Sheffield-November 3rd 2019

Well, I have got to say, this has been the trip of travel nightmares! I usually don’t have too many issues when traveling but aside from getting to York and Hull, I’ve had issues for ALL other gigs! Delays, early terminations, cancellations including the LAST TRAIN OUT after my Glasvegas gig (what I did on the free night between OMD…traveled back up north to Edinburgh as there was an acoustic show in Dunfermline). So I got excited when my train left Edinburgh on time…and then….signal issues that had us sit on the track for 25mins, then we were being told to reroute and also go slower. Needless to say, missed my connecting train but luckily, in the end, I was only about an hour late because LUCKILY, the train connection I missed runs very regularly. Otherwise I would have been in big trouble! ☹

So Sheffield is my last gig and I was also going to be sharing room with Maria again (who also had bad luck with trains as her original one was cancelled. ☹ ) But I was also meeting a friend I’d made thru one of the Build a Bear FB groups as I had picked up a Union Jack bear for her daughter (kind of funny I, as an American wanting all the exclusives, was getting an extra one for her daughter when they live in the UK LOL. But they weren’t near a store that carried them so…)  We sat and visited in the hotel bar area while sipping hot drinks and had a lovely chat before we said goodbye so I could head back up to room to get ready and her girls could get home and ready for school.

Maria came up shortly after as the sound check had taken a bit longer tonight, then it was quick hellos, get ready, and meet everyone at Wetherspoons. BUT…crazy enough, there are TWO of them literally around corner from each other! So here we were looking for the gang and Marilyn telling us where they were but us not seeing them. Finally met out on the street to find what was the issue. Who would have thought there’s TWO! 😮   It was nice to see such a big crowd for my final gig. Pat and Marilyn were there along with Andy, Chris, Gary, and Robert (and his friend who I forgot name of now, sorry! ☹ ) I wasn’t able to visit quite as long as I had to go pick up my tickets at the box office and sell the 2 spares I had but it was still great to see everyone, especially since some I was seeing for the first and only time. 🙂

Originally when I bought tickets for this gig, I was to have attended and also stayed with a couple Glasvegas friends. Sadly tho, they got the dates mixed up and booked other travel out of the UK so I had their 2 tickets to sell. As it turned out, Marilyn ended up with extras too so had already done some swapping with people to get everyone closer and she ended up giving ME a closer seat too. Row C vs. Row K and much more center. 😀 When I headed off to box office to meet the couple who were buying my 2 spares, I asked if they needed a third but they didn’t so I had HOPED to sell my spare (plus Marilyn had 2 more left over) to fans vs. a ticket tout. I went back to Wetherspoons to see if anyone knew anyone who wanted them, no one did but Maria suggested going to the box office again to see. I got told there that no one had come by recently so…ended up just going to the guy who was saying he’d buy and sell. I wanted 10GBP per ticket (paid over 40 plus fees!) but he wouldn’t budge past 20 for all 3! 😮 ☹ Well…what else to do so there ya go, 20GBP back to Marilyn is better than nothing really.

I had a pleasant surprise when I got to my seat as there was Dan! 😮 He had row H but got the other Row C tic from Marilyn (as he said, it was musical tickets with a bunch of us LOL) so yay! 😀 MiG15 did well and the crowd seemed to enjoy them. I kept thinking “wow, this is truly my last night on this tour! 😮 “  More people piled in near the end of MiG15 and close to OMD time and funny enough, Gary and Andy were just a few seats over to my right, Chris almost right behind me but 2 rows back. Marilyn and Pat a couple seats over to my left and 2 rows ahead, Maria about in line with them but another 2 rows ahead and I heard my name yelled to see Tim and Jenny waving to me as they were next to Maria. Aww! 😀 I suddenly remembered the fun we had in 2017 with dinner, the gig, and then….tee hee, BaB outlet the next day which Jenny and I had fun laughing as Tim patiently just shook his head at us and all I bought. 😊  So close in spot, tho far away in other ways but glad to see everyone if even for quick hellos!

When the lights went down, the crowd right away got going with the cheers and after the lovely Stanlow, I jumped up as soon as Isotype started and many others did too. 😊 When it was done, Mr. M. smiled and said “I don’t have to ask if you put your dancing shoes on as it’s apparent you already have!” as he strapped on his bass and Messages took off.  Lots of bopping around and I heard a faint version of the ‘der da do do do da dooooo” tonight. When it was over, Mr. M. looked out at us and said “What has happened to the cultured, refined Sheffield? Have you decided to grow old disgracefully? We can help.” Again, just mouthed “yes, Yes, YES” to TG tho Marilyn turned around to me once and mouthed it with me LOL. 😊 And there were for SURE a bunch of people bouncing up and down for HoM all around me which was great to see!

