Flew back from Aruba and got back to our house about 6pm from Bristol airport, put my clothes on to wash, charged the camera, downloaded photos, ate and went to bed. The next morning I got up at 6, showered, packed and Dan dropped me at Chippenham station! I have never felt so bad in all my life- met Becky at Bristol station and we got the bus down to the airport. Arrived in plenty of time for the flight so sat around for ages and did Brian hands over breakfast!
The flight was ok ish but the seats had less leg round than KLM and the food was AWFUL! I don't think you can have scale chicken but that's what it tasted like! The film was the same one I had already watched on the way to Aruba so I listened to my iPod instead! We finally arrived into Newark airport at about 2 and found our way to the uniform dispatch agents who got us a yellow cab! It is all so American!!!
Had a few problems finding the hotel and the roads were quite busy because of all the flooding but I found the map and directed the taxi driver there! We tried our best to stay awake but as time went on and we were waiting for Jamie, we ended up getting into bed and watching TV and shouting at each other to stay awake. Jamie was taking AGES and her UK didn't work then we finally got a call from her saying she was on the way but there were huge traffic jams! She finally arrived at 8pm when we were just drifting off to sleep, we ordered the largest pizza I had ever seen then went to sleep about 10pm (which was 3am our time!!). Dan phoned us just before we went to sleep- aww!
Ate the most breakfast EVER and met some Queen fans then got the bus from outside the hotel into New York where we met Gavin at the bus station! Gavin gave us a whirlwind tour of the city which was excellent but after walking round all day, we were exhausted. Gavin went off to go out with friends while Jamie, Becky and I went to Best Buy and bought a DVD player ready for the advance copy of the Return of the Champions DVD we would be getting tomorrow then went back to the hotel and ordered even more pizza!!!!!!!!!!
Ate even more breakfast than yesterday as knew we would have no chance of getting food for the rest of the day and spoke to some more Queen fans! Got a taxi over to the venue with two of them and met Vern, Julie and Andrea.
Had to queue for the back stage tour thing and Julie and I were getting stressed about where our seats were! On the backstage tour we got to see them setting up the stage area and there were no seats out- more panicking! We got to short chat with Pete who let us see Brian's guitar and ask a few questions! Saw some other bits and bobs then got to see inside Roger's dressing room minus Roger of course! Inside there was a double bed, candles, Gillette shaving foam and Paul Mitchell shampoo. I felt very excited by this!!
We then got to go and sit in a bar in the venue for hours waiting to get let in. They gave us tea and biscuits and were playing Paul Rodgers. Also got to buy discounted merchandise (so I bought even more!) and got to pick up our goodies! When outside with Jamie to try and sell Michelle's ticket after Mark from Artist Arena refused to refund it or anything. No luck but did meet Karla from the Roger boards!!! Heard a bit of the soundcheck when collecting the ticket too but I forget what it was now!
Sat around some more then they called us to go in but we had to queue a bit more! Jamie and I managed to get to the front of the queue and I was panicking so much about where my seat was! We were the first people in the venue, got closer and closer to the front (we were running and getting very odd looks from security who didn't understand it as we had seats!) and realised that mine was right in the centre of the catwalk!!! I have never been so lucky! Julie and Vern spotted us from the back of venue and realised from all the screaming that they also had brilliant seats! What a relief! Met some great people sitting around us and also saw the two Paul fans that we met in Lisbon, and Lucy from www.allrightnow.com.
I felt the most relaxed I ever have done during the show and had a great time chilling out and watching! No stress about being squashed or pushed out the way! I really enjoyed the gig! We got a few smiles and nods from Brian and Paul acknowledged me during All Right Now! Lucky Julie got a drumstick from Roger who leaned down and passed to her. He was so close to me at that point, I almost fainted! He also wore THE WHITE again- how one man can look so good I will never know!! I just held the camera up next to me and clicked away while he was singing in white a metre away from me! Didn't take many other pix! Becky and Gavin were along the left hand side of the catwalk and every time Paul walked past them, you could hear Becky scream!
The set list was:
We didn't see any of the band this time although a guy we met in Lisbon met Brian the night before the gig and Brian asked him 'Where are the girls?' and he told him we were down in New Jersey!! LOL!!!! They stayed in a hotel in New York!! At least Brian knew we were there!! We did go to a hotel we knew the banc were using for the afternoon in New Jersey and had pizza in the lobby! Waited there for hours and saw loads of the techs/crew and Joe Elliot but no sign of Brian and Roger so we gave up and went home!
All the photos: http://www.girlonfire.co.uk/photos/thumbnails.php?album=139We all got up and got a taxi over to Vern and Julie's hotel where we hooked up the DVD player and watched Return of the Champions DVD!!!! Saw myself in '39 and went mad!!! Hung around in their hotel all afternoon having food and checking flights for LA on the internet- too expensive, can't go!
Got the free bus over to the airport round the corner, said bye to Gavin and Becky and I waited for our flight! Feeling really bad by now! Slept over night on the flight and did the long journey back to Chippenham! Just at home by midday and just collapsed on the sofa! Back to work the next day… all over for now!