The girl who daydreamed.

There once was a girl who daydreamed a lot.  She daydreamed of having lots of friends and being popular.  She daydreamed that one day she would be accepted for who she was.  She wasn’t the most popular girl in school but neither was she disliked.  She was just one amongst many wanting to express her independence and freedom.  She already knew her taste in clothes and music were not like most of her friends.  She was different. 

Her home life was not the easiest and she looked after her younger sisters a lot as her mum was often very poorly in hospital.  Her stepdad worked full time and tried to keep the family together but it wasn’t easy.  Her real dad only saw her once a month and then for only two hours. 

She longed to break free from the routine. 

Then one day, when she was about 15 years old, her stepdad and mum took her to a pub that they were friendly with the owners of.  She didn’t know it yet but her life was about to change. 

The pub was called ‘The Starting Gate’ and it was the first Blitz club style ‘alternative’ night.

This girl was brave.  She went alone to the alternative night. It was full of punks, new wave fans, new romantics, and lots of people with spiky hair – but instead of feeling an outcast – she felt at home.  She made friends quickly and realised that here were others like her.  She was not alone.  She belonged.  This became her family and she lived for Sunday nights. 

This girl was me. 

I have since grown up.  I am no longer scared of being different.  I am proud to be me and not conform.  You can like me for who I am or walk on by.  I like who I am. 

I had often missed the ‘old days’ and my friends from The Starting Gate.  I had wondered if I had thought about it with rose tinted spectacles on.  But it is strange how life gives you what you need when you least expect it.  Over the last year I have met up with two of my dear friends from that time.  Both Steve Martin and Caz Tricks have made me realise I am a good judge of character.  They were lovely people then and are still lovely people who I feel privileged to know. 

How rare was this time in my life.  I could not imagine finding this again.  This had been so special.  So unique.  Surely nothing can replace such special memories? 

Can you imagine how I felt when last year, my friend Martyn told me he was playing a gig there and kindly added me as his guest at a club in Birmingham called Only After Dark?  I, of course went along to enjoy the Heaven 17 set but came away with so much more. 

Only After Dark is my youth recaptured.  It is everything I had loved the first time around at The Starting Gate.

-It is my kind of music.  I cannot tell you all the times I danced to ‘Bella Lugosi’ on my own at the gate. Now there are others to dance with me! And to be able to dance to Bowie tracks somewhere other than my front room says so much about how much I love it there.

-It is my kind of fashion (…turn to the left…). I love the way everyone makes an effort and dresses to impress in their own unique style  

-It is my kind of people.  I love the people.  Lovely people.  My OAD family.

I have made so many new friends, Al and Julie, Sara and David, Debbie, Martin Smith, Maureen and the incorrigible Mr Chris Wilde.  I know I have probably missed loads of people off  – but I really do value all your friendships and how lovely and welcoming you all are.  Who would have thought that Birmingham would become my new spiritual home? 

Dreams never die.  I am a dreamer and once a month my dreams become real! 

Thank you to all my old friends from The Starting Gate, and to all my new friends from OAD.

I am so pleased to have you all in my life. 

Equality for all or why you should support gay marriage.

On Saturday I went to a wedding reception.  The couple were very much in love and it was obvious to all the guests attending.

However this was no ordinary wedding.  This was a very special wedding on a very special day.  Saturday 29^th March 2014 was the first day that same sex couples can actually marry each other.

It has been a long hard struggle to get here.  I feel in years to come people will question why it took us so long to recognise true equality.  They may ask why, for many years, we only offered a partnership and not a marriage for many years.  I wouldn’t know what to say to them.  All I can say is I am now proud that it is now an equal option for all couples, no matter what your sexual preference, to marry each other if they wish to.

To those who are not happy with this – this too was noticed at the wedding as there were security guards there.  The only wedding I have ever been to with security.  But they were worried about reactions of those who just don’t seem to understand what equality is.

