| Thursday 10th July Jen boarded the train bound for Darlington. I took a local train to Huddersfield and met Sarah on the platform. After a quick ciggie and a text from Jen telling me there was a devil child sitting in front of her, the train arrived pretty full so Sarah decided to travel in style....on the luggage rack! Didn't take us long to break open a bottle - could this be the start of yet another boozy event? We arrived at the Kings Head Hotel, threw everything in a heap in the room and legged it to the supermarket for yet some more alcohol. We went down to the theatre to collect the tickets and met up with Jenni, another of Jon's fans who we had never seen before. She was a lovely lady and was hoping to get Jon to sign her photo. He hadn't arrived yet but we didn't have long to wait until he arrived beeping and waving in his new sporty looking excuse for a car (had to say that because it's his pride and joy!). |
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Jenni got to meet him and had her photograph signed and we arranged to meet him after the show in the boozer across the road. He asked us if we were watching the show that night but we told him we had things to. He asked what our plans were and we replied "Vodka, tequila, pina colada, schnapps, wine, margurita....etc. etc." Lol, we think he got the message! We headed back to the hotel where we spent the next couple of hours, drinking, showering, drinking, washing our hair, drinking, putting on the slap, and drinking. After Jen got fed up with me falling over the cushions trying to line dance, Sarah decided to teach us Irish dancing. I surprisingly wasn't bad but Sarah nearly killed herself. We decided it was better to continue with our antics in the boozer (it's a northern thing!) before someone had a serious accident. Unfortunately, as Jen and Sarah left the room, Sarah decided to hug Jen, who then fell backwards, dragging Sarah with her so the two of them ended up in a heap in the hotel! Sadly, the camera was in Jen's bag at the time so we have no evidence. |
| We all had birthday cards for Jon as we wouldn't see him again before the event. Mine was a Man United Haters Club card, Jen's was Dancing Queen and Sarah's was Dancing Queen (noticing a pattern?). I had been inspired by a joke he uses in Pantomime every year and asked Jen to wrap an empty box and stick a photograph of a soldier inside. This would give Jon his very own Action Man Deserter. We weren't sure what his reaction was going to be, but after the amount of alcohol we had consumed, did we care? Jon came to join us after the show and told us he had some good reviews that week We gave him his cards and present. I'm glad he's got a sense of humour! He laughed at the cards and said he would keep the empty box, at least he didn't leave it as rubbish like the last time we saw him! Jo rang me and I had her talk to Jon for a minute. When he handed the phone back, Jen and Sarah decided to serenade him with his one and only record, "From Me to You OOOOOOOOHHH!" I felt like crawling under the table! Jon found it very amusing. |
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Before he left, I noticed that the barman had taken his glasses and told Jon that Jen would be very upset as she was starting a private collection (Tracy, I HATE you - Jen). Jen told him she needed a souvenir so he handed her the envelope that one of his birthday cards was in! She never comes away empty handed. After Jon left, you would have thought we would head back to the hotel as it was way past closing time - not us!! As we crossed the road the head back, someone is a closed Italian restaurant got Sarah's attention and the next thing I knew, I was being called back! I don't know what Sarah had said to them, but all our drinks were free! We ended up sat there for Lord knows how long with two rather charming Italian gentlemen. We eventually decided it was time to leave. The fresh air on the way back to the hotel must have woken us up so we had a few more drinkies back in the room which we paid for the next day!! |
| Friday 11th July
After listening to the Church bells all night, me and Jen went down for breakfast leaving Sarah in a heap in bed. We then hit the town in search of Jon's real birthday present. After looking for what seemed hours, we eventually found several items that would serve the purpose and headed back to the hotel to find Sarah still in a heap. We even had to check if she was breathing! Jen and I decided to join her and also collapsed. After some much needed rest we all got ready for the show. It was only me who even attempted to drink an alcoholic beverage! I even discovered how Rose had screwed up her headboard the last time we were there - God knows what she was doing though!!!! Went down to the theatre early to give Jon his presents as he wouldn't be able to stay long after the show due to a dinner arrangement. The show was fantastic, a must-see Ian Dickens Production. Ian has once again done himself proud. After the show we met Jon briefly in the theatre bar and when he had left we got to speak to the man who is taking over from Jon in 'Murder by Misadventure' - Steven Pinder. |
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We decided we needed an early night so
headed back to the hotel, but not before a stop at Burger King.
Mission accomplished - Jen got her souvenir, all three of us got
absolutely rat-arsed, and we got to spend some time with Jon.
Is this really it now until Panto? |
