George...I think YOU'RE amazing!

So Monday arrived and it was another busy day. The sun refused to make an appearance at all; well what more can you expect of a bank holiday? It was breezy too, not really barbecue weather but being British and all, you just carry on and brave the elements with plenty of layers! My friend Suk was the host but with Elena away and Sunita having an apparent better offer (?), the guests were just John and I, Ellie, Simon and the boys, and Ellie's niece also tagged along. I had a light lunch but asked Suk if I could have a bite later as well, as I was going to see George Michael at Earls Court that evening, leaving straight from hers. I wouldn't survive without an evening meal of some description; as my eating habits are as regular as clockwork.

Alice, my gigging partner in crime, arrived at 5:15 outside the house to pick me up, despite me giving her a bogus house number! Intuition or what?! We drove to Rayleigh station and picked up a train to Liverpool Street. I can't remember the last time I was on the Victoria line, but man it's slow! We cocked up slightly on the tube taking a circle line train instead of district and so had to change twice instead of once, but we got there in the end. I was glad we took the 5:34 train instead of the one half an hour later as it took longer than anticipated. We just had time to buy a drink, have a wee, take a quick look at the merchandise before taking our seats (which were better than expected) ready for the 8pm 'prompt' start according to the ticket. However, we should know by now that it's a ploy to get bums on seats before it actually kicks off, which in this case, was 20 minutes later.

And then the lights went down and George's voice was heard. One minute went by before he emerged from a door in the middle of the stage, to an uproarious reception. He opened with Fast Love which led into a funky version of I'm Your Man. George then said "you don't think I'd do that to you, do ya?" and the intro to the old and great version of I'm Your Man' was instantly recognisable. Whoop whoop! Wham was my era; I loved them in the 80s and I still love their tunes to this day. It's a great sing-a-long party song. However, George only went on to perform one more Wham song (Everything she wants), to my slight disappointment. I'm sure the fans would have gone wild for a bit of Club Tropicana, Freedom and Wake me up before you go-go. A lot of the songs he chose were mellow and moody, and although fantastic, I would always prefer to be up clapping and boogieing to an upbeat tune. I couldn't possibly name all the tracks George performed; there were a couple I didn't recognise but of those I can recall, these included:

Fast Love
I'm Your Man
Jesus to a Child
Amazing
Too Funky
Father Figure
One More Try
Faith
You Have Been Loved
Roxanne
My Mother had a brother
Outside
Careless Whisper
Freedom 90

I don't know what track he was singing at the time, but in the first half of the show, a very large inflatable George Bush appeared with a British bulldog sucking his dick (sorry to be so direct!). George isn't known for exactly being shy about views and issues, political or otherwise and this said it all. (See pic below)

He announced during the show that he was doing a Christmas single which would be available to download free on Christmas Day. He performed the accompanying song, Nina Simone's Feeling Good.

After he came on for his first encore, he did Careless Whisper as a duet with the fans. I don't mind saying so myself, but we sounded pretty darn good! That song has been in my all time top 3 since forever. I was hoping and praying he would perform any of my other favourites of his which are A Different Corner, Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me, Praying For Time and Queen's Somebody to Love, but it wasn't to be :( I shall have to have words with Mr Michael.

After the second encore he performed an upbeat song which I didn't know and then finished the evening with Freedom '90 (as requested by the majority of fans), but I guess he was expecting that response. Not the one I would have requested (see previous grievances above!) but nevertheless, it was still very enjoyable.

George did say that the reaction of the fans and the atmosphere in there that final final night had absolutely made it for him, and thanked everyone for their support over the past 25 years. What an incredible career. To have longevity in music these days is an amazing achievement. At the end he said this had been the longest gig of all of them which was 'great for us [fans] but fucking knackering for him'! lol

We got out of the venue at 11:10, and were shepherded like sheep through the gates of the tube station opposite. It was a bit unnerving being pushed along by the crowd; if someone had fallen over, they would've been trampled on. It's a hell of a trek to and from Earls Court, and Alice and I eventually got back to Shoebury at 1:30 in the morning. Lucky Alice had the next two weeks off work so no worries, but I had to be up. I got to bed just before 2am, tossed and turned for ages, woke at 4:30 to go to the loo, then managed a solid 3 hours sleep. I was so knackered this morning; I just don't function without sleep. I've gotta say it was so worth it though. It's a one off. I wouldn't have had to go through the sleep deprevation if it hadn't been for the false advertising on ebay when I bought the tickets. It said in big bold black letters SUNDAY 24TH AUGUST but when I received the tickets, it had Monday 25th printed on them! I contacted the seller telling him how aggravating that was, how arrangements had to unmade and rearranged for that weekend and that I purposely chose Sunday as I wouldn't have to get up for work the following day. He profusely apologised and after my suggestion of suitable compensation he offered £30, which I accepted.

Couldn't resist this pic. Look at the hair George! Aah, the good ol' days of Wham. I only wish I'd seen them in concert

My aunt & uncle's Ruby wedding party

Sunday 24th August 2008. It was 40 years ago today that my Auntie Annette (my Dad's sister) and Uncle Brian got married at St Andrews church in Rochford. Ironically, this was the exact date and venue that my Mum and Dad had booked for their wedding; however, a bit of a mishap occurred in the form in me popping into my mummy's tummy at the wrong time! Hence, my parents' wedding was brought forward to March 1968 and my aunt and uncle took their slot!

