Hi Dost's

Welcome to my 12th blog. You just reading this makes me feel happier than a roman empire about to sit at his throne at the magnificent Colosseum to watch a gladiator match between 3 hungry bears, 2 annoyed panthers a tiger that is so hungry it could eat 5 slaves in 5 gulps and err 5 slaves.

I had an amazing weekend, me and my partner Becca flew to Rome to see all the sites, dine like roman kings and queens and soak up more culture than a vulture that has been let loose in a room full of famous paintings and sculptures and has had its wings tattooed by Rolf Harris, had its tail painted by Leonardo Da Vinci and had its beak chipped away and sculptured by Michelangelo.

Rome was incredible, it really is an amazing city that is worth seeing before you either die, go blind, turn into a bitter old man or lady that can't appreciate anything or so insane that you think you are living on Pluto.

Me and Becca arrived at Rome around lunchtime on Friday and after a quick power nap (we were exhausted after a long journey) we went on to find the Colosseum that was about 7 minutes from our hotel. I was shocked how big it is, it honestly took our breath away at the sheer scale of this awesome building! We then admired the surrounding area which included the cool arch of Constantine and the sweet Roman Forums, and found a hidden small church that had a famous statue of Moses, done by Michelangelo! We then sat down by the Colosseum, eating some cool Italian ice cream and saw a man have his foot run over by a manic driver! Yes you heard me right, an old man was just crossing a zebra crossing (which seems to mean nothing in Italy) when a small car stopped too late and on top of the mans foot! After much shouting and hand waving the car finally reversed of his foot and luckily he still managed to cross the street in one piece! We also found a grand church that again had some magnificent statues and paintings, including a cool painting / sculpture of the grim reaper! After a lovely meal and seeing a few more sights we decided to have an early night, in preparation for the following day, where we really needed to fit in more sightseeing than a man whose job it is to sight see for a living!

Saturday was truly a whirlwind trip to see all of Rome, I feel Becca and I really gave a great go at seeing all the sites! After joining a guided tour, we went all around the inside of the Colosseum, after learning that the word Arena actually means sand we jumped on the Metro and went to the Vatican (a whole country in its self and home of the Pope). After what seemed miles of walking through hundreds of corridors and rooms, stacked full of incredible art and sculptures we finally got to the Sistine chapel where we saw the finale and main attraction of the whole place – the famous Last Judgement painting by Michelangelo. It really was worth the wait and quite incredible. I managed to take some sneaky photos (although it was "forbidden", please see my myspace pics if you want to see). After the Vatican we headed back to the Colosseum where we had another guided tour booked for the Roman Forums. The great tour guide shared many cool stories of Rome and pointed out some absolutely incredible building and ruins, you could literally see how Rome has evolved and grown, as many building have been built on top of each other, which is why the city is sometimes refereed to as 'the eternal city'. After the Forums we went onto the Pantheon - basically a giant church with an awesome roof. We then took the short walk to truly incredible Trevi fountain; I threw in a Euro coin as hard as I could – which basically means my heart will bring me back to Rome one day – that is one condition I can live with! Becca and I must have walked miles and mile that day, and saw many other amazing sites in-between the stated ones above. We topped off the evening with a really nice meal, lovely wine and beautiful and quite amusing piano music, which seemed to be played by a Fabien Barthtez look-alike or twin brother. Overall the weekend was amazing and without sounding too corny, Rome will stay in my heart forever as a truly beautiful city, so full of culture and history, there should be a warning label attached before you visit in case you get culture overload!

Anyway, please let me move onto my regular blog features, as I truly have more to cram in than a sumo wrestler that hasn't eaten for 3 whole weeks and is locked in a room full of sushi and rice and has to prepare for a fight the following evening!

The Return of the Demon Headmaster?

In case you are unaware I have a very close friend on my MySpace buddy list, yes you have guessed correctly, none other than the villainous, intelligent and calculated Demon Headmaster. (you can view his quality profile here: http://www.myspace.com/thedemonheadmaster - I am confident he would accept you as a friend, as long as you aide his mission to find his arch enemy, Dinah Hunter and don't join SPLAT). Anyway, last week the headmaster set me a challenge, he sent me the following email:

"Dear Adrian,
I deeply enjoy reading your blog adventures and was wondering if I could set you a sort of... challenge... as it were.... I would deeply appreciate it if you could perhaps email the BBC's relevant departments (BBC drama, CBBC etc) and ask three questions for me: 1. Why were the never any more series' of the Demon Headmaster when the final episode clearly left it open ended? 2. Why has The Demon Headmaster TV series never been released on BBC DVD? 3. Why has the quality of Children's drama currently on CBBC dropped appallingly and what are you planning to do about it?
Of course you can spin it anyway you like and ask them to throw in a few freebies for yourself naturally! Good luck! The Headmaster P.S Can I have some signed Adrian Wallett merchandise!"