When it came time for Mr. H. to come forward, Mr. M. said “so I’ve been getting chewed out for how I’ve been introducing the next gentleman. He USED to be sexy….but TODAY, he’s been fixing keyboards and computers all day. It’s like back at his auntie’s house. So…the VERY talented Mr. Humphreys!” Mr. H. laughed and waved to everyone as he started to come down. Mr. M. said “was that better?” and Mr. H. laughed saying “yes yes, couldn’t be better” to which Mr. M. responded “check’s in the mail then eh?” 😀  FLaD went down well with many singing and swaying along so when finished and Mr. H. looked out at everyone, thanking us and saying we were wonderful, Mr. M. came down, gave him a big hand shake, then went to the front of stage and said “So you like his singing better than mine eh? OH…no, it’s OK…fine, just sing ANOTHER song then”. TONIGHT, Mr. H. laughed and said “I WILL!” 😀

Needless to say, the A&M trio was great as always and funny enough, when Mr. M. started his windmilling, the guy in front of me gave his wife a look like “OMG, he’s still doing it!” and the 3 men behind me were like “bloody hell!” LOL, YUP! 😀 Tons of cheers and I had looked up in the balcony to see a good portion of people standing, some getting up at that moment just to applaud what they just say. Mr. M. whipped his face vigorously and smiled massively. Many were wondering what was going on when the crew started bringing things forward for Almost and I heard someone go “oooo” when it started. Once finished, Mr. M. said “we’re going to do something weird.” The crowd cheered and he continued “No not THAT weird. It‘s LEGAL” He then told us “we’re going to play a B side. It’s the B-side to our first single. AND, a certain man named Vince, once he learned how to play this, decided he was good enough to form a band called Depeche Mode.” Lots of cheers. LOL, cool. 😊

Things picked up again with SiL and more bouncing prompted, to which I heard the guys behind me go “boink boink boink” as they started to bounce too. 😀 Before Dreaming, Mr. M. said “OK, health and wellness check….because ya know, many of you are as old as we are. You doing OK? Are you tired yet?” Lots of “nooo”s yelled out and he said “good!” and Dreaming went down well too. It seemed tonight Stuart was  really singing along to Locomotion (not that he doesn’t other nights but I noticed it distinctly tonight so it seemed more enthusiastic LOL). Mr. C. got his usual hand shake after his grooving part of SotSS and before we knew it, it was time for EG. Funny enough, somehow Mr. H. came in early on the mid song keyboard part. 😮 He quickly fixed it and Dan and I looked at each other and laughed. When it was time for it to TRULY come, Mr. M. was like “Now Paul NOW” as the whole band laughed. 😀  Once over, the guys came forward for their goodbyes and waves. I have to say, not as good a crowd as the last 2 nights but still really good. There’s not been a BAD crowd really, at least not to my ears. 😊

Lights went down for a bit as many kept cheering, then it was encore time. Mr. M. came out in just a black shirt and said “not as many costume changes as Cher but…it’s damn hot in here so I hope you don’t mind I’m going CASUAL now.” We got IYL (Dan and I jokingly poking each other once…then twice to match the lyrics. 😀 ) and Pandora’s box with Mr. M. giving lots of hand shakes and such to the front row, then it was the final FINAL chance to bounce. “This is the A side, our first single. It’s the oldest and the fastest song we’ve got.”  When it was over, all the guys came down to wave, some hand slaps and shakes and both Mr. M. and Mr. H. promised they’d be back “soon”. We’ll see eh? 😊

Afterwards, I tried to catch Tim and Jenny but missed them. Saw Irene and Stephan for a little bit plus Jennifer and Bert who had come down from balcony. The original plan was for everyone to go back to Wetherspoons but Dan, Marilyn and Mali (who had been way to my right and up a few rows but met up with us after the show too) had a 2 hour drive back so goodbyes and hugs before they went off. As we were leaving, I noticed the lovely ceiling of the venue! 😮 I still like standing venues but there’s something to be said about having a seat in a more, er, fancy venue for a lack of better word LOL. Maria, Jennifer, Bert and I went back to the Wetherspoons but no one was there so we also said our goodbyes and then Maria and I headed to the hotel where we got quick juice/sodas to quinch our thirsts and then up to bed.

So…highlight of the night. This is a tough one as it was just a fun night in general. I can’t think of anything in particular that stands out so I’ll make it general LOL. It was great having a surprise ‘upgrade’ in seat and then having Dan be there and there seemed to be a good, happy, joking air to the band tonight so that’s probably the bits I’ll remember the most. 🙂

Homeward bound for me now (typing this up in Heathrow Airport actually LOL…tho won’t upload until tomorrow as home late evening). It’s always bitter sweet with a tour ending. The sad bit of saying goodbye to everyone and no more shows for awhile, the happy part of no more lugging big, heavy ass suitcases/bags and living out of packed luggage. PLUS, I have 2 fur baby cats back home waiting for me to jump into my OWN bed and snuggle. It’s been a great 11 days with tons of laughs and fun shows! Thank you to everyone involved as I’m so lucky to be part of an amazing OMD family! 😀  (tho can’t forget my Glasvegas gang as Saturday was an amazingly special night too! )