Going Greek

Friday night was a long awaited night out to celebrate the 38th birthday of our good friend Tim.

I caught the bus to Brian's and got there around 6.15 I think. We had a sit down and a glass of Cointreau before leaving to meet Tim and others at the restaurant.

When we arrived at the restaurant there were a couple of other people in the bar but the restaurant itself was empty. We figured out that the other people in the bar were also there for Tim but we didn't know them so we sat at the far side of the bar and ordered drinks. It was on bottled Beer - Budweiser - but not bad at £2.80 a bottle. AS we sat and chatted, the bar filled up and pretty soon the man of the hour arrived.

Mutual friends of Brian and Tim - Helen and her hubby Nigel - arrived and it became apparent that whilst I am a Rams fan, Nigel was supporting Forest. (Oh yeah forgot to mention that at this point the 2 teams were playing each other in the 4th round of the FA cup) The air became briefly frosty then but it was all good.

Finally it looked like we were going to our tables. There was 2 choices of menu. They have a shared option (Mezze) where you could pay £16 per person and share a few platters of food or you can order separate courses. Brian and I opted for ordering our own food so we were instructed to sit at the end of the table so that all the people sharing could sit together.

There were a few other people ordering their own too and we got chatting to them as we hadn't met them before.

For my first course I had the garlic mushrooms which was a huge pile of Mushrooms in this garlic sauce with some salad and I also got a basket of bread with it.
It was delicious but of course I dribbled it down my new top with the first mouthful.

In between courses I nipped to the loo and got talking to someone in there. She was a friend of Tim's and we were just chatting about how we knew him, then Helen came in too and we were discussing my Banking problems.
When I got back to the table they were bringing out the main courses but they realised that they had given mine to someone else and he had started to eat it. SO they offered me the meal he should have been having but I knew I couldn't afford that so I said I would wait for them to do me another one. They couldn't have been more apologetic and even brought me a complimentary bottle of Bud.

When my mixed kebab arrived it was well worth waiting for. 2 large skewers of meat mixed with Tomatoes and mushrooms on a bed of rice with Pitta bread and salad.

As mine had arrived late, the entertainment started while I was still eating. Yes ENTERTAINMENT! first of all we have the greek waiter doing a traditional dance with this wooden tray that he puts 2 drinks in and then proceeds to chuck it around.


After that we then have the waitress who come out and gves us a lovely display of belly dancing. She was very talented. I wished I had been able to record her too but the batteries were going already.

The Belly dancer then got Tim and Alan up along with 2 others from our party to have a go at the dancing with her.

After the belly dancing they usually get everyone up to do Zorba the Greek but I don't know what happened as on this occasion they didn't.

It was almost 11pm by now and even though Tim and Al tried to persuade us to go on to another pub with them, neither Brian nor I had any money left so we said our goodbyes and took a walk through Notts to see if the late Tesco was open but unfortunatley it was just closing so we went back to his place for a coffee and bed.

It was a great night out and although it isn't something I would do often, it is good for a special occasion.

Griffin Rocks!

WOW WOW WOW!

The day finally arrived. After 3 long long years in Griffin wilderness It was the day his tour came to the Midlands and I was going to be there - Whatever it took.
Alright it isn't just his tour - He is touring with 2 other Bands

I woke up at about 6am when my alarm went off feeling sick with giant bats flapping around in my stomach and my knees already wobbly. I had a normal day to get through before the madness could begin but after getting Bill and Bret up and out I could stand it no longer and went back to bed. I fell asleep and woke to Jo Whiley sometime later. I just had to get up and get my jobs done and go to town.

I was hoping to get myself a new outfit to premier my new red hair but just couldn't find anything cheap enough so I got the bits from town that the kids needed plus some batteries for Bill's camera so I could take some photos of Al. I have been nicking photos off of ag.co.uk for so long it is about time I gave something back.

