Doris' Blog

2011-10-23T16:16:00.002+02:00

CdeB-Konzerte, die ich besucht habe:

1) 26.10.2002 – Oberhausen Arena
2) 22.05.2004 – Düsseldorf Tonhalle
3) 06.11.2004 – Dortmund Westfalenhalle (Jubiläumskonzert incl. Meet & Greet & Fan-Meeting)
4) 12.07.2005 – Bochum Amphitheater
5) 13.07.2005 – Krefeld Königspalast
6) 17.07.2005 – Lingen Marktplatz
7) 19.07.2005 – Bonn Museumsmeile
8) 20.07.2005 – Nordkirchen Schloss
9) 19.10.2006 – Liverpool Anfield Trophy Room – Magic Showcase
10) 18.11.2006 – Birmingham NEC
11) 25.11.2006 – Dortmund Westfalenhalle (incl. Fan-Meeting)
12) 03.12.2006 – Düsseldorf Philippshalle
13) 05.08.2007 – Gymnich Schloss
14) 07.08.2007 – Bielefeld Ravensberger Park
15) 14.11.2007 – Manchester Bridgewaterhall
16) 16.08.2008 – Aachen Kurpark
17) 27.04.2009 – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
18) 28.04.2009 – Manchester Bridgewater Hall
19) 16.05.2009 – Münster Halle Münsterland
20) 18.05.2009 – Bochum Ruhrcongress
21) 17.06.2009 – Bonn Museumsmeile
22) 31.08.2009 – Dublin Gaieté Theater
23) 04.09.2010 – Rastatt Schlossplatz
24) 26.03.2011 – Köln Lanxess Arena (incl. Fan-Meeting)
25) 12.04.2011 – Dortmund Westfalenhalle
26) 16.04.2011 – Birmingham Symphony Hall
27) 29.09.2011 – Düsseldorf Philippshalle (Mitsubishi Electric Halle)

kleine Auftritte:

1) April 2008 – Düsseldorf DTM Präsentation (3 Lieder)
2) Dez. 2008 – Köln RTL Studios – TV Auftritt Jukeboxhelden
3) März 2009 – Liverpool Anglican Cathedral – Phil’s Memorial Service (Phil Easton)

2009-09-09T23:31:00.010+02:00

My trip to Dublin 30.8. – 1.9.2009 - of course incl. CdeB-concert

It all began in May 2009, when 3 CdeB-concert-dates in Dublin were announced. Immediately after having read about them the corresponding between Cdeb-fans and friends started, and lots of people seemed to be interested in flying to Dublin to see one or more of those concerts in the Gaiety Theatre. Melanie unfortunately couldn’t get the time off from work. She was very sad, which I can understand. But I wrote a message in the CdeB forum about, that it would be so sad, that I would not be able to explore Dublin with Melanie. A moment later there was a message from Pauline, asking me, why I wouldn’t explore Dublin with her and Wendy. That was so nice of her – and I didn’t hesitate very long and agreed: yes!!! So the planning and organizing began. I must admit, I didn’t really have a lot to do, because Pauline is the perfect travel-planner! She found and booked a good hotel-room for the 3 of us, she bought the tickets for all of us, she even hired a car for us and found a nice restaurant for a dinner with lots of CdeB-fans for our 1st evening. All I had to do was to book my flight, which was no problem at all. Ryanair flies from Weeze to Dublin for a good price!

Time passed quickly, and in June there was a fan-meeting after the CdeB-concert in Bonn. Nearly everybody there was talking about going to Dublin – so even those few who had not yet been so sure if they should go now all were very keen on going too.
A few days later I got an e-mail from Evelyn from Solingen asking me with which airline I would fly, in which hotel I would stay etc. – After a few e-mails it was clear: Evelyn would book the same flight, would share the hotel room with us (Pauline changed the booking) and she would come to me the afternoon before our flight would go in the early the next morning. Planning became even more exciting as now 4 of us were involved. Besides exchanging e-mails with Pauline, Wendy and Evelyn also Sandra e-mailed from time to time with good sightseeing-tips.

Saturday, the 29th of August came. Pauline and Wendy already flew to Dublin that day. Evelyn arrived at our house at 3.30 p.m.. She ‘sold’ me 2 knives from Solingen. It’s not good to give knives as gifts because they cut the friendship, so I had to give her a Cent for them and ‘buy’ them. While we were drinking coffee the phone rang: It was Melanie from Liverpool who wished us a nice journey and told us again, how much she would like to be with us! I felt really sorry for her – but couldn’t change it! Also incidently a friend of Evelyn had flown to Dublin just the previous day and also was in ‘our’ Gaiety Theatre (to see ‘Riverdance’), and she sent Evelyn several mms of the Theatre, which was a nice pre-taste! In the late afternoon we started the challenge of getting our luggage sorted. We had planned to travel both with hand-luggage only = 10 kilos each. But the nearer the travel-date came the more nervous did Evelyn become – she had nightmares about explosive hairspray which would have been taken away from her at the airport-check-in etc. So she had booked one suitcase of 15 kilos only a few days before our flight. I put my liquids/toilettries into her suitcase and I carried a pair of her trousers instead in my travel bag. I had to step on the scales with and without all the 3 pieces of luggage several times. It was so funny and took a while till we had it all sorted and ready to leave. We were looking forward to the following days, watched CdeB-videos in the evening and tried to sleep early. That was not so easy because of all the excitement. In the end both us us didn’t manage to catch more than 1 – 2 hours sleep before our alarm went off at 3.00 a.m. early on Sunday morning (night)!

We left home at about 5.30 a.m. the next morning after our beauty-care for the long day and reached Weeze Airport, which is 70 km away after 50 min. Parking the car there on P2 is not too expensive, especially not if it’s devided through two. It was rather crowded in the terminal building, because a lot of planes took off after 6.00 a.m. after the night-break. It didn’t last very long untill we met Anneke and René from the Netherlands. It was so nice to talk to them. Their German is very good. We had already found out earlier (in Bonn in June) that they had booked the same flights as we had. The world is really small, isn’t it? And all the world seemed to be on their way to Dublin that weekend! At least it seemed so when I read facebook and the CdeB-community. Even Barry James had played a CdeB song at Radio Caroline for all the Ladies on their way to Dublin to see CdeB! Sooo lovely!

