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Jun. 29th, 2007 11:33 pmAn OK shift this morning, the better for having yesterday's generous left-overs - plus some fresh nibbles - on the table. I have to confess to again indulging fairly liberally in the pink cakes, drawing the comment from Barbie "Pigging out on the goodies, eh? They are rather moreish, aren't they?"
The Waterfront Festival opened this evening. The bar in the VIP area was indeed run by Badger's Brewery, and there was Tanglefoot on tap. The first band on were none other than Loaded Dice from South Coast Idol - I couldn't hear the raucous supporters' club they had at the Guildhall, though. About half an hour into the show Brian, a family friend, came up and said hello. He turned out to be a fellow real ale enthusiast, so we spent the next two hours buying each other Tanglefoots.
There was a hog roast in the VIP tent again this year. It was VERY tasty, complete with stuffing, and I didn't get charged a penny for it - the guy serving just said "Have you got a pass?" and when I showed my 'Access All Areas' pass he happily gave me my hog roast free.
During an interval between bands I spotted Brazilian Sue out in the general population, and shouted hello to her. She came over to the dividing fence, and we talked across there for a little while. "How you get in there?" she demanded. "I'm a VIP," I smiled. Our attempts at further conversation were hampered by Alec, who came up at the same moment rattling his charity collection bucket. "I gave already," I told him truthfully - I'd thrown a quid in the bucket held by a lady who somehow knew me, half an hour earlier - though that didn't stop him trying to persuade me to donate again.
Popped outside for some chips. While I was out in the crowd I met Aussie and Carol; we said a quick hello, and I expressed surprise that they weren't in the VIP bit (Aussie's a councillor). They said they'd be going there soon, and joined me in going back there after I'd bought my chips. On my way back there I met a lady who asked how I was coping with no longer being Mayor's Consort...
A bit later, Sue came up to the dividing fence again. We began chatting again; before long Sue pointed wistfully at the VIP area and said "I wish I was that side." As luck would have it, I was carrying a spare VIP pass, so I said "Hold on one minute" and went outside to join her. I handed Sue the spare pass, saying "Keep this for tomorrow and Sunday." Sue was overwhelmed. As soon as we got back into the tent, she was telling me how much she loved me, and insisted on buying me a beer. When I asked for a Tanglefoot, she was puzzled by the name, so I explained it was a real ale, and Brian added that it was called that because "when you drink too much of it, your feet get tangled and you fall over". Around then, Jan, Michelle and Brenda from the Town Hall came into the tent; exchanged quick hellos with them all.
During Gilkicker's set, the band, and the compere 'Touchline Tony', constantly exhorted the audience to download their single on Monday and help put it in the charts. Touchline Tony then went round handing out 'Gilkicker' badges. Brian pinned his on, and tried to get me to do likewise, but there was no way I was piercing my Hawks shirt with a badge of a band I'm not a particular fan of.
During the interval between Gilkicker and Vanity Fare, Sue seemed a bit concerned that someone was going to question her VIP status, to the point where she asked me to tell people she was my girlfriend if anyone asked! Soon after that she vanished back out into the crowd.
Jade arrived early in Vanity Fare's set. "So I missed Gilkicker, then?" she said. When I confirmed that was the case, she seemed a bit disappointed, so I asked her if she liked them. She said yes, so I gave her the badge. Jade had some big news - she and Andy got engaged today! She showed me the rock he gave her - most impressive.
As Sue and Jade are old friends, but hadn't met for a while, as Vanity Fare played their second song I went out to the crowd to search for Sue. I couldn't see her, but, from back in the VIP tent, I saw her during their fourth song, and promptly brought her back in. She and Jade fell on each other like long-lost sisters. Later I assured Sue that her credentials wouldn't be challenged as I'd specifically got passes from Smiffy for me and a few friends.
Vanity Fare were brilliant, performing a superb set of late 60s and early 70s covers. The headliners, Mungo Jerry, were pretty good too. Jade, Carol and others had observed "When will they play their hit?" so I'd pointed out that MJ had at least four hits. Early in the set Ray Dorset introduced the song he'd written that Kelly Marie had a hit with, then they played Feels Like I'm In Love, in the style of their own hits rather than of Kelly's version. They went on to play three of their hits - Lady Rose and Baby Jump, just before the big climax with, of course, an extended version of In The Summertime. After that they closed the show with some song about saying goodbye.
