Wake up on Saturday 28th April with a buzzing nervous excitement. I can't quite believe that I've waited months for this day and it's finally here. I try to chill out, we listen to James in the garden while sunbathing. I am ridiculously excited. In the end we give up and head off into Manchester early. Sitting in the sun outside Urbis it feels like mid summer not April, it's one of those divinely charmed days that you wish could go on forever. Forgoing the Wetherspoons meet up (Kate threatens me with possible death should she be seen in there) we meet up with some of the oneofthethree crowd at the MEN arena. Once inside I'm a bit daunted by the size of the venue. I hate big venues, I prefer more intimacy. We are at least only a few feet away from Jim, so that makes up for it. After the Twang (alright if you like that kinda thing) we wait for James. As you may be able to see from the lovely photo I was just a tad excited. The gig was of course amazing from the moment Come Home began. The marching band were of course ridiculously cheesey, but in a whimsical, bizarre typically random Jamesian way. This band are about throwing out the rulebook, and they do it in style. Tim departs into the crowd during Say Something and gets completely mobbed. People desperately try to reach him to rub his head as if he's some strange talismanic presence. Deities are shown less respect than the mighty Tim. The gig goes by in an ecstatic blur, it was an epic night. Post gig myself Su and Kate carry on partying, witness a tramp pissing himself in Kro Piccadilly, and end up in the hotel bar at the Jarvis hotel. I have seen more salubrious Salvation Army Hostels. Trying to find the loo brought back scary images from The Shining. Fortunately I was too pissed to care too much. Somehow we got home around 4am. I woke up in my bed alone, so I know I got home, I'm just not sure how.
When I do wake up, through the blur of a hangover and a mouth that feels like a cats arse I find that my feet are still dancing. Perhaps thats how I got home, I danced my way, so if you read reports of a deranged woman wandering around Heaton Chapel dancing and singing in the streets then that was me.
Monday, woke up at silly o clock to go to queue up outside HMV. Gave up waiting for the train, so got a taxi instead. Got covered in soot and ash from the towering inferno, but got the wristband. Wahey! TMA (Mike) then took us to the greasiest greasy spoon in
Went back to the flat and tried to sleep. Impossible as my feet continued to dance and Tim continued to sing in my head. It's hard to sleep when you're thinking about Tim.
At 3 o clock gave up waiting and went back into town to go back to HMV. Watch a cute little set (Including the so far neglected Fred Astaire!) and managed to get 'Chelle a prime spot at the front. Go Girl!
Queue up again for the signing, getting more and more nervous, but Lisa and I manage to hand over the t shirts to the band without making too much of a fool of ourselves. They are genuinely rather touched by it and Tim held my hand to say thankyou until I was dragged away by a bouncer, (Move along NOW please!)
Shaking like a leaf, jump into a taxi and head off to
Try to eat some food. Fail. Far too excited.
As a coda to the days theme we queue some more at the Academy. Then some more.
James come onstage and play the most magical performance EVER! It's a tiny litle venue, fantastically intimate and our queuing pays off by getting right to the front. The highlight of the evening is for me, Upside, a new song that's treated more like an old classic. Tim may need his lyric sheet, but the crowd sing the words back to him triumphantly. Tim grins away in possible disbelief at the scene of devotion in front of him. Watching this band play live is an act of pure joy, the ecstasy bounces back off the walls and infects everyone. Kate is converted to the indisputable fact that Tim is the most divinely beautiful man alive. Having seen him dance up close she is well and truly besotted now.
After the gig we stand around in disbelief for a while, stunned and awed by what we have witnessed. We head off back across the road for a drink, but myself and Su get itchy feet, maybe, just maybe.....
We find an open door at the back of the venue, and simply walk in. There in the bar in front of us are Jim and Larry, who we get to chat with. We buy Larry a beer and make him blush when we tell him what a legend he is!
4 hours sleep later and I'm on a train in
I now have to face no more gigs and a month of single parenthood. I can see a big comedown approaching, but right now I am so truly full of joy from the last few days that for the moment I don't care.
Looking forward to getting some sleep though.....
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