Our plane took off after 7.10 am. . I quickly sent a few good-bye-texts before I switched off my phones. The flight lasted 1:25 hours. The view was not the best because there were some clouds below us, but after about 1 hour the captain said, that we would now soon cross Manchester Airport and Liverpool. Oh – how enthousiastic was I! I couldn’t stop smiling. I’d see my favourite city!!! Really, there was Manchester Airport, which I had seen often before from a plane-window – but only when that airport had been my start- or destination-airport. A few minutes later I saw water. It looked like a huge lake – so I was rather confused. But soon the water got more nearrow and looked like a river – the Mersey-river. Now I could recognize Liverpool and the Wirral. I took many photos without really seeing all the well-known buildings, but I saw them all later at home after I had put my pics on the laptop and zoomed the pics closer. Even the Radio-City-Tower was on one of the pictures. It was nice to see the Wirral – surrounded by Mersey, Irish Sea and River Dee. There was a huge cloud above Hilbre Island. Magic-listener Malcolm T. from Bel Vale had written at Facebook that he would hang out blue laundry on the clothes-line (as Everton would play that weekend) – for me to see it from the plane. Francis M. wanted to hang out red clothes in Anfield. In my enthousiasm I unfortunately didn’t recognize them ;-) Then we saw clouds over the water for the next 15 min. before we reached Dublin at about 8.00 a.m.. A great feeling to touch irish ground for the very first time in life! But certainly not for the last time!!!!

It didn’t last long untill we met Robert and Kathy Cairns from Belgium. We knew them already from some previous concerts. So we were already 6. We managed to figure out how to find a bus into the city centre. We also noticed, that Evelyn’s and my German phones didn’t work. We both are t-mobile customers, and later we were told that there is no t-mobile-network in Ireland. What a shame! I have no idea why our phones didn’t switch to any other local mobile-phone-network! I tried out everything – but in vain (‘It’s better to have tried in vain than never try at all’). I was lucky to have my engl. Vadafone-phone with me. So I told some frequent-texters, that I would only be reachable via that phone. A pity that I had given my German number to so many other Cdeb-fans who wanted to meet up in Dublin! But first of all it was important to text Pauline to find out where and when to meet her and Wendy.

We met at about after 9.00 a. m. at our Blooms Hotel after the 30 min. bus-trip. It was great to finally meet Pauline and Wendy. I had seen them only once in my life before – in April 2009 before the concert in Manchester. After leaving our luggage in a store room in our hotel we took a taxi and drove to the car-rental where we had pre-booked our car for the day. We already laughed a lot while sitting squeezed together in the taxi!
The men in the car-rental-office were not the most friendly people, but never mind. Our car, a silver Ford Focus, was ok and comfortable. I absolutely admired Pauline, who was so brave to drive with a strange car in a strange town – and that without any sat-nav! Wend was her human navigator with a map in her hands. And we weren’t in a hurry, so we managed it. Our first destination was the old monastry-village Glendalough in the Wicklow mountains. Already the way there was wonderful – even if the sky awas grey and cloudy and it rained a bit. We also crossed small villages and very nearrow roads and bridges. Pauline did a great job with driving us all the way. In Glendalough we went for a nice walk to the lake and the old monastry and graveyard. After our first bigger photo-session in the rain we went to the Glendalough-hotel to have a drink while we waited for the rain to stop. Meanwhile we all got to know each other better and better.

Then we went back to the car and drove back to the Powerscourt Gardens. We knew that Sandra also intended to drive there that afternoon. So I texted her 20 min. before we arrived there at 2.30 p.m.. She also was just on her way – what a good timing! We met on the carpark and walked through the beautiful gardens together. Lots of photos were taken by all of us!

Afterwards the 4 of us left Sandra at Powescourt and we drove 1 mile to Enniskerry, an interesting village for us, as it’s the village where CdeB lives close to. It is just a very, very small and idyllic village. But beautiful. We also had a look at the church. Then we drove back to Dublin. But that was not as easy as it sounds, because we didn’t find the way. I was so tired that I even fell asleep in the back of the car for a moment. Evelyn and I were without sleep and nearly without any food since getting up in the middle of the night!
We got into a traffic jam in Dublin due to a football-match. So it took us really a while to reach the car-rental-shop again. Of course it was closed by then. So we parked the car and took a taxi back home to our hotel. It also got stuck in that traffic and we had to pay 7 Euros more than for the same way in the morning!!! Never mind. We were happy to have reached our hotel and were curious to see how our hotel-room looked like.
The room was really nice. Big enough for the 4 of us with enough power-outlets for all the chargers and hair-dryers and even 2 TV-sets!!! We even had a balcony!
Now it was time to hand over the thank-you-gift we had for Pauline for all the trouble she had with organizing our trip (hotel, tickets, car etc.). Wend had chosen and bought it: a watch – and she let grave into the backside of the watch: ‘Dublin 2009’! So it will always be a nice memory for Pauline of this great trip to Dublin!

After relaxing for a moment we got ready for the Chinese Meal with all the other CdeB-fans which were in town. We were 13 persons altogether: Pauline, Wendy, Evelyn, Anneke and René (from the Netherlands), Kathy and Robert (from Belgium), Judy, Andrew and Logan (from California/USA), Sandra and Tina M. (Germany) and I. We had reserved a huge table in the ‘Imperial’ in Wicklow Street, which was not far from our hotel. The funny thing was, that Pauline had booked the table already some months ago, and the number of people, who would join the meal changed about weekly, so she had to ring up again and again. I’m sure the restaurant owners knew her name very well by now! The evening was very amusing, in spite of Evelyn and me already being awake for such a long time! I was at a point at which I hardly noticed anymore if I was hungry or tired or not. I just had fun with all the others. It was good, that I was not the only photo-crazy person there. Everybody took photos during our meal, because some of us had ordered something, which they had to eat by hand, and that was so funny. Besides Pauline had put off her shoes below the table, which caused some amusement. After the nice meal all of us (except Judy, Andrew and Logan) went to a nice pub with live music very close to our hotel. We had such a nice time – and I had my first Guinness in Dublin! Hmmm – how delicious! Usually I never liked Guinness, but in Ireland it tastes much better, it was so creamy. It is well known, that Guinness does not like to travel.
Time passed quickly, the 2-men-live-band was good, but when they made a break there was played “American Pie” in the jukebox (or from CD). That was of course very good for all of us CdeB-fans. We all sang along. It fitted even better as CdeB had sung exactly this song at “Captain America’s” a long time ago, before he became famous and before this song ended up as one of his covers on his “Footsteps”-album! We had soo much fun that evening, and also sang along to many other songs. Bedtime at about midnight or a bit afterwards. I had not expected anything special that evening – but the evening WAS special!

