Blackpool gets Well & Truly Crewed!

Back at the hotel it's kinda organised chaos as we get ready. Clothes and shoes everywhere... make up and hair straightners shared... a few voddys on the go to get us in the mood! The bus is collecting us at 6.30 so we're against the clock. As per usual! However it all comes good when the bus arrives and we are all but ready.

Purses - check. Boas - check. Halos - check. Theatre tickets - double check. Couple of extra bottles of fizz for the bus - check. Camera - check. Paperazzi Pullen has her new turbo cam and we are already dreading some of the FB pics!!

So Anne, Kriss, Jac, Allison, Dot, Suzie, Mandy, Cary, Paula, Rena, Marie, Louise, Angela and My good self board the party bus to get the show on the road. Putting on a bit of Robbie Williams to get us in the mood, Leeds is displayed around the bus on all the screens and on the giant plasma at the back of the bus. With the 2 extra bottles of fizz, we have 5 in total and someone comments that we might not get through them all in an hour- thats a challenge if I've ever heard one! We have a right laugh as we go on our cruise and I'm really pleased that the party bus is a hit! Peppa decides to try a bit of piggy pole dancing - she told us she was a quiet little piggy; well what a load of porkies that was!

We arrive at the theatre and outside there are a number of fountains! PMSL @ Paula, well she loves a good fountain! Assembling for our photo call outside the bus, the driver is happy to oblige with a pic or two and we wave him off as we head into the theatre out of the cold. Finding our seats, we are pleased to see that we are really close to the stage and have the whole row to ourselves...! Thanks to our mate JK for sorting out those tickets :) A quick pit stop at the bar takes us into the foyer of the Winter Gardens - they have done an amazing job refurbishing the place and there was really a sense of occasion about the venue. Perfect for the entertainment in store that evening....

Now if you haven't heard about the show, and you want to read the proper review check out HERE for more info.

Let Me Entertain You was everything that One Night of Robbie Williams was last year.... and more! The performances that night in Blackpool were high energy, polished and perfected. The Crew were up on their feet and bouncing through most of the show. Even Paula and her little bump were bouncing! There were a couple of the new Crew who had not seen the show before, and they were completely blown away. Complete with a revised set list and some new tracks we were loving our Robbie-fix. Video Killed the Radio Star was a highlight; not to mention all the old favourites. Peppa got so excited at one part in the show, she jumped right out of Lou's hand and pig-apulted (well she didn't catapult, what do you think she is, a kitty??!!) herself onto the stage... that pig loves JK!

The two and a half hours just flew by. Well three if you add the interval. Bar service was not the best however it did not deter us and we were able to obtain a beverage to be fully refreshed for the second half LOL!!

Upon leaving the theatre, we follow Kriss as she is our (Brendan Coach Trip!) guide whilst in Blackpool and we head to the nearest bar - which turns out to be the bar we were in yesterday. Bagsy-ing a table and mine-sweeping chairs and stools from all around the bar we get comfy for a couple of bevvies and to have a de-brief on the evening so far.

There is a couple sat on the table next to us and we are amusing them with our chatter and chair dancing! We spot the jukebox on the wall and so does our new friend sat next door, so he goes to pick a few tracks and of course he puts a couple of Robbie tunes on for us! Thanks mister! Making friends everywhere we go.... :) Of course whenever we hear Rob we can't help but sing and this was no exception. More drink? Oh if you insist... so we get another whip going. The bottles (not glasses, yes bottles) of Vino are going down a treat. Cue a couple of texts and we decide to change venue. Out of the side door, cross the road and straight into another bar! I won't lie to you, it was already an immense evening!

As we are walking in, a familiar face is at the door... cue lots of hugs and back slapping from JK... as we introduce the newbies it's a challenge to keep up! The pub is heaving and there's a house band on jamming with singers from the audience joining them. Great atmosphere in the bar. Crew are bopping and laughing and singing. It's big smiles all round. With the occasional "what's occurring" we ensure we have enough Welsh pounds for Louise and Marie - who is now nicknamed Marie Newberry-Buble' due to her forthcoming marriage to Mickey Bubbles! She is so smitten she starts smooching a pic of him on the wall - hilarious! Paula is doing a great job keeping up and complete with a non-alcoholic Becks too. God bless her! Kriss volunteers to do the next number and before you can say The Fugeees she's is up on stage belting out Killing Me Softly. The girl can sing - cue Pap Pullen to take some pics and all the Crew joining in to support our bud. Tidy!

