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TMAK
Wasn't Born To Follow
USA
5127 Posts |
 Posted - 29/04/2007 : 23:33:48
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Thought I would finally get caught up with my belated "Roving Reporter" updates. There was just too much going on for me to do them justice last week.
Thurs, April 12th - Got picked up by the van transporting me to JFK airport at 0420! Plane was supposed to take off at 0830 but the rain and sleet caused a backup on the runway. Our turn finally came around at 1000. The soundtrack for our take off was SOAPM - a good sign!
Landed at approx 9pm and caught the tube over to Chiswick, where I found Jonathan at home at 11pm, awaiting my arrival. Was I glad to see him! After lugging my two HEAVY bags up the stairs, he provided me some Thai food for a late night supper. Then we crashed in anticipation of a busy tomorrow.
Friday, April 13th - The Pre-Dusty Day Rehearsal & Food Fest!! Simon arrived at Jonathan's place at approx noon, and he and I headed down to the local Sainsbury's to shop for the fixin's for the evening's "Salsa & Soul Food" feast. Madeline Bell and Kay Garder were coming over later that evening so they and Simon and Jonathan could rehearse the 19 songs they were going to perform at Dusty Day. (Jonathan provided the musical accompaniment - I prepared the meal, with a little help from my friends!)
Simon had requested that I also include some Soul Food in our menu, and I wanted to do some Hispanic goodies, so I had brought from home a few food items that I thought might not be readily available in Chiswick. Once we got back from the market, Simon helped me in the kitchen, prepping some of the items that could be done ahead of time - all the while singing along with Jonathan, as Jon practiced the songs on the keyboard upstairs.
At approx 5pm, Madeline and Kay arrived - bringing with them two bottles of wine that Madeline brought over from Spain. Jonathan and the crew rehearsed upstairs while I finished preparing our feast down in the kitchen. They sounded great! Looking out the kitchen window, I could see passers-by stopping to listen to the music.
Later, Jon's friend Steven arrived - then our Nicky, who was driven over after work by her mother. Mum was invited in to meet the gang and to have a drink. I went back to the kitchen to put the finishing touches on the meal, but was soon summoned upstairs to be part of the audience of three for the performers to try out their songs on. They sounded terrific and were obviously enjoying performing together. I know they appreciated the fact that they had a wonderful musician like Jonathan accompaning them this year, instead of the usual backing tapes.
Then we all proceeded down to Jonathan's wonderful kitchen, where everyone gathered around the table. The "Soul" portion of the meal consisted of - fried chicken, greens, sweet potato fries and corn bread. The "Salsa" portion was - coconut shrimp w/mango horseradish dip, rice & beans, black bean and corn salsa and guacamole w/tortilla chips. The wine flowed freely and every one seemed to he having a great time. Looked like a family holiday gathering - noshing, drinking, joking, teasing and breaking out into song at the drop of a hat.
Madeline left to join her friends but the rest of us stayed and chatted til approx 11:30pm. What a TERRIFIC night!! By the looks of things, it was gonna be one fantastic Dusty Day.
To be continued....
T
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Sara
Higher and Higher
United Kingdom
9075 Posts |
Posted - 29/04/2007 : 23:52:31
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So this Friday 13th was definitely NOT unlucky!
Sara x |
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TMAK
Wasn't Born To Follow
USA
5127 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2007 : 00:06:02
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Saturday, April 14th -
Jonathan and Nicky were feeling (and sounding!) poorly, both having contracted the long-lasting "crud" that was hitting just about every other person, so we decided to park and chill in Jonathan's lovely garden.
Jon's friend and neighbor Steven wandered by and we thought "Who else was in town that we could call?"
Jen...Janie...Jane...Rhiannon...Vera...and Sara!
AND THEY ALL CAME OVER! Later, Gerard wandered by for a little while, also.
We noshed on some of the left-overs from the night before and drank mimosas, wine and some hard lemonade. Nice way to get to know everyone before Dusty Day.
Later, we wandered down the high street and had burgers, etc, at a local establishment. (Yours truly was feeling the effects of jetlag, so Nicky and I bailed out early and returned to Casa Jonathan).
Next: DUSTY DAY 2007 |
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TMAK
Wasn't Born To Follow
USA
5127 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2007 : 00:22:56
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DUSTY DAY - Finnegan's Wake Ealing
Nicky and I got to be Jonathan's "Roadies" - packing up, transporting and unpacking the keyboard and amp. We arrived at the venue and found Simon and his buds - John, Paul and Clive - already busy setting up.
