. The Barras for anyone who aint had the pleasure of going is lovely
the area surrounding it isn’t...one word sums it up....rough (a bit like some
of the woman that was there lol)with JA, Caz and Lou
Friday 13th October – Glasgow
After eating (or in Caz’s case “trying”) JA’s speciality full English breakfast, we set off for Glasgow in the Orsonmobile, admiring the many “sheeps”, “moos” and “geegees” on the way, nice drive this one.
Over to Lou ………….
For once the sun is shining its a nice autumn day and what am I doing running round like a loony.. I arrive in Glasgow late after the bus broke down on route but when I say late I mean 30 mins late so I arrived at 11.30 and not 11...is it enough time to get ready???
I raced to La Senza to get the cleavage-busting bra...across the shopping centre for new killer heels and then made my way to the hostel to meet up with the others from the Glasgow groupie gang..I get the room ready (that means getting the bottle of Baileys cooled down in the sink full of cold water) while that’s chillin I watch a man being dragged from the River Clyde ...nice...
Caz and sis arrive we get ready (which means we sit
and have Baileys from Chocolate Cups) and then we're off to the Barras....we
arrive to find 2 young ladies in front of us but still we are looking at front
row . The Barras for anyone who aint had the pleasure of going is lovely
the area surrounding it isn’t...one word sums it up....rough (a bit like some
of the woman that was there lol)
So we stand and wait we wait and stand my killer heels now turning into feet killers so they have to come off. I’m standing with my lovely pink piglet socks on in a dirty Glasgow street, my once pink socks are now black socks. JA says she could do with a drink but not just a drink she wants booze, only problem is you cant drink in the street in Glasgow so it’s either to the pub next door (not on my last legs would I go in there) or it’s a can of something soft from the shop across the road. .JA and myself troop across the road and me being me end up singing ‘Bright Idea’ to the shop keeper who didn’t know who Orson was….I mean come on, get with it, lol. While we stand and wait and wait and stand I hear angels and the warming up session I sniff and grab JA and shout” Look Around” and so she does saying what is it? *rolls eyes* not literally “look around” but ‘Look Around’ the song. I dunno some people, you can’t take them anywhere can ya? lol
Now all the time we are waiting in the queue there are people going to the head of the queue. Now either they were really trying their luck or there are some daft people about but it worried me, it’s Friday 13th, a day I don’t normally do, but I will this year for my boys. So I’m panicking, but good ole sis sorts it out, she grabs one of the security guys who confirm we are at the right entrance. I sighed a huge sigh of relief. Not long to go now, the old heart is pumping, my feet are still bloody killing me and then we are told we have 2 flights of stairs to go up before we get to the hall!!!!!!!! If the pain in my feet wasn’t going to kill me there was always the chance the bloody stairs might. The doors finally opened and we ran like the wind up the stairs through the doors and into our places right where we belong.... the front baby:)
Now thanks to Myspace I had heard some of the
support band’s stuff and I had liked it and here I was getting ready to watch
them do it live. After hearing that they got naked at the first gig I was kinda
unsure of how near the front I wanted to be...dangly bits are best kept covered
unless of course its *coughs*. Anyway, on came Gliss and they were really good,
I have never seen a band before who swapped instruments so they were well worth
a watch (so much so I bought their cd)
Anyway here I was standing now with not only sore feet but busting for a pee as
well, sis forgot the tenas, how the hell we would manage when the band came on
Didn’t know but one thing I did know was that I wasn’t moving from my spot,
busting or not. The lights went down the music went quiet and out came Chris
the place roared for him, then came George, Kev, Johnny and Mr Pebworth himself
(all the girlies in the crowd gasped as he entered) the blasting beats of
‘Bright Idea’ started and we were off to a great start...however since when has
beer been for having a bath in? All these years the Scots have had people say
they are tight with things, well Glasgow showed it wasn’t on Friday night, the
beer was flying...literally all over us at the front. The security guys did
their best to stop the yobbos ruining it and at one pint poor George got really
whacked with a bottle, which was thrown. Did it stop us singing our little
hearts out?..No!...Did it stop us swooning?..No!..Did it stop us taking
pictures?..well yes it nearly did cause cameras don’t like being covered in
beer either.
The concert was belting the guys were belting and who ever was behind me pushing was gonna get belted if she did it once more, lucky for her a security guard got to her first.
The crowd loved them they clapped, stamped feet and bounced along with Johnny Pogo until it was all over. I took my bladder to the ladies and queued like the others til it was my turn and when I came out I was being ushered outside...but wait a minute I say to the security guard I haven’t done the merch stand..there is no one there he says.. the very nice gliss lassy is there she will serve me I say..and I wandered off to make my purchase, once that was done it was back outside in the cold Scottish air to wait for those we loved the most.
What we see next is not far off a dirty film, boobs and bums galore, women flashing their bits to be signed is not lady like and never will be, infact is disgraceful, sign a jacket, sign a cd insert but keep ya boobs in ya bra and ya butt in ya pants please!!! So, short bit next, they come out we get hugs and kisses they leave we are sad and left lonely in a place that no ladies should ever be left in without the protection of 5 men. lol We get a taxi back to the hostel, make our way upstairs to the room and get the Baileys out again only this time a chocolate cup ain’t big enough for JA, she swigs out the bottle (we have photographic evidence too) the black socks are shown to all and we all agree a great night was had. We sit looking at pictures we have taken and we sigh and say “god we love these guys”
Saturday 14th October - Sheffield
After breakfast in the Euro Hostel we said our goodbyes to Lou and saw her onto her bus before continuing on our way to Sheffield in the Orsonmobile, via the Metro Centre, Gateshead, to pick Sara up. Who’s stupid idea was it to pick someone up at the largest shopping mall in Europe on a Saturday afternoon a couple of month before Christmas? rolls eyes
We eventually picked Sara up and made our way to Sheffield. Poor Caz has had some nightmare city centre’s to drive into, Sheffield was rather unpleasant. We finally found the Travelodge, met up with Sam and quickly got ready, Caz and I headed for the venue and Sara and Sam grabbed a bite to eat before meeting us there.