When I got home it was 2pm and I panicked as I thought I had left myself short of time now. I made myself some cobs (Ham and Tomato) and watched a bit of TV (I know I just said I panicked about time LOL)
I jumped in the shower about 3pm then sorted through my wardrobe to find something half decent to wear (talk about leaving it to the last minute) I chose my smart black trousers and a purple shirt neither of which needed to be ironed (Result)

I had a bit of a crisis at this moment. I know I had had a couple of months to prepare but I was so confident in Trent Barton's buses that I hadn't even checked the times for the late buses. I must have had a bit of intuitive vision because I went on to the site after putting my slap on and found that the last bus is only 11.20pm from Notts. This didn't really give me much time to get from the venue especially if Al was playing last which seemed to be the run of things from the rest of the dates.
I tried to get hold of Bri to ask if I can stay over at his but for some reason his reply went to my old phone so I didn't even know what I was going to do. I packed my nightclothes anyway and gave Bri a ring to check it was OK.

5.30pm and I was on the bus to Notts with my stomach doing all sorts of stuff, my knees shaking and my heart beating 100 to the dozen.

I had bought a couple of bottles of wine to share before we left for the venue but Tim was meeting us there so me and Bri got through the 2 bottles between us and I was already well on my way to steaming as we walked up through Nottingham town centre.

As we approached the club I saw some familiar faces outside. I couldn't remember any names but they knew me too. I asked if they had seen Al yet and they had seen him and Waggo carting equipment inside.

We went into the bar and Brian bought the first round in.
As we sat there I happened to turn round and see Al walking into the bar. He stood right next to our table while he waited to get served but I didn't want to approach him...I wasn't sure if he would remember me as it has been so long. I needed to see recognition in his eyes otherwise I would feel foolish.
However as we sat there, me fully aware that Alistair Griffin was stood about a foot away from me, We chatted about facebook and how I had bought Al on the "Friends for sale" application and how Brian had bought him off me. Brian told me later that Al kept looking at me...almost as if he was hoping to catch me eye to make sure I was who he thought I was.
I am happy in my knowledge that I stayed cool and didn't go all giggly and stupid. And behaved as if I didn't recognise him...(AS IF!)
Al disappeared upstairs with his pint but he appeared again later with Waggo and stood outside. Brian said that even then he kept looking this way. They disappeared to a pub across the way as the doors were opened and everyone made their way upstairs.

The upstairs was tiny and I thought to myself that if this had been the old days of Griffin following then we would have been packed in like sardines.

We stood at the bar which was just at the side of the stage. The place filled up a bit as Paper Heroes took to the stage and they were very good.


As predicted although Al was one of the supporting acts he was to be on stage last at around 10pm so we may as well emerse ourselves in the rest of the bill too.

I was really enjoying Paper Heroes when Bri turned round and told me that Al was stood right behind me...A warm glow went through my body as I was jiggling around to the band.

After their set the members of Paper Heroes were going round the room selling copies of their cd for £2 so I jumped at the chance.

Ivyrise were on next as they were supposed to be the top band you would think they would be on last but they weren't and that suited me as I probably wouldn't have got to see them otherwise.
They played a good set and finished with a cover of Duran Duran's Ordinary world.



Next was the main event for us. I managed to position myself right at the front for good photographing. So much for my slip in the back and try not to be noticed Ideas. When the man is in town I want to be as close to him as I can.

Alistair started with a new track "Plans" which he has debuted on this tour. A lot of the fans have heard it several times before and so know it well but it was a newbie for me and to be honest I think it went over my head a bit.
The next few numbers were well known to me and I really lost myself in them
Is it me, Blown Away, Naked and Silent suicide. I was obviously very drunk by this point as I sent a text to my twitter acount calling it Secret suicide (I also texted the same thing to Maxine for some reason. I apologise Alistair you know I really do know the title)

I really love the fast version of Is it me. It is so much better than the original slowversion although that did go very well with my Skins video.
I just realised that apart from Silent suicide all those songs are one I have used for Skins videos Hmmm



After Silent suicide they said goodbyes and were about to leave the stage when cheers went up for an encore so that is what we got - Somethings going on - This is one of my all time faves so what a great way to end the whole night. It is also the track I used for my Donna video.

