Coventry where my dreams came true.
When everyone was settled Lisa came onto the stage to give us a run down of what was going to happen over the next few hours.
First was Lisa’ interview with James. She said that we would have probably preferred Jonathan Ross or Ant and Dec but she knew a lot more about what we wanted to know *wink*. It really was a great interview very funny with Lisa insinuating some very cheeky things and James rising to the bait. James seemed very relaxed and happy during this, laughing, joking and sometimes blushing. With questions like “Does he sing in the bath or in bed”. “Did he ever choose his girlfriends so there names would rhyme in his songs” and “How long had he wanted to be a heat seeking missile”, you can understand why. I won’t go into all of the questions 1.Because I can’t remember them all and 2.You’ve probably already seen the transcript.
He actually sat down for this part which if you know James is very unusual. He doesn’t usually stay still long enough and was still shuffling in his seat even having his foot up on the chair at one point. It was nice to see James and Lisa’s interaction with each other it is obvious that they have a close friendship which makes me envious.
After that James went off to get ready for the singing part of the night and Steve Himber was called on stage to do a prize giveaway with Lisa. There were some nice prizes of signed trading cards, cds and the main prize of a signed lyric sheet. NN won one of the signed cards which were great it’s always nice when one of your friends win something. A funny thing that happened during the giveaway was when Lisa was showing Steve the cards. He wasn’t really taking much interest but then Lisa came across one with Spike in very little clothing *wink*. Steve then of course had to have a second look which prompted Lisa to say “Oh now you’re interested” lol. At this point everyone was laughing and Steve got embarrassed and shouted at the girl who was going up to collect her prize to *Hurry up” so that things could move swiftly along *smile*.
It was then time for a short break giving everyone chance for a much needed toilet trip and to find something to eat and drink. Unfortunately for some insane reason the bar was closed and when we were sent across the courtyard to the other bar that was locked too. I don’t know what happened there but perhaps the people in the Guildhall thought we were all jolly enough without having any alcoholic beverages *wink*.
Just as we got back to our seat James came back on guitar in hand. It was strange though because there was no build up to his entrance, no announcement for his arrival on stage and this caught a few people out, who were still milling around and didn’t expect him back yet.
Perhaps at this time I should mention a little about what he was wearing. He had a nice maroon and black stripped shirt on. Which I know wasn’t to everyone’s tastes but I really liked it. He had new blue jeans on which he said they had made him buy because apparently at the Cavern gig he was showing a bit too much skin in his holey ones *wink*. He also had on blue trainers with white fluorescent strips that show up wicked cool in people’s photos. I think somebody said at one of the gigs they looked frighteningly radioactive lol.
He started off with singing Every Man which is a great song and continued on singing every other song on the album. He did sing a new song called Finer than Gold which he said he’d just written over the last couple of days. It is a very beautiful song sung with incredible emotion and I think nearly reduced us all to tears. He gave us a short explanation of the song saying it was about what happens when you buy your girlfriend the wrong gift.
He talked a bit during the songs and said at one point he was really glad the lights were on in the hall because he could see everyone. He really likes to see peoples faces and there reactions to his songs. He did comment a couple of times about the audience’s reaction telling one girl that “He loved her because she was bobbing about on her seat and really getting into the music. He said that he was usually the only one doing that”.
He said that “He was having a great time on the tour and thanked everyone for there support and for being there. He also said that this night it was like we were all just friends hanging out together”, which in a way for us it was. He also told us that if he hadn’t had the love and support that he got at Halloween he probably wouldn’t have had the confidence to tour on his own. One more thing I remember him saying was that the Civilised Man cd nearly didn’t get finished. This was because he had to go off and film Cool Money in Canada; he left some people working on the cd while he was away. Anyway apparently he wasn’t happy with the guitar work or something that was added so he was all for scraping the whole thing. Luckily… for us anyway… they re -did some parts and sorted out the glitches and the cd was finished *sigh*. He also said that he stuck to his guns with the way he wanted it to be and he was about 90% happy with the way the album turned out. Now some of this might not be in the right order so forgive me if I’ve mixed things up a bit.
Well all too soon the concert came to an end and with heavy hearts we all got ready to say our goodbyes. Before we got up to leave though Lisa said that James had decided to give everyone there signed cd personally and if anyone had gifts they could give them to him. So we all sat down again as Lisa, Steve and the JM Live girls sorted out the rows from the front first to file out, all except of course the disabled ladies and there helpers who were told to wait till last.
When it came to our turn we joined the line and followed on towards the stairs where James had situated himself to give out the discs. We passed James’ guitar which had been left by the merchandise table, we knew it was his because it had his name on it lol. Ditto quickly took a photo *smile*.
While we were waiting all a flutter at the prospect of coming face to face with the man himself, the Guildhall staff and Steve were getting all anxious because of the time and the possibility that we were all gonna get thrown out on our ears lol.