So to those with religious Christian beliefs I say this - Jesus loved everyone.  He accepted everyone for who they are.  You cannot just pick and choose bits out of the bible you wish to use to support your bigoted beliefs.  And I am not an atheist.  I am a Christian.  I went to church for 15 years – barely missing a week.  I was supportive of Christian beliefs until I realised how judgemental some Christians are and how they use their beliefs to judge people.  Not just LGBT community, but also anyone who just didn’t fit in with their views.  I stopped going to church as my beliefs are that of accepting everyone.  And it definitely isn’t the case with the church.  And they should question why the congregation is less and less every year.  It’s not just about religion.  It’s about how does the church fit in with life today?  If the law says that same sex couples can marry – why should you say it is any different?  Who are you to judge? 

And to those who don’t object for religious reasons, but just because you want to object I say this – objecting to equality says more about you as a person than anything else.  And it is not a positive statement!

The wedding was wonderful and I am so pleased for Steve* and Mark* and wish them every happiness for the future.

One day I hope you will all join me in this wish.

*names have been changed.

 

 

 

 

 

Blancmange and Heaven 17 live for one night only. Manchester 15.03.14

Blancmange and Heaven 17 live for one night only. Manchester 15.03.14

Manchester is not somewhere I had been for a night out. I had been a few times in the past for work but never for pleasure. And this is pleasure one!

Unfortunately the hotels in Manchester on this weekend were extortionate. Not sure if it was the football or cause it is St Patrick’s Day weekend – but everything was more expensive than London.  We decided to stay in a cheap hotel a bit outside of town and get a taxi in. In theory this would still be cheaper than staying in the city.  However I didn’t bargain on staying in the hotel from hell. It was a cheap chain hotel – but one that hadn’t been done up for 30 years and still had woodchip wallpaper and huge TV’s (not flat screen).  However the staff was friendly enough. We decided to walk to a pub for some food before the gig. We walked and walked. It was in the middle of nowhere alright. There was nothing but a Tesco and a KFC. We opted for the later and my diet took a holiday.

We took a taxi to the venue but the taxi driver didn’t know which venue exactly as there are three academies.  Luckily some of my Heaven 17 friends found me and between us we all found the student bar!

Soon enough we were all inside the venue itself and ready for Blancmange to come on. While we were waiting there was some excellent early 80’s tracks being played including New Order’s Temptation, Soft Cell’s Sex dwarf and Devo’s whip it. It set the scene for what was to come.

Blancmange are first up and Neil Arthur does not disappoint. He is an excellent performer who gives his all to his work. He reminds me a bit of Ian Curtis. His energy and passion comes through the tracks. He even made an effort for Manchester, wearing a tie.

They played for over an hour and included, I can’t explain, Ultraviolet, of course, living on the ceiling (the crowd went mad for this) and my personal favourite, Feel me.  I love feel me as the words and bassline just work so well together. And of course it has the immortal line… ‘Put your hand in a pocket, a pocket of a friend. What do you feel? Tell me now?’ Classic.  They finished with Blind Vision. 

Again we were treated to some great tracks while the stage was set for Heaven 17.

I have seen Heaven 17 a number of times and have this to say about them. They are true professionals. You are guaranteed a great time if you go to one of their gigs. Glenn is always note perfect and Martyn takes personal pride in making sure it is all exactly how it should be. However, tonight they were the best I have ever seen them. They work so well together – they are funny and their respect and closeness for each other shows through. Tonight they reminded me of Morecombe and Wise. A comedy duo with affection for each other. It made for a great show.

They opened with circus of death from Martyn’s Human League days. Then they played at the height of the fighting (hey la hu) which they rarely play live.

They announced that tonight’s show was dedicated to Tony Benn who passed away a few days ago. And went straight into (we don’t need this) Fascist groove thang followed by Crushed by the wheels of industry. Two tracks that are obviously full of lyrics that are as apt today as they were 30 years ago.  Do I love the Heaven 17 lyrics because of the political connotations? Absolutely!

