Cary's Cracking Birthday Craic... when we let JK as Robbie Entertain Us in Stoke!

As soon as we heard about JK as Robbie returning to the home of Robbie with Let Me Entertain You we were on it like a car bonnet.
Now considering it was Princess Pearce's birthday soon-ish we decided to make it a flipping mahoosive dooo and cram her 40th celebrations into what was gonna be an eventful couple of days.
Plans are well under way... phone calls, messages and emails are on the go to make this one of the best weekends EVER!

Arriving in Stoke, the girls meet up at Stoke Train Station and grab a Subway - yes it's still the official food of the PV Crew! I'm on my way and trying to sort one or two final surprises.
After a stressy time with the jewellery company about Cary's group birthday pressie - a gorge watch picked out by Kriss, I'd received a message from Paula to say that it had arrived in one piece earlier in the week... Lou had sorted out the group card to Cary, I had done the Crew card for Geoff... Kriss had also played a blinder in sorting a Peppa Pig cake for Geoff to present to him later that evening - but little did the Crew know that they would be seeing him before the show...

I was texting Lou with the deets... we were en-route but stuck in traffic... the lovely Lady who had made the cake was on her way to the George to deliver it (thanks to Debbie for a fab job and to Keith at the Vale for recommending her) and where was I? Yes, where was I? Stuck on the blinking A500 in a van in Friday afternoon traffic... after heading from the train station to the Regent to meet Geoff prior to his sound check I was now in hiding from the girls online as I was keen to get to the George with Geoff ASAP! And as they didn't know that he was coming to deliver said cake I knew that they were wondering where I was...

Upon arrival at the George, Geoff beeped his horn as Louise, Kay and Jac were outside. Cheers Geoff!! Talk about blowing your cover! I went over to meet Debbie and to settle up for the cake - wow it was actually fantastic. What started as a chat with the girls, some screen shots from "A Place to Crash" video, photos of Cary's wabbit ears and a picture in my mind that looked fantastic but sounded shit when I tried to describe it to Debbie - actually ended up amazingly good! Debbie was a little bit speechless as Geoff came over to the cake from her and looked down at the Robbie on the cake she had just made; then back up at Geoff to see that he was looking a bit like Robbie too!
Lighting the candle and shielding it from the breeze, we headed up the familiar steps of the George Hotel and into the bar where Louise had got all the girls together....

Singing Happy Birthday, we well and truly surprised the Birthday Girl, not only with her cake but also the Delivery Man too! Big thanks to JK as Robbie Williams who took time out of his very busy day to come down to Burslem and do the honours!

It then seemed appropriate to give Geoff his cards and cake from the Crew - cue PV Peppa on a plate (and a recycled candle, well we're environmentally friendly of course!) and another chorus of Happy Birthday! Of course, Peppa loved it, she's a right naughty little piggy!! Geoff took it all in good spirits, and after promising to meet us later headed back to the Regent to finish setting up for tonight's show. All going well, so far so good and everything is going to plan! Happy days!!

5 minutes later, the last of the Crew arrived... Rena bounded in and it was great to see her! And here we all were - Kriss, Louise, Anne, Shelley, Sue, Hayley, Kay, Allison, Jac, Rena, Paula, the Birthday girl Cary and myself - unlucky for some but not for us - 13 of us mad heads ready to party! After getting the beers in, we provided Cary with some more surprises - cue cards and gifts galore...Have to say was a little overwhelmed with all the effort everyone went to myself for my birthday so can only imagine how Cary felt as this was Birthday surprises in TURBO mode! The Crew were well and truly on it like a car bonnet!!

After presents, we did the usual and headed over to the George for a swift one before getting ready for the evening. And again - as usual, we were on the last minute for the limo - not just any limo but a shiny deluxe Hummer fit for a Crew Do! Back to the George. the lovely barman from last time remembered us; well I mean how could he forget...?! Never Forget!!
No time for grapes - the virgins will still be virgins until Chrimbo - but there was time for a couple of swift bevvies and some pics... lots of laughs with the locals yet again and we asked ever so nicely for a bit of Rob and Take That tuneage so we could practice our bouncing. Andy behind the bar was happy to oblige. Thanks again :)