Two ladies were leaning on the bar watching us with great amusement probably wondering what all the fuss was about. So you know me never one for keeping my big gob shut said to them “You’ll have to forgive us but we just lose all sense when James is about” or something like that. The ladies smiled at me and said “But how did you know about him”. That was it then, never one to refuse the chance to brag about whom James is and how great an actor he is I continued to tell them he was out of Buffy and who he played and everything. One lady then said “Yeah I get all that but how did you know he sings”. Well I said “We’ve been following him for about 5 yrs now so we know almost everything about him” lol. At this point we were told to move along as we were holding up the queue I looked sheepish being caught out chatting again and said “Sorry we’re just spreading the James love” *smile*.
At this point in the line we could see James just in front of us talking to people and shock upon shock, standing up and giving everyone a hug. Now this came as a great if not pleasant surprise because all I was expecting was him sitting behind a table and shaking hands, passing out the cd, like he does at all of his other autograph signings.
So this is when the panic stations set in I was the first to notice and went “ OMG” loud enough for everyone to hear I told Wil, Debs, Ditto and DeeDee what was happening and watching all there eyes widen in shock was quite funny. Ditto of course suddenly went very pale.
Anyway we waited patiently as Steve was running up and down telling James that he had to hurry it along because the place was gonna close soon. James of course just carried on regardless. Then it came to my turn I walked up to him holding out my gift bag as I went. James smiled and said “Hi” I smiled back and said “Some more boring books”. Now the reason I said that is because ever since I’ve met James I’ve given him a book or books as a gift. Some people give him expensive things like guitars, necklaces, bracelets with me it’s just a book. It’s a thing ok. *snerk*
He passed the gift onto a lady standing next to him who was also passing him the cds. I then said to him “ You know last week you were talking about Steven Berkoff in Houston” He nodded and said “ Yeah he’s great “ I continued and said “Have you read his autobiography” He said “No” and then went on to say he also wanted to read another book of his called I Am Hamlet which was another great book. I watched him in awe as he was talking he really gets very animated and bouncy when you mention something that really interests him. When he stopped talking I looked him in the eyes and said I’ve brought you his autobiography. His whole face lit up then and he looked at me and said “Really” and I just said “Yeah” and it was like the whole world had stopped and there was only James and me there, it was a moment I’ll never forget. He then looked at me as though to say come here and he opened his arms and I just stepped into them. We hugged each other but don’t ask me what it felt like because all I can remember is the feel of his leather jacket and that he was quite thin. I then stepped back in a daze and went to take the cd of his helper who was holding it out. Of course I got it wrong and James grabbed the cd and then gave it to me which was the right way *blush*. He was still looking at me so I suddenly had the urge to tell him how wonderful he is. So I said to him “You were amazing tonight, just when we thought it couldn’t get any better than Halloween. You come up with something like this” He nodded and said while holding his hand up, thumb and finger about an inch apart “Well I knew I had little something going on”. I then smirked at him and said “Well we all knew that” and with that he started laughing that wonderful laugh that he has. For some reason then, and I still don’t know why I did it I looked down at his hand and took it in mine. He looked at our hands and then at my face and I said “Thank you” and “I’ll see you in Milton Keynes” He raised his eyebrows then and looked at me a bit puzzled as though he would have expected me to say Bristol or London perhaps because they were next on his tour but not MK. He nodded his head again in response and then we released each others hands and I walked away in a trance *swoon*.
I got about half way down the stairs before I remembered I’d gotta wait for the others. So I ran back up hoping to get a glimpse of Wil getting her hug. I got there just as he hugged her and she was smiling broadly, she then gave him her present which was forgotten in James haste to try and hurry things up by hugging her straight away. He thanked her for the gift which was a Union Jack thumb ring and some Shakespeare chocolates from Stratford. Then just as she went to walk away it was as though he was thinking well I’ve already hugged her so I can’t do it again and he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. Her face was an absolute picture I really wish I had taken that photo. She turned to look at him and with an even bigger smile on her face, and then it was her turn to say “Thank you” lol.
We then both went down the stairs still in awe of what had just happened. We waited at the bottom for the others and then Ditto came down the stairs very shocked and very pale. We thought she was gonna fall down the stairs in her rush to get out, and she seriously thought she was gonna faint but once she got outside in the fresh air, a few deep breaths and she was ok.
Then all the others joined us and there was lots of chatter about everyone’s experience with James and who he’d kissed and who he’d hugged. But then it was time to go because we were worried about missing our train back to Wolvo. So we said goodbye to DeeDee and all the others, but we didn’t get a chance to see PK and NN because they were one of the last out.
Debs insisted that we got a taxi back to the station so we flagged one down and went on our way. We boarded the train on a total high from the event and I think it was a long time before we all came down to earth. In Dittos case I don’t know if she has yet *smile*.
Just to sum it all up, it was a really great day and an even better night. James just continues to amaze me time and time again and now that he has found a good team to help him organise his own events I can only encourage people to go along and bask in the James Marsters love you won’t forget it.
To anyone who reads this thanks for putting up with my mad ramblings *Hugs*.
Hope to see you all in October *kiss*.