Reflecting on 2014

[Stuart Skinner]

I'm not the biggest fan of New Year, although I always celebrate it.
But I do get quite reflective this time of year regarding life, family etc

So today it has been nice to reflect on my Star Wars year, and what a year it has been.
Would love to hear of everybody's Star Wars reflections of the year.


First up for me has to be the 'Force Awakens' trailer.
It has left me so excited and anticipation for the movie next year is the highest it could be. I've watched the trailer nearly every day since its release and when I went and saw the Hobbit recently at the cinema I was like a kid in a sweet shop when the trailer came on the big screen. Seeing the x-wings and Millennium Falcon back on my screen in new footage stirred something deep inside me. The Stormtroopers were incredible and can't wait to see them in action. The opening scene of John Boyega in a stormtrooper costume looking lost on Tatooine (assuming it is tatooine) just left me with so many questions. The Jedi/Sith in the woods, Daisy Ridley on the speeder, the new droid, all of it excites me so much and I just cannot wait for this movie, the build up over the next year is going to be immense.

Secondly the events I've attended this year.
Farthest From VI and VII, F.A.C.T.S in Ghent, Memorabilia at NEC, Romford, Sci-Fi by the Sea.
All were awesome in there own little way. Sci-Fi by the Sea was the first time I met any of the podcast crew face to face (Ben), it was here he got ripped off by David Prowse and it is a massive happy memory for me knowing that he got properly diddled. FACTS in Ghent was one of my fondest memories of the year, I went with Grant, Pete (Naughty Jedi) and Richard and had an absolutely cracking weekend, we met Dennis (Star Geezer), Tim Veekhoven and his Teekay crew, Darren Simpson and some other great star wars traders as well as meeting the amazing Carrie Fisher.

But, by a million miles the best event I've been to this year and any other year are the Farthest From events run by the legendary Dave Tree. Just want to say a huge thank you to Dave for organising these events, they are the highlight of my Star Wars year. I've met so many people through these events, great people. Picked up some lovely items from the traders. Drank way too much with forum members. The Christmas meal the evening before FFVII was fantastic, the gifts, the meal, the quiz, the Sambuca. The whole evening was ace and I hope this format continues for future FFs. Having only attended the last two FFs, I very much doubt I will miss any in the future, only way I won't be there will be for some huge reason. Can't wait for FFVIII.


My collecting is the next thing.
I've got an awful habit of buying all and everything. Buy all sorts of crap which I just hoard up and clog up my house. The night before FACTS Grant and Peter came to my house for a few beers the night and when they went into my garage I think they thought I had a serious hoarding problem. I think they could be right, I'm hoping they are going to stick with their promise and come and stay next year and sort it out for me, Grant has promised me several times that he is going to sell off loads of bits out there and get me a carded Yak face. That's fine Grant but please don't sell my vintage Star Wars items, or my childhood He-Man toys, or my Childhood Transformers, or my Childhood MASK toys, or my.....
My collecting this year has changed, having met Grant and discussed a few things with him I have fallen in love with the Sigma Ceramic items, they are beautiful. I've only got four pieces currently (Yoda Mug - don't mention it to Rich, Threepio picture frame, Wicket figurine and Gammorean guard Mug - thank you to my SS). I absolutely love these pieces and have vowed to add one piece of Sigma to my collection each month in 2015. I also must have either the Teapot or the tape dispenser by this time next year.
I have decided on a figure focus, actually my wife decided on my figure focus, but luckily it is a character I love myself, so I've gone with Greedo. Thanks to Andy X-Wing I have managed to start my collection with a stunning example of the Hybrid Greedo, and having it in hand I love it and Know I've chosen the right focus. Can't wait to research and hunt for Greedo items in the new year.
Have also purchased a whole manner of things in 2014, items that i'm going to love and cherish, plus (thanks to grant again) oddball items, love the quirkiness of these items and have bought several oddball bits each month for the past 8 months.


Also want to reflect on the forum, this place is amazing, with so many generous, honest people. So many people with such good hearts. I love all the threads, I think the mods run a really good ship, I love the humour of JuniorChubb, Mumbo, Todd etc. I love Michael Siths poetry. I love the talented artists who show us there work. The forum members who do things for charity. The generous nature of so many members, people doing things for each other, such a good community from which I have made several good friends already. Long may it continue, thank you to everyone. Also a huge thank you to everyone I have purchased or sold to on here, I haven't encountered a single bad transaction, and if you haven't bought off here before, take the plunge, far better than ebay or dodgy facebook groups.


And finally the podcast!
What a year it has been for this, from a random thread posted whilst I was more than likely having a poo to spending hours every month recording and editing it. It has been an awesome (although sometimes difficult) thing to be involved in.
Huge thanks to Iain, Jez, Chris Caswell, Shawn Kemple, Chris Mann, Tim Veekhoven, Joe and Jason for letting me interview them. I love doing the interviews, when researching I get to go through all their posts and look at their collections and that is the biggest pleasure I have doing the podcast. Chatting to these people makes the podcast what it is for me and I look forward to chatting to many more of you in the new year, thank you to everyone for their time. Plus all the other people we have had on in other sections, we really appreciate everyone's efforts.
Grant, Pete, Richard and Ben - The lads I make the podcast with - all four have become really good friends and love every minute we spend making the podcast. Each one of them would do anything for you and I love them all, plus i'd add Chris Mann, Jez and Dan Burgess to that list, these three are top lads and would happily snuggle in a double bed with them.

So hope everyone has a cracking evening, and that everyone has had a top 2014.

Let your hair down tonight and rock out with your cock out.

