[kj] Long weekend in London!!

[Shadforth, Jane SUKOP-OFI/3521]

I think I must be about the last to get online & post about the shows. Just read about 200 gathering mails, and still have work to get to, so will try to keep this brief(ish).

Thursday:

Managed to wangle working in London, so got my train fare paid, but as a result I had to get up at 5 to catch the train down, and I was still trying to get out of meetings & leave the office at 6, so I could get to Shepherds Bush to meet Iain, drop our bags off at the friends we were staying with, and get a couple of drinks in before the show. As a result, didn't have time to come & meet anyone at the Goldhawk, but we did bump into a few familiar faces from the past in O'Neals: Jayne & Mik, Dave from Bristol, Steve from Belgium, Owain, a couple of Johns, a handful of NMA followers and I can't remember who else - no gatherers I don't think, 'cos you were all in the Goldhawk.

Managed to leave the pub just in time to get into the venue, say a brief hello to Apple, AC, Woz & Nick then I disappeared down the front for the start of the show. What can I say? Despite the sound being definitely somewhat muffled, the atmosphere was awesome, and I had a brilliant time!! Bumped into loads more familiar faces in the pit, including gatherers Antoni & Jel, (& managed to convince the latter that I really didn't want to go over the top - call me a coward all you like...). Anyway - what a fantastic experience that show was - simply blinding!! Afterwards, waved to Dawn & Rie on the balcony, and met loads more friends, including gatherers: Alex, Nicola, Lisa, Steve (faces of sarah), Rob's Arse, Mick Head & son, Jamie, Stephane, Christophe, Graham Rowland, and many more, so sincere apologies to those I missed... Unfortunately, I had to get up early to run, (marathon training really gets in the way of social activities), so I didn't seek out any parties or continued drinking sessions. Left Iain to it & dashed back down the road to our crash & a warm shower & bed. Apologies to Lisa, Antoni & anyone else who ended up looking after him for the rest of the evening...

Friday:

Got lost in Richmond Park, so ended up running nearer 18 miles than the planned 17. Got back & slowly got organised for an afternoon & evening's drinking. Very tired by this point... Ended up heading out about 3:30 with Iain & our friend Rachel (who was having 1 final night out before heading to Hawaii for a wedding, then 10 months working in Canada). Walked up & down Goldhawk road trying to find somewhere to eat, but most places no longer serving food after lunch & not serving again 'til tea-time, (including the Goldhawk Tavern). Ended up back in O'Neal's which did us a very welcome half price meal. Next headed back to the Goldhawk, and met up with Jel & John, then later met Antoni, Mike, Alex, Dub, Lisa & boyfriend, Dave, and once again - sorry I can't remember who else. Had to leave the pub to go and meet other friends, and drop off stuff back at the flat, and bumped into Nicola in the street, and then Graham. After dragging out our hosts from their home, went back to O'Neals, and met more old friends, Johnny Edwards, Trina & Bambi, Chris, Alan, Stewie & others. Only had time for a quick drink before it was once again time to head into the throng. SBE was much busier this time, and the crowd on the floor were much more tighly packed, (at least beforehand & for the first few songs - I think it thinned out as the show wore on). Again - it was awesome, and the sound was infinitely better than Thursday. More friends in the pit this time, including Vince (the man with the mohican in your photos Alex). Another brilliant time had by all - although I left the Friday show feeling like I'd been run over by a steam roller... Thanks to Faces of Sarah Steve for making sure I got picked up when I ended up somehow underneath everybody's feet. Afterwards, met Brian, Juliet, and I can't remember who else.

Once again, couldn't hang around afterwards with swim & run training Sunday morning, so took off rapidly back to the flat to get warm.

Spent the rest of the weekend catching up with family & friends, and now must get on with that work.

Good to meet all gatherers - sorry to those I haven't name-checked. Roll on Cheltenham for some more... Jane










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