Shizer - is that the time? Drinking up, we scoot back over to the George, following the usual trail of feathers, stopping traffic on Scotia Road, beep beep from the cars. It's like we were never away! We head up to our rooms to change and the evening is looking really good as we are all in great form and cannot wait to have a good bop later.
The hummer arrives - complete with 6 bottles of fizz. Yes, 6 bottles. Posh Limos are a local firm who had done a great job of looking after us before so I was straight onto them once I knew we would be heading back to Stoke. Lou provided the tunes and with us all in the back we are OFF - up Hanley Duck, and ready to be entertained. With lots of laughs already that day, we had a feeling that tonight was gonna be a good night!! And how appropriate that JK kicked off the show with a version of that very song!!

The hummer was fab, really enjoyed the spin and as usual the Crew stopped traffic! Arriving at the Regent, it is always funny to see everyone having a nosey at who is getting out... tis only us, the Port Vale Crew...! The driver is happy to take some snaps for us... we wave him off but not before Paula tries to get on it like a car bonnet - LITERALLY!! PMSL!!
Heading over to the Box Office to collect the tickets, we are a little against the clock. Again no change there, there ain't no party like a Crew party and the party won't start without us! Pit stop at the bar on the way in; we head to the door we are told to go to but then get told to go to another door... whatever! We just want our seats love! Eventually we find our seats and apologising to the people behind us in advance for what is going to be very much an "audience participation" row, we take our seats for what would probably be the only time that night!!

PV Crew Chrimbo Cracker... at Port Vale FC! (part 2)

So we are all sat around table 4. Vino and other drinks are flowing. Getting stuck into the grub, we find that its as tasty and yummy as before. I drop the salt cellar, which knocks my Magners into my dinner. WHOOPS! 5 second rule applies, and as Debs passes me a clean plate I salvage the turkey, roasties and the pigs in blanket (within 5 seconds!) Lucky theres enough veg and spuds on the table to fill the most hungry vegetarian so I'm sorted!
Running out of Cranberry and Gravy, the staff are quick to come and top us up... they are so lovely at the Vale and nothing is too much trouble. In fact, when Shelley hints that she would like a Yorkie, I ask Keith are there any spare and he heads into the kitchen before returning with 2 of em!!


How we managed to fit in dessert after the starters and all the food I'll never know but we did... and Debs and I made a run for the Spys (minus the coffee) which were munched throughout the night! We managed to get Keith to stick Rob on the tellybox for us - with Wand Erection and lots of cheers at the end of the performance around the function room - but mostly from table 4 ;)
DJ throws on a few tunes and Abba are getting ready - Keith comes over to ask us do we want the tour... well it would be rude not to!


So 1st stop - the trophy room and the Directors Lounge. A few more trophies and a bit more crystal in the cabinet since last time! Keith always gives us the low down and stops for a few piccies too!

Next stop - THE SEAT! We head into the stand and Keith throws on the floodlights! In the Directors seating area we plonk our backsides on Robbie's seat... More pictures and madness... the poor seat, I can only use one word here - VIOLATED! The seat has never seen so much action, the Laydees convene one by one to take their pew... the throne as it was called a couple of times that night!!

It's all action as the Crew take to the stands...
Keith thinks it hilarious, he can't believe the antics... well wait a minute...
This is the PV Crew... we are on hallowed turf, back home....
He then rephrases and says he can believe it! He wouldn't expect anything else infact!
He takes our antics in great spirits though and is happy to give us all the time to "take a load off" and plonk our arses in Rob's seat!
Wonder if the Crew will get to a match when Rob is home at a match... was a discussion that was had over a few shandies ;)

Next stop - THE PITCH! As we make our way along the players tunnel we convene for a team shot. Keith and Nick are happy to oblige as press photographers! Thanks Guys!
We head outside and the cold air hits us. Cast my mind back to the night before at Cary's place where we are watching that DVD documentary of Rob from 1999 and he's mucking about on that pitch! So we brave the cold air and head outside... the groundsman has cleared all the snow which is piled up at the side (no underground heating I bet, they're only League 2 yaknow!) and a ground sheet it placed strategically on the side of the pitch for us to convene on! Well we don't want our heels on the sacred turf!
So we strike a few poses, Shelley gets her legs into places we never realised she could!!! Brilliant!! Lots of laughs as we head inside and pass the Home Team dressing room...