They've both aged so well; they hardly look any older. My uncle has just turned 65 - guys of his age usually have grey hair and are bent over with walking sticks and hearing aids! Thinking about it, most of our family look much younger than they actually are.

It was a garden party and obviously a bit of a gamble knowing how past bank holiday weekend weather has turned out. Most of the day was gloomy and grey with rain looking likely. However, come 4pm, the clouds parted and the sun tried its utmost. There was plenty of coverage in case of rain but it wasn't warm enough for short sleeves (not for me anyway). Later, the patio heater was turned on and the chiminea was lit, which a bunch of us ended up huddled around. At one point, my uncle Mike (my Dad's brother) was going round the tables finding anything that would burn - he even put blue cheese in it - gawd, it smelt so bad burning! Him and my dad are so alike with their mannerisms but Mike has a less obvious and quieter sense of humour, if you get my drift.

At dusk, after the food had been served, a makeshift painted dance floor was planted on the lawn for the evening's musical entertainment. I didn't partake but instead intermittently did a few moves around the table, which was closer to the heat! My dad was hilarious - he is the ultimate 'dad at a wedding' dancer and his specialty is 'Staying Alive'. You have to see it to appreciate how funny it is. I look forward to the repeat performance at my forthcoming party!

Spurs: deja vu?

After a 100% winning spree pre-season, once again Spurs crack up when it comes down to real business. It's like deja vu; last season all over again when we won just one game in the first six played. So far, we've lost against Middlesbrough (away 2-1) and Sunderland (at home 1-2). Thank God we haven't got Newcastle next coz we clearly don't like playing the Geordies! I was at the Lane on Saturday to watch the lads fail miserably against a very average side. Three of the Spurs side signed for Sunderland in the transfer window: Chimbonda, Tainio and Malbranque. Of those, only Steed played, and he was applauded by the Spurs fans I'm pleased to say. I was sorry to see him leave the club after having such a great season for us.

What I want to know is, how is it that whatever players we have and whoever the manager is, we always play the same way? The style never changes. I feel aggrieved that the ticket prices have increased YET AGAIN when other clubs' stay static, and I'm forced to watch a load of shite and listen to them being booed off the pitch.

I am also furious with a certain Mr Berbatov for his behaviour. He's like a baby spitting his dummy out of the pram. I just wish he'd leave now so we can all move on. He's done himself no favours at all because if he wants to leave the club so badly, no-one is gonna be interested in a sulky puss who doesn't know how lucky he is. I read in the Mail today how the club are fed up with him but are still looking for a £30m transfer fee. If it doesn't come and Mitta doesn't sort himself out, he will be forced to 'rot' in the reserves. I think he is more likely to chuck football in than do that but he needs to learn his lesson. I feel bad saying all this because he has been my all time favourite Spurs player who I have hero worshipped for the past two years. However, I'm not going to be a hypocrite because if it was any other player, I would be telling it how it is.

After Keano leaving, it's all been a bit of a downer and we have Chelsea away next game. Yippee! (not).

Impressive pre-season

It was nice to be back at the Lane today after the summer break, although I had pretty much cut myself off from football for the past couple of months. After meeting up with Debs & Mick at the Coach n' 'Horses, it was the final friendly before the new season, with the opponents being AS Roma. On paper this would be a test but it was far from it. Spurs were 2-0 up within four minutes and it was a stroll. Throughout the whole match Roma did nothing so resorted to playing dirty. After Mexes used the V sign on the ref, he then went on to gesture to the crowd (more fool him) because he then made a fatal error and Spurs scored. He was of course branded a wanker for the rest of the game. Next, a punch landed on Zokora who stupidly retaliated and it was our man who was yellow-carded with the opponent getting away with it scot free! Following this, Lennon got hacked down and this time a red was shown. Roma were truly shocking, whereas Spurs had some great spells with the new signings Bentley, Dos Santos, Gomes and Modric looking impressive. Darren Bent scored another two, Bentley also two and Lennon the other.

Line up: Gomes, Assou-Ekotto, Woodgate, Dawson, Zokora, Jenas, Dos Santos, Modric, Bentley, Berbatov, Bent

Subs used: Jansson, Bale, Gunter, King, Huddlestone, O'Hara, Gilberto, Lennon

The fans were successful getting waves from Gus, Gomes & eventually Juande Ramos, after someone on the bench must have translated for him! The usual chants were heard but I must say, I was very disappointed to hear a lot of jeers (to put it mildly) for Keano who left for Liverpool a couple of weeks previous. How a player can be a fans' favourite one minute and then hated the next is beyond me. Yes, I was really upset that he transferred but it's his career we're talking about - I say good luck to him and he will certainly get a good reception from me when he returns to the Lane with Liverpool.

Poor old John turned up in his Keane 10 shirt and had a few laughs directed his way. He's now talking about getting a black away shirt, the same as mine. All the Spurs shops had the longest queues I'd ever seen outside so it will have to wait until another day.

So the completed list of pre-season friendlies is as follows:

Norwich 1-5 Spurs
Leyton Orient 1-5 Spurs
Celtic 0-2 Spurs
Borussia Dortmund 0-3 Spurs
Spurs 5-0 AS Roma

The first game of the new season started with a trip to Boro. Let's hope the lads can keep up the good performances and not repeat what happened last time!