A little later, Kriss gets up to do a duet with JK... and for the 2nd time that night we hear "Things". What a laugh... proper banter between the two of them and the Crew are again on their feet, as are most of the bar. At the end of the performance, Kriss gets a resounding "You're Hired" from JK and as she plans to run away with the band I go and get another round in with the help of Anne. Jac and Allison are in great form, Rena & Paula are enjoying the buzz, Angel-aahhh is busy chatting to JK's uncle (the Irish connection LOL) Dot has her feet up at the bar - well after wearing those shoes are you surprised? Cary & Suze are LOLLING at the old duffer that is chatting up Mand. We always attract them, its true! Marie offers to two time Mickey B and in a u-turn decides she wasnt to be with Kriss instead. Oh it's all going on... Anne and I have only turned our back for 2 mins hehe! When the band finish, a DJ plays a few tunes (well a guy with laptop - god must be getting old as there wasn't a record in sight pmsl!) We of course put a few requests in and have a bop and sing along. Yes, we entertain for free ladies and gentlemen!

We acost JK for some pics and Lou wants to give him his pressie - a t-shirt - there's only one word to say about that... SHABBA! You gotta love Robbie for that one! As usual JK is happy to oblige and we gingerly hand over our cameras to some drunken strangers in the pub... There's a mixed bag of pics from them (always the case) and half of the Crew decide its that time to head back to the hotel to recharge their batteries & hit the hay. The rest of us stay put for... yes.... you've guessed it... a lock in! Well it wouldn't be a PV Crew Do without one!

Sat around the table, we are engaged in some right good chat with the occasional pit stop to head to the bar for a refill. However the bar has ran out of lemon AND lime for our Coronas (ma ma ma myyy Corona) so we have to recycle and nick the slice from our last drink. Classy but needs must... Speaking of classy, we continue to take pissed up pics and laugh at the ones from earlier - which include Marie having a drink with Jesus and JK. yes thats right who's in the house... Jesus in the house!

Didn't matter that we didn't make it to the club, we bring the party. The bar was grand - apart from having the loos up the curly wurly staircase is not the best idea when you have peoples that have been drinking for 10 hours. (",) EEK!

Speaking of time, we check our watches and see its 4.30am... another night of epic proportions. Lots of laughs and girlie chat.  Plenty of Robbie-ness as per usual. Bevvies galore. Some singing, some dancing and a lot of pics! With our Halos on and a trail of feathers left behind us, we thank the bar staff for looking after us and thank JK for entertaining us and bid them farewell. Back at the hotel, the sensible people are already in bed, the semi sensible people decide to head to bed and Lou and I decide to have a cocksucking cowboy. At 5am. Disgrace is not the word. Wouldn't want to change a single thing about the night. Bloody loved it and all that were involved in it!

The next morning we head down for brekkie - Angel-aahhh pulls a sicknote for the 2nd day and Cary nicknames her "Angela Power-less!" We get stuck in to the soakage prepared by Kriss' uncle - mega nom noms... If you're ever in Blackpool do stop by the Colris Hotel on the Central Prom. The hospitality is second to none and their breakfast is BANG TIDY!

Back up in the rooms, its the mammoth task of packing and as per usual we end up taking home more than we came with. Dividing out the booze and remaining snacks to make sure they go to a good home, packing up the Crew kits of shot pots, boas and halos... This is the bit that I don't like. And as the girls start to depart one by one, we know that its the end of another crack-ling weekend courtesy of some of the best friends you could want. The PV Crew.

I'm not gonna lie to ya, I was feeling kinda fed up the last few weeks as had PMD (Post-Meet Depression) Having written this it's given me the chance to revisit all the fun we had... All I can say is bring on my Birthday and bring on Take That... Lets 'Ave It!

Saturday Shenanigans in da Pool...

It's early. The smell of Brekkie is wafting from downstairs. Kriss knocks on to our room and for some bizarre reason we start our rendition of the bit in Big... you know where Tom Hanks is rapping with that kid... you knowwwww - this bit...

Was random as FOOF!

Marie is still in bed, Angela is comatose but Louise and I are fighting fit (ahem) and raring to go. OK - so raring would be a slight exaggeration but we were a lot more raring than the other two!

