The Barrowman book: Anything Goes...

[fajrdrako]

Frustration: they're selling autographed copies of Anything Goes at play.com, but they won't ship to Canada. I am frustrated. I can't think of an easy way around this. Oh, to be in the UK!

(I'm not generally an autograph collector, but writers and books are a different matter - !)

Comments

[erastes.livejournal.com]

do you want me to try and get you one?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for offering - I have a friend already on the case, but if her attempts don't work, I'll come back and ask you again, okay?

Darn international borders. Such a nuisance. You'd think a person could just buy a book....

(Grumble, grumble)

[jhava.livejournal.com]

I'm happy to help if I can.

I can either order the book for you and ship it to you, or you can order it and have it delivered to my address?

If you're interested drop me a line at jhavauk (at) googlemail.com.

[jkluge.livejournal.com]

Good luck to you, dearest! I hope a fannish friend in the UK will be able to help you out! You could PayPal them the $$ for the autographed book, have them order it and have it sent to their address, then they ship it to you after they receive it. A bit more expensive, yes, but possibly worth it?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's what I'm now trying to do. Don't you love the complications of international fannishness? The UK seems so close in so many ways, and of course the US is even closer, but there are so many barriers to just buying things over international borders. Seems to me it ought to be simple. Naive me.

[jkluge.livejournal.com]

Postage costs and customs delays being the two biggest obstacles. Well, and lately, companies not wanting to sell to certain markets until a certain time. Like with DVD releases, book releases, etc.

I hope you get your autographed book. Fingers crossed for you!!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Postage costs and customs delays being the two biggest obstacles.Z

Yes, and very annoying ones, too.

companies not wanting to sell to certain markets until a certain time.

Yes - delays in showing a program in certain countries, and deliberately-manufactured incompatibility in formats of technology. All in an attempt to 'control' the market.

Thanks for the good wishes. I live in hope.

[ilovedoyle.livejournal.com]

I saw it in town for £5 and so I bought it!
It's great, but now I WANT AN AUTOGRAPHED ONE!
*pouts*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

At least you have copy - ! I'm dying to read it.

[tudorpot.livejournal.com]

You could ask a Piffler if they would accept it and post it to you. I've been helped that way in the past.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

That was one avenue I considered; and the Dunnett crowd is also wonderful that way. But an LJ friend has offered to help, so we all have our fingers crossed!

[elebridith]

I read about the autographed copies when I had the book already in my loving hands... oh well. And - they won't ship to Canada? WTF? But it's good to hear that you have ways to get it. That's fandom at it's best!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Sometimes when fans squabble or get bent out of shape because of ship wars, it's easy to forget how wonderful they are, in general. And how wonderful the existence of fandom is. There was a time I had no one to talk to about my fannish interests. That was terrible!

[elebridith]

Oh, I know *that*!! When I talk about John in RL to my friends, I get The Smile (patient, understanding and basically saying "Yes, you are a little crazy, but we love you nevertheless"), so I tend not to do that. About Angel/Buffy/Torchwood etc.? I don't even try.
I can fully understand them - they don't know John, never met him, he's just the guy Elke has a crush on:-) and they've never watched the series as excessively as me - partly due to the fact that there's no cable TV in our area, partly they are simply not interested in SciFi/supernatural/ vampires, partly they are simply not so exitable (is that a word?) as I am:-) I know that and I respect that as they do. One friend who was Buffy/Angel fan wandered off to Pirates of the Caribbean...*sigh* I like that too, just not *that* much. So LJ is the place for me to squee and lust and discuss and generally *not* behaving like an 38 year old adult *grins*
And yes, sometimes fandom can be the worst and the best place in the world...but I wouldn't miss it!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I get The Smile (patient, understanding and basically saying "Yes, you are a little crazy, but we love you nevertheless"),

I know that smile well! Though due to long cultivation of fannish friends, I find that my friends come in four categories:

- those who are benignly tolerant but Just Don't Get It;

- those who are into fandom, usually SF fandom, so they understand the notion of caring about fictional ideas, characters, media and so on, but aren't into fanfic and don't approach it from the personal or slashy angle;

- slash fans who Really Get It, even if they aren't in the same fandoms I am.

- and then there are those who Get it, who are slash fans, and who are into Doctor Who and Torchwood, or whatever my passion should happen to be.

