The Lovely Crew Laydees do Lancaster!

When we heard that JK as Robbie was going to be doing a show on May 27th, it was decided that we had to attend. The girls thought it would be a great way to celebrate my birthday! And of course, I agreed *snigger*

With the forthcoming Take That concerts, I knew I was gonna see more of the Crew in the not too distant future, but was delighted when Lou, Cary, Kriss, Anne and Marie said lets make a date! The lovely Anne-Claire was also due to join in the fun, but due to a bad case of the chicken pox that her little 'un had it was not to be. Sob!

Boarding the smallest plane in the world in Cork, (You make me feel, that I'm on the smallest plane in the worrrrrld - to the tune of Rihanna) I set off for Manchester where the lovely Cary had offered to pick me up and take me to meet Munchie for a bit of birthday brekkie... twas fab! Was also great to see Mandy even though it was a flying visit.

Cary and I have a scoot around Runcorn to collect a few supplies and laugh at a few shops - not before heading back to the car and onto the motorway oop norf!

We hear from Kriss who is in the goldmobile and has a full house on board!

Travelling up the M6, Cary and I have a good old sing song; lots of TT and Rob featuring and lots of laughs... and this is before the others arrive. We find the hotel with ease and check in. Staff are really friendly and we like this a lot! Fantastic.

Head down to the bar (just to be sociable) for a swift one before the others arrive... well at those prices it will be just 1 aswell!

Having a natter, we are keeping our eyes on the door and before we know it we spot the gold mobile pulling up outside! Woop Woop let the fun begin!

Lou, Kriss, Anne and Marie pile into the hotel and I get told off as I am there. I don't understand.... as they disappear around the corner I hear a lot of laughs and giggles... I'm not allowed to look... then I get told I can come around but have to close my eyes.

See what they did:

Cue a phone call to my BB Shelley and lots of Happy Birthday singing from the girls... awwww love you lot!

Heading up to the room to chill for a while, we crack a few drinks and order some room service. In between catching up, we get ourselves ready and order a 6 seater cab to take us to the theatre (darrrrrlink!) Peppa Pig is really enjoying herself too!

We order a spot of room service, a couple of bevvies to hit the spot. There are lots of cards and gifts and I’m feeling a little overwhelmed to say the least. Thank you so much for the thoughtful gifts and lovely words in the cards...

So it’s nearly time, we head downstairs as the reception call us and inform us that our taxi is outside. Well it’s really a minibus, seeing as there’s 6 of us… as we hop into the bus, we glance to the right and we see Jim (a’la Rosie and Jim) running towards us and waving… Rosie and Jim stopping at the same hotel as us – how funny! Well best make sure we don’t take any chips back at supper time, wouldn’t want to get chiplash!! Anyhoo, Jim is gesturing to jump in our cab – obviously assuming that we are heading to the same place (we were but he wasn’t to know that… would’ve been funny if we had got him in the cab and taken him on some magical mystery tour to Preston LOL!)

Just as we are thinking what to answer, their taxi pulls up and they wave goodbye. Well goodbye for now, we would be seeing them a bit later…

The taxi driver has some great banter with us, he drops us off at the Grand. It’s an old style theatre, intimate and beautiful inside. Heading to the box office to collect our tickets, the girls head upstairs to the bar for a drink. I suggest to get the orders in for the interval to save time so we double up and head into the theatre.

We have a great view, mind you it would be hard not to have a good view from anywhere in that theatre. Settling down, we glance at our watches and realize that the show has not yet started even though its past 7.30… the theatre manager comes out with an announcement. A slight wardrobe malfunction has occurred; due to a traffic accident on the motorway and the wardrobe manager being stuck in said accident for 3 hours. All will become apparent shortly… We look at each other confused…

Having seen the show before, we knew what was coming next… or so we thought… The band start up, the lights go up… and on to the stage bounds JK – with a slightly different costume than normal. Ey’ Ey Captain!! Loving it!! We’re sailing on this ship tonight!

