of tea. Later when we went home, Megan went out on her bike but sadly at 9, she still isn’t willing to trust herself to ride! We’ll get there though…

Saturday and this time Chris was at work all day. We’d asked my mum if she wanted to come over and go swimming with us and so at about 10.30am she arrived. We headed out swimming and Lily made some good progress, managing to swim under water, even though she didn’t seem to be able to on top of the water. I managed to figure out why Megan was having so many problems swimming, and we tried to work on that too. After swimming, we stayed at the leisure centre cafe for lunch. It was pretty simple, not much choice, but nice enough. We headed back to our house and mum tried to take Megan out on her bike. Sadly there wasn’t much more progress and then it started to rain which put an end to it anyway. The girls and I relaxed for the rest of the day and I watched Short Circuit 2. Once the girls were in bed I sat down to just watch more tv and wait for Chris to get home.

Finally came Sunday and as we’d arranged for mum to come and go swimming with us again, we didn’t bother to get dressed until after lunch when we could put our swimming costumes straight on. To be honest, we didn’t really do anything all morning. However after lunch we headed out swimming again. I bought the girls a pair of goggle each as they’d struggled with sore eyes the day before. Lily officially became able to swim. It’s still under water but she’s managing almost a full width now. Megan also improved, finding that her style and form is much better under water, just like Lily. After swimming we headed to Morrisons for some shopping and then mum came back for a cup of tea. After she left, we got ready for the girls to go to their dad’s again, then had dinner and just waited for him to arrive. Once they’d gone, I again settled down with my laptop and the TV as company. I spent majority of the evening, chilling out and waiting for Chris to get home from work.

It was a great week and I’m hoping for another to come. I don’t think we have anything at all planned for this week so I guess we’ll just see what happens!