No 7: Northampton Roadmender 15th February 2004

Once the North Eastern contingent had headed back up the M1, I decided we needed a new tripod - I'd used Keith's good tripod at the Rescue Rooms last night, it had been just the job. However I didn't think he'd be so keen on it going down to Northampton / up to Scotland / wherever the video ladies were needed. Also it was quite big and heavy. So I headed off to Argos and bought a cheap, light-weight one which came with its own handy carrying case!!

Lizzy got back from her epic journey late afternoon, a quick bite to eat and then we're off to Northampton - me driving, so that means not much drinking. I used to travel to Northampton quite frequently in a previous job, its not a bad journey of about 70 miles. After a bit of a detour we find the venue which looks a bit like a 70s municipal leisure centre. We head for the door - Bent has been good to his word and our names are on the list - and we have press/photo passes! We're in - and its not as bad inside as the outside had suggested.

Again, Lizzy wrote up a cracking diary at the time so I won't repeat all of the details. The camera arrives with Arthur, and Arthur doesn't arrive until much before the band are due on stage - he is the star after all. I do some waiting around while Lizzy minds our spot on the balcony, and Bent finally brings me the camera with the message from Arthur "Make sure you label the tapes". Yessir Arthur, we will, we've even brought a pen - and a torch, which we realised was a necessity after yesterday's fumblings at the Rescue Rooms.

No after show kebabs this time, for one thing we need to drive all the way back to Nottingham and Lizzy has to be up extra early in the morning to get to Newcastle for 9am. We do hang round for a while and have a quick chat with Mike and Rusty - Rusty is wearing a sharp suit on stage today instead of his usual black jacket, I tell him he looks good in it and he seems quite embarrassed - he's a sensitive soul and not your usual swaggering rock god type.

Drive back towards the M1, I nearly drive straight across a roundabout instead of round it, we survive that and make our way back to Chateau Yourmindandwe on a very quiet M1 at midnight on Sunday night.