Although to be fair to him, he pulls it off and like the true pro he is gets stuck right into the show with a rousing rendition of Let Me Entertain You. Fantastic. The theatre is bouncing and as I look around, I know it’s going to be yet another fantastic night’s entertainment.

Moving through the set list, the Crew get busy busting some moves. Well that’s how we roll. Apologising to the ladies sat behind us, we are up, on our feet and doing the moves to every song. If you can’t beat em - join em… and glancing to the row behind us we see that the ladies are now on their feet and bouncing too! Love it!! JK moves through the Knebworth set with ease and we enjoy re-living the best of Robbie Williams. Rock DJ. Millennium. Come Undone. At the back of our minds, we are thinking about a couple of the Crew members who are at the opening night of the Progress tour that night in Sunderland, having their very own Robbie moment… but for now, we have the next best thing that is JK as Robbie. Talk about Supreme!!

True to form the first half flies by and we run to what is the smallest theatre bar in the world to nab our drinks. Super efficient, the staff already have the drinks prepared and all we need to do is collect them to save queuing up – job done!

Settling in for the second half, we know that there’s plenty more Robbie goodness to come. Swing time, and taken from the Albert Hall set, JK graces the stage with his band, in smart sharp suits and cool charisma to boot. Slowing the show down a little we sway to the classics of My Way & Mr Bojangles. Brilliant.

As the stage changes, the superb pianist goes solo at the front of the stage with a blast of Queen on the ivories… JK, complete with costume change, re-appears and starts talking to the audience. Lancaster has a big place in his heart, he says and the Grand Theatre in particular. He then engages the crowd by finding out where we have all come from, with the Crew (as usual) coming from far and wide to make the show…. Then this is where it gets embarrassing. A birthday shoutout to me along with telling the whole theatre it was my 40^th! Thanks JK! Revenge is sweet is all I am saying… ;)

However the sentiment was lovely and cue a few sniffles when “She’s the One” is dedicated to Scrumptious.

The 2^nd half of the show bounds on, with a lively version of Video Killed the Radio Star… it’s so lively that you can feel the balcony (circle) upstairs moving and shaking… JK as Robbie certainly made the ground move that’s for sure! Looking up to the boxes at either side of the stage, we see Jim on the right hand side – leaning out to snap a piccie – and worry for his safety as he looks like one of the hecklers from the Muppet Show ready to topple out and over the top of the box! Thankfully, he didn’t… Phew!

As the show draws to a close, JK brings the house down with Angels (it wasn’t too early to be fair…!) Bringing Robbie’s career up to date, we see the video clip of Take That with Eight Letters as a soundtrack, followed by a fantastic version of The Flood – and the Crew can’t help but get excited as we realize that in a weeks time we will be seeing Robbie and the boys. Another standing ovation at the end of the show, the cast get a well deserved cheer and huge applause and we give extra cheers to Mr JK as Robbie Williams for what was, yet again, an outstanding performance.

The theatre starts to empty as the lights come up, and with the word that it is lashing rain outside, we hang back till the crowds disperse. Having spotted a pub at the end of the road, we make a run for it and eventually arrive at the pub flipping soaked! Not before I end up going skidding down the road and ever-so-nearly end up on my arse! Thankfully I recover and just look like I've thrown some sort of weird shape outside in the rain... random like... Once inside, we bag ourselves a spot upstairs as downstairs was chocker block full – and get a whip going. Couple of rounds of drinks and the rain is forgotten. Lancaster being a University town, we attract the attention of some younger lads and laugh as they make a bee-line for us – erm excuse me lads this ain’t Cougar Town ya know!! The banter was good craic, however the full pint of Bulmers down us was not… oops! Shortly after they make a sharp exit and we get busy taking some snaps for the album… Kriss throws some baby’s dancing moves and lots of laughs follow. Mother and baby are reunited as Cary and Kriss take a pew on the edge of the sofa. Marie is giddy after deciding that she now wants to ditch hubby Michael Buble and now marry Frank Sinatra, who of course is dead! Anne and I are catching up after our last get together in Windsor and its smiles all round as per. Just another normal Crew night out!

