The truly unthinkable had finally happened. Shirt was going to come to the signing of a…wait for it…BLACK & WHITE piece of merchandise. Specifically, the audio soundtrack of The Abominable Snowmen.

This was actually for two reasons:

1) Dufus wasn't able to be there (something about being on holiday in Tunisia) and so Shirt was there in lieu of him.

2) The Barnacled Baby, the latest BBV production starring Deborah Watling and Clive Merrison (of whom, Shirt was his biggest fan), was also being released.

Try as he might, though, Shirt had been unable to convince 7th Galaxy to get Clive to the signing as well. As it was he would just have to make do with the starry line up of Deborah Watling, Anthony Keetch (writer and star of tBB (Nick Briggs Syndrome kicking in there)) and Paul Griggs (director of tBB).

So, Chalky and Shirt trotted up to Barking and set about purchasing the requisite items.

On leaving the shop, Shirt got his copy of The Abominable Snowmen - which he had bought for Dufus - out of his bag and began unwrapping the annoying shrink-wrapped plastic. At the same time, Chalky got his copy of The Abominable Snowmen - which he had bought for Dufus - out of his bag and was just about to started unwrapping the annoying shrink-wrapped plastic when he noticed their deliberate mistake.

"What have you bought that for?" asked Chalky, wondering if Shirt was starting to rescind on the whole 'black & white embargo'.

"For Dufus," he stated bluntly.

"But I've bought him a copy for his birthday!"

"But he gave me the money for it…oh wait a minute…" Shirt suddenly paused. "He only gave me the money for The Barnacled Baby, didn't he."

"I'll have to take mine back now," said Chalky, as Shirt had already removed all the plastic wrapping.

Chalky returned to the shop and shame-facedly asked if he could have a refund on the CD. They obliged.

Whilst waiting in the queue, Sparrow appeared and informed the amassed fans that whilst Deborah appreciated that everyone wished her well since the unfortunate death of her father - Jack Watling - could we not mention it to her in person. It must actually have been quite difficult for Deborah, bearing in mind that she was signing The Abominable Snowmen, the first Doctor Who story that her father starred in, alongside herself.

The guests arrived and Chalky and Shirt were soon in. Paul Griggs was obviously being passed by, by some of the fans and was ecstatic when he spotted Chalky's Cyberon cover as he waited in the queue for Miss Watling.

"I'm in that!" he cried.

"We know," said Shirt, "That's why we've brought it." He waved Dufus's cover.

As they chatted politely with Miss Watling, her co-star, Mr. Keetch revealed that she had spent some time in his bed!

He then clarified this by making it clear he'd been about five at the time and Miss Watling was a family friend who was staying over.

Shirt asked Miss Watling what it was like working with Clive Merrison and she did the honourable thing of saying he was a delight.

Chalky presented Miss Watling with a copy of the Downtime Missing Adventure novel (having very little for Miss Watling left to actually sign) and waited whilst she reminisced by looking at some of the photographs within - including shots of her late father. It was quite moving really, although she made no comment.

Moving on to Mr. Griggs, Shirt explained that Dufus was on holiday in Tunisia, as he asked him to sign his Barnacled Baby cover.

Mr. Griggs decided to commemorate this by putting 'Dufus-in-Tunisia' on the dedication, and conversely putting 'Shirt-not-in-Tunisia' and 'Chalky-not-in-Tunisia' on their covers.

And then they left, still reeling from the fact that Mr. Keetch seemed to have lost all the top buttons to his shirt and had shown a disturbing amound of hair and chest!!

It had been a poignant meeting with Miss Watling and the entire cast of Chalky, Dufus and Shirt would like to send Miss Watling and her family their sincerest condolences.