Hang on a minute Keith, we are the Home Team... well I mean we are the PV Crew after all. Taking a minute to consider, he agrees and says "well Rob has been in those baths too so would you like to head in?!?"
ERM of course we would... so he gets his keys back out of his pocket and we head into the dressing room... some of the Crew jump in the baths... Shelley takes some time to get a bit of physio... I move the tac-tics board around... Paula plays with the balls (EASY!!!!) tis good fun!

Thanking Keith for our grand tour, we head back upstairs to the function room where we get another round in. Abba are on stage and we take a few minutes to catch our breath and chill as they get few a couple of slow songs... as they move onto more cheesy songs, we have a little boogie to Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia and Thank You For the Music!
They were OK but they weren't Robbie, were they?? And they were no JK as Robbie either!
As they left the stage, the DJ kicks off and we waste no time in getting our requests in. Robbie. Take That. Bon Jovi. Robbie. Take That. Kings of Leon. Robbie. You get the idea...

Cue lots of dancing, busting moves that MJ would be jealous of!! A few more drinkies and we get the staff involved... Shelley takes a shine to Sam's hat and gets that off him!
Cary takes a shine to Keith's flashing lights and gets them... Keith heads back 2 mins later with some new PV lanyards for us - seeing as I lost my last one tying the PV Crew banner up at Soccer Aid, Wembley I was glad to get a new one! Coming close to locking up time, the DJ plays Rule the World and we take to the floor and have a right good group hug! We're all psyched up for the tour now more than ever and decide we need another drink to calm us down! However the bar is closed :(

Keith says to give him 10 mins to get rid of everyone and we are good for another drink... or two....
Before we can say "lock in" we are getting more drinks and having some choons on to sing to! Mand has a power snooze but soon wakes up and gets her 2nd wind... In his error, Nick gives me a Southern Comfort and Coke for Cary instead of a Southern Comfort and Lemonade... Keith says to take it and Cary decides to waste not, want not....! NICE!
Nick and Keith come and join us as the rest of the staff head home after a long shift - thanks guys for taking great care of us xxx
We're sat round singing, Debs is drumming the table... Keith gets us all a couple of drinks in (thanks Keith) and Nick remembers why he didnt stop late last time pmsl!!
We have a good catch up, Keith says we have to go back before next Christmas and it's something to think about! It really is like going home when we go back to the Potteries... we always get a warm welcome and especially at Port Vale where it all started!

Its about 3.10am and we decide to go back to the hotel... Keith orders 2 taxis for us but upon heading downstairs we find out that the fog has dropped in and the taxis are not too quick to come and collect us. We convene on the main desk in the foyer, which Keith tells us used to be the Customer Service desk in the shopping centre up Hanley duck! Paula and Cary decide to get behind it to give us some "customer service" and a sing song of "9 to 5" starts!
5 more mins and still no sign - so with Keith finishing locking up, Nick gets on the case to chase them and within about 10 mins our chariots await... We bid our goodbyes to the guys and head back to the George where we jump into our PJs and decide to have a few Cocksucking Cowboys before bed.
Lou cranks up the lappy and with the miracle of WI-FI she finds the performances from Take That and Rob that were on TV earlier in the night. What a way to end the night, singing The Flood, downing shots in our jammies and laughing at all the fun we had earlier that evening!
We hit the hay about 5am... and are awake again at around 8.30. Yes we are mad! Well you can't miss The George Brekkie... This time we had juice and glasses!
Fresh tea! and the brekkie wasnt bad either! Lou even got mushrooms pmsl!!
Cary, Shelley and Mand never made it down for food - WTFood board! That WAS a first! Getting packed up is always fun, even though I always give out half of my case I always end up taking more home... thanks so much for my cards, treats and pressies girls! Feather trail has hit the George again... from the reception up the stairs, to each of the rooms and even in the bathroom (dont ask!) They love us though so we always seem to get away with it *snigger*
Making our way downstairs we hand in our keys and the Receptionist asks us where we were till 3.30 as the Night Manager commented on our late arrival... when we say Port Vale she couldnt believe we got a lock in at the footie ground.. her final words were "you girls know how to party!" and she wouldn't be wrong!