We are then joined by Jonathan and Becky for a few cheeky birthday drinks… and not wanting to end the night early as the bar is closing, so we decide to move the party up to the Revolution bar for some more bevvies and a few vodkas. As you do, like…

 Walking for what seems like forever, we finally arrive at the Revolution.  There’s a table and sofas in the bay window – perfect – has our name written all over it. More drinks are purchased and we get busy having more craic… There’s plenty of banter and I come back from the bar with a round of drinks, only to find legs a-kimbo and Marie on the floor, with Kriss and Cary rolling around on the sofa! Yes it is as it sounds – very very funny! Becky heads over to try and lend a hand… Jonathan just comes over for a closer look! Typical bloke! Cue lots and lots of laughs from us and strange looks from those outside – bear in mind we were sat in the bay window on full view… In true Crew style we end up being the entertainment again… LOL!! Paparazzi Pullen manages to bag a few tidy shots for evidence, of course, and the LOL-ing starts again when we review the pics!

After being told several times that it was hone time by the bouncers (well it was past 3am!) we head up the road to get some chips as we are hank marvin; if not slightly concerned about taking them back to the hotel for fear of chiplash injuries… Bagging a couple of taxis and bidding our farewells to Jonathan & Becky, we head back to the hotel, motel, holiday inn for a debrief and the usual post night out post-mortem.

Flicking through the pics and revisiting the giggles from earlier in the evening, we get changed and get our heads down. It’s fairly late – for a change – and as I look around the room I see my friends snoozing, the empty bottles of vino, Peppa Pig, the cards & gifts and the usual trail of clothes, shoes and cases, I can’t help but smile at what was yet another craic-ing crew night out. The best friends in the world manage to wreak havoc on another UK town. No Pigs, Crew Laydees or members of the public were harmed during the making of this night out ;)

Next morning we’re all awake and not in bad shape considering. We agree the plan of attack is to check out and head over to the pub across the road for a mahoosive pub grub lunch. NOMS. Louise is busy drying and straightening her hair, and Cary dives into the shower. Cue steamy windows (well they are hot stuff) and as the bathroom door opens (complete with Cary half dressed with towel on her head) we hear the dulcet tones of the smoke alarm ringing in our ears. OUCH! Thinking that it will stop we decide to do nothing and stay put. The phone in the room goes, and Lou answers it – “are we alright?” “erm yes we are fine” replies Lou… “only the alarm is coming from your room…” WHAT THE FOOF BOARD!! Seems that the over-sensitive fire alarm was triggered by the heat and steam and as a result the whole hotel has to be evacuated. Oops. We trudge downstairs, half dressed, half PJs, and assemble in the car park. Looking across we see Rosie and Jim, and the words “broken biscuits” spring to mind in relation to Rosie. Bless her.

The staff give us the all clear to head back into the hotel, where we are greeted by the lovely chief fireman-person leaving our room with the comment “Good night, was it” being shouted down the corridor. We are not sure what he means, until we re-enter the room and realize there is a shed load of booze, empty bottles, cake and snacks on the desk! LOL – at least he had a sense of humour!

Checking out, we head across the road for a big feast. Lots of nom noms are heard around the table, and also laughs about the craic from the night before. Yet another Crew do comes to a close and as we finish our lunches we are down-hearted that this one seems to have gone too fast. The only thing that can cheer us up is the thought of making PROGRESS next week in Manchester! Woop Woop!

Such a shame though that Kriss couldn’t make it and that Anne is already booked in with Kriss to go to Wembley. Ah well, we make plans to see them at Stoke and as Anne, Marie, Lou and Kriss jump into the GoldMobile, Cary & I wave them off… not before heading back on to the motorway to head towards Liverpool Hairyport for my flight home.

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!