They are all wonderful people, but it's such funto find people in the fourth category, who understand the specifics of my squeeing!

[elebridith]

Yep! My best friends in RL are mostly category one, the one who went over to POTC is definitly category two - she's deeply into fanfic, writes herself, but is, well, I think VERY uncomfortable with slash - when I told her very excitedly that John and James kissed on KKBB, she tried very hard to keep her facial expression under control, but failed...*grin* so no slash stories for her... most of my online friends are here at LJ and are category four. I'm still amazed how fast I meself converted to slash - I started reading fanfiction Spike/Buffy, but my favourite male characters were always Spike and Lindsey from Angel. And just by accident I found a story about those two and it was incredibly well written (IMHO) and... hooked. I was lucky - if it had been a bad one, might as well have put me off forever... oh the things I would have mmissed:-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

she's deeply into fanfic, writes herself, but is, well, I think VERY uncomfortable with slash -

That's too bad.

I'm still amazed how fast I meself converted to slash -

I think for those of us who really like it, that once we learn it exists we want it - no slow inaugural process, just, That sounds wonderful, I want some! There are of course exceptions and I've known some, but I think I know even more fans who say things like, "I used to fantasize about stuff like that, I thought I was the only one."

my favourite male characters were always Spike and Lindsey from Angel

I don't think I've come across Lindsey yet. Nice name.

[elebridith]

I don't think I've come across Lindsey yet. Nice name.
He's in Angel Season 1,2 and 5. (Played by Christian Kane.) And he gets the usual jokes of having a girl's name:-) Pretty (literally) twosided-character. Those are the best...:-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

He sounds just like the type I like - I look forward to this.

[magika83.livejournal.com]

There's a book? How'd I miss that? *goes looking*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Anything Goes just came out in the UK. It's the autobiography of John Barrowman, co-written with his sister. He's doing a signing tour in the UK right now to promote it.

Info here (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Anything-Goes-John-Barrowman-Carole/dp/1843172895/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1201372397&sr=8-1).

[toraks.livejournal.com]

if you haven't worked out getting it yet -- let me know, I can give it a shot...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Bless you, and thank you. Things are in motion and it's looking god, though the book isn't actually in my hands yet - I'll talk to you if I need more help, okay?

[toraks.livejournal.com]

Hey, no problem. Somebody might as well get use out of me living here! ;-)

Just let me know.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Still envy your location - !

[toraks.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's like a fairly benign curse:

May you live where you don't particularly want to but where you are the envy of many of your friends!

Not that I have anything against England, but I've just never been particularly an Anglophile and I'm very American. And I miss home hugely (the culture, my family, my friends -- haven't made any really close ones here yet). And I didn't choose to come here, somehow that makes a huge difference -- I came here because this is where Tom got the best job offer. I followed him here 1.5 years later even. Without a job. ;-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

May you live where you don't particularly want to but where you are the envy of many of your friends!

As long as it's not an awful place.

but I've just never been particularly an Anglophile and I'm very American

That seems almost unfair - I've always been an Anglophile and while Americans are individually delightful, American culture seems a strange and baffling place.

Missing home is a hard thing, too. When I lived in London I didn't miss home, but I missed my family.

So how long have you been in the UK now?

[toraks.livejournal.com]

It's not awful. I'm getting very used to it by now that I've been here just over 4 years. And there are a lot of things that are much better than the US (universal health care, maternity leave, maternity benefits, etc) that are even very relevant to our lives (including the work hours, the expectations for which are much less than in the US).

But yeah, it does seem really unfair that I have so many friends who'd love to live here. But don't/can't. And I was pulled here kinda kicking and screaming! ;-p

I really miss my own culture. I'm sure if we moved back this second I'd have reverse culture shock, but I think I'd adjust back to home very quickly. Though, from this last trip, I noticed that Americans are really, um, different than the English. I can see the stereotypes, it's scary.

I've always been able to differentiate between an American of Indian descent, a British person of Indian descent, and a born and brought up Indian (even like my parents who have been living in the US for 30 years) by a glance. Accents not necessary. A way of holding yourself, a way of interacting with the world (looking at people or not, etc.).

