LIVERPOOL
Dame Hilda - Site webmistress
Where do I start? ah yes, at the beginning......trailing back, its a LONG story, when I realised that the lads were hitting Liverpool - My home town ( for the very first time) I hit the ceiling AND cheque book *whimper* after that - the internet - to book a decent seats at the venue.....SO I was late and scrambled about , finally deciding that my 'moaning myrtles' LOL daughters DID deserve a chance at seeing their heroes The best I could do- many moons later was tiered seating mid rows back....*yawn* but paid the "squillion amounts" OMG then - salt to wounds, VIP ( aka 156 quid a ticket seats get flogged at cost - talk about 'RUN nakie down the high street with excitement ( me - not the kids....) I sold original tickets at loss and grabbed VIP 4th row for the midgets ( thanks and hand clap to security who didn't haul my weenies off seats)
I know need to apologise to Liverpool city council!!!- all my jokes about Liverpool over the years... FREE PARKING! whohoooooooo all those venues I have been to, and been fleeced I hasten to add) I hit own home town ( with visiting guest...OK-Dame Bex! to find its all ............so casual and so free *thank you god* as I didn't have to grovel/ apologise/ crawl for easy parking!! ( mind you- land is CHEAP up north LOL)
Still giggling over our site reporters comments......."so where the venue?" I say - pointing "THERE" she chokes - "Where's the circus?" I say .."Its in a tent luv" she gasps.......and QUOTE " I thought that was a joke - the tent thing....." LOL its up north love. we joke for a living but....- not that much and d'ya know what - our southern mate loved it...portaloos / smokes in the evening air chips cheap at the stalls and nonexistent VIP treatment- as we didn't pay VIP prices! We did get loads of friendly stewards (and a fair bit of eye candy surprisingly enough) Our party took to our seats with eager anticipation ( well the children did, Bex and I sat gabbing to all and sundry. It was nice and peaceful up front cos you could see who got reduced tickets - the rest were in the free bar drinking their own body weight in beer ( you had to try and claw back the 150 quid ticket price somehow...)
THE SUPPORT ACTS...rightie - a boy group called Traffic ( or some really weird spelling of it) consisting of Matt, Adam and some other lad on drums ( sorry I was so busy trying to catch who they were. I got photos, that's the best I can do ) alright the boyband were pleasant, bouncy - scouse and lively enough ( and they were ok on the eye, the two front men were - couldn't see the third one for his drum kit! ) Did a few covers and roped in the audience, then that was followed by some lass who was in pop idol blonde, requisite short skirt ( bad legs) matching voice.....Nah, she was fine - had a ton of backing singers and musicians and did a fairly long set *thud* That I coped with, it was the gushing thanks between every record that stuck in my craw a tad....but I am pleased she was thrilled to be there and thanked everyone profusely and regularly and repetitively...
Then they announced an intermission AGHhh - with two squirming primary aged daughters and already 2 hours past their bedtime and constant "How long now mum?" My patience was stretched to the brink - that piece of news filled me with dread - but at least it gave Bex and I time to belt through the thong/outa the tent flaps across the foyer and straight onto the dock front ciggies sparking as we flew out - us and 2000 people, loads of die hard smokers up here you know! At 9.30 we were poised and trying to work out the set. As opposed to the main tour, no podiums, no main centre steps and no walkway. Luckily they still had the pop up ramps so the lads shot up from the floor as normal ( mentally pictured a trampoline below though...) It didn't feel the same without warm up tune "The boys are back in town" was very much missed by myself - and the die hard fans. But for me the bonus was in the fact our seating was very side on...so when the lads came to the end of the stage I could have almost touched *faint* - well if I'd mowed past the gigantic people in front of me *sigh* Shane seemed to spend most of his stage movements in front of us - ah - that's a bonus and a half! I'd like to take a moment to thank the absolute darling couple behind us, who happily allowed the girls to stand on their seats ( they were still only adult height - so not a drastic blockage) and to the stewards who turned a total blind eye...*wink* thanks.
The show was a blinder! Mark was in very fine voice and may I say, in a slightly naughty mood cos for once - a hip thrust of two during the medley - granted - he wasn't gonna take anyone's eye out - but its the thought that counts!!! Dear Bex almost passed out. She screamed down my ear and almost flopped in my lap! ( embarrassed dame comment - almost did the same here as was so unexpected - and I'm not THAT choosy when it comes to Westlife - any will do!) Luckily the 6 year old on her back seemed to keep her upright! Yet another thankyou goes to the stewards for not being able to count LOL - Our Bex leaped a row or two and joined me and the crew - and she was a darling as had ear talked off, and clambering up her ( by children - I just pinched her arm and howled every time a certain small dark crooner slithered our side of the stage )
Most abiding memory - KILTS *thud* KILTS * faint* KILTS * scream*KILTS * picks self off floor* A dames dream come true! not only did I get 4th row eyefuls...but the naughty Nicky teasing the audience ( it was a hot clammy night - well it was inside the tent anyway!) As the lads were in Edinburgh on Saturday, seems like they just lost their deposit and kept the kilts longer than expected HALLELUIAH - Now I don't have to try and wrangle Scotland next year in faint hope its Tartan night... ( I'm odd like that - a bloke in a skirt in workman's boots and hairy ankles gets me aflutter every time....oh that and Shane's armpits * even more embarrassing admission*) Only complaint - hour later start time than expected - kids flagged missed chunks of last set. My MY Kian in casuals was rather racy I have to say - very Bon Jovi!!! He can air guitar all he likes 5 foot from my face!!! An energetic sort - glad to see all that Gym/ weights practice keeps him so fit...and muscled and vigorous- seems like he must have roped Mark in too cos the intervening weeks holiday has done him the world of good - looking far trimmer - either he's lost a stone or two - or wardrobe made next size up........JOKE - Mark Fanatics - he's not a big bloke - its the other three who are whippets- seen more meat on a butchers pencil -
Wonderful Tour, wonderful, heavenly and totally delicious, the music wasn't bad either!
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