Paris 2007

Paris was actually the first international show I planned to do. I decided to make a weekend of it and do some sightseeing as well. I flew out on the Thursday and back on the Monday.

On the Thursday, I arrived in Paris and made my way to the hotel. It was just down the road from the stadium which was very handy. I had planned to go into the city centre to see Paris by night but I was so tired I went straight to bed.

I was up bright and early on the Friday, determined to spend a full day sight-seeing. I have been to Paris before but it was years ago. I had breakfast and made my way into the city centre. I decided to do an open top bus tour. I thought I’d go all the way round, taking photos of all the sights, then get off where I wanted. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t on my side. About halfway round, the heavens opened and it poured with rain. All the sensible people went downstairs in the dry but I was determined I would see everything. So there I was, by myself sat huddled under an umbrella in the pouring rain, laughing my head off at my own stupidity!

I managed to stick it out for a whole circuit. The second time round I decided to get off and go somewhere dry so I had a look round Notre-Dame. After that, the weather had improved slightly so I went on a boat trip on the Seine. Then I decided to go up the Eiffell Tower. The queues were HUGE! I eventually got up there and the views were spectacular. After that I decided I’d seen enough for one day so I headed back to my hotel. After a while I decided to wander round and find a place to eat. I then had the problem of trying to translate the menu. I must have looked very silly sat there studying the menu with my French phrase book in hand! But I managed it ok, and had a lovely meal before heading back to the hotel for some rest before the main event the following day.

When I woke up in Paris the next day, the sun was shining brightly, a complete contrast to the day before. I had breakfast and hung around the hotel for a bit.

Around Midday, I headed to the venue. I walked around it for a bit before finding the queue for the standing area, which was already quite long. I sat down there, by myself, in the blazing sunshine. I had been there no more than 5 minutes when I started to ask myself do I really want to sit here like this all day? I knew all my friends would be meeting in the pub at 5 so I decided I’d have a wander around for a bit and then go and join them. I left my place in the queue and wandered around to the other side of the venue. I found a little park area so I went in there and sat on one of the benches, just killing time really. While I was wandering I looked down one of the streets which was blocked off by security. It was where all the lorries that had carried all the stage show were parked. I couldn’t believe how many there were! I couldn’t see them all but what I could see was lorries double parked all the way down this road which led along a whole side of the stadium.

At 5, I headed off to the pub and met up with my friends and had a couple of drinks. That was so much more fun than sitting in a queue by myself. After a while we all headed off to the stadium. We all kind of went our separate ways. Helen and I stuck together. We decided, since there was no way we’d make it into the circle at the front, we’d just have a few beers and watch the show from the back of the stadium.

After the support bands finished, we decided we’d go a little bit further forward as we couldn’t actually see very much from the back. After a few minutes this changed to lets see how far forward we can get. We couldn’t actually get very far.

The show itself was fantastic. The atmosphere in the crowd was amazing. But the show was spoiled by the fact I couldn’t actually see very much and I could hardly hear because the crowd around us were singing so loudly! I kind of thought at that point maybe I should have stayed in the queue.

After the show I headed back to the hotel and went straight to bed thinking I’d get up early and do some more sightseeing.

The following day I woke up and could hardly open my eyes. I just felt so drained. So I had a lie in. At around midday I thought I ought to make the most of being in Paris. I got up and went into the city again. I had a little wander around Champs Elysees. As I had very little energy, I sat in a park area for a while, writing in my diary. It did start to rain at one point so I was sat there, by myself, with my umbrella up, scribbling away in my notebook!

Then I decided I was hungry so I started to look for somewhere to eat. Everywhere I looked at was either too expensive or I couldn’t understand a thing on the menu or, more often than not, both. The further along I went the more annoyed I was getting. The combination of being hungry and tired was taking its toll. Then, as I was walking along this random guy walked alongside me and he was looking at me. I gave him a look which would have quite blatantly said go away (I’m good at those!) then he spoke to me in French. I gave him another look and walked a bit faster. Then he spoke in Italian. I tried to ignore him again. Then he said in English ‘Oh you don’t understand me. You’re beautiful’ I pretended I still didn’t understand and stopped at a little stall, pretending to look at some postcards. But this guy just would not leave me alone. He stopped too! So in the end I told him very plainly and very clearly, using an F word that is internationally known to go away. I then walked away and, to my relief, he didn’t follow.

That incident spooked me a bit and I decided I didn’t want to hang around there any longer. So I decided I’d go to the hard Rock Cafe to eat. I knew I’d understand their menu ok! So I checked my stalker was nowhere to be seen and got on the metro. If I was in a bad mood before, it was 10 times worse by now. I finally got to the Hard rock Cafe. I was greeted and seated. I sat there with my menu and decided what I would have. I then waited for someone to take my order. I waited. Then I waited some more. No sign. Other people arrived after me and had their orders taken, yet they were walking straight past me. So I decided after 20 minutes that they obviously didn’t want my custom, so I left in a huff. By now, I was ready to kill someone. I had a little temper cry and went back to the tube station. I was just looking at the tube map on the wall when another guy came up to me and said something to me and touched my arm. He got a death look and I marched away before hit him.