Well, dear friends, all those pints of Tanglefoot have taken their toll, and I have to be up in the morning to go to London for the RL, so I'll say 'night.
The Waterfront Festival opened this evening. The bar in the VIP area was indeed run by Badger's Brewery, and there was Tanglefoot on tap. The first band on were none other than Loaded Dice from South Coast Idol - I couldn't hear the raucous supporters' club they had at the Guildhall, though. About half an hour into the show Brian, a family friend, came up and said hello. He turned out to be a fellow real ale enthusiast, so we spent the next two hours buying each other Tanglefoots.
There was a hog roast in the VIP tent again this year. It was VERY tasty, complete with stuffing, and I didn't get charged a penny for it - the guy serving just said "Have you got a pass?" and when I showed my 'Access All Areas' pass he happily gave me my hog roast free.
During an interval between bands I spotted Brazilian Sue out in the general population, and shouted hello to her. She came over to the dividing fence, and we talked across there for a little while. "How you get in there?" she demanded. "I'm a VIP," I smiled. Our attempts at further conversation were hampered by Alec, who came up at the same moment rattling his charity collection bucket. "I gave already," I told him truthfully - I'd thrown a quid in the bucket held by a lady who somehow knew me, half an hour earlier - though that didn't stop him trying to persuade me to donate again.
Popped outside for some chips. While I was out in the crowd I met Aussie and Carol; we said a quick hello, and I expressed surprise that they weren't in the VIP bit (Aussie's a councillor). They said they'd be going there soon, and joined me in going back there after I'd bought my chips. On my way back there I met a lady who asked how I was coping with no longer being Mayor's Consort...
A bit later, Sue came up to the dividing fence again. We began chatting again; before long Sue pointed wistfully at the VIP area and said "I wish I was that side." As luck would have it, I was carrying a spare VIP pass, so I said "Hold on one minute" and went outside to join her. I handed Sue the spare pass, saying "Keep this for tomorrow and Sunday." Sue was overwhelmed. As soon as we got back into the tent, she was telling me how much she loved me, and insisted on buying me a beer. When I asked for a Tanglefoot, she was puzzled by the name, so I explained it was a real ale, and Brian added that it was called that because "when you drink too much of it, your feet get tangled and you fall over". Around then, Jan, Michelle and Brenda from the Town Hall came into the tent; exchanged quick hellos with them all.
During Gilkicker's set, the band, and the compere 'Touchline Tony', constantly exhorted the audience to download their single on Monday and help put it in the charts. Touchline Tony then went round handing out 'Gilkicker' badges. Brian pinned his on, and tried to get me to do likewise, but there was no way I was piercing my Hawks shirt with a badge of a band I'm not a particular fan of.
During the interval between Gilkicker and Vanity Fare, Sue seemed a bit concerned that someone was going to question her VIP status, to the point where she asked me to tell people she was my girlfriend if anyone asked! Soon after that she vanished back out into the crowd.
Jade arrived early in Vanity Fare's set. "So I missed Gilkicker, then?" she said. When I confirmed that was the case, she seemed a bit disappointed, so I asked her if she liked them. She said yes, so I gave her the badge. Jade had some big news - she and Andy got engaged today! She showed me the rock he gave her - most impressive.
As Sue and Jade are old friends, but hadn't met for a while, as Vanity Fare played their second song I went out to the crowd to search for Sue. I couldn't see her, but, from back in the VIP tent, I saw her during their fourth song, and promptly brought her back in. She and Jade fell on each other like long-lost sisters. Later I assured Sue that her credentials wouldn't be challenged as I'd specifically got passes from Smiffy for me and a few friends.
Vanity Fare were brilliant, performing a superb set of late 60s and early 70s covers. The headliners, Mungo Jerry, were pretty good too. Jade, Carol and others had observed "When will they play their hit?" so I'd pointed out that MJ had at least four hits. Early in the set Ray Dorset introduced the song he'd written that Kelly Marie had a hit with, then they played Feels Like I'm In Love, in the style of their own hits rather than of Kelly's version. They went on to play three of their hits - Lady Rose and Baby Jump, just before the big climax with, of course, an extended version of In The Summertime. After that they closed the show with some song about saying goodbye.
Well, dear friends, all those pints of Tanglefoot have taken their toll, and I have to be up in the morning to go to London for the RL, so I'll say 'night.