I was honoured the headmaster took time out from his busy schedule of master minding amazing plots to take over the world to email little old me, I quickly replied with the following email:

"Dear Demon Headmaster

I too was a huge fan of the great BBC series and yes I was bitterly disappointed when the BBC quit the show after only making 3 series. I feel the current children's TV on the box is about as enjoyable as listening to paint dry, yes not even as exciting as watching it! After much consideration (well 2 seconds worth) I am happy to say I will accept your mission and will ask the 3 questions you have highlighted, and will ask to as many relevant (and not so relevant) people as possible.

I will ask for some freebies in my usual cheeky manner, but I swear this additional bonus mission won't detract me away from my number one objective - GETTING YOU BACK ON THE BOX AND HYPNOTISING EVERYONE IN SIGHT!

This mission will of course appear in my next blog!

Good Luck with your ongoing battle to find Dinah Hunter and thanks again for your continued blog support.

YOU ROCK DOST

Adriano

P.s. Adrian Wallett official merchandise will be available as soon as Demon Headmaster is back on our screens - so if my email goes well, maybe next week!"

The headmaster, in his usual relaxed manner replied to my acceptance of his mission with the following message:

"Excellent! If you manage to do this, you shall be appointed a prefect and have the honour of having a spot in my top friends forever. The Headmaster"

My mission was on, it would be exciting, daring and have many twists and turns. I urge to read on to see what happens in this exciting tale of emails, emails and more emails!

I quickly wrote a nice and blunt email to every department possible at the BBC, I sent the following email:

"Dear BBC

Back in my youth I used to storm home from school and sit In front of the box and watch CBBC religiously from 4.00 p.m . to 5.35 p.m. One of my favourite shows (and books for that matter) was the gripping Demon Headmaster series. I feel the BBC really took a great risk in turning the classic Gillian Cross novels into good TV adaptations. I personally feel there is still room for a few more series of this great show, and I am confident I am not the only person to think this way. Is there any chance you would consider bringing it back to our screens?

Terrence Hardiman would still be ideal as the Demon Headmaster and I am sure he would snap your arm off to reprise this amazing role, I agree casting the children would be the main stumbling block, as the original cast members are now probably Uni students, living it up large in their university halls. Maybe you could remake the whole series again from scratch with a whole new cast of SPLAT members; I feel enough time has passed for the next generation of children to appreciate this whole story again.

I am 100% sure Gillian Cross would give you the thumbs up to go ahead with this project, as I have recently emailed her and she seems like a great lady, always at hand to help.

If there is no chance a new series will be created, is there any possibility you could still release the existing episodes on a new DVD package? I know a video was released many moons ago, however this is selling like gold dust on eBay, proving that there is still a great demand for this cult show and that people around the UK are still willing to part with their hard earned cash to see the SPLAT members in full swing. I feel you would make more money than you might initially forecast by selling the Demon Headmaster series on DVD, I personally feel it is worth the risk!

If there is no chance of a Demon Headmaster revival, is there still a chance that any new, exciting and gripping drama series are in the pipeline to be produced, as I have to be blunt, the recent quality has seemed anything but hypnotising!

Anyway thanks for reading my email, any reply would be very much appreciated, and could I be really cheeky in asking for any memorabilia. I would be over the moon if you could post me any Demon Headmaster or CBBC goodies. A signed Terence Hardiman poster or T-Shirt would be my ultimate request, but seriously even a CBBC eraser would be great. Please post any goodies to:

Adrian Wallett
**************
********
Croydon
Surrey
******

Thanks again for reading my email; any reply would be so much appreciated.

If this email finds its way to the wrong department, could you please forward it onto the CBBC marketing / programme department or anyone else who might be interested.

