truewolffur

After having something pretty awful go wrong with my life last week, I was hoping that some time in London and Canterbury (filming more scenes for my latest video) would be therapeutic.

Oh dear.

I got to London and collected Smirnoff as planned. No problems so far. We gave up trying to get to the car park I had intended to use. There was a demo against the war in Gaza starting off from Hyde Park, which the hotel overlooked. The police had closed all the roads. Eventually I found a car park; having followed two other cars the wrong way down a one way street to get out from where we were locked in. Ouch £18 for 6 hours. A bit of a longer walk than expected, and it was freezing cold.

Got to hotel, all ok. Daktalis called to say he would be late. He had been delayed setting off. Then there were horrendous problems on the tube, eventually he gave up and took a taxi. Of course all the roads to the hotel were closed.

So it was quite dark by the time we started filming in Hyde Park. Funny thing, freezing weather is lovely when you are in a fursuit. On the way, Daktalis offered to carry my laptop (used to time the scenes). He did not see I was carrying the camera too, and took it from me and the camera went flying. The glass cover over the image sensor flew off. It looked like it was only glued on. We pressed it back on and a test showed the camera still worked. Phew. A drop of glue is all I think it really needs.

We filmed in Hyde Park, using the light on the camera. We watched the playback, and realised that Smirnoff needed to act a little differently. We could see exactly what was needed, and a second take should have sorted it. At this point the camera battery gave up. WHY? Yes we had been using the light, but not for long. The camera had been connected to my laptop's USB port for ages.

We walked back the hotel, stuck the camera on my laptop, looked at the footage, and then set off to walk back to the car, and a trip to take Smirnoff home.

An hour later Daktalis and I were back at the hotel. Close by car park and at 80p an hour very reasonable. Suited up, the camera showing just two blue bars on the battery we grab a taxi to Trader Vic's in Mayfair. The taxi driver did ask if I was house trained, he did not want any unwanted gifts.

We get to Trader Vic's and the girl in the foyer went off to get the Maître d'. After a short conversation, he went on to fetch the manager. Such a dapper man in his cream suit and clipped beard. Unfortunately "Heath and Safety" reared its ugly head.

Taxi back. We tried filming the scene in the hotel. It really did not work. And after just a few minutes filming the camera battery packed up.

So to bed, confused, leaving the camera on USBed to my laptop. The next morning, the camera was warm, but no charge. In desperation I thought I would head off to Canterbury with the camera on the USB style charger for my Zen media player.

I checked an hour and a half down the road. No charge. I called Pawsies, and cried off.

So, all the way back from Kent to home. Many hours later, I flop into my house. I thought "I just wonder" -- I put the camera onto the charger that came with it. Oh what a surprise. It charged. Moral RTFM

So 100s of miles in a Landy that is not known for its economy; A hotel bill. Taxi fares; Car park ransom; Other incidental expenses;  Nothing to show for it.

BUT•••

I have had an email from Trader Vic's. They will let me film in the bar, and I can (suited) talk to the manager, which will add some extra panache to my film.

So all to do over again. Very muddled about my life though.