Evelyn and I shared a double-bed – with only one blanket! I tried to sleep very calm and quiet and not to move too much – and Evelyn found it warm enough to sleep without blanket (I didn’t check if she used it – I slept VERY tight all night long)! Wend’s bed was a single bed next to ours, Pauline slept in a little extra room, which was connected to ours without any door – the 2 connected rooms were kind of one room without any door to close between them. They told me that I was the one who fell asleep first, because I started snoring immediately after my head had touched my pillow!

Anyway, the night was much too short. At 6.00 a.m. on Monday morning we heard Pauline’s mobile-phone-alarm going off: a lovely well known voice singing ‘Live for the day’ – how appropiate as an alarm-tone! My alarm-ringtone ‘I love the night’ sounds a bit more like I would prefer staying in bed! It went off 1 hour later – at 7.00 a.m., when we really had to get up.
The 4 of us really got along well with sharing the bathroom etc. There also was enough space in our room/s. Enough power-outlets for several hair-dryers and chargers for phone and cameras etc. Everything was really ok and I can recommend our hotel for further Dublin-visits.

We went for our firest breakfast on that Munday-morning, which was lovely. Full irish breakfast buffet. Very good! When we had finished our breakfast Pauline and Wendy drove by taxi to the car-rental-shop where we had left our car the evening before. But as it was closed we still had not given back the key. That was their job for that morning. They came back by bus (with our rambler-ticket, so it didn’t cost them anything).

At about 10.00 a.m. we were ready for Dublin. We left the hotel and walked into town – in the pouring rain! We visited Molly Malone, I went to the Vodafone-store to get a voucher for my UK-phone, Pauline bought a special hair-dryer, which she needed to be prepared to go to the concert that evening! Otherwise I fear she would have stayed in the hotel….! We got all we needed, went through Grafton Street, which looked admittedly like any other shopping-street! Then we visited Trinity-college, where we took a guided tour, which was interesting. Even if I didn’t listen toooo carefully. We met Kathy and Robert and also Anneke and René there. CdeB-fans everywhere! It was interesting to see the HUGE library indoors at the end. VERY impressing – I never have seen so many books at one place. The books of Kells were something special – but not so special, that I found them too exciting as I must say!

After we had seen everything at Trinity College we went back through Grafton Street and ended up in front of ‘Captain Americas’, where we intended to have a drink (coffee etc.). But they only opened at 12.00 p.m.. So we first had a look at the frontside of the Gaiety Theatre, in which we would enjoy CdeB in the evening. We also went to the backside, from where we could look into the inside of the venue. There was a kind of window, which could be closed by roller shutters. But they were open as the crew was building up the stage. Only crew to see – nobody else…. . We also went inside the St. Stephen’s Green Shopping-Centre, which looked lovely and very old. At 12.00 p.m. we went back to ‘Captain Americas’ which was open now. Of course we took photos of the CdeB-sign next to the door and also of the CdeB-picture inside. We had a table at the open window, and we could look into the little alley, in which the stage-door of the Gaiety-theatre was! So we had everything under control – very good. I saw Chris Andrews (CdeB’s personal assistant) coming out of that alley some minutes after we had sat down. I must admit, that we all now became VERY excited and thought, he might return with Mr. de Burgh very soon. Pauline already told us to shout at CdeB when he would come, so she would find time to hurry downstairs to reach him and talk to him!!! I think we all were happy when we had finished our drinks without anything happening. Evelyn and Wendy shared a jar of Coke – and it was a funny sight to see them drinking through straws together out of one jar! Meanwhile the waitress had closed the window and we would not even have been able to shout down. Kathy and Rob passed by and they did not notice our knocking at the window!!!! After we had payed we went back into that little alley and checked, how far the crew was with building up the stage. The instruments were now standing there, and we could see the band-members and Kenny. After a few minutes Kenny, Al and Dave came out. Only Dave greeted me. Pauline talked to him and got to know that the soundcheck would take place only 2 – 3 hours later. So we finally had time to do our Guinnes-Storehouse-tour!

We took a taxi to the Guinness Storehouse. It was VERY huge. I must admit, that I was a little bit disappointed, as I had expected a guided tour (I had seen the Cain’s Brewery in Liverpool in June, and I was very impressed by it and by the guide, who had a very nice way to explain us everything). The Guinness Storehouse is more like a beer-museum with a lot of interactive equipment like TVs (video) and other animated things. I found it very hectic! As we didn’t have too much time we just hurried through it all and took as many useful photos as possible! At least I can say, I have been there, even if I won’t really remember a lot. I’ll only remember, that I enjoyed the view from the Gravity bar at the top – in spite of the rain. I guess I even have a reason to come back again – in the sunshine with a better view!
Only Wendy and I had our free Guinness up there – with a shamrock on the top (in the foam). Very nice. Being there reminded me a bit of Phil Easton, who did his St.-Patrick-Day’s show live from the Guinness Storehouse several years for Magic 1548 Liverpool. He even interviewed CdeB from up there. And once I was so mad to send Phil a printed out photo (from his website) and asked for an autograph. He really signed it and made an arrow/sign on it saying “Chris’ house”. The picture is hanging in a frame in our cellar. Unfortunately I won’t be able to tell Phil anymore, that I now finally also made it to the Gravity Bar! (He died in Febr.). But my memories were nice!

It was about 3.00 p.m. when we took a taxi back to Grafton Street. Of course we had to check what was going on at the backside of the Gaiety theatre. It was still raining heavily. We waited for 20 – 30 min. In the meantime I bought some Kings Crisps Cheese & Onion – an insider-tip of a friend who comes from Dublin (very delicious by the way), I made a phonecall, and I started to freeze in the rain. Besides I had got a text from my good e-mail-friend Marianne from Switzerland, who meanwhile had arrived in Dublin with her friend Franziska. They were at the pub, which Andrew Stokes (CdeB fan who lives in Dublin) had suggested as a meeting point. Andrew had planned to be there from 2.00 p.m. onwards. We only arrived at 4.00 p.m., but that was ok. We met several other fans and for me it was great to meet Marianne for the very first time!!! We had been at the same concert in Dortmund in Nov. 2004, but we did not yet know each other then. If I remember right we got to know each other only in Febr. 2006 via e-mail and correspond a lot since then. So meeting her was a hightlight. BUT I must admit, that understanding Marianne and Franziska talking in Swiss-German was more difficult than understanding English or Irish English! We had a lot of fun in that Citi Bar in Dame Street. It was great to meet Andrew at last! We took lots of nice photos – and everybody is smiling on those photos – it was a lovely time!
At about 5.00 p.m. most of us left. But it would not take me 2 or more hours to get ready for the concert, so I stayed a little bit longer with Marianne and Franziska – and we also walked a bit through the streets of Temple Bar in spite of the rain. Time was too precious to waste it in our hotel rooms with styling for CdeB! Who knows when I’ll meet Marianne again.
She had a present for me and she even walked back to their hotel, the Cirq Hotel in the same street to fetch it and give it to me: A cuddely toy in form of a cow which could jodle! Typical from Switzerland. And 10 bars of chocolate! We didn’t have to starve hungry for the rest of our time in Ireland. I found a Dublin-car-sticker in a little tourist-shop, besides I bought some sandwiches which I ate later in the hotel-room – to be prepared for the concert!