The venue was the Octagon, which was part of the University. One of the better venues I thought, apart from the doorway we had to stand in for the queue which smelled like a public toilet (and probably was..eeeeewwwwwww!) While we were in the queue I was approached by a cute little lass who asked, “are you Julie-Anne?”, it turned out to be Laura (Liquidice from the forum), and then I finally got to meet Rachel, Judith and Juliett (The Kent girls). Queues are good places to meet people, lol. We were later joined by Sara and Sam before security let us in a little late to take up our front row centre positions. Very civilised it was too.
I have to be honest and say Gliss didn’t have a bad gig, they were consistently good throughout, it was only the crowd’s reactions that differed, some were rude and uninterested and some really appreciated them. Shame really, some people have short memories, Orson’s support on the Duran Duran and Robbie Williams tours most certainly won them a lot of fans.
Then it was time for our boys. Another great gig, crowd were fab and as always the guys enjoyed themselves, I love this about Orson, you can really tell they love playing together. Caz and I went mental as always, I do sometimes wonder what we look like to the guys, or do I want to know? Blushes
Again, it goes over way too fast……………..
Sweaty (or is that “glowing”?) and needing a pee we made our post gig ritual trip to the loo and made our way back into the lobby where we met up with George, Chris and Jason. I quickly got Laura’s attention in order to meet the guys, or she’d have been off and missed them. My good deed for the day.
We spent a while chatting to the guys, discovering J and Johnny were starting to feel like they were getting cold, before heading off with Sara and Sam to the Leadmill. Caz and I chickened out of standing in the mile long queue and headed back to the Travelodge with a bottle of wine. And so to sleep……………..a little anyway
Monday 16th October – Nottingham
Arrived the day before the gig and was pleased to be able to get a days rest -
even though I was bored rigid! Having found the Travelodge far too easily, I
settled in (minus internet connection again 
!) Please note the addition of OJ
to my tour diet! And am a devoted fan or what - Texas BBQ Pringles!!!
Arrived at Rock City the next day at around 4.30pm to find 3 people already
there! Just before doors opened the wonderful door staff decided to make two
queues and pulled a load of people from the back - sooooo wrong!!! The bag
check on the door was tighter than at a maximum security prison and people
poured past to get into the venue.
Managed to get to my trusty barrier towards Johnny and Kevin's side and waited
contentedly.
As always, Gliss didn't disappoint. They're still not getting naked anymore
though! LOL
Another fabulous gig from Orson. Shame the guy next to me spent the whole time
filming and never moved once to the music - god only knows what he thought of
me and my animal impression!! Those who have been to an Orson gig with me will
know how much I enjoy bouncing around!!! 
Met up with a couple of friends after the show just as Jason walked across the
venue. It was lovely to be able to introduce Phil's daughter to him, and then
to Chris who appeared shortly after.
As usual, the guys spent a serious amount of time with fans outside. It was
lovely to see them all again and to get such great Orson hugs. I also found I
managed to get a mouthful of fur from Johnny's coat too!!! Think I could sell
that on Ebay??? LOL
I met up again with Karla, who was in the queue with me and we hung around for
a little while. And if you're reading this Karla - thanks again for sending the
newspaper review to me! 
Once Karla had left, I watched the roadies load up before being pounced on by 3
lads walking down the street with their jeans round their ankles. Fortunately
they still had on their underwear!
I then began my walk round Nottingham (which JA kindly told me on the phone was
the murder capital of the UK 
) . I was extremely happy to have
found a cash point that didn't actually chew up my card and spit it back out
and got a cab back to the hotel to finish the Pringles!
Wednesday 18th October - London
I'm always happy to go to a gig in London, maybe because I was born and bred
there and I always feel a little nostalgic going back. Wasn't nostalgic in the least
about the traffic though !
Having found a dingy car park round the corner from Burnt Oak underground
station I made my way to Kentish town. Once at the venue was met by 3 others
and joined in the queue. So many homeless on the street outside the venue,
which was kinda sad.
At last I recognised Astrid coming towards me. It was wonderful to finally meet
her. And she was soooo excited about the show.
Having seen the guys pull up, we then got to listen to the sound check, which
was a treat as always. And we got the odd glimpse of the boys moving around
through the doors.
Yahoo were there later on doing some sort of pork pie eating contest which I've
never really understood! Met up with Ju and Adam and we waited in the cold for
doors to open. Huge thanks to John, the band's coach driver, who brought me
profiteroles while I was waiting. Apologies to Orson if you were 3 short on the
buffet! LOL
The crowd were fabulous! And once again we were treated to another awesome
show.
Spent a little while chatting to Gliss and their manager after the gig before
being able to grab a drink in the bar upstairs. Two words - FREE WINE!! All be
it in plastic tumblers! LOL It was wonderful to chat to everyone after the show
in such an informal atmosphere. We even had the pleasure of meeting Michelle
and Catia, who were both lovely. Having introduced Astrid to Jason, he
attempted to use his limited knowledge of the French language. Well, I think we
were both impressed anyway!
Astrid and I floated out of the venue just after midnight so I could catch the
last tube back to the car. Fortunately, when I reached it, it still had wheels
and wasn't locked up in the car park. I then found one of the things I miss
most about London - a kebab shop! Sitting in the car before the drive home, I
devoured the biggest double cheeseburger I think I've ever seen!! HEAVEN!!