Sparkling in the Rain :)

well, this is somewhat belated… but saturday, july 18 was

SIMPLE MINDS, LIVE @ EDINBURGH CASTLE !!!

 

this was ordered months ago. and anticipated more than most things this year. and it didnt quite go to plan…. as is the tendency with most things in my whirled… and it was still profoundly PERFECT.

the hotel room was ENORMOUS. ambassador suite. three beds. and lil ole me to sleep in them. fooks sake..

the matronly ma’am was venerable, stoic, chiselled, grey, and well ard. and quite intimidating, tho not quite as much as the 20ish year old fido she kept, who she sagely told me was on her last legs and wouldnt be with us much longer. this broke my heart, despite me having known the mangy mutt all of 5mins… i formed lifelong bond with it, adored, and stoopidly forgot to take its picture.

taxi driver lady was ace, and had seen duran duran the night before. and we had sweet retro 80s natter. and i made a friend.

i got to the castle, and walked straight into the support bands soundcheck.

the silencers, long-forgotten 80s sonic magicians, were making a big comeback, and were one of the main reasons i made the trek. it was a buzz, to watch them set up and rehearse, something i ve never really done before..

i was befriended by doody american minds fan, who had flown here purely for the occasion. it was to be the first time he’d see them live, and he was ecstatic. i talked crap, he ate it all up ( ewww ) and was spellbound high on my enthusiasm.

and i was buzzing.

and it rained… biblical proportions is the phrase mentioned in most online/press reviews. the weather was the worst i ve EVER experienced, anywhere. i was drenched, for 90 minutes solid. and danced mah wee heart oot regardless. the concert was close to being pulled, for fear of mass death by lightning strike… and truth be told, i can think of no better way to go…

but the band were amazing, inspired by the weather and determined to spite it. and the audience were one of the best i ve ever been a part of… all absolutely defiant of the elements, wet, and sozzled, and dancin and a-squelchin.

and the photos were some of my best. which i say every time…. but the new camera is more than earning its keep. i got some PRICELESS pictures… enough for a whole book of its own.  so, sunday night was spent putting the finishing touches to Swingin’ Pants vol.6 – Sparkling in The Rain.  it shall be THE perfect keepsake of an oh-so memorable night… and, if i can sort out copyrights etc, i shall be touting it at the bands forum, and hopefully be making peoples days…

anyhoo. piccies…

 

 

the very many other pictures can be found HERE.

and i got back to the hotel, miraculously without getting lost, completely drowned, was euphorically awake, and couldnt sleep At All.. so spent HOURS with a hairdryer, trying and failing to sort my dripping jeans out.

and that was last saturday. something i had looked forward to soooooooo much for soooooooo long.. has been and gone.  i miss last weekend, very much. its been a funny old week since… all kinds a-happenin..

but its late. and im tired. and those all kinds dont belong here.  this is a simple mind’ed entry…

x and we sparkled in the rain x