Well, at 6.00 p.m. even I saw the need to go back to the hotel room to get changed for the concert. I did not even dry my hair again after all the rain. It wouldn’t have made any change! (Natural beauty – ha ha!) Pauline made a fashion-show for us – wearing only her towel – and acting like Patricia – the stripper (without stripping by the way….). It was sooooo funny!
Meanwhile the rain stopped and the sky became clear and blue. It was such a lovely evening. We met Judy and Kim as well as Kathy in our hotel lounge and went together to the venue – but straight to the stage door in that little alley, where we (the stalkers!!) had been already several times that day! Suddenly Chris Andrews came out of the stage door. Pauline asked him, if we maybe would have the chance to meet CdeB. He smiled and said, that he was just on the way to pick him up, he would be back in 10 min., then we would see what would happen. And he went away. We were very excited. Several things like tickets or jackets were dropped on the ground or into puddles of rain-water (because of the excitement)! We all felt like teenagers, I think! In that moment my phone went: an imcoming text from Patricia from Malta, wishing us a great concert, which I found so nice of her! I didn’t manage to text Marianne to tell her where we were – but luckily she and Franziska had the pleasure to meet CdeB the following day, when we were already long at home.
And then they came: Chris Andrews and Chris de Burgh! All our hearts were beating faster!
I was the one who stood there at the front – with my camera around my neck. So he first came to me and said: ‘Hello Doris’. He kissed me on both cheeks (and unfortunately nobody took a picture!). I do not want to know what he thought. Maybe he thought – all those crazy fans – GO AWAY! But he was so friendly and gave us all the feeling like being very welcome. He kissed everybody and tried to remember all our names. He remembered Wendy’s name. They all had something to sign for him and some of us gave him some gifts. I had a red rose in my hand but I did not even think of giving it to him. Besides I wanted to have something to have a reason to get up during the concert and give it to him! But I must admit, I really forgot about the rose when we met him. After the kissing and signing we took pictures with everybody and CdeB! He said something about the weather, that he had ordered nice weather extra for us. I remember that I replied, that he ordered the good weather a bit late….! And I said to Chris Andrews, that the concert would start 20 min. late as CdeB would have so much to do with us. He smiled. But then they went inside and left 7 happy smiling faces outdoors !!! There was a sign at the wall just where we met CdeB saying, that there would be a CCTV-camera. I would really love to see THAT film of us waiting there and meeting CdeB!

We went to the front entrance of the theatre, where we met lots of other fans which we knew. I remember that I thought: Now we are so far away from home and I know about EVERYBODY who is standing here!!! Chris Raymond had arrived, Sheila, Allison, Tom Matthews and his brother Eugene and many more! Also Chris Williams and Stewart! I can not name them all, but I was amazed about how many of ‘us’ were gathered altogether!

Inside the venue took our seats. Most of us had seats in row 2. The theatre was rather small. About 1000 people fitted in. It was a very old and beautiful venue. Seats in red and high balconies. It reminded rather of a small version of the Royal Albert Hall in London (where I have never been). Marianne and Franziska had not such good seats, they were rather at the back of the Parterre. I saw many people which I knew from the CdeB-forum/community/mailinglist and which I had met at former concerts and fan-meetings, even Stefan and Annette, who had moved to Dalkey after formerly having lived even in Dinslaken were there. It was a feeling like all the world had gathered in Dublin that evening and during the days before and afterwards – a nice feeling!
Everything was so nice that we got over the disappointment that we could not reach the stage, as there was a fence and a pit in front of it. No chance to bring any gifts/roses for Chris to the front. Pauline gave her presents for Chris to Chris Andrews, who walked on the stage before the concert. I intended to throw my rose over at some point. But when I did so short before the end of the concert it landed somewhere behind the fence in the pit…. – never mind. It was only a rose……! But a bit embarrassing. I will have to practice the rose-throwing secretly at home. It hopefully was dark enough in the venue so that nobody saw my failed trial!

The concert started in time at 8.00 p.m. with ‘Last night’ and the powerful laser-show which we already knew from the German concerts in May/June. The set-list was a little bit different from the German concerts. It simply was great! The irish audience sang along loudly. Chris even stopped singing at some points and let the audience continue singing without him – which we did loud and clear!
We wondered what he would do about the Lady-in-red-walkabout, as there were no stairs, which lead down to the audience. But he found another way. After the beginning of that song he disappeared for a short while, and 1 minute later we could see him on the balcony, where he mixed amongst the audience, lay down on some people’s laps etc. – like always…..!
The concert ended at 11.00 p.m.. After the intermission Chris R. and Sheila, who had been sitting next to me, disappeared into the front row, where we had seen 2 spare seats for the whole first half. What a waste of the best seats!!! Now there were their 2 empty seats next to me. And as Marianne and Franziska had come to the front during Lady in red I waved to them and they came into my row. Wow – that it ever would happen that Marianne and I were sitting next to each other at a CdeB-concert!!! Now we did. But not for long, because the dancing part began immediately. For the first time we didn’t need to try to run to the front, as there was absolutely no space at the front. So we stayed where our seats were – but we kept standing and dancing and clapping and singing…. . It was a feeling like the whole floor was vibrating. ‘Africa’ sounded soo powerful! I thoroughly enjoyed this concert! The atmosphere was so great! And I wonder that I didn’t loose my sense of hearing when Marianne shouted loud and waved to the stage with a Swiss cow in her hand when Chris mentioned the word “Switzerland” in the song “Say goodbye to it all”!
Short before the end of the concert something happened, for which everybody had been waiting!!! Patricia! After telling us, that she was too old (Chris always says this!) he and the band began to play ‘Patricia the stripper’, and lots of knickers, slips and bras flew on the stage! Lots of concert visitors had come well-prepared! It was fantastic! When Chris talked after that song his voice sounded totally different – a bit higher – he must have given everything for that song and now just needed a rest.
Soon the huge globe hovered through the venue to the sounds of “Footsteps” and the concert was over – but not the evening!

