I was lucky enough to be young during the Gerry Anderson Renaissance of the mid nineties, when all the classic shows were given new screen time. I saw them all - Joe 90, Captain Scarlet, Stingray - and became a firm fan of each and every one of them. It was Thunderbirds, however, that really captured my attention...and mostly, I'm not ashamed to admit, because I fancied the Tracy Boys. (Yes, my first ever crushes were puppets. Mock as you will.)

Over the years Thunderbirds has provided me with some of my fondest childhood memories, from dressing up as Lady P (the ultimate role model for any little girl!), to playing International Rescue in the garden with my brother. I grew up with the Tracy Boys, and its been wonderful to meet so many people that love the show as much as I do through the fandom! Really, Thunderbirds fans are the nicest people in the world!

As strange as it sounds though, as I've gotten older, I've stopped thinking about the Tracys and Co. as puppets. After all, once you get past the cool gadgets and Boys Own Adventure style plots, the show is essentially about a family -- a family that flies super-powered rockets albeit, but a family none the less - and that's something I find it every bit as compelling now that I'm eighteen as I did when I was eight.