We head back to Stoke train station, where one by one we head on our travels back home... but not before lots of hugs and Christmas wishes outside. Mand is straight off for a Subway having missed Brekkie, Shelley gets one for the train and Ash and Cary follow them over the road.

Another cracking weekend girls. Brilliant. The only things missing were the Shads & Rena... but they were there in Spirit...!! Merry Christmas to you all and can't wait for the next one!

Sam does Stamford... and Pantos on Strike with the Pineson!

1st stop - Kriss place. Lovely lunch in Stamford, back to her house to meet her two boys. They were such lovely lads... a credit to you hun x

Had a fab dinner, some vino and decided to head over to the mess with some of the girls for a couple of cheeky ones. In true PV Crew style, we managed to watch Take That on Children in Need, even got some of the blokes to turn the sound UP!!
Back to Kriss gaff with the girls for some more bevvies, shots and a sing song on the Wii. After the girls went home, Kriss and I re-watched CIN, and also Look Back Dont Stare and had a right good catch up. Was a fab night!
Next morning, was treated to a lovely brekkie before heading to Peterborough station to catch the chuff chuff to Manchester.

Arrived in Manchester where Paula was already in the station in the bar and had a drink on order for me - thanks hun! Just what I needed!

After grabbing a few snacks, and a Subway we get the metrolink across town to the hotel. Holiday Inn (Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn!) on the Quays; lovely hotel with great staff. Loved the upgrade to the Exec level and a comfy room awaited us!
Getting our gladrags on, frocks and all, we decide to have a pint whilst getting ready... checking my facebook I spot a couple of messages from JK and it turns out he is going to Pantos on Strike too.
Head into Manchester, waiting for a taxi we get bored and blag a lift with some other hotel guests... well we were missing out on serious drinking time! Upon arrival in the City, we head over to the Grapes which is a pub round the corner from the theatre (handy) and its owned by Vera from Corrie...!! Bump into JK here and he joins us for a quick drink before heading up to the theatre. We are in the Circle, but near the front of it with a great view. JK down in the Stalls on the opposite side of the theatre. We try and wave but fail miserably lol!
Bag a program and settle down for what has to be the funniest 2 hours I have ever seen. With slap-stick humour and an adult theme, Pantos on Strike was the biggest laugh out loud fest of the year! no wonder Rob went to see it himself!! The story is set in panto-land and Jonny being the king of panto has to rescue the Princess from Evil King Foo (say it backwards lol)
Paddy and Jonny played both their parts so well and worked really well together. The final scene being Paddy and Jonny getting the crowd to sing "Is this the Way to Amarillo" and "Angels" (its too early for Angels!!)  Hilarious!

After the show, we head around to the Stage Door, there are a couple of paps there but Paula and I are not deterred. The lovely Coleen Nolan pops out with her hubby Ray (who was in the band) and stops for a few pics and chats away... she was so lovely and was great as the Fairy Godmother!
A couple of the other stars come out and then out pops Jonny Wilkes and Paddy McGuinness.
Jonny looks a little tired and is quiter than normal (I later find out he was a bit poorly) but still stops to sign my programme and pose for a few pics! Paddy a proper Bolton lad has a chat and a giggle with us both.

JK times it perfectly and appears just as the cameras are out, and Jonny has a chat with him about Stoke! As Paddy gets into his car and Jonny heads off up the street, we decide to head back to the Grapes where we see Coleen and Ray and some of the cast. JK spots Coleen and having sang with JK she invites us over as soon as she spots him. She was a lady... friendly and good for a laugh! Even taking time to have a chat with Paula's mum on the phone! Happy days! Paula and I laugh at meeting Jonny again - hes a lovely bloke and his voice is fantastic.. he doesnt get the kudos he deserves thats a dead cert.

Had a bit of a catch up with JK too which was nice! He's in great form and finds out all the Crew gossip since we saw him in June!
After the Grapes, we head on to another bar where vodka and classic choons are in full flow... heading back to the hotel for some pink fizz, a kebab and a natter about chatting to Coleen, the midget lap-dancer from the show, and the King of Panto that is Jonny Wilkes... lots of laughs revisiting all the laughs we had earlier before heading to bed at 4am-ish. What a great night!!!