Robin John Barlow, or Mashibinbin as he is now known within the community first appeared in the Guestbook of Knightmare.clara.net as it was in October 1999.*

His first words were these:
'I MUST SAY THIS:
KNIGHTMARE WAS, IS AND WILL BE GREAT IF IT CONTINUES...
AFTER ALL WE WERE GIVEN A GINT THAT IT WILL DO SO...
REMEMBER LORD. F BEING BEING ASKED IF HE'D GIVE UP WHEREUPON HE SAID:
"GIVE UP? YOU MUST BE OUT OF YOUR TINY MIND!!!!"
[original errors included]

From this point on he observed the changes to the site without getting too involved and a year later decided to experiment with #knightmare chat under initially the guise of 'Hordriss'. This association welcomed him to a small group of colourful characters of whom some are still also about today.

In the summer of 2002 he first met Kieran and not long after joined in the RPG social in the Manchester YHA meeting, amongst others, Forester and Pooka where he was involved in a couple of CITV scenes alongside Matt borrowing heavily from Julian and Sandy sketches from Round the Horne.

For a year, he was away in Germany working as a language assistant but remained involved slightly through writing a 3 part series looking at the history of comedy in Knightmare in The Eye Shield magazine.

His involvement grew a little further and then in RPG Season 5 played, very briefly, the role of Julian who was essentially his previous CITV character but in a worse costume and probably far worse acting style. He continued to be involved in socials until he graduated in the summer of 2003.

Then he went abroad to Shanghai, China until Summer 2004 and it's here the origins of Mashibinbin were formed.

He then had limited internet access but still was involved in looking on the forums and maintained MSN contact with the ever-increasing community.

In early 2005 he finally got involved full time in the Knightmare RPG intending to take on the characters Hordriss and Ah Mok. (who is basically a dodgier and eviller version of the popular Ah Wok in the original Knightmare show.) Before production could begin, constraints were placed and Hordriss had to go 'bye-bye'. Ah Mok's costume was obtained in a Shanghai marketplace adding authenticity.

Upon this return he then set about adding a series of themes to Knightmare Chat (see Themes in Knightmare Chat) which met with varying responses but overall were well received and also invented an online version of Blind Date in October 2004 (and still going!) which subsequently led to many a game show/popular TV programme being created. The latest, at time of writing being Deal or No Deal. He also won the Knightmare version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? becoming a virtual Millionaire!

His latest trip abroad was also Germany and this time lasted 3 months on a European Training programme. He is now back once more in Wallasey and is mostly known at present for the above waffle and the following:

His increasing collection of filks having been inspired by David's collection beginning formally with an Amarillo effort in May 2005 and current co-authoring with Darren and Billy Hicks on Christmas numbers.

His insanely huge love for British comedy which includes Last of The Summer Wine, Bottom, 'Allo 'Allo, Dads Army (etc) coupled with this is his relatively smaller interest in children's television having a particular fondness for Doctor Who, The Demon Headmaster, the Queens Nose...oh, and that Knightmare programme too.

His flatulence! On many of the Knightmare socials it has not been a pleasant choice for the room sharers of this man as he is known to fart both often and repulsively.

Overall, this is one man who goes away to everyone's delight and then dismays them all by coming back! Always on hand for advice and humour, whether it's wanted or not, this is one person you can always approach as long as you have a nose peg handy...all this and he love's the Kandoo Frog too!

* = Technically he had been more involved than just a 'Watcher' as from August 1992 when he joined the newly formed Knightmare Adventurers Club getting all bar one of the The Quest newsletters which unfortunately was the final issue in Summer 1995 and this meant he couldn't be involved in the inception of The Eye Shield magazine and meant his community involvement was postponed until Autumn 1999 coming across the site by chance in his fledgling days as a university student in Preston.

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