To start, I'll mention the shopping ladies and their men who carried these precarious towers of gift boxes, looking like they might fall at any moment while the ladies kept their men hurried along! That was great!

Personally I rather enjoyed charging through the streets on a stolen bicycle, screaming The Raven at the top of my lungs!

I loved impromptu gigging with Bill Sikes--he always knew when we tarts were "trying to avoid him," and instead of out-and-out threatening, did this wonderful bullying cat-and-mouse, but, as an actor, always gave us an out.

My usual "Ullo, lovey, yer remember me, doncha...OHHHHH, got the trouble'n'strife with you, never saw him before in my life, miss." ALWAYS makes the women giggle. Also, it spread, many more tarts are doing it, and it always gets a larf (if you make sure to pick on an older couple whose body language says "We like each other!"

The Pickwick Club, always on, always (playing) tipsy, always jolly (particularly when mobbing Bill Sikes the last day!)

Sir Mulberry Hawk and his cronies, always on, always (playing) sleazy.

The way everyone would (in a very in-character, Victorian way) go NUTS when the Queen showed up--I think we got across to the customers that This Woman is a Great Big Deal.

Mine was trying to clean the hem of the Tarts' skirts and negotiating prices with Jeremy. The real question was who was charging and who was getting charged! Ah, the joy of being the only Chinese laundry in London!

My fave gig this year , came in the form of a non-planned interaction with a total stranger! Last day of fair , I decided to get rid of my freebie tickets - had no family or friend to fob them off on - so I trolled the entrance line. I was asking groups - rather loudly - "Okay, so , who loves Flash Toby Crackit? " ( No response.) "I'm Flash Toby , I might mention. " ( Cheesey smile,doff the hat. ). "Are you sure? Could be worth your while to love me!" ( Uneasy looks from crowd. ) Eventually one woman gives in..."I love Flash Toby Crackit!" , to make sure , I had her repeat it loudly, three more times , then rewarded her with a free ticket...elation! ( Rest of crowd look pissy . )

Cut to four hours later - inside - I'm with Bill Sikes , Jeremy Wolfe , and Wolfe's two cronies... Jeremy is eyeing a woman standing in line for fish & chips , I follow the gaze - it's the above mentioned woman - Me: "Oh HER. Yeah , shes a bit of alright!" , Jeremy: "Oh yes Flash , like she'd have anything to do with the likes of you!" . Me: " Go ask her , if you've got the courage!" Much to my delight , Jeremy steps up , asks , "Do you know that bloke?" And I kid you not , she replies , "Oh yes , that's Flash Toby , I love him! ". Dead Silence by all , as I laugh my ass off! Thank you mystery patron, you have great comic timing!!

I had a great time conversing with Marley about the state of my accounts. This year I was in the black!

As for other gigs I absolutely adore watching Miss Havisham with the children and her toy mice. Also, Paul Nathan on the Paddy West stage was brilliant.

I really enjoyed the Otherbook's morning tea in front of Cuthberts (a highlight of my days at Dickens this year). Sometimes we were able to get patrons to join us for tea, & we often told guests walking by about things not to miss while in London. The tea time grew from 2 or 3 ladies to up to 10 with the Cheerable brothers & Pickwick Club sometimes joining us. What a delight.

One word - Murdstones!