Then, I chose the wrong seat at the platform. I ended up sat next to the local wino who also attempted a conversation with me. I couldn’t even be bothered to give him a death stare so I just ignored him, willing my train to hurry up and get me out of there. It was obviously national Nut job day in Paris and I wanted out.

I got back to my hotel and had a good cry. Actually it had got to the point where I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry so I did a bit of both. I was still hungry so I ventured out into the surrounding area in search of food. But it seemed that particular area in Paris took the pavements in on Sundays. Nothing was open. After a while I found a place, not far from the stadium where I’d seen Muse the night before. The menu was in English and French, the prices were reasonable, the staff were friendly and the food was delicious. See, it all worked out in the end!

After that I went back to the hotel and to bed and flew home the next day. So, although I’d had a bad day Sunday, I loved Paris. I’d definitely go back there.

Wembley weekend - Wembley Stadium, 2nd show

I got up bright and early and left my hotel room. I had to transfer to another hotel. I booked there because by the time I found out about the second show the prices for the hotel I’d originally booked had doubled and there was no way I was paying that!

I dumped my stuff off and got in the queue around 10ish. I was queuing by myself because Liron had decided to camp out overnight to ensure a barrier place. Now I love Muse to bits but there was no way I was going to deny myself a comfortable hotel bed in favour of a cold pavement just to be that little bit closer. Besides the days of me being able to stand at a barrier all day without needing the loo are long gone I’m afraid, as my Isle of Wight experience proved! My other friends were all going in a different entrance.

It didn’t really matter though. I got chatting to the people around me. They had all bought beer and were kind enough to share them with me. I think I had 3 or maybe four cans before the gates opened! When they did, I ran for the circle. I got there no problem and I stood with the people I had been talking to. We were quite near the front, by the walkway bit again. After a while, the crowd started closing in around us and I decided I didn’t want to stay there. I decided I’d have a wander about, a few more drinks and stand at the back of the circle in all that space as I did the day before.

I didn’t really take any notice of any of the support bands. I was too busy wandering around. Helen, Cris and Maysie were all standing in the left hand side of the circle and I was on the right. But we all managed to meet up in the food area. I decided to buy some merch. I bought a T shirt, a belt and a nice warm hoodie which I knew would be useful later!

Just before Muse came on, I went and stood at the back of the circle. I got an even better look at the entrance. The whole show was fantastic again! There were points in the show where the tiredness and the alcohol had taken affect on me. That combined with the giant video screens made me feel dizzy and I had to shut my eyes for a few moments to get my brain/eye coordination back to normal!

They played Bliss which I was SO pleased about! It had been a while since they played it. The people around me weren’t really taking a lot of notice as they were too busy chasing the balloons about, which I found both amusing and annoying at the same time.

On the way out, someone was proudly showing off a piece of balloon he’d captured. I couldn’t help it. I thought of my bit of balloon from Birmingham. I told him it was lovely but in 6 months time it would be yellow, manky and horrible! He didn’t seem to care.

So that was it, all over. I made my way back to the hotel. I knew there were friends of mine just downstairs in the bar but I was so tired after such an amazing weekend. I just wanted bed! I met up with Liron for a bit as I had some of her belongings with me as she didn’t want to sleep with them on the streets. Then that was it all over. What an amazing weekend!

Wembley weekend - Wembley Stadium, 1st show

I had a very interrupted sleep. I kept waking up, feeling a wave of excitement then dropping off to sleep again. Then at 6.30am I got a text from home saying my sister had gone into labour. So of course, I was even more excited then!

I got up fairly early and went down for breakfast. I met up with Abbi and another friend Liron, who had come all the way from Israel for the shows! I had been having a bit of a debate with myself about this whole weekend. Part of me wanted to spend it catching up with my friends, some of whom I probably wouldn’t see again for ages. But another part of me knew I had to queue to get into the golden circle. I did not want to be stuck at the back of the stadium for these shows. I had arranged to meet friends for lunch at 12.30, but in the end I felt I HAD to make sure I was in the front circle. So at 11ish, Liron and I joined the queue by entrance F. There were already a lot of people queuing and the panic set in. I was so worried that after queuing for all that time we wouldn’t get into the circle.

The weather was awful too. Rain, shine, rain, shine!

At around 3ish, they opened the gates and we were in!! I needn’t have worried, as there was plenty of room in that circle. The set just looked amazing. There was a walkway to a platform in the middle, so we settled ourselves against the barrier of that, just by the steps leading up to the platform on the right hand side.

This was the time when I realised that there was a left and right side to the circle, and you couldn’t cross over. My friend Karen was in the left hand side, so we had no chance of meeting up.

