The seventh series of Doctor Who ended in spectacular style with cliff-hangers ahoy and of course, shortly after, the announcement that by 2014 we will have a new Doctor. That second point is a cause of much controversy, but the fact still stands that we have almost six months to wait before we even get a glimpse of the current Doctor and his predecessor. Therefore, let me suggest six Who-related activities you could engage in to make the wait less excruciating. I have labelled them for each month but feel free to mix it up or leave things out, depending on your interests and free time available.
June Doctor Who watch-a-thon
Obviously June is very much already upon us, so you can start with an easy one watching episodes from time gone by. This is something I, and Im sure many others, already do, but why not plan it? You can choose any series you like, whether its the original black and white serials on VHS or the brand new Series 7 Part 2 on Blu-ray. If you want to be more original, go for episodes with a particular Doctor or companion, or a theme like series finales. For those adventurous fans out there, try watching all the episodes since the 2005 relaunch you can even add in Torchwood and the Sarah Jane Adventures if you so wish!
July Catchphrase Challenge
In theory, July is truly the beginning of summer. The sun beams down on everyone, ice cream vans are everywhere oh wait, in England itll probably be raining. So to cheer yourself up, try the following game - if you have completed Junes activity youll be quite prepared. First, create a bank of catchphrases and memorable conversations from Doctor Who past and present some should be rather obvious, others more obscure. Then, simply memorise a few and drop them into conversation with a friend (preferably a fellow fan). See how many you can use without them realising. If you want, you can add props such as a bow tie, fez, or bag of jelly babies/jammy dodgers.
August Be Inspired By Who Fashion
Even by just looking at the eleven Doctors, there is a wide range of extravagant and exciting fashions in the show. I understand that it is probably easier to take fashion inspiration from the show if you are female but it really does cater for all if you know where to look. Whether you love vintage or retro clothing as seen in the classic years, or the eccentric and cool attire sported by the Eleventh Doctor, theres a look for most people to be found in the show. You can try and copy outfits down to every detail or just invest in a few checked shirts because they were Amy and Rorys favourites, its up to you.
September Get Crafty
Real fans of Doctor Who need reasons to show people how much they love the show, and how better to do that than by decorating where you live. However some fans dont have the money to buy expensive homeware from the official shop. Instead, you could get creative and make a few items a shoebox TARDIS for example, needing only a shoebox and some blue paint. If you are artistic then try making a Dalek. If you cant tell your paint from your pencils, spray a key (preferably from a Yale lock) gold and tie it on a string you now have a TARDIS key in your possession.
October Visit the Doctor Who Experience
If you can get to the Cardiff area, then a visit to the Doctor Who Experience is a must. It is an amazing collection of props and costumes, which I could talk about all day. At the end there is a lovely little shop and, as we all know, the Doctor loves a little shop, especially as you don't need to visit the actual experience to shop there. Its not an expensive day out but if you cant afford the main attraction then Cardiff on its own is a great place to visit, not just because of the wide range of locations you can discover. Theres multiple locations around the bay; numerous castles seen across the episodes; and obscure little streets that doubled for London on many occasions. Its certainly well worth a visit.
November 50th Anniversary Watch Party
So youve reached November, Doctor Who is just around the corner. Its better to share your favourite things with friends so why not hold a party to watch the special episode. You can show off your Doctor Who crafts; wear your Doctor Who fashion; play Catchphrase challenge; choose your favourite episodes to get you into the mood; show off your Cardiff photos; and even eat some Doctor Who themed food. Try out nOODles or DALEK (garlic) bread or even just cook up some bow-tie pasta. Celebrate with your friends and enjoy yourselves, the wait will be over after all!