Kindest Regards

Adrian Wallett
Email: agwallet@googlemail.com"

I emailed watchdog, points of view, the BBC complaints department, the BBC feedback department, radio 4 customer views website, the ideas website for new program ideas, directors of the BBC, the BBC recruitment website – basically any email, form you could fill in, anything and anywhere I emailed them my request for the Demon Headmaster to be bought back to our screens. I of course emailed CBBC, CBBC and CBBC. Don't worry folks I haven't accidentally copied and pasted the word CBBC two times too many, I of course emailed the BBC's children's television department – better known as CBBC. But I also emailed the China Britain Business Council again known as the CBBC and also Central Bucks Bicycle Club again known as the CBBC. I thought all CBBC's should know about me and the headmasters cause!

I quickly received many automated emails from the BBC, simply saying they had received my request / complaint / enquiry / recruitment email etc and that they would try to reply as soon as possible. However my first personal reply came from CBBC, which one I hear you ask? Well please see the below email to find out:

"This is not childrens bbc.

We are china britain business council. bbc.co.uk is how their emails end.

Bernadette Rosario"

Wow, I was happy for any reply from anyone regarding my mission and receiving an email from Bernadette was no different, yes she was snappy and yes she was a little too blunt for my liking, but I still decide to reply to her with the following email:

"Dear Bernadette

Sorry about emailing you, as you rightly guessed I was trying to email CBBC - the popular Children's department in the BBC. Do you get a few stray emails that were meant to go to the BBC?

I am sure you look in both fondness and annoyance when some moron like me emails the China Britain Business School a question which is nothing to do with either China, Britain, Business or School. Although thinking about it in more detail you could argue the Demon Headmaster was based in Britain, the headmaster himself was certainly intelligent and dressed like a stern businessman and actually launched a few successful businesses including a large nightclub chain and of course he was a headmaster which you find in schools! The only link I can't really find is the China one, maybe the next Demon Headmaster novel by Gillian Cross could be based in China?

I have gone off in a tangent again, sorry. Anyway do you like the Demon Headmaster series? If you haven't read these books please do. Good luck at the China Britain Business School; I actually completed a business studies degree and would love to travel to China one day to see the culture of this ever evolving country. Where would you recommend is the best place to visit in China?

Thanks again for your speedy reply.

Kindest Regards

Adrian Wallett"

Bernadette didn't reply to this email, she was obviously hoping I would leave her and the China Britain Business Council alone, did I leave her alone? Nope I simply emailed her the same message again to really fluster her feathers, and it had the desired effect as shown from her snappy reply:

"please visit our website www.cbbc.org for information on china particularly our China Guide.

Bernadette Rosario"

I was happy my email was affecting people, it might be annoying but at least it got people thinking about the Demon Headmaster, and who knows, maybe once Bernadette's has calmed down, she re-read my emails and join our cause for the revival of the Demon Headmaster!

I then received another message from CBBC; again, you might ask which one? Well please see the below reply:

Dear Adrian,
We received your note encouraging the Demon Headmaster revival and we're enthusiastic too. However, you've posted it to the wrong organization. We are CBBC: the Central Bucks Bicycle Club, in Pennsylvania, US. So unfortunately our only influence extends to matters of bicycling and not to children's programming. We hope that you find the correct website and resubmit your missive to them. Best of luck and happy riding,Sue Quate
Central Bucks Bicycle Club"

Yes Sue! My email had made an impression across the pond and really got the CBBC thinking, yes maybe the wrong CBBC you might argue, but still it is a start in the right direction! Plus anyone who states they are "enthusiastic too" has only got to be a good thing! I decided to reply to Sue and the Central Bucks Bicycle Club with the following email:

"Dear Sue

Thanks for emailing me back. I am sorry my email came through to the wrong organisation. I guess any support for the potential Demon Headmaster revival is very welcome, and just saying you are enthusiastic is a step in the right direction. Maybe we could do a joint marketing / petition campaign to help both our fine causes? We could create t-shirts with the following slogan:

We Are CBBC - No You Walnut, Not The UK Children's Channel (That so brutally cancelled the great Demon Headmaster series) - We Are The Central Bucks Bicycle Club!

And on the back of the t-shirt this slogan could appear:

Support the CBBC & The Demon Headmaster!

I feel this slogan, be it a bit too long, would certainly raise some impact and a few eyebrows and promote both our good causes!

Anyway, have you heard about the Demon Headmaster, it is a series of books written by a famous British author, Gillian Cross, I imagine the US and the fine people at Pennsylvania could get a copy of these gripping tales if looked hard enough.