We are all singing and dancing along as they launch into we live so fast. Yet another song with lyrics that still fit our lives today. I wonder when they first wrote these lyrics if they knew they would stand the test of time?

Then a dance version of Geisha boys and temple girls was offered. Glenn said he reckons that a lot of Geisha boys and temple girls were out on the town tonight!

One of my personal favourite tracks was next. Play to win. Sex in fairyland was always a line I loved from Play to win. For years I have wondered what it meant and how Heaven 17 came up with it. At the after-show, Glenn told me the answer. It was certainly not what I had anticipated or expected or heard before from all the theories. But for me the H17 lyrics are open to interpretation. That’s what makes them special. For this reason I don’t want to ruin it for you all by telling you the definite meaning. Let it mean what you think it means to you.

The new Heaven 17 album is coming along nicely. I cannot disclose much at this stage but you should be getting excited. This will be the first new H17 stuff in years.  This is VERY exciting.  Let’s hope a tour to promote it will seal its success.  

If you have never seen them live – you must put it on your bucket list. You won’t find a better nights entertainment anywhere!
 

Heaven17 set list

Circus of Death

Height of the Fighting

Fascist groove thang

Crushed by the wheels of industry

We live so fast

Geisha boys and temple girls

Play to win

Come live with me

Loving feeling

Let me go

Boys keep swinging

Penthouse and pavement

Temptation

I’m your money

Being boiled

 

 

Welcome to my world – Depeche Mode at LG Arena, Birmingham. 27.01.14

Welcome to my world – Depeche Mode at LG Arena, Birmingham. 27.01.14

I was excited about this gig.  I had not seen Depeche Mode live since 2009 (Masters of the universe tour) and was keen to see them again.  So I had patiently waited until now.

I need to confess to you…can you be my personal Jesus?  For many many years, I told people that I didn’t like Depeche Mode.  This isn’t true. I love them.  But I told people that as my ex-husband loved them.  I protested too much because I didn’t want to like what he liked. I was young.  But the truth is – Depeche Mode are better than ever.  They have stood the test of time and came up smelling of roses.  They continue to produce great albums which are on a par with the legendary Joy Division.  So that is my confession.  I do love Depeche Mode. I can say it loud and proud now.

I got a bit lost finding the LG Arena.  It was my first time to this venue and I ended up walking around the whole of the NEC twice before walking in the right direction!  Well at least I was building up my stamina for the gig!

The LG Arena is impressive.  Not quite as big as the O2 but big enough and with lots going on outside before you go in.  There was a band playing as you walked in.  A live band!  I don’t think I have ever been to a gig where there is a gig within a gig!  And even the security guards were friendly and helpful.  (I have been to venues that make you feel like a criminal – Hammersmith and Brixton come to mind), so it was refreshing to have friendly security at such a big gig.

And people seemed happy.  They were all happy to be at the last gig of the Delta Machine tour. And what a gig it was.

After buying up the merchandise, we headed straight into see the support act.  For some reason they had pulled the whole gig forward half an hour so I felt a bit sorry for Feathers as many people were still milling about outside not realising they were missing it.

Feathers are a dark electronic band with a female lead singer.  She was very good.  Actually they were a very good band and probably not appreciated with only the die-hard DM fans in the venue at the time.

But then you are welcomed into Depeche Mode’s world.  I feel Delta Machine is one of the best DM albums to date and the band played several tracks off the album, choosing to open with Welcome to my world.  The words to this are so touching.  I just adore this track.  I can almost hear it as a film score to a vampire film…

And if you stay a while
I'll penetrate your soul
I'll bleed into your dreams
You want to lose control

I weep into your eyes
I make your vision see
I'll open endless skies and right your broken wings.

Welcome to my world!