Mosying down for food, we join the others that made it to brekkie - minus Angel-ahhh as she's still chilling in her beddie-byes. Ofcourse we consume a couple of pink pills to keep the head clear... Purely painkillers for medicinal purposes, what do you take us for?? I grab a OJ, a sausage and some toast and send that back up to Angela to keep her strength up! We tuck in to a mean feast complete with mega brews and juices.

It's that time when we know there are more peoples en-route - Facebooks are being updated, texts are being received and the phone is hopping! Cary, Mand and Suze are in the motor hurtling up the motorway from Runcorn....Paula and Rena are on the chuff chuff cross country. Dot is getting a lift from her other half - coming from Bolton she is the nearest to Blackpool so should be on time, right? LMAO!

We convene in the bar of the hotel, the girls start arriving and lots more hugs and introductions. This is defo the largest weekend and we're all keen to have a good time. It's great to see everyone and considering that we are shortly off to the Pleasure Beach, many of the drinks purchased from the bar are of the non-alcoholic variety. Pints of Orange Juice and Lemonade are the faves although there are 1 or 2 exception ;) Must be getting wise in our old age....

The girls all start to arrive and once Dot pulls up in front of the hotel we know we are good to go! Yes she was the last (but by no means least!) to arrive... We're ready, and set so get going down the Prom towards the Pleasure Beach.

A couple of the Crew make a pit stop at McDonalds - Mandy leads the way as she heads in for a munch... Angela and Allison set off on a reet power walk and hurtle down the Prom like two women possessed! The rest of us take a more leisurely stroll and reach our destination refreshed and ready for our next adventure. The Big One!

Deciding who is making the brave move to the queue, we had over our bags, phones, cameras to the ones who are sensible and not going on The Big One... and join the queue!

Not realising how long the queue actually is, we wave goodbye to our fellow Crew members and step into the unknown. Despite it being off peak, its quite a busy Saturday in the Pleasure Beach and yet they only have one car on the Big One... one question - WHY? We put this minor set back to one side & stick with it. Peppa is joining us on the Big One although the naughty piglet did not pay her entry fee to get on and is excitedly oinking away in Kriss' coat pocket. She's a handful is Peppa. I'm sure Percy Pig is better behaved!

We finally get our place on the ride - cue logs of screaming from me and lots of woo-hoos from the others. Peppa loved it and even posed for the photo too! Tidy!

We split up into 2 groups - some head off for more rides, the others head to the bar where we come across the tiniest glasses of wine ever known to man... or woman... We prefer a more generous serving lol! Checking our watches, we see that the afternoon has passed us by so decide to start the walk back to get our slap on and prepare for a mahoosive night. As we head back we stop for some fast food to keep us going. Eat shizer, drink shizer and talk lots of shizer - that's what the Crew weekends are all about and this one was no exception!

Dot he doesn't normally "eat crap like this" - much to the dismay of the Hot Dog vendor who sold it to her and heard what she said! Hilarious! A trip to Blackpool would not be complete without purchasing some Blackpool Rock and as we are buying the whole stall, Louise slopes off to get up to some mischief... upon her return she has a little something for JK and after giving us a flash, we all approve!! ;)

The Crew goes Crackers in Blackpool... (Go For It!) Yes It's Funtime Friday!

Setting off to Blackpool with the folks (dropping me off - thanks parent-type-peoples!) was reminiscent of being a kid again... hurtling down the motorway... first one to spot the Tower gets a Mars Bar! LOL!
Pulling up to the train station at Blackpool North, I see Kriss, Louise, Anne and Marie all outside. Not met Marie or Anne before but you would never guess and lots of hugs and chatter already... wave my folks off (aswell as the woofer!) and glance back into the station - only to see Allison and Jac coming through the barriers! Woop woop! Timed to perfection as always!
More hugs and we decide to take a well earned break after all our travelling - so with Kriss leading the way we head for the nearest pub. Which, as luck might have it, is just around the corner.

I head to the bar to get a round in and discover that its only a pound extra for a double.. well it would be rude not too, so starting as we mean to go on we grab a few bevvies and catch up! Getting to know the new members of Crew is easy; it's like they have always been there.
We head over to the hotel - Kriss has been so kind in getting us in at her Aunt & Uncles place on Central Prom. Result. Lovely hospitality and mucho cheapness re price; not to mention a great brekkie (but more about that later) We're on the top floor - "the penthouse section" -- PMSL more like stick em up there out of the way the naughty minxs!!