All we fans gathered in front of the Gaiety Theatre and went into a pub on the opposite side of the street – the “Sinnott’s-Bar”. Lots of fan-photos were taken and I enjoyed having time to talk to Marianne and Andrew again. The bar closed at 11.00 p.m., but they only locked the door, so nobody could enter. We stayed till midnight untill they asked us finally to leave. It was funny, as we first couldn’t ‘escape’, as the door was still locked. How nice to be stuck somewhere with a nice bunch of CdeB-fans.
When we came out of the bar Nigel, Tony and Tony’s wife were just on the street outside and it was funny to shout a loud hello to them over the street.

As it was a Monday night it was difficult to find a pub, which was still open so late. We didn’t yet want to go back to our hotels. The time was much too prescious! Finally we found a pub, which was open. It was the same one in which we had been the night before. One of the very expensive pubs, where a Guinness costs 6.30 Euros after 11.00 p.m. – before 11.00 p.m. the price was 5,80 Euros. I never before heard about prices changing by the time of the day! Lol – but hey – we were glad to have found a place to go – and we enjoyed each other’s company untill 2.00 a.m. before we all said goodbye!

Back in our hotel-room we still laughed a lot untill we fell asleep at. 2.30 a.m..

Getting up on Tuesday morning was not so pleasant, as we had to fly back home that day. It was the last time that we heard Pauline’s phone’s ‘Live for the day’ wake up call! We packed everything and had breakfast. Kathy came and sat down with us – the last chance to talk with us. We re-lived all the last days and the concert – and we all were convinced that it was the best time ever and we all would do it again! We also share a room again! It had simply been like a dream! And as we have not yet seen a lot of Dublin/Ireland we really have a reason to come back. We all hope that CdeB also enjoyed the 3 concerts in Dublin so much that he will do it again there!

After breakfast it was time to say goodbye, then Evelyn and I went to our bus-station in O’Connell Street – not without taking some more photos. Now I also could see the Spire and the General Post Office.
Soon we had reached the airport by the green Airlink-bus. Evelyn’s suitcase was too heavy when she checked it in and she got stress opening it and putting some things into our hand-luggage. It mainly was her heavy coat, which had not been inside the suitcase before. No reason to panic – and we still had much time left. I bought myself a Guinness-mug and a Guinness-t-shirt and an Ireland keyring and a little pendant for my phone. All nice memories of Ireland/Dublin and the short time there. My first time!

Anneke and René also arrived at the airport and we waited for our plane together. They had bought a newspaper in which the concert was mentioned.

I didn’t mind that the sky was cloudy while we flew home, so I could close my eyes and dream without missing anything behind the plane-window. No Liverpool to see below us….. .
Only then I realized, that we had not met Aurelia from Cologne at all! She was on the missing list! Only later I found her texts on my German phone: She couldn’t get her flight and so she had not even come to Dublin – poor Aurelia! I would not have liked to be in her shoes! – And I still didn’t manage to meet her! We were at so many events where we could have met – but it never happened. But – one day we WILL meet!!!

We reached Weeze at about 14.10 p.m. and drove home, sorted our luggage and then Evelyn drove back home to Solingen while I did not know what to do first: cooking, sorting photos etc. etc. .

It took me some time to get out of Dublin-mood. Now – 8 days later, I still am half in Ireland with my thoughts…… .

Photos:

2008-12-25T18:38:00.002+01:00

Listen to my favourite interviews and wind-ups:

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

2008-12-20T22:03:00.027+01:00

Chris de Burgh - Footsteps-Tour 2009
Tickets for sale:
Bochum, Monday, the 18th of May 2009
Tribüne Mitte, Reihe (row) 1, Platz (seats) 12, 13 and 14
Chris de Burgh’s new tourdates for his ‘Footsteps’-tour were announced in October 2008. I was very happy to get to know that he would give concerts in Liverpool and Manchester (and of course in some other english cities) – and even as I always had said I’d love to see him singing in the Royal Albert Hall in London – I of course prefered Liverpool! He gave me a reason to spend a long weekend in my favourite-city again. Even some of my german friends and CdeB-fans will come to Liverpool. It seems like I'll have to play the city-guide. I’m really looking forward to the end of April 2009!

A short time after we had bought our UK-tickets the german tourdates were announced. Because there were some problems with ticket-touts when the ticket-sale in England started CdeB’s management had organized everything much better for the ticket-sale of the german tour. Thanks to the management, to Astrid (the website-manager of The official Chris de Burgh website) and thanks to eventim there started a fan-ticket-presale already 3 days before the official ticket sale – at the 18th of November!

Buying tickets never before went as well as it did this time! All the front rows were offered – and not every 2nd row or only seats from row 5 onwards or so – which we had already the year before. We could choose all seats via a seating-plan (if we had installed Java on our computer). The only problem was, that I still was VERY excited at 9.00 a. m. that Tuesday-morning. Usually I have to work on Tuesdays at 9.00 a. m., but I had told my boss that there would be an emergency, I could only come after having bought all the CdeB-tickets I would need for the german tour in May/June. Ok - no problem! Boss and colleagues could of course understand this. They already know me for some years….! Short before 9.00 a. m. I reduced the loudness of the (online-)radio (in spite of my favourite presenter being on air.), I wrote one last e-mail to Nicole to wish her good luck - which she did at the same time to me - great minds think alike. My fingers were cold and I was even nearly trembling a bit! Wonderful conditions..!!

Then it was 9.00 a. m. and I tried the eventim-link via cdeb.com - but nothing happened. I entered 'Chris de Burgh' - but no results were found. I dialled the telephone-number and was prepared to tell them the secret password - and I even got a spare line. I had to hold the line, which I was willing to do. I 'only' wanted to activate the loudspeaker of the phone, so that I would have my hands free to go on trying to open the eventim-link! BUT - as excited as I was I shut down the phone instead of pressing "speakers"!!!! Grrrr! Unbelievable! At my next trials I didn't get any free line anymore. - only after about 10 or more trials. This time I held the line and listened with the loudspeakers. The comments of my husband, who had a day off and witnessed all my chaotic efforts also were not really helpful: "Do you now also have to pay for the telephone-call?" Grrrrr! But meanwhile the eventim link worked. I did not log in at the community-website, so I didn't even see that Astrid had given the correct link which worked at 9.14 a. m. I don't know how, but my link suddenly also worked. Everything was so strange that morning...! Meanwhile Nicole had e-mailed me that she had got 2 Münster-tickets for us, which she had ordered by phone. I was sooo nervous!! I opened the seating plan for the Bochum-concert and only saw "row 1" - I did not even wonder why there were still so much spare seats in row 1 - and I immediately bought 3 of them. Then I checked Bonn, where I found a good seat in row 3 at the aisle. Very good! I ordered them all and sent the affirmation to everybody who was involved. Then I quickly drove to work - only ½ hour later than usually.