This was followed by the second track of the album, Angel.  (Do you see a theme developing?) Angel is dark and angry.  These tracks symbolise why DM are still so successful internationally after 30 years.  They provide a way to feel, when you feel low, feel angry, feel angst.  These are the songs to fill your heart.  This is not the pop music ‘Just can’t get enough’ DM of old.  This is a darker DM looking to fulfill your every desire to full satisfaction.  I want to be satisfied completely.

The set list was excellent, giving full satisfaction for new fans and old.  The big hits were there such as Enjoy the silence, Policy of truth and Personal Jesus, of which Dave Gahan had the whole crowd trying to ‘reach out and touch faith’.  Dave is the minister and knows how to work his flock. We all have faith in DM.

Martin Gore sang some songs on his own.  Martin has a pure voice (in contrast to Dave’s dark sexy tones) and it was just beautiful to hear him sing Slow (from Delta Machine) and when he sang shake the disease I was nearly in tears feeling his pain.

Here is a plea
From my heart to you
Nobody knows me
As well as you do
You know how hard it is for me
To shake the disease
That takes hold of my tongue
In situations like these
Understand me

I want to understand you Martin!

The truth is that if you go to a Depeche Mode gig, you are going to have a good time.   They are professional, know how to work a crowd and certainly put in the effort on stage.

To the ladies sitting behind me or Rules for a DM gig. I came to a DM gig to enjoy myself.  Enjoying myself means, standing, dancing, singing, cheering, clapping and generally letting the band know I am loving what they are doing.  To say I am being inconsiderate cause I chose to stand up and dance means you are either too old to be going to a Depeche Mode gig or you need to realise I was indeed very reasonable and you should try going to a New Order or Green Day gig to really experience gig life.  I am only 5ft and have never asked anyone to sit down at a gig.  Never!  The bands want you to get up and dance.  So if you plan to go to a gig that is not a classical concert – expect people to stand up in the seated seats!  Sit down for a Depeche Mode gig?  You gotta be joking!!!!

Set list

Intro (Excerpt from 'Welcome to My World')

Welcome to My World

Angel

Walking in My Shoes

Precious

Black Celebration

Should Be Higher

Policy of Truth

Slow (Sung by Martin)

But Not Tonight (Sung by Martin)

Heaven

Behind the Wheel

A Pain That I'm Used To

A Question of Time

Enjoy the Silence

Personal Jesus

Encore:

Shake the Disease (Sung by Martin)

Halo

Just Can't Get Enough

I Feel You

Never Let Me Down Again

 

Photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasminestormie/sets/72157640250340025/

 

 

Last Vegas

Last Vegas
This is a feel good movie.  It is The Hangover movie for the over 40’s.  And I loved every moment of it.

It is full of acting royalty.  Michael Douglas, Kevin Kline, Morgan Freeman and of course Robert DeNiro.

And the script is outstanding.  It is funny without having to resort to being crude or disgusting such as the sequels to  The Hangover film. 

I cannot say who the demographic is for this film as the age range in the cinema varied from about eight years to 80!  This is not what I would call a family film, but it is certainly much milder than some of the other options out there at the moment.

The story is a familiar one.  One guy of four friends is getting married in Vegas and they have to throw him a bachelor party. (Stag do to us Englanders!).

It is an adventure of a weekend but with heart and soul – which Bridesmaids and Hangover do not have.  Maybe I am just getting old.  But I loved this film.  It was a predictable story but with fantastic performances, fantastic script and heart – I cannot recommend it highly enough.

It is a fantasy film – Because a 20 year old pretty young thing would never go with a married 60 something guy unless he was a millionaire and single.  Also how many of you get free accommodation in Vegas?  Yeah, thought so.  It is pure fantasy but ideal for a wet January weekend.

Go cheer yourself up and see this.  It will be a refreshing change from Mandela, The Railway Man and 12 years a slave.

Jason Donovan has kissed my hand and other reasons to go see Priscilla, Queen of the Desert!

Jason Donovan has kissed my hand.  Have I told you that?  It was a long time ago and yet people today are still interested to hear that story.