How would I potentially join your club? Do you accept UK members? I used to cycle to my old work when I was younger, but I now drive, sorry. Good luck with your great club, and thanks again for replying.

Kindest Regards

Adrian Wallett
(An Honorary CBBC Club Member (If you agree?))"

Sue didn't rely to email, but I hope she and her co bikers are mulling over my request to join the campaign. I would love to see the day when the Tour De France is full of bikers wearing my t-shirt and winning the event and dedicating their victory to the imperious Demon Headmaster!

I was excited by my feedback so far, but to be honest I hadn't really received an email that would really get the Demon Headmaster back on our screens any time soon! I played the waiting game and finally received an email from the actual BBC as shown below:

"Dear AdrianThank you for your e-mail regarding the 'Demon Headmaster'.I was delighted to read of your interest in the programme and understand you feel another series should be commissioned. We are unaware of any plans to do so as of yet, however please be assured I have registered your comments regarding this issue and have made them available to senior BBC management. Feedback of this nature helps us when making decisions about future BBC programmes and your comment will play a part in this process.In regards to other BBC Dramas, you may find the following of some interest which details many new and existing broadcasts:http://www.bbc.co.uk/dramaThank you again for taking the time to contact the BBC.RegardsAdam SimsBBC Information"

I was happy to receive this reply from Adam, and I honestly feel it isn't a template reply, but please can a man write a more boring email!? I feel Adam could get a job at any large organisation (possibly Heinz) to write every potential email rely to every possible scenario possible! At least he has made my requests available to senior BBC management, but still I feel he could have done more plus he didn't answer my Demon Headmaster DVD question, so I quickly replied with the following email:

"Dear Adam Sims / BBC Info

Thanks so much for replying to my Demon Headmaster request. I hope the BBC management team take note of my comments and views and take the gamble to recommission a new series of the cult Demon Headmaster.

I appreciate the BBC likes to keep programme's fresh (well most of the time - Open All Hours, I feel is about as fresh as a pair of old underpants!), so creating a new series of the Demon Headmaster is I agree a gamble, but one well worth taking!

There are still a few Demon Headmaster books that haven't been serialised, so writing new scripts wouldn't be as big a deal as writing a whole new show from scratch, I also feel the poignant message that the media and advertising (captured perfectly by the Demon Headmaster) can hypnotise and alter children's views and opinions is a key message that needs to be tackled!

Is there any more news on a potential DVD release of the great show?

Thanks again for your reply, and the web link, I will be sure to check it out.

Kindest Regards

Adrian Wallett"

I am still awaiting a reply from Adam or anyone else from the BBC for that matter. I hope this story gets the happy ending it so rightfully deserves, at the very least I have helped move things in the right direction and got a few people (including a Chinese Business Council and a cycling club in America)thinking about the great Demon Headmaster and its possible revival!

Overall I am not 100% sure if I have completed my mission set by the Headmaster, I asked the questions that needed to be asked, I gained a few replies and a little information. I did my best and I guess you can't ask more than that? If anyone can help the Headmaster in his mission, no matter how small I urge you to do you bit! I will of course add any more replies and emails I might receive regarding this adventure in any future blogs.

Business Tips for the Big Boys (all for little more than a t-shirt) (BTFTBBAFLMTATS for short)

I am sad to report I have had no further emails from either Red Bull or any other company I had previously emailed regarding my mission for free t-shirts, but I didn't let that hold me down, so I moved onto my next pray. To continue my hunt for a free t-shirt from big organisations by offering my advertising advice I recently emailed Kronenbourg a new marketing campaign idea. I emailed every possible department at Kronenbourg and every form I could fill in, I even emailed their French site. I sent the following email:

"Dear Kronenbourg

I am emailing you guys at Kronenbourg to ultimately tell you one thing; you are my favourite lager! I am big fan and would even bathe in your fine tipple (I am not sure if my partner would go near me mind you). Please keep creating this grand lager and you will have a devoted fan till his dying days!

I am also emailing you as I have a marketing / advertising idea for you to consider. Why not evolve your '1664 is a good year for beer' campaign with the following idea. An evil scientist travels back in time from 2006 to 1664 to try and steal Kronenbourg's unique recipe and launch it under his name 'Foneybourg'. The scientist successfully steals his ingredients (wheat, grain, etc) and jumps back into his time machine / teleporter, resets the time machine to travel back to 2006. His evil plan is finally thwarted when the door of the time machine slides open and a confused scarecrow steps out! The following slogan could then appear on screen; '1664, a good year for beer, a bad year for time travelling!' This advert would use the concept of teleporting from the classic movie 'The Fly' starring Jeff Goldlum, where a man's DNA would merge with other objects.