BUT 2 hours later my phone rang. Kerstin had read the affirmation carefully and asked me, if I was aware, that I had not bought front-row tickets in front of the stage for the Bochum-concert...!!!!! NO, I WASN'T AWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had made a fatal mistake - and I can not explain how it could happen that I was so daft, blind, stupid!!!!!! I had not looked carefully enough, I had not seen the 8 rows Parkett in front of Tribüne!!!! Aaaaaaaaaaah!!! I can tell you, I was not really able to work properly anymore that morning... ! Kerstin ordered 3 new tickets in row 3 Parkett for us, because we did not know how the RuhrCongress would look like from the inside - if Tribüne would be somewhere high up - with no possibility to reach the stage etc.

So now we are proud owners of 3 row 3 tickets (Parkett) + 3 VERY GOOD Tribüne-tickets. Meanwhile I checked the website of the Ruhr-Congress. If you go to "Der RuhrCongress" and then click on "3D-Rundumblick" you can see pictures of the inside of the venue - and row 1 of the Tribüne is just row 9 = behind the 8 Parkett-rows, but with the advantage of having an aisle in front. Good for something like the Britney-part.., and good to run to the front..!

So - if there is anybody, who wants to buy my 3 spare tickets Tribüne Mitte, Reihe 1, Platz 12, 13 and 14, then please let me know.

Ticket-prize: 74 Euros. That's what is written on the tickets - even if I paid also eventim fee and postage.
I know, nobody else can be as daft as I was that morning - and I still can't explain it. All the stress, and that 1 day before getting 40 years old...!!!!!! I felt like 80 that day after I got to know what I had done..!!!! And I don't want to know how many additional grey hairs I got!!!!

2008-12-19T18:12:00.035+01:00

Jukebox Helden - 25.12.2008, 9.40 p. m., WDR
Recording 17.12.2008

A few weeks ago somebody (Sandra) wrote in the CdeB-forum about a TV-appearance of Chris de Burgh in a new show named “Jukebox Helden”, which would be filmed in the WDR-studios in Cologne-Bocklemünd at the 17th of December. When I read about this for the first time I did not even think about driving there – so short before Christmas in the middle of winter – who would know how the weather conditions would be etc. – and only for one song of CdeB...!
At the 6th of December somebody wrote about this TV-show-recording again in the forum, which caught my attention – and I suddenly had absolutely no doubts anymore about that I’d have to buy a ticket and drive there that day! I booked the ticket and finally had something to look forward to. I went to the hairdresser, sunbed, car-wash etc. – which I maybe would have done also without my CdeB-plans – but this way it all was much easier – I really was looking forward to see CdeB!!! Unbelievable, what a change this made to everything I was doing. The prospects of going there made such a change to the daily routine!

I told everybody that I was looking forward to this TV-show-recording – and to watch TV at the 25th of Dec. 2008 at 9.40 p. m.!!!!
So also Eberhard got to know about my plans – and he is living in Cologne, 6 km away from the TV-studios Bocklemünd. He invited me to visit him before the show for lunch. That sounded like a great idea. The show would start at 4.00 p.m., but I had to be there at 2.30 p.m. Unfortunately Eberhard could not accompany me to the studio because he had something else to do that afternoon.

I listened to ‘my’ Magic breakfast show in the morning of Wednesday, the 17th of Dec. and left at 11.00 a. m. But in spite of –1°C and rain there were no traffic jams and I arrived quickly and safely after 1 hour and 85 km at Eberhard’s home in Cologne. It’s always nice to meet somebody personally who you e-mail with a lot! Even if I had met Eberhard already at a few occastions before.

The lunch which he had prepared was delicious – I had also prepared lunch for my family in advance, which I had left behind at home (family & food)! Time passed much too quickly. I already had to leave Eberhard again at 2.00 p.m., drove to the WDR studios, parked and got to the collecting place, where I immediately met Sandra and Tina M. as well as Jutta and friend/s. We waited in a room and wondered, why the other persons might be there. If they all were CdeB-fans or if they had other reasons to come. After about 10 min. somebody called the Jukebox Helden guests up and told us to follow him. So we walked through the light rain to ‘our’ studio, where we ‘checked in’, got our tickets and had to give away our jackets and bigger bags (incl. photo-camera) – and had to wait, wait, wait.... . We met Lore, Claudia, Andrea, Sibylle and some others and waited together for 1 hour untill they let us enter the studio, where we got our seats. I felt a bit like naked without my photo-camera, as you can imagine – but as there were such a lot of other cameras in there I could survive this!

The studio was not very big, estimated 150 – 200 people were in the audience, the tribunes were seperated in 3 blocks. I sat with Claudia, Sibylle and Andrea in the middle block in about row 5 with maybe 8 people at my left side and the others (Claudia etc.) at my right side. We were sitting there as narrow as sardines in a tin. Lore, Sandra and Tina ended up in the left block (our left side). Because of the small size of the studio we could see everybody. And the smaller the studio – the bigger the chance to be caught by a camera!
By the way, I went there without ANY expectations – I simply wanted to enjoy the day and to see how a TV-show would be produced. I never had been at a TV show before. Even if I’d see CdeB only from far away and him singing only 1 single song! I simply wanted to see something else than what I see every day at home! And CdeB was the reason for a nice change – like so often!
Talking to others I found out that I would have got my ticket for free if I would have got it only a few days before the show-recording! They even had asked people on the street if they would come and be in the audience! I had payed 15 Euros. But who cares? – I was glad to be there.

At 4.15 p. m. a young man started to ‘entertain’ us and to warm us up. He told us the rules of the show and how we would have to act, when we would have to clap and to sing along and that there would be 3 prominent persons which would choose each somebody out of the audience to play with them. It was rather funny and he tried to make us laugh and to set us in the mood to clap and sing along. He even let Tina shout loud and enthousiastically into his microphone like she had done spontaneous before when he had mentioned Chris de Burgh’s name! He also spoke to Andrea who wore a red top and of course he said, she would look like the Lady in red. She had to demonstrate how she would applaude when CdeB would appear!!!