It is because of that story that my sister bought me tickets to see Priscilla, Queen of the Desert starring Jason Donovan for my birthday.

So one rainy Saturday afternoon in January, we glammed ourselves up and went to Milton Keynes Theatre to see the show.

And what a show it is! Priscilla makes The Rocky Horror show look like a shy closeted virgin compared to this!

Firstly I have to warn you how much I am about to use the word ‘Fabulous’.  Cause it is absolutely and totally FABULOUS!

The costumes were second to none and I have never seen a show with so many costume changes!  There were cake costumes, ostrich and feather costumes, paintbrush costumes (I kid you not!) and many other outrageous costumes, fake eyelashes (longer than I have ever seen!) and a lot of pink!

Some of the one-liners were really funny – ‘Go take your hormones’ – comeback was ‘Yes I just saw a whore moan’.

Jason Donovan even got a line in saying ‘how he had always fancied Scott from Neighbours’.

I loved the opening lines, ‘Hello ladies and….er ladies.  Who doesn’t want to dress up in makeup and glitter and dance around…oh yes…the lesbians!’

It is a well written script, and was delivered well.

I did love the lead in to MacArthur Park.  Bernadette and Bob had been eating cake and drinking champagne.  They left the cake out in the rain…I don’t think that I can take it…as it took so long to bake it…and I’ll never have that recipe again. Oh no! Just brilliant!

And the bar scene at Broken Hill.  A very funny and well-choreographed scene with the red-necks and mullets.  The contrast with the drag queens just made it really funny. Fabulous!

The whole cast were fabulous but I need to give a special mention to the following for their outstanding performances.

Felicia (played by Graham Weaver) – he could really sing and was fantastic at camping it up. I just loved his performance.

Bernadette (played by Wayne Fitzsimmons) who carried the whole show!  He was a perfect Bernadette (even though he was the understudy for the role) and really showed us how talented he is. Outstanding performance and very moving in places.

The three girls who were like mermaids in the air doing all the singing were absolutely fabulous. They could really sing! Forget ‘The Voice’.  These ladies know a tune or two.

I also have to mention the young boy who played Benji.  He is not named in the programme but was outstanding in his role.  I know he will be big one day with that sort of performance under his belt.

In fact the only person who I didn’t think gave their all to their performance was Jason Donovan.  His dancing and singing was half-hearted at best.  He really looked like he was struggling with his performance and at the end he said he was exhausted and glad there was only one more show to do.  Jason – that is not the way to keep your fan-base! You should always give 100% or just not do the show.  I know he is better than that as I have seen him in other performances.  It looked like he was frightened to camp it up too much.  All he did was to show how talented the other performers are around him.

I totally loved the show. It’s the most camp and outrageous show around. But just don’t see it with Jason in it!

PS. Did I mention they had my lipstick on?!  My lipstick from the Clothes Show.  You don’t remember?  The photos never lie! ;)

 

 

It's Panto season! Snow White and the seven dwarves.

It was a show like no other.  Snow White is my all-time favourite Disney show and I was delighted to hear it was this year’s panto at Milton Keynes Theatre.  I was doubly delighted to hear that Kev Orkian was going to be one of the stars.  I had seen him a few years before and remember how much he made me laugh so I was really looking forward to it.

 We had stalls (row cc so very near the front of the stage) and despite it being a Monday night in January, it was a warmish evening with not much rain.  So of to the panto we went. Oh no we didn’t. Oh yes we did! (What?!  Too early?!)

The performers were brilliantly cast and although I don’t think Snow White lends itself as easily to panto as ‘Cinderella’ or ‘Aladdin’ does, it was a good panto, full of a range of songs, dances and comedy.  I know I am getting old when the first song sounded like The Clash’s ‘Should I stay or should I go?’ but turned out to be a song by One Direction called ‘Live while we’re young’. (I hope Mr Cowell has paid the duties for stealing the song!).