Anyway let me know what you think about my adverting idea. If you would like to take this idea further please email me on: agwallett@googlemail.com.

To help spread the word of Kronenbourg further could I be really cheeky and ask for a free Kronenbourg T-shirt or any other freebie. Anything would be very much appreciated, and if you send me a t-shirt I will proudly walk around and be your free walking billboard. Please send any items to the following address:

Adrian Wallett
********
********
Croydon
Surrey
******


Kindest Regards

Adrian Wallett"

I am sad to report I only received one reply which can be shown below:

"Brasseries KronenbourgDirection des Relations Humaines68 route d Oberhausbergen67037 STRASBOURG Cedex 2Bonjour,Nous avons bien recu votre candidature et nous vous en remercions.Celle-ci a ete transmise au responsable recrutement en charge du poste apourvoir, qui va l etudier avec la meilleure attention.Nous ne manquerons pas de vous contacter si votre profil correspond a larecherche en cours. Si, passe un delai de 4 semaines vous n avez pas denouvelles de notre part, vous pourrez considerer que votre candidature n apas ete retenue.Neanmoins, nous nous permettrons de reprendre contact avec vous, sauf aviscontraire de votre part, si il se presente une opportunite susceptible devous convenir.Nous vous remercions de l interet et de la confiance que vous manifestez al egard des Brasseries KRONENBOURG.La Direction des Relations HumainesBrasseries KRONENBOURG"

The translation (which Bebelfish did a pretty bad job of) can be shown below:

"Hello, We received your candidature and we thank you. This one has ete transmitted to the person in charge recruitment in load for the station has to provide, which goes L etudier with the best attention. We will not fail to contact you if your profile corresponds has research in progress. If, a 4 weeks to deadline you N passes do not have a news of our share, you will be able considerer that your candidature N has ete not retained. Nevertheless, we will allow ourselves to renew contact with you, except contrary opinion of your share, if it presente an opportunity likely to agree to you. We thank you for L interest and of the confidence which you express L egard has Breweries KRONENBOURG. The Management of the Human relations Breweries KRONENBOURG."

I feel I have more chance of striking oil, gold and silver in my back garden (made even more harder considering the fact I don't even own a garden) than getting a job with Kronenbourg. I am annoyed with Kronenbourg as I feel my idea at least deserved a proper reply and not shoved under the carpet like a disgraced rat!

My Crux of the Matter

I haven't really used this feature in my recent blogs, and instead of just writing about a random newspaper article, I actually have something I would like to get off my chest, especially after visiting Rome. Last week (I think last Tuesday) I watched a great documentary on the BBC that followed the lives of 5 individuals who worked in art galleries, famous temples or places full of great culture and art, and they really let these places take over their lives. One lady worked 7 days a week in a Russian art gallery and even though she went home to her flat at night, it was clear her real home was inside the gallery, living with the paintings and sculptures surrounding her. She even stated she had no time for friends or family anymore and the gallery was her family. Another lady tended a small gallery like it was a living being and she even admitted that her job was like looking after a child and was probably even more fulfilling. It was quite scary at how far these people allowed themselves to be taken over by their surroundings and culture. I honestly feel they are addicted to their surroundings and at the time I really thought they were living very unfulfilled lives with no real direction or purpose.

After visiting Rome, I saw some amazing sights, pieces or art and so much history and culture it was almost impossible to really appreciate it all in a few manic days. Visiting Rome made me think about the people I saw in the BBC documentary and although I still feel any addiction is bad and potentially life destroying, being addicted to art and culture is surely not that bad after all. I don't think you should shun friends and family over art, but people still need to take time out from their busy life's and views things from a different angle sometimes and appreciate the little things around them. If you agree or disagree with my view please leave a comment on my blog as I would very interested to learn your view.

Well that's the end of my 12th blog, I know I haven't done every feature, but I don't want to bore you and I feel my Demon Headmaster adventure was more than ample! If anyone else has any other challenges similar to the one set by the Headmaster please feel free to leave a comment or email me. Thanks again for reading. Any comments are welcome and please subscribe if you haven't already.

YOU ROCK DOST

Adriano