The weather was perfect. We had the back room and the outer bar area PLUS the outside patio area - which was perfect for socializing on such a beautiful day.
Paul posted signs pointing the Dusty Day attendees to the entrance at the back of the patio, but I filled in as Doorman - directing the D Day attendees to the right - Footballers in the front entrance.
Shortly after setting up, our friend CLARE arrived after an all night bus trip.
Then the rest of our crew straggled in:
After our rehearsal get-together on Friday and our "Garden Party" on Saturday, Dusty Day seemed like we just moved our party over to the pub - and invited 200+ friends to join us.
To be continued....
T |
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Lindakron
Sweet Inspiration
Canada
2674 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2007 : 00:27:12
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~Linda~
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TMAK
Wasn't Born To Follow
USA
5127 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2007 : 02:19:36
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Monday, April 16th - HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUSTY!!
After collecting the flowers from the florist in Chiswick, Nicky and I rode the tube to meet up with Janie and Jane in Ealing. We were catching a ride with them to Henley.
On the way to their hotel, we met up with Paul, a Dusty Day attendee who recognized us:
When we arrived in Henley, we visited Dusty's marker and placed the flowers and cards with the other tributes. Then on to the Catherine Wheel to meet up with the journalist from The Guardian for a round table discussion/interview for an article he was doing on special musical sights in the UK. Then back to the churchyard for more pictures and interviews.
Found Chris, a long time Dusty fan and D Day attendee, sitting on the bench. He had come to Henley to spend part of Dusty's birthday with her. Our journalist friend, Andrew Smith, interviewed Chris, also.
After stopping back at the Catherine Wheel for a bite and a drink, Nicky and I rode the train and the tube back to Jonathan's place.
To be continued...
T
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Edited by - TMAK on 30/04/2007 16:57:32 |
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TMAK
Wasn't Born To Follow
USA
5127 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2007 : 02:36:30
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Tuesday, April 17th - Per the urging of my biker brother, Nicky and I went to the Ace Cafe - the famous Motorcycle hangout near Wembly - for lunch and a few souviners for the biker boys back home:
Then we went to the Baker Street station and wandered around the neighborhoods we covered during my last Dusty Day Adventure in 2005:
Marylebone (where we returned to the infamous Down Town hookah bar), Oxford Street and Soho for some shopping.
Here is Nicky pointing out the theatre where "Spamalot" is playing:
After walking our butts off, we returned to Chiswick to prepare a
Mexican/Thai nosh for Jonathan and Steven. Then Nicky had to return home - back to Real Life for a few days.
To be continued...
T |
Edited by - TMAK on 30/04/2007 03:20:43 |
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TMAK
Wasn't Born To Follow
USA
5127 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2007 : 02:53:27
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Wednesday, April 18th - With Nicky back at work (or so she was SUPPOSED to be  ) Jonathan and I were left to our own devices. We eased into the day, then had lunch and dinner at a couple of the places in his neighborhood - joined by Steven and/or Gerard. Used this day to rest up and try to come down from the high of Dusty Day. Watched a few Motown DVDs in between checking the Dusty sites for posts and pictures from Dusty Day.
Thursday, April 19th - And what shall we do today? Hey! Let's call some people over for dinner! Jen is still here...so are Janice and Annimac. Great! They can make it. Now, what to make for dinner? Something you normally can't get in this neighborhood. Okay...how about Hungarian food? Done!
Jen came by around noon and the three of us had lunch out in yet another great cafe in the neighborhood. Jen then helped me prep for the evening's dinner. Soon we were joined by Janice and Annimac in the garden.
We finally gathered around the table - again adding Steven, and a cameo appearance by Gerard! - and noshed, drank and talked until 3:00am!! Hey, how often do we all get the chance to get together like this instead of communicating via email, IMs or PMs? We just didn't want it to end.
To be continued...
T |
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TMAK
Wasn't Born To Follow
USA
5127 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2007 : 03:10:03
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Friday, April 20th - So how do we top off this fabulous week?
Hmmm...how about 5 seats in the fourth row to see "Little Shop of Horrors"? Gerard's sweetie, Sheridan Smith, plays the female lead "Audrey" and got us terrific seats and joined us later for dinner at Two Brydges Place, a private club near the theatre.
What a night!!