Kev Orkian did not let me down.  He made me cry so much (with laughter) I am sure he could hear me.  My favourite bits of Kev were:

·         Gagging at the ugly woman

·         Commenting on the trees moving (It was painted scenery)

·         The song with the prince about being all alone

·         And finally…he brings kids onto the stage and ad-libs with them.  I couldn’t help but laugh at the poor kid who got a jigsaw puzzle in this day and age. He just hugged her and the whole audience felt sorry for her.

Kev is a true professional and I would highly recommend going to see him if you get the chance. He is just brilliant! I know he is also a talented pianist but we didn’t see that in this Panto.  Oh no we didn’t!

Although the show was very funny – the thing that was the funniest and what we will remember for a very long time to come, was the ‘Mr Smelly’ that my son had to sit next to (well I couldn’t sit next to him or I would gag). When I say he smelled. He SMELLED!! It was so bad I could taste it and felt I had a tissue out to cover the smell for most of the show.  My nose had been violated by the stench of that man.  He obviously wasn’t homeless as he had paid for a ticket and had a mobile phone.  But he was alone.  I just hoped people didn’t think we were with him or that we were the ones that smelt.  This wasn’t just a smell of B.O., it was the smell of someone who hadn’t washed in weeks or months. The last time I had smelt anyone that bad was in middle school where a boy on my table smelt the same.

When the wicked queen talked about snow white drawing her last breath, I knew how Snow White would feel.  I was gasping for breath and had to go out in the break, not for a drink but for some fresh air.

Just before the second half I got talking to the lady sitting behind me. (Behind you!!!Oh come on this is panto-season!)  She moved up a seat cause he smelt and got her perfume out and sprayed him with it.  It didn’t help much but I couldn’t stop crying with laughter.  I don’t think I would have the nerve to do what she did but was so grateful to her for trying.  I felt her and I carried the audience this night as many of them didn’t shout out much and didn’t stand up to dance.  I believe I was the only one standing up and dancing but this is nothing new!

Jennifer Ellsion is a talented singer and looked fabulous.  I loved her dress and she did make a very good wicked queen.  I just wish she would leave more time for the booing – otherwise we miss what she is saying.  Snow white was played by Kate Stuart and she had a lovely singing voice.  She didn’t seem hugely confident and I wish she had interacted with the audience more to get them to warm to her.  When Herbert was about to stab her in the woods the only person shouting no was the woman behind me. (Behind you!!!)  The prince was played by Shaun Dalton and he could sing and was very good at playing the slightly dumb prince.

However the other outstanding stars of the show were the seven dwarfs. I don’t know if it is still politically correct to say dwarves, but they were professional actors and were so good at portraying their individual characters.  I know Warwick Davis needs no introduction – he has been in everything including Star Wars and Harry Potter.  Well he didn’t get where he is today by not being a very talented actor – and my personal favourite of his in the show was when he did the Elvis impersonator songs.  I never saw that coming and boy was he great!  It was a total joy to watch.  I do believe I was the only one dancing to his ‘suspicious minds’ and wish I had brought some knickers to throw at him!

I did love all the dwarves. It was nice to see real actors play these roles rather than children and as professional actors they really brought the characters to life. I did recognise most of them from Star Wars and Labyrinth – they are true veterans.  I had seen Danny in the pub across the road a week before and starred at him. I hope he realised it was because I had recognised him from the movies. I just wasn’t brave enough to go over and say hello. I do regret that now. I’m sorry Danny!

I also have to give a mention to the dancers.  Thriller was absolutely fabulous. Michael would have been proud of you.  I wanted to get up with you and join in.  It was perfectly executed.

All in all it was a very good show.  I did miss men in drag doing ugly sisters or Aladdin’s mum but it was lovely to see a Panto where everyone had talent and wasn’t just in it cause years ago they might have been on the TV!  So a huge thank you to all the cast and crew for such an entertaining evening.

However – I was so glad to get away from the seat and breathe again. I carry a big handbag but never thought I would need to carry Febreze.  We got home and bathed as soon as we could!