After about 20 min. the presenter – entertainer and comedian Ralf Schmitz entered the studio, welcame us, introduced us to the 3 prominent guests: Ingo Naukojs, Sarah Wiener and Frank Zander. I must admit, that Frank Zander was the only one I knew (not personally of course). And he was the one who always turned around and looked at the audience which made him most likable of the 3 – in my opinion!

Ralf Schmitz left, and when he entered the studio again – dressed like an angel for a moment – the filming started. The 3 candidates had to walk through the audience in order to choose a partner-candidate – somebody who could sing very good. In the meantime we were singing ‘We are family’ by Sister Sledge – the text appeared in Karaoke-style in front of us on a big screen. Soon the 3 had choosen their partners – but no doubt these 3 people out of the audience were not choosen randomly! Because how we noticed later – they really could sing! Eeerm – at least they obviously had some singing-experiences. None of us ‘normal’ show visitors would have been able to sing like they did!

The 3 teams had to reckon which songs Ralf Schmitz was explaining in different ways (e.g. describing engl. song-titles with german words) and the team who found the title out first had to go a step into the front, ascend a star-shaped little stage and chose a song-category (rock-classics, ballads, platin-songs etc.). Then they could again choose between 2 songs of that category which they (and we – the audience) sang along in karaoke-style. After a while the music suddenly stopped – and the team had to continue one line of the text with the right words. You see, it was a rather simple game.
When it was the category “Ballads”’ turn there was the choice between “My heart will go on” (Celine Dion) and “Lady in red” (of course Chris de Burgh). And they decided to sing the Celine Dion-song. I found it a bit strange, that “Lady in red” was offered at all – as we would hear it later anyway! – The blond haired lady and Frank Zander made an entertaining ceremony out of her singing “My heart will go on” – and that showed that she must have done something like this (singing in front of an audience) before!
Before Frank Zander dropped of out of the game he borrowed a guitar from the studio-orchestra and sang a little song.

There were made 2 little breaks, when Ralf Schmitz went behind the stage to let renew his make-up or what ever… . During one of those breaks Frank Zander had the funny idea that we all should get up, turn right and massage our seat-neighbour… - after a while we turned into the other direction and did so with the seat-neighbour at the other side… - how mad lol!

But we got compensated adequately in the finale, when the waiting for our Chris had an end!
Already when Ralf Schmitz still was talking (not sure about what) I saw Chris standing somewhere behind the silver Xmas-trees – behind the stage. He was standing there – waiting for his appearance. He was just opposite to me – of course I thought: If I can see him – he certainly also can see me or us!!! He disappeard for a moment, and then he finally came into the studio! He wore black trousers and a beautiful black shirt covered with very little white spots! It really looked rather lovely!

I was very excited when he came – so I did not even notice from the beginning, that he didn’t sing “Sealed with a kiss” live. Only when I saw, that there was no cable at his guitar and that he moved it in a funny way without playing I realized that everything was playback! But It was so nice! “Sealed with a kiss” is one of my favourite songs of his “Footsteps”-album, and it also always reminds me of the wonderful soundcheck in Dortmund in Nov. 2004, when he sang a small part of this song! My other Footsteps-favourites are “Where have all the flowers gone” and “The last thing on my mind” and also the new one: “Footsteps”.
But back to the tv-show. After the song Ralf Schmitz spoke a bit to Chris – in a comedic way. He said he’d only be a small comedian and he’d be a bit excited to speak to the great Chris de Burgh – but seeing them both next to each other they had the same size. He asked if the guitar was Chris’ own one and Chris agreed.They talked about the new album and Chris explained again like already so often before that he had recorded his all time favourites which were milestones of his life. He even sang short parts of a few of those songs, which was very nice.
Then it was time for the winner to get his prize – to sing “Lady in red” with Chris de Burgh! We had got red and yellow light-sticks when we had entered the studio. Now it was time to bend them and make them shine! I must admit, I often skip “Lady in red” on a CD – but it was great to hear it live again – with all the lights – and it was fun watching the 2 men singing together and acting like lovers! I didn’t mind that it was a man, who Chris had to sing with! After the 1st verse or so the most exciting part began…….!!!!! Chris left the stage and went slowly to the audience, like he often does in TV shows and also at his concerts. First he approached a lady in the front row and hugged her. Then he went upstairs on the tribune in the aisle at my left side – where he found a Lady in red which was his next hugging-victim! But suddenly he looked into our row – and I could not believe what I saw: He squeezed himself into our row – along the about 8 people at my left side – and then he stopped right in front of me!! I did not even know what was happening and what I should do. He hugged me – and I guess I first looked into the wrong direction – but then I turned around and looked with him into the camera which was right in front of us! It all went so quick – I hope I didn’t look too surprised – otherwise I might end on the ground of the cutting room! Then he hugged Claudia, Sibylle and Andrea. He again had managed to make our day!!! It had been a bit like him wanting to say “thank you” to me/us! He is so unique! He is wonderful! And he always knows how to make us happy! Even if I would have been already perfectly happy to just be there and see him. When he was back down at the stage we all shouted 'Zugabe' and he and the winner sang a bit of 'Lady in Red' again - in a very rocky way.

He left us ‘high on emotion’ on the tribune and that was the end of the show. Everybody left slwoly while Chris was still on the stage with the candidates and the presenter. They took official press-photos. We simply let first (friendly as we are ;-)) the others pass before we were the very last persons who left the studio – not without having been told that it now would be time to leave, because the next show recording would take place there soon. Chris was still posing for photos – and also Chris Andrews appeared in the background. – But we had to leave.

We had to wait in the corridor because there was a ‘traffic-jam’ as everybody had to collect their coats! Never mind – I had time. Mike Krüger passed us and Claudia immediately took the chance to make some small talk with him. He really stopped and talked to her for 2 minutes. He looked very skinny!

After a free drink which we got on our tickets we all walked back to the car park and I drove back home through the rain – singing along to the “Footsteps”-album. Chris-songs always sound different to me right after I have met or seen him personally – then I still can see him in front of me while I listen to his voice on CD!
Of course my phone already rang on my way out of the studio with questions like: What did he sing? What did he wear? Did he look good? The same at home. Everybody e-mailed me to ask how it all went. Next time I’ll simply ignore even my dearest friends who ask me about the event and immediately start writing a review for everybody to avoid telling everything a hundred times! (No - I won't manage to ignore you, don't worry! :-))

Now I’m curiously looking forward to the TV-show – something exciting to look forward to on Christmas! But at the moment we are very spoilt because Chris was also in German TV the next day and the day after! – I think he now has earned his Christmas-holidays! X

Eberhard's comment, which I received via e-mail:

blogspot und die Philosophie der Welt

Hi Doris,

weißt Du, früher, vor vielen Jahren, hab ich mir mal gedacht, es wäre doch
spannend, wenn man sozusagen immer mit einer "Kamera im Kopf" rumlaufen
würde und alles, was man sieht, würde festgehalten, in Bild und Text, damit
das alle anderen auch sehen und erleben können. Die Kamera müßte sozusagen
auf dem Kopf festgebunden werden, oder in der Augenhöhle implantiert.