Somehow I never saw those differences between Americans and English before now. But then before now, I'd never spent a long time in any country except America and India. Now England has opened me up to the subtle differences (that don't seem subtle anymore) between the English and the Americans, I'm sure I'd that difference for Canadians too. I see the differences now for all the European countries. It's a weird eye-opener. Especially seeing Americans as an outsider. It's not pleasant. ;-S

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

But yeah, it does seem really unfair that I have so many friends who'd love to live here. But don't/can't. And I was pulled here kinda kicking and screaming! ;-p

I'd trade with you in a second!

I have a friend in Toronto who is in your position - her husband just got a job in the UK, and she doesn't particularly want to go, but is doing so. And I am so envious!

Though, from this last trip, I noticed that Americans are really, um, different than the English. I can see the stereotypes, it's scary.

Hee - I don't think I should ask for the details, there! Yes, I see a huge cultural difference between Americans and the British, and between Americans and Canadians. A lot of it is in attitude, but there are other things, too.

Now England has opened me up to the subtle differences (that don't seem subtle anymore) between the English and the Americans

LOL - doesn't look subtle to me, either.

A way of holding yourself, a way of interacting with the world (looking at people or not, etc.).

Including all sorts of body language, how you speak and when you speak, and so on. And expectations of how the other person will speak and react, and so on.

Especially seeing Americans as an outsider. It's not pleasant.

It's the whole "seeing ourselves as others see us" thing. I think sometimes I'd rather not know what other people think about Canadians.

[toraks.livejournal.com]

I have a friend in Toronto who is in your position - her husband just got a job in the UK, and she doesn't particularly want to go, but is doing so. And I am so envious!

Yup. Exactly. A lot of my friends feel that way about me.

Hee - I don't think I should ask for the details, there!

Yeah, cultural differences, I definitely knew in advance. But things like posture, attitude, dress sense. Americans (as a whole, you don't see it as much in individuals you know, necessarily) seem a heck of a lot coarser than they used to! Yeah, couldn't quite figure out the right word earlier. British refinement vs. American coarseness. I think that describes it fairly well. Not necessarily a bad thing, but does make me wince a bit in reaction going back.

Then again, Tom's French sister-in-law finds the English dress sense completely vulgar. And I see that too. ;-p

In a lot of cases, depends on who you're looking at too.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Interesting observations!

Vulgarity is, of course, everywhere, and coarseness too. Nobody has a monopoly on that. What I see in Americans (compared to Canadians) is not that, it's a sort of... I'm groping for the word. Sense of certainty? Self-assuredness? It can come across as cockiness or arrogance, but it usually really isn't - it's unconscious and has more to do with manner than attitude.

When I was in England, I felt totally at home, despite many strangenesses around me. In the US I always feel as if I'm in a strange and different world which is utterly fascinating but I never know quite what to expect next - except, predictably, the unexpected!

[toraks.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's a question of what you're sensitive to and when. I've certainly been back to the US before and not felt that particular thing.

That's interesting that England felt totally at home to you. I wonder if Canada and England retain enough ties that the cultures are more similar. Or perhaps you're enough of an Anglophile that you absorbed the relevant culture enough beforehand. :-)

But yeah, I find England puts me on edge most of the time, and unfortunately, I don't find it fascinating, just tiring. But again, I'm living here indefinitely, which is very different from knowing you're leaving again in a certain space of time. I could end up being stuck here for life! ;-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

That's interesting that England felt totally at home to you. I wonder if Canada and England retain enough ties that the cultures are more similar. Or perhaps you're enough of an Anglophile that you absorbed the relevant culture enough beforehand. :-)

Maybe a bit of both. I'm not sure. Canada is, I think, a sort of midpoint culturally between the US and the UK, so it makes sense I'd be okay there.

But again, I'm living here indefinitely, which is very different from knowing you're leaving again in a certain space of time. I could end up being stuck here for life! ;-)

I was wishing that would happen to me, but I never found a way.

[toraks.livejournal.com]

.I was wishing that would happen to me, but I never found a way.


And of course, in a lot of ways I'm really wishing that it won't.

Life is a strange thing! ;-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It happens as it happens! I have no real regrets about staying in Canada. A person always wonders what might have happened if things had been different at some point. If this, if that.

[toraks.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Hence the popularity of alternate history/reality genres! ;-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes - we are all living our own alternate histories.