I love you all like a fat kid loves cake x x x x x

 

[Robstyley]

Great post dude! I feel the same as you do about a lot of things this year, especially the forum. It has completely changed my SW collecting world and as I said to a few people at FF I got to the point with collecting where I wanted more than just sitting at my PC buying figures and looking at them in my cabinet/s (now I can sit at my PC and talk bollocks all evening too!). Joking aside, I felt I needed some social interaction and people to discuss and share the collecting with. It's been great, learnt loads and it's good fun. With regards to my collection I've got a much better idea where I'm going with it and have scored quite a few figures and moc's for a fair price. All in all a great year, have turned a corner. Have also started buying/making props this year which I find really interesting and is another rewarding part of being a fan. I made an Emperor robe, built a DL-44 blaster, am halfway through making two solid hardwood gaffi sticks and have bought a Stormy helmet and two lightsabers. Was great to meet you at FF mate and happy new year to you and your clan. Roll on 2015, may it be a good un'

 

[Richard_H]

What a load of bollocks

 

[Robstyley]

What a load of bollocks

Happy new year Rich!

 

[SOJ]

What a load of bollocks

Determined to win the Jar Jar for 2015

 

[Stuart Skinner]

Great post dude! I feel the same as you do about a lot of things this year, especially the forum. It has completely changed my SW collecting world and as I said to a few people at FF I got to the point with collecting where I wanted more than just sitting at my PC buying figures and looking at them in my cabinet/s (now I can sit at my PC and talk bollocks all evening too!). Joking aside, I felt I needed some social interaction and people to discuss and share the collecting with. It's been great, learnt loads and it's good fun. With regards to my collection I've got a much better idea where I'm going with it and have scored quite a few figures and moc's for a fair price. All in all a great year, have turned a corner. Have also started buying/making props this year which I find really interesting and is another rewarding part of being a fan. I made an Emperor robe, built a DL-44 blaster, am halfway through making two solid hardwood gaffi sticks and have bought a Stormy helmet and two lightsabers. Was great to meet you at FF mate and happy new year to you and your clan. Roll on 2015, may it be a good un'

You too pal, Fartgest From was awesome, sambuca and turkey. Hope you come to the baud one maye

 

[Stuart Skinner]

What a load of bollocks

Just cause horn miserable surfing in the field with you'd horses dong Brind everyone. Else down

 

[Robstyley]

What a load of bollocks

Just cause horn miserable surfing in the field with you'd horses dong Brind everyone. Else down

What the ****!?? On the beers son? Heh heh

 

[Stuart Skinner]

What a load of bollocks

Just cause horn miserable surfing in the field with you'd horses dong Brind everyone. Else down

What the ****!?? On the beers son? Heh heh

I have no idea, was on the beer but wasn't pissed. Probably because it was done on my phone and I've got fat thumbs, didn't look at what I was typing

 

[SOJ]

Richard do you go surfing in a field with horses often? Sounds interesting.

 

[Richard_H]

Surprisingly not. And once I've finished the stables I doubt I'll be in the field again

 

[_Lee_]

Surprisingly not. And once I've finished the stables I doubt I'll be in the field again

I think you should do a comp offering a prize for deciphering that some of it has me stumped.

"Just cause youre miserable sitting in a field with horses dont bring everyone else down"?

 

[SOJ]

I think it says

"Just cause you're miserable sufferiing in the field with your horses don't bring everyone else down"

 

[theforceuk]

This forum has opened my eye's to the collecting community, all be it a minority.

Wish I had joined years ago.

Reflecting on the year I just keep thinking the holy grail's I need for my collection I can only see getting more expensive. My fault for being a tight wod down the years.

TT scandal has done me over a bit as well, my Dad always said someone was sealing new ones at home.

 

[Michael Sith]

2014 will have had its ups and downs for all, that's life.

The highlight for me is a constant on this forum, no matter what life is doing, there is always a little safe haven called SWFUK, which is full of genuine guys, great banter, superb information and support, and some great insights into human nature, that shows us all that there is a lot in this life to be positive about, I think it's great that it's not about individuals and cliques that tend to form on other forums, this forum is truly the sum of all it's parts, and everyone has an input.

so long may this little enclave continue


It's a weird one for me as I'm not the social media type, just a boring old git.
But I have "met" some of the most genuine people I have encountered for years on this forum, so it s the exception to the rule for me.

The Podcast has been a highlight for me, and a massive thanks goes out to you guys who put the unselfish time in and give us the podcast.

I'm sure that the forum will go from strength to strength, and 2015 will bring lots of entertainment for all that are part of it.

 

[tronprogram]

Personally speaking, 2014 was a pretty nifty year for me.

I was able to write Star Wars and Transformers stories for Titan UK. I got to have Ahsoka pod-racing, Yoda go undercover as a Jawa and have Princess Leia fight pirates. I've also been given the opportunity to carry on writing Star Wars in the form of Rebels comics for Panini Germany. And I got commissioned to write an episode of the new animated TV show Transformers Robots in Disguise.

Show wise, SDCC was the best hands down and has been for a few years. Each year gets better and more opportunties present themselves to work within the franchises I have so much affection for.

2014 was the year I got back into collecting Star Wars. In 2010, I had no permanent job and I made the decision to attend SDCC for the first time, and the only way to do that was to sell my entire MOC Vintage Kenner collection. A very tough thing to do consider the stuff that was happened at that show and the ones after, it was a worthy sacrifice. Having seen the various higher prices the MOC stuff is going for I thought I'd take a slightly different route and start collecting vintage card backs instead, only for certain characters. Thanks to this forum and RS I've built up quite a bit of a collection over the course of the year, but there's still a long way to go.

My main goal this year is to try and complete my 47 Back collection, since that is my favourite card back. If finances can afford, I'd get back into collecting MOC but that is a goal for another time. Whatever goals you set out to to, I wish you luck in making them happen. Here's to a great year ahead for Star Wars and collecting!