After a sit-me-down to catch our breath and a fast beverage, we decide that food is in order. Plan is to find a greasy spoon, head back to the hotel, get changed and head out for some cheesy choons and a few shandies.... Making a quick pit stop for supplies before dinner (priorities sorted, see!!) However - In reality it panned out like this:

Head to offie for booze and snacks. Lots of them. Found a greasy spoon after walking the quiet streets (remember its off peak!) called Mickey Finns... appropriate considering we have the ingrediants for CSCs ready to be consumed. Head back to the hotel (via Coral Island... complete with jokes about Wankdrews!!) after a feast fit for... erm... a king? a queen? Well anyway it was tasty. Not very healthy or nutricious but we're hardly at a health spa for the weekend!! This weekend is far from posh yaknow!

Back at the hotel, we convene in the party room - which if you are a regular reader you will know that this is always a room that I am in and a room that invariably gets absolutely twatted (in the words of Gwen, from Gavin & Stacey) So we have a swift voddy whilst deciding what to do and where to go. Fast forward an hour and guess where we still are? Yes that's right, in the room still deciding what to do and where to go. One thing is for certain, drinking is agreed. Angela texts from Cork Airport, she is on time and getting in the mood by having a beverage in the hairyport... well it would be rude not to! Peppa Pig joins us this time and joins in the fun by having a crackling time... she can't wait for tomorrow to see her favourite show Let Me Entertain You!

We're having a reet good goss, the booze is flowing and we are in great spirits for our night tomorrow. Looking forward to the rest of the Crew joining us and being entertained by some fab entertainment.

It's getting on for midnight, and Angela arrives - straight from work via a plane, a train and an automobile.... (well this is a Crew do, that's how we roll, baby!) and I have a Bulmers chilling (in the sink) ready and waiting for her! Booze cracked, boots off and she too is chilling to the Max - fully introduced to half the Crew and ready to be introduced (or should that be inducted!!) to the rest of the mentalists tomorrow...

We give in to the temptation that is staying in and getting comfy, but are missing a bit of choonage. Kriss comes prepared and heads off to her room, only to return quick as a flash with iphone, charger and mini speakers - JOB DONE! Cue sing song of epic proportions and a bit of a ticking off from one or two of our neighbours (sorry - oops!) Lots of Robbie on of course with a bit of the George in between and some Take That... mixed up with some vodka, some cocksucking cowboys and some bacon fries - much to Peppa dismay. Jac and Allison are now part of the furniture and we are putting the world bang to rights with gusto. A lorra lorra laughs follow as we share tales and plot the shenanigans for tomorrow... Anne and Angela are having a great chinwag, but we hi-jack Ang for some Robbie edu-ma-cation and Kriss shows her the delight that is the Lovelight video. Hubba hubba!

An impromptu sing along to Willow Smith's "I Whip My Hair Back & Forth" can mean only one thing... Lots of hair being swished back and forth; least of all by Kriss who does a mean version of it amidst lots of laughs from us lot!

Marie says shes gonna bagsy the top bunk, theres CSC all over mine and Angela bed (cock all over our bed - aren't we the lucky ones!) and Lou is able to do starfish-ies in hers! As the girls head off to bed one by one, there's just the hardcore ones left standing - well when I say standing I really mean slouching on the bed in some sort of alcohol induced state!

It's late as usual. It's always late when we get together but then again there's time for sleep when we are back home! Jac is on it like a car bonnet and is wide awake clubs - this may be down to the Vodka Red Bulls consumed earlier - who knows!

As we bid farewells to the visitors to our room, we inspect the bomb site that is our room... Bottles of vodka. Champers in the bath. Sweets, crisps and Bacon Fries all over the shop... Halos and Boas strewn on the floor. Several pairs of hair straighteners on the side. Cases and clothes pushed under chairs and beds. Just another Crew night in!

Lou and I check out Marie - who is sparked out in her top bunk and Angela - who has crashed out in her clothes. Good girls - they have both been well and truly Crewed. Our work here is done for now so after a big cuddle (BNIALW) Lou and I decide to hit the hay and look forward to the fun and frolics that the rest of the weekend has in store!