The English weather will not dampen our spirits…

Good morning ladies (it’s morning for ME anyway, late night last night). Hope all you girls from this side of the pond are enjoying the very British summer weather we seem to be having at the moment, don’t despair, it’s going to be nice again next week. It’s a shame about the weather really, after a week of heatwave it starts raining and we get an open air gig, at least that was the plan…

The band had a get together on Thursday to discuss new songs over beer and pizza, we had a list of 26 suggestions and managed to get 5 that we were all agreed on, I guess we’re a pretty fussy bunch. Anyway it was nice to be able to get together when we weren’t actually working and all have a proper chat. Also during the course of the evening we were offered a gig on Saturday, some guy having a party had been let down at the last minute and we had been recommended to him. It was good pay so we jumped at the chance, and besides, it sounded interesting…

We arrived at a very lovely country residence overlooking the fells, but sadly amidst persistent drizzle. Low grey cloud everywhere, little chance of any let up. We met the guy who shall hereafter be referred to as Paul, since that was his name, who seemed to firmly believe that the sun WAS going to come out and we’d be fine playing on his lawn under cover (a large tent with no sides, known as an easy-up). We weren’t happy, it was never going to stop raining and it was rather cold and the grass was rather wet, and there is a safety aspect that must be considered. Electricity, water, holding a guitar and singing into a microphone is not a good combination. The guys couldn’t seem to get through to him though so I went and had a word. I seemed to get through to him. It wasn’t a good idea and anyway who was going to stand in the rain to watch us? Reluctantly at first he said we could play in his rather large garage, and use the easy-up for the audience to stand under. Not ideal, but the only sensible alternative. Although it was a big house there wasn’t a suitable room for us inside. First though, he had to move his brand new Ferrari…

I think that’s what was bothering him really, he didn’t want to get his Ferrari wet! Now I’m not particularly into cars but this thing was just stunning. An engine in the back like two big rockets, it was like a shiny red Batmobile. He started it up and it purred like a lion, then he revved it and it roared like a very loud lion through very large speakers. He reversed it out v e r y carefully, and we went about loading our gear in and setting up.

The Ferrari was not all though, there were several other expensive motors and a bloody helicopter in his garden! This guy has some serious money. He’s actually the team manager of Stobart-Honda (motor bike racing, about which I know nothing) so the bosses of Eddie Stobart’s were there (the UK’s largest haulage company) who were flown in on their helicopter! "The haves and the have nots", one of our band muttered, whilst drooling over the Ferrari. Coronation Street star "Tyrone" was also there (sorry Tyrone I don’t know your real name and can’t be bothered to Google it, I will watch the credits next time you’re on). He didn’t stay late though, probably up early filming. He’s better looking in real life, and not so dorky, seemed to be having a good laugh with all his mates.

Anyway sorry if I’m name dropping but those kind of gigs are such fun, even though it was bit odd playing in a garage. Loads of nice food and booze like you’ve never seen, really. Good job I was driving because those several bottles of Jack Daniels were looking very tempting, not to mention the Verve Cliquot champagne. I had a couple of bottles of Chinese beer though, which was very nice.

The crowd seemed to like us and the rain stopped during the second set so everyone was dancing. At one point we were joined on stage, I mean, in garage, by a guy dancing about wearing only his shoes and his Superman underpants. It really was a good job I hadn’t started on that JD…

I hope Paul liked us because he throws several such parties each year and these are the sort of repeat gigs we would really like to get. A glimpse of the "other world", a jolly good time and lots of lovely money. Let’s hope the weather is better next time if he does have us back, his lawn would have been a much nicer setting for the band, but hey this is England, and this is our summer. The weather may be rubbish but it’s still a great place to live.

I wish I had my own helicopter. I’d need a bigger garden though. Oh well.

xx