Put TOTP2 on while I look at fforum. First act is Boomtown Rats doing 'Rat Trap'. Wonderful stuff, a sadly underrated band these days. Saw them live in 1983. Ticket was about £3.00. Still, it was at the UEA. Just the band and their sound setup in a small common room. There may have been a few coloured lights but nothing else. Still, with Bob Geldof telling rambling stories between the songs, what more do you need ?

Later on TOTP2, clip of Paul Mc perfroming live on American stage of tour. Looked like he was enjoying himself and singing better than I'd expected. Hope he uses same drummer for UK tour. *HUGE* bald black man sitting behind drums and flailing away like Animal, from the Muppets. Had me laughing so much Dad looked in to see if I was all right.

Was that Chester Thompson, by any chance? Him good skinsman - used to play with Genesis, among others.

Last night on TOTP2 they had the Pogues with the Dubliners ... featuring Ronnie Drew, the only man who could drink Shane McGowan under the table. They tell many good tales of the late Ronnie; my favourite is that he was very scared of flying, and on a plane would sit there sweating and fingering his rosary beads. They told him there was nothing to worry about, and in any case there was nothing he could do about it, so why worry? - "When it's your time to go, it's your time. " Ronnie thought about this, and then said, "Fair enough, but what if it's the pilot's time to go?"



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I am very interested in the Universe. I am specialising in the Universe and everything surrounding it. - E. L. Wisty

I heard a lovely story about Barney McKenna (also of the Dubliners). Apparently he was giving a lift to Finbar Furey, who put up with McKenna's dangerous driving for several miles before his patience finally gave out and he felt he had to say something about it. McKenna grinned at him disarmingly and replied, "Ah, you should be in the car with me when I'm on me own!"



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That which does not kill us makes us stranger.
(Llewelyn the dragon, Ozy and Millie)

Sarah

Re "Animal, from the Muppets" _ The human who really played the drums when Animal was supposed to be doing so was [the now, alas, late] Ronnie Verrell, who was also in 'The Syd Lawrence Orchestra' (a long-running British 'big band') for many years... He was well worth listening to in his real identity, too.

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"Some days I diet, other days they serve lasagne."



Post Edited (03-28-03 19:47)

Got round to booking my train tickets for Manchester last night. In a fit of optimism, I am assuming I will be back in Sheffield by the middle of next week. Looks like I've got a bit of a wait in Manchester Piccadilly rather late at night, but it's a big, well-lit station. It was that or miss the end of the concert to take an earlier train (fat chance).

Less than a week to go !

It is indeed a big, well-lit station, and rather impressively rebuilt lately, too. It's full of shops - inc. a Sainsbury's - and bars and fast food joints now, but I dunno how late they open til.

Your last tram from Victoria (MEN Arena) to Piccadilly is at 2356. Don't miss it.



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I am very interested in the Universe. I am specialising in the Universe and everything surrounding it. - E. L. Wisty

Thanx for info on tram. Must borrow map of Manchester from someone or look it up on map website I've got bookmarked on own PC.

Map not required, if all you doing is seeing the gig. Proceed as follows;

Get off train from Sheff. Follow signs for Metrolink, follow signs for trams to Bury, get on Bury bound tram. (Every 15 in the evening).

Get off tram at Victoria, walk forward through station concourse, up stairs to Arena.

Boogie to Macca.

Repeat process in reverse, looking now for Piccadilly tram (not Altrincham).

If drinking before gig, recommend Sinclairs Oyster Bar or Old Shambles, both in Exchange Square (just behind Cathedral from Victoria).



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I am very interested in the Universe. I am specialising in the Universe and everything surrounding it. - E. L. Wisty

Coo, directions. Thanx again.

Thought about trying Metrotrain on previous visit to Manchester but decided not to on account of fare being disproportionately high to distance covered.

Note: Manchester has a light railway. Sheffield has trams.

Paul McCartney once drank in my uncle's pub.

So did Spike Millgan. Before he died that is. And I don't think the two are connected.....................


"There is no snooze button on a cat"

Well, I used to work for GMPTE, who own the damn thing, and we called them trams .... re expense, if your train tickets show your destination as 'Manchester Ctl Zne', then the tram comes free (within the city centre).



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I am very interested in the Universe. I am specialising in the Universe and everything surrounding it. - E. L. Wisty

Do you have to pay extra for some vowels?



PSD

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This is the work of an Italian narco-anarchic collective. Don't bother insulting them, they can't read English anyway.

Catch a tram out to Salford and you can get disemvowelled for free.



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I am very interested in the Universe. I am specialising in the Universe and everything surrounding it. - E. L. Wisty

Suspect the tix will show Manchester Picadilly, but I'll check when I get them. Isn't local knowledge a wonderful thing ?

From my knowledge of my locals. No.



PSD

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This is the work of an Italian narco-anarchic collective. Don't bother insulting them, they can't read English anyway.

It is, although having worked in the transport business for over 20 years there aren't many places in the British Isles I don't know my way around (by public transport, at least ... I'm useless at navigating round cities by car, cos I only know the bus routes ...).

I sometimes think there's an invisible sign over my head that says 'this man knows useful directions', because I am always being asked such things. What's really scary is I always know the answer, too .....



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I am very interested in the Universe. I am specialising in the Universe and everything surrounding it. - E. L. Wisty

PSD; you are living in the wrong place. The locals in Sheffield are great. People and pubs both.

You're only saying that to get me to visit you ;P



PSD

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This is the work of an Italian narco-anarchic collective. Don't bother insulting them, they can't read English anyway.

There are worse things a man might do.
Some of which can lead to growing hair in unlikely places and going blind.