Just after we got our spot, the heavens opened and we got completely soaked.

I watched all the support bands. They were all good. Even The Streets, who I never really liked before. Their music still isn’t really my thing, but they did get the crowd going. I really liked them for that.

While they were on, I got a phone call from my Dad, trying to find out if I’d heard anything about my sister yet. You try speaking down a mobile phone to someone about something important while a band are onstage in front of thousands of people! It wasn’t happening!

Then, that moment we had been waiting for had finally arrived and it was time for Muse. Just before they came on, we saw a lot of action with the security guys in front of us and then everyone was looking towards the platform. It was then we realised they were going to make their entrance there!

Then, there was this HUGE shower of confetti and the band appeared on the platform. They then made their way down the steps and along the walkway by where we were to the stage. I tried to take a couple of pictures but they didn’t come out well as I was too busy going ‘OH MY GOD!’ at the time!!!

They then burst into ‘Knights Of Cydonia’ We left our spots at the barrier and took full advantage of all the space at the back of the circle. The adrenaline kicked in and I was jumping around and singing every word like my life depended on it!

During the second song, ‘Hysteria’, we noticed Carl Barat was stood just in front of us. Liron had her photo taken with him. I didn’t as I’ve met him before, outside the Albert Hall after the Kasabian gig earlier this year. I sent a text to Karen, the other side of the circle, as she is a HUGE fan of his. She dared me to pinch his bum. I was just contemplating this, when he must have picked up on it because he disappeared!

Then muse had my full attention again. I watched the rest of the set with no distractions. I was SO pleased to hear ‘Citizen Erased’!!!

The stage show was spectacular! The lights, the video screens, everything. And the band were on top form.

When they started to play ‘New Born’ I thought of my sister. I had been joking to everyone that I’d probably get the call to say I was an Auntie during ‘New Born’ I had my phone in my hand. Just after they finished playing it, they went off stage. We were just waiting for them to come back for an encore when I got a text from my Mum to phone home A.S.A.P. I did and I was told I had a nephew! How’s that for timing!

So the rest of the show was a total celebration! Not only was I seeing the most amazing show ever, but I had a new addition to my family!! It was a very emotional time for me and something I will never forget. I cant wait to tell Tyler what I was doing while he was being born one day!

The rest of the show was amazing too. Especially Blackout, where they had 2 acrobats hanging from giant balloons. That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen at a concert. It was really beautiful and fitted in with the song perfectly. The sight of 80,000 people’s mobile phones twinkling in the darkness during Soldiers Poem was also amazing!

All too soon, it was all over. I was in the mood to celebrate, but all my friends had other plans. I was determined to wet the baby’s head so I went down to the hotel bar and had a pint by myself on his behalf! I didn’t stay long as the bar was packed and I was physically and emotionally drained.

What an amazing day that was!!!

Wembley weekend - Trafalgar Square Sing-a-long

The excitement and anticipation for these two Wembley Stadium shows had been building up for months. Finally the time was here. I was so excited on the train. I couldn’t keep the grin off my face, much to the confusion of the other passengers!

I got to Wembley early afternoon and checked into my hotel. I stayed at the same hotel I’d stayed in for the Arena shows in November for the first 2 nights. The hotel was right next to the stadium and I could see it from the window of my room. I was so excited, I just couldn’t sit still. I kept pacing up and down the room, looking at the stadium and muttering ‘Oh my god!’ to myself. I kept wondering how the guys must have been feeling then. I was getting nervous for them. Then I was telling myself, what are you nervous for? You’re not playing there, you only have to stand and watch! I had a beer and tried to calm down a bit, but just couldn’t.

After an hour, I left the hotel and met up with my friend Helen and another friend, Cris, who had come from America. I had met her when we went out there in April. We then got on the tube and headed for Trafalgar square. We had just come out of the tube when I got a phone call from another friend, Linda. Some of the girls from the message board had decided to dress as fairies. Linda was all dressed up and was by herself. The message I got was that she was hiding behind a pillar, too scared to come out dressed up! So we waited there for her and we all made our way to the square. She shouldn’t have worried. She looked amazing!

When we got there and there was already quite a large crowd of people. We had our photos taken and someone took a video clip of us too. A bit later all the others arrived and they created quite a bit of attention with their fantastic costumes!

A bit later on, the singing started. It was SO much fun! It was so strange though, stood there, in the middle of London with a huge group of other fans singing away to Muse songs. We created a fair bit of attention from the unsuspecting tourists too. I hope we managed to raise plenty of money too for the 3 charities. That’s what it was all about after all.

Well done to everyone who helped organise it. I’m so glad it was such a success. We had a lot of fun!

After everything had wound down, I said goodbye to everyone and Helen and I headed back to Wembley. I then met up with Abbi, who is one of my live journal friends, in the hotel bar. It was so good to meet her!

I had a couple of beers there and then headed off to bed. Ready to get plenty of sleep for the main events!