As Al and the rest of the boys were packing up the equipment Brian was nudging me towards the stage. He took my camera off me and told me that if I didn't get my picture taken with Alistair tonight I would regret it and be going on about it. He was right. It was June 2004 the last time I had a picture with Al so I was due a new one.

I went over to Alistair and asked very nicely if he would have a photo with me and he dazzled me a big smile and said yes (of course) As he put his arm around me and we posed for the camera that warm glow came back. Brian took ages taking the photo and when he did he said it wasn't very good so he would have to take another one. I felt Alistairs arm pull me closer and the second photo was taken. (Brian told me later that the photo was fine he just wanted to give me more time in Al's arms *SIGH*)

I chatted to Al for a while as Brian went off and left us alone. He thanked me for the DVDs I sent earlier this year and I asked him why he needed them. It seems I was right about the Skins thing. It's a shame it didn't come through though. Hey how clever of me though to use those tracks for Skins clips in the first place. Imagine if Al had gotten one of his songs on Skins and it could have been with my help LOL

My cheeky fan side came out again when Al turned towards the stage. I put my hand on his cheek and turned his face back to mine...Well I have waited 3 long years for this meeting I wanted his undivided atention. He exclaimed that he had to see what they were doing.

I think I told him how awesome he was (If I didn't - AL YOU WERE AWESOME!) and told him that he should come to Derby next. He asked me where and I told him the 2 best live venues in Derby are The Vic and The Flowerpot
I hope he took note and mentions it to the others...

Before I left I asked him for a hug and he was very inviting. It was a damn good hug too, a wonderful memory to leave with (But it was all about the music - Most important)

I tore myself away and said goodbye as Brian and Tim were waiting to leave. I can't even remember how we got back to Brian's but the rest of the night was terrible. Brian went straight to bed as he had to be up early but as I sat at the computer I suddenly felt sick and subsequently spent the whole night leant over the toilet puking up my guts. Not the best way to end an awesome night or the report but it's the best I can do if you want photos.

Wot a Flaming weekend

This weekend was Nottingham Pride in the Park. It has come around so quickly.

I got on the bus to Notts in the morning and met with Tim at the lift to Brian's place. Before long we were sipping wine in Bri's front room.

We finally ambled down to Nottingham Arboretum around 12.30 and the place was heaving.


There were stalls selling Gay Pride souvenirs, t-shirts, adult gifts as well as lots of information stalls about health, Community, Notts council, safety etc.
This year I was on a mission to try and collect as much free merchandise as I could.

We made our way down to the beer tent and Tim bought us all a pint. There was the same 2 Drag Queens running the show as last year...In fact they were wearing the exact same dresses.
There seemed to be a lot more people than there was last year too. So much so we couldn't get anywhere near the stage for any of the acts.
We lay on Brian's Pride flag for a while people watching. There were some great looking drag queens and some not so great. Some of these men have perfect bodies and gorgeous long legs. They can wear skimpy little skirts and how the hell they walk in the massive heels I have no idea.


We walked back down the path picking up more freebies and made our way towards the bandstand area where the Abba tribute was to be playing. We missed them completely though and were just in time for the very embarrassing speech by the mayor of Nottingham. He could hardly speak english and he was just reading from a piece of paper, there was no heart or belief in what he was saying at all.


We stayed to watch another Drag act but it was way too hot and there was just nowhere to sit so we made our way to some shade to sit for a while. Brian bought us ice creams as we settled down to watch the world go by some more.