We had a surprise for Sheridan when she arrived at the club. We had all purchased the white souviner eyeglasses (like "Audrey" wears in the show) and were wearing them when she came to the table. Even had the waiter wearing them for a few minutes. That really did tickle her! She really is a sweetie!!
To be continued... |
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Lindakron
Sweet Inspiration
Canada
2674 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2007 : 03:20:33
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Oh my god you saw Little Shop of Horrors... 
Next year I'm hiding in your suitcase when you cross the ocean... 
~Linda~
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Lindakron
Sweet Inspiration
Canada
2674 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2007 : 03:22:22
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I want to know what the Hungarian food was. I have Hungarian friends, but all they eat is drink.... lol
~Linda~
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TMAK
Wasn't Born To Follow
USA
5127 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2007 : 03:25:40
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Yep, Linda. It was terrific! Saw the movie several times so I was singing along.
An unexpected treat!!
T |
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TMAK
Wasn't Born To Follow
USA
5127 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2007 : 03:28:56
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quote:
Originally posted by Lindakron
I want to know what the Hungarian food was. I have Hungarian friends, but all they eat is drink.... lol
~Linda~
It was chicken paprikas and palacsinta (crepes) with fresh strawberries or apricots.
T |
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Lindakron
Sweet Inspiration
Canada
2674 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2007 : 03:28:57
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quote:
Originally posted by TMAK
Yep, Linda. It was terrific! Saw the movie several times so I was singing along.
An unexpected treat!!
T
If I was there....
... you'd have been embarrassed to be with me.... 
~Linda~
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Lindakron
Sweet Inspiration
Canada
2674 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2007 : 03:34:17
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quote:
Originally posted by TMAK
It was chicken paprikas and palacsinta (crepes) with fresh strawberries or apricots.
T
What???!!???!?? No fire involved???? No accordian?? No shots??? No speech??
Hungarian parties (in my experience) are painful if you're trying to remain sober.
~Linda~
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TMAK
Wasn't Born To Follow
USA
5127 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2007 : 03:37:49
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"Hungarian parties (in my experience) are painful if you're trying to remain sober."
I did mention that we were at the table til 3am?? Do you REALLY think we remained SOBER???
T
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Lindakron
Sweet Inspiration
Canada
2674 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2007 : 03:46:17
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No... lol... But I'm an angel...
~Linda~
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TMAK
Wasn't Born To Follow
USA
5127 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2007 : 03:54:59
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Saturday, April 21st - My last full day. 
Nicky and I got out early. First stop - the pet shop near Jonathan's place. I had made friends with Rodney and stopped in to see him every morning.
Then we headed for Nicky's favorite weekend spot - South Bank:
We asked a man with a camera to take a picture of us. Turns out he used to work for Jim Henson!! A Muppet Man!! How cool is THAT!!
With Nicky, you just KNOW that a stop at The Globe Theatre is a MUST!
In the gift shop, I acquired a new little friend - a Plague Rat..who likes to share brownies:
Then on to a Foodie's Delight - The Borough Market. Noshers' Heaven!!
I just had to indulge in a "Three Posh Bangers" sandwich, with plenty of English mustard. YUM!! Just doing my part "SUPPORTING BRITISH FOOD" like the sign says!
We purchased salmon, cheese, pesto and a crusty sourdough bread
for our nightly nosh. Then across to the George Pub for some cider.
We then returned to Jonathan's place with our culinary treasures to share with The Guys.
To be continued...
T |
Edited by - TMAK on 30/04/2007 17:03:54 |
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TMAK
Wasn't Born To Follow
USA
5127 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2007 : 04:19:05
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Sunday, April 22nd -
Back to Real Life  Reluctantly, had to turn my key back over to Jonathan. We said our goodbyes and he called us a taxi. Nicky rode to the airport with me to see me off.
Goodbye, Kitchen.....Goodbye, my friends....
Goodbye Mickey...
...and Cheers, Dusty, for leading me on this excellent adventure! 
T |
Edited by - TMAK on 30/04/2007 13:31:43 |
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jonathan
Wishing And Hoping
United Kingdom
479 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2007 : 08:33:55
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These are just great, Tere! It now seems a long time ago but your terrific pictures have made me relive it again! I had forgotten how ghastly Nicky and I were feeling though.
Love Jonathan |
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Janie
Administrator
United Kingdom
5976 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2007 : 08:42:30
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You are an absolute star T - these photos and your 'report' bring back many good memories. In many respects it seems such a long time ago, doesn't it?
Janie  x53 |
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