No 11: Newcastle University 22nd February 2004

Travel arrangements are a bit complicated - we have to get the train from Glasgow (Queen Street not Central) to Edinburgh then pick up the Edinburgh - London train to Newcastle, which we manage with minutes to spare - its full of haggard looking English rugby fans on their way back down south after what was probably a very heavy night. Chris picks us up at the station and takes us back to his and Lizzy's house, some welcome normality. In the afternoon we go off to the local pub and meet up with Lizzy's brother George who again is someone I haven't seen for twenty odd years - this is getting to be something of a habit!

Then we're off to the venue with Ellie, Liz and Chris's 18 year old daughter, who is quite a Love fan in her own right - see the Rescue Rooms entry. Our names are on the door again (this is getting to be something of a habit) so we make our way in before the stream of regular punters, and find suitable spots to set up the equipment on the (fairly low) balcony. Lizzy has her camera and tripod, I only have the trusty Argos tripod of course until such time as Arthur and his camera arrive. It looks a tad weird, standing there with a tripod and no camera trying to protect a prime spot - various people come up and make comment like "lost your camera pet?" - you know what jokers these Geordies can be... Chris is with Lizzy and Ellie is with me - at one stage I leave our station to get a drink and have a chat with Scottish Keith who has arrived by this time, and get back to find Ellie fending off the advances of two local women who are very keen to stand in the area we have attempted to cordon off. I explain to them that we are waiting for Arthur's camera to arrive and that seems to do the trick, they're on their way.

The camera eventually arrives with Bent - the news is that Arthur's broken a tooth, he's spent half the day at a local emergency dentist's trying to have it patched up. Another great gig - you'd think we'd get tired of them but no way do we. Arthur whips up the crowd brilliantly - at one stage in "You set the scene" I pan the camera onto the audience, as it looks like very single person has their hands in the air and is singing along " I wanna love you but oh wo wo wo wo wo wo" (its sounds better than it comes out in print, believe me). Mind you, we North Easterners always were a fairly emotional bunch.

Quick chat with Mike after the gig - his old pal from York, Ringo, and his family are there. Then its back to Lizzy's house for some much needed sleep, and up early Monday morning- Lizzy is back to work and I'm on the early train from Newcastle to Newark.....and you'll be pleased to learn my car was still there.