I was quite tickled by a large group of students nearby who were playing truth or dare. Some of the dares were hilarious like go and ask an old guy if they could have a lick of his ice cream and go ask a tranny with huge pink candy floss hair if they could touch it (the hair)



We had another wander around the stalls and headed back to the beer tent but it was just too busy the line seemed to stretch for miles so as time was getting on and we were all hungry we headed back into town.


It had been a fabulous day but I was glad to get back to Bri's and take off my shoes and just lay back and relax.

I did really well on my quest for freebies. I got handfuls of sweeties, 25 pens & pencils, 2 free duffle bags, a couple of car air fresheners, loads of leaflets, a couple of keyrings oh and an alcohol calorie calculator.

I love it when a plan comes together

After months of planning and endless calls and texts and meetings and Newspaper interviews, Finally the big night arrived.

The American Adventure 20 year reunion.
Boy was I nervous. I didn't hardly sleep Friday night, I kept waking every half an hour expecting it to be after 11am only to find it was 4.45am. I thought the day would never start and finally I could get up at 10 am.

Finally after the most stress-full day ever Tim and Brian pulled up in the car and I was away with me duvet and me overnight bag.
I had brought along a little bottle of Voddie for us to have to calm our nerves a little but the boys also bought a large bottle which we practically necked the whole of before we left for the pub. In hindsight this was a very bad idea..Come on, if you have been reading this blog long enough you will know about my past experiences of just a little too much Vodka.

Now I should have known not to trust Bri when he said that the pub was only round the corner from Tim's house so for the entire 10 mile trek to the pub I admit was moaning a lot but I was in those bloody high heels and I was more than a little tipsy.
The main reason I was moaning was that I didn't want to get to the pub and just be miserable because my feet hurt me, I didn't want that to spoil the night.

When we got to the pub my stomach was doing somersaults. I was a little disappointed because I saw a crowd of people carrying photos that I guessed must be ex-AA staff but they didn't approach us at all (Even though me and Bri were wearing our exclusive reunion shirts that I designed)

We went in the pub and ordered drinks. I spotted Dean and Evelyn Hogan sat at the table near the bar but as they must be 2 people that I never spoke to in my entire time at the park, I wasn't about to approach them. We sat at a table near a window and then everything seemed to happen at once. Before I could catch my breath we were stood outside in a huge crowd, swapping photos and stories and catching up on everyone's lives.

As we were quite a crowd, someone suggested we go round the far side of the pub and sit in the beer garden. So we pulled a load of tables together and all sat and chatted.

The weird thing about the whole evening was I didn't get to chat to anybody that I really wanted to. I really wanted to chat to Jill about her Son James and find out what he is up to these days and I wanted to chat to Adrian about what he is up to but I ended up sat chatting the Dean and Evelyn all night.

Dean Hogan was the manager of the Janitorial department. He was quite a looker (and still is) and everyone on the park fancied him. Evelyn came along with her husband as managers and was soon setting up home together. They still live in the area now 20 years later with their 2 kids.
They both told me all about what happened for them after they left the park and how they loved it so much that they bought a house in the area. Evelyn even told me the story of how Dean proposed to her Awwww!

Somehow you know that it wouldn't all be plain sailing. I had a full glass of red wine spilt down me, a bottle of beer and a glass of white wine not to mention the several times I spilled my own beer I also tripped down the steps down to the kiddies play area and nearly broke me bloody leg. Luckily no injury was sustained and I just ended up in a giggly heap on the concrete. Oh and the power went off in the actual pub so for most the night it was bottled drinks only.

The night passed by so quickly and I got quite sad as people started drifting off. And there was a bit of a dampener on things when Dean lost it with a bloke who asked if he was still in the cleaning business.

So the boys and I accepted a lift back into town from Alison and then we went for food.
Believe me, the Kebab was totally the wrong choice. as I will tell later.

So 20 years on and if I had to describe the evening in 1 word it really would have to be perfect.
Not complete though, for it to be perfectly complete would have meant that Debbie Duro, Sharon Fisher and Paul Hill were there but maybe next time...