Hello all. I am a verrrrrry tired Braffster, but I am home now.
There were things that I was thinking about as I was reading the reports but my mind is
not functioning
The getting lost part started for me BEFORE we headed out to dinner. Princey and her DH picked me up from the airport
and dropped Princey and I at my hotel which was the Travelodge. Princey waited til I was checked in and then headed to the Crown Promenade where she was staying with Trilly, Krissy and Di (even though Di didn't know that yet
)
We asked at Reception how to get to the Promenade. I made arrangements with Princey that I would join them around 5'ish. We were booked in for dinner for 6 pm.
Let me state here and now that on many occasions I have commented that I get lost leaving the loo, so imagine me in Melbourne
I left the Travelodge at 5 and headed in the direction of the Promenade. I got one block along and saw something for the Crown Casino, so thought it was now time to ask directions. (they didn't know but suggested a way to go). I headed off again to come to the end of a 'dead end'. *gulp* I rang Princey, she asked if I could see the carousel. Yes I could. Go to the Yarra River and cross the main road. OK I did that. Except I crossed the wrong main road and the river. It was also raining, I haven't mentioned that.
It started raining as SOON as I got to Melbourne.
I was wearing heels. Not high ones, but still heels and I HATE
heels. So I am walking IN THE WRONG DIRECTION - IN HEELS - carrying an umbrella. I asked someone else where I should be. - No idea. Then someone pointed to the other side of the river. Remember, at this time I am on the wrong side
, so once again I headed off across the river (and main road). I asked someone again, they sort of flapped their arms and said 'there is the Crown Casino it should be there somewhere'. I headed toward the Crown Casino and asked someone else. She knew what I was talking about and showed me the big glass doors to go through. That was the Versace. I wandered around in there and rang Princey again. It was funny getting all the directions. I then found an exit to the back of the building and asked another lady for the Promenade. She said go down past the flower beds, cross the road and THERE IT IS.
My 10 minute walk (in heels don't forget) took me 45 minutes. I was buggered and hot, plus it was still raining.
The other girls were wearing their
D 
Tshirts. I said I had my long sleeved one in my bag back at the Hotel, but I wasn't going back to get it.
My feet were so sore, I was so tired, everything about me ached.
I had a nice catch up chin wag with Trilly and GJ and then Di arrived. It was already 6 o'clock by this stage so we took off for our 'little walk' to the restaurant. When we got down to the lobby of the Promenade Mysterri and her DH were there. Big hugs
and kisses
all round.
so off we trotted. Now where do we go? We went here, we went there, we went
bloody everywhere
. I stepped in a big puddle
. My feet were on fire, so it was actually quite soothing
We finally, found the restaurant. It turns out that my Hotel was right behind it. I could have changed my shirt but I wasn't going to walk any further than I had to at that stage, plus, because of our 'scenic' tour time was well and truly against us.
When we got into the restaurant (Princey, Di and I got lost even when we got into the building that the restaurant was in
) it was good to finally meet Krissy, Nixter, Anny and her family. Plugger walked in right after us so we were all there then. *phew*
After a quick bite to eat we headed back to the Crown Casino and then we had to find Palms. You guessed it - navigation skills do not belong to the
's from DLO.
We took our seats which were pretty much on stage. I couldn't see Damien because I was the 'lucky' one to have the bumcrack view of Eric. He was right in the eyeline from me to Damien. I only saw Damien when he took several steps back or when he was on the keyboard.
The others have mentioned the concert. It was a bit reserved to start with but the second half of the show really rocked and we were all up dancing (including Braffy - mistress of the fabulous Canterbury Road dancing moves
)
Of course, we have our own resident backing dancer and what a fine job she did.
I do hope that Mysterri's DH got photos of that. I think he got photos of us all up grooving away having a blast.
I was very surprised at Krissy's squee. It was much lesss than I thought it would be and I was sitting next to her. However, she has a mighty scream which she let go with on a number of occasions (
takes me back to my Billy Thorpe days)
Damien, on introducing Vincent told the story of how he sang it one night and someone pointed out to him how he had made a mistake and that she is here tonight and then pointed down to
Trilly. He then told about looking it up on the internet and he ended up with flo'rs instead of flowers. He sang the song and said flo'rs again.
I like your version Damo.
The ABBA thing has been covered. It went down really well
All of La Bamba was sung and Eric played the guitar behind his back.
Randy Sandy - there was more of it sung than at Revesby Spud. Only by a line or two.
Roxy, yes, let your imagination work out the lyrics. Damien wrote it when he was with the heavy metal band.
There is probably so much more to tell you but I am so tired and my feet still haven't recovered.
Thank you Melbourne for a great concert experience.
Thank you Plugger for the lift in the cab after our Hut. I wasn't walking ANY further.
It was great to meet Mysterri, DH, Plugger, Krissy, Nixter, Anny, AnnyJr and AnnyJrJr. It was great to catch up again with Di, Trilly, GJ and Princey.
Big thanks to Princey and MrPrincey for the lift to and from the airport and Princey for spending time with me today. Princey.
One more thing. When I was waiting in the foyer of the Travelodge for Princey to turn up, my Miss 17's former drama teacher was signing in. I came all the way to Melbourne to see her again
Apologies for any typos.
aka @just_Leithal on Twitter 
and said Jimmy was wearing it! 
;D
, mainly due to lack of sleep 
Totally forgot about "Rock Me" being one of Abba's songs, I just love that one! Would have been so brilliant to see him sing that, I reckon he would have done a top version of it with plenty of gusto. 
, so once again I headed off across the river (and main road). I asked someone again, they sort of flapped their arms and said 'there is the Crown Casino it should be there somewhere'. I headed toward the Crown Casino and asked someone else. She knew what I was talking about and showed me the big glass doors to go through. That was the Versace. I wandered around in there and rang Princey again. It was funny getting all the directions. I then found an exit to the back of the building and asked another lady for the Promenade. She said go down past the flower beds, cross the road and THERE IT IS. 
) it was good to finally meet Krissy, Nixter, Anny and her family. Plugger walked in right after us so we were all there then. *phew*