Ich hielt das für einen ziemlichen Science-Fiction-Gedanken, aber ich habe
viele Jahre lang gedacht, das wäre cool. Es war eine seltsame
philosophische oder psychologische Vorstellung, und es war mir völlig klar,
daß so etwas einfach nicht geht.

Bis ich Doris Neerfries und Facebook und Blogspot kennenlernte. Heute ist
das nicht mehr Science-Fiction, sondern Realität. Täglich. Bei Dir.

Grüße

Eberhard

25.12.2008 – 11.00 p.m.:
I just watched the show on TV. I saw Lore, Sandra, Tina and Doris H. often, as the camera only showed the right block (from camera perspective), where they had their seats and a small part of the middle-block. We others were sitting a bit too far to the left in the middle block.
I saw myself only once or twice from the back.
Chris looked wonderful on TV – and even as “Sealed with a kiss” was playback he sang it live – on TV we could hear his voice and not his previously recorded voice of the album-version.
Then the winning-song “Lady in red” began – it was really nice to see how much fun both men had while singing – and I waited eagerly for Chris leaving the stage and starting his walkabout into the audience – BUT – they edited the song and only showed him on stage! What a pity!
Neither did they show the song, which Frank Zander had sung spontaneously during the show-recording.
In spite of being a bit disappointed about the skipped part at the end during "Lady in red" I enjoyed seeing the result of the show and to compare it with what I had experienced live!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-18T12:20:00.011+01:00

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Here are a few of the photos which I recently uploaded there:

My photos Dec. 2008 - Part 2

My photos Dec. 2008

My photos Nov./Dec. 2008

My photos Nov. 2007 - Oct. 2008

My photos April - Oct. 2007

2008-09-21T20:07:00.040+02:00

Wie alles begann.....

Mein Name ist Doris, ich bin im November 1968 (Skorpion) geboren, seit 1990 verheiratet und habe 2 Kinder (geb. 1992 und 1994) sowie 2 griechische Landschildkröten und einen Wellensittich. Wir wohnen in Dinslaken, das ist im Ruhrgebiet in der Nähe von Oberhausen, Duisburg und Wesel. Düsseldorf ist ca. 45 km entfernt, bis nach Köln sind es 90 km.
Ich habe den Beruf der Justizangestellten gelernt, arbeite aber seit der Geburt meines ersten Kindes nicht mehr am Amtsgericht Duisburg. 1999 begann ich einen Teilzeitjob auf 400-Euro-Basis im Büro einer Stahl- und Metallbau-Firma.

Chris' Musik habe ich immer gemocht, allerdings weiß ich gar nicht mehr, wann ich das aller erste Lied von ihm bewusst gehört habe. Meine griechische Brieffreundin Angela aus Athen schickte mir mal eine Cassette mit ihren Lieblingsliedern, wobei ich mich erinnern kann, dass "The girl with April in her eyes" mit unter den Liedern auf der Cassette war.
1986 habe ich das "Into the light" Album gaaanz oft gehört, allerdings hatte ich es damals noch nicht als Platte oder CD (hatte ja noch nicht mal einen CD-Player zu der Zeit), sondern vom Bruder meiner Freundin Birgit (die nun auch oft mit zu Konzerten kommt) auf Cassette aufgenommen bekommen.
Irgendwann kam ich in das Alter, in dem ich Geld verdiente, und CdeB war einer derjenigen, dessen Alben ich immer sofort kaufte, wenn ein neues Album erschien. Ebenso wie Elton John, Phil Collins, etc.! Er war einer der ganz Großen für mich, aber ich war nie auf einem seiner Konzerte gewesen. Ich ging eigentlich überhaupt nie zu Konzerten. Nur Spandau Ballett hatte ich einmal gesehen. Das war 1987 in Essen (mit Birgit – und ihr großer Bruder hatte uns dort hingefahren). Und..... nicht weitersagen!..... Modern Talking hatte ich einmal live gesehen, als sie im Rahmen unseres alljährlichen Dinslakener Stadtfestes DIN-Tage in einem Festzelt auftraten. Aber wenn ich mich recht erinnere sangen sie nur ein paar Lieder. Ansonsten hatte ich überhaupt keine Konzerterfahrung.

Im Sommer des Jahres 2000 trat ich einem Sportverein bei. Dort nehme ich seitdem regelmäßig am Gesundheitssport teil: Bodyfitness, Skigymnastik, Wirbelsäulen-Gymnastik und Walking. Hört sich langweiliger an als es ist! Als wir eines Sommerabends 2002 walkten sagte Angela, eine relativ neue Kursteilnehmerin, in die Runde: „Ich gehe am 26.10. zu Chris de Burgh in Oberhausen, wir gehen mit einer Gruppe Frauen, aber eine von denen kann uns nicht begleiten, weil sie im Urlaub ist. Möchte jemand ihr Ticket übernehmen?“ - Ich sagte sofort: „Das könnte ich ja nehmen.“ Dann sprachen wir gar nicht mehr weiter darüber. Erst kurz vor dem Konzert fragte Angela mich noch einmal, ob ich das damals ernst gemeint hätte. Hatte ich natürlich!!! Und so kam ich durch Zufall zu meinem ersten Chris-Konzert. Sonst wäre mein Leben total anders verlaufen..... ;-) Wirklich absolut anders – keine Ahnung wie! Will ich auch gar nicht wissen!

Unsere Plätze beim Oberhausen Konzert befanden sich total weit entfernt von der Bühne. Als Chris auf der Bühne erschien sah ich ihn erst mal nur als ganz kleinen Punkt mit Gitarre. Es hätte jeder sein können - erkennen konnte ich nichts, ich hätte ein Opernglas mitnehmen sollen - nur hören konnte ich ihn. Er begann mit 'Missing you', gefolgt von 'Guilty Secret'! Ich hatte sein "Timing is everything" Album in den Tagen zuvor ca. 1000 mal gehört, damit ich die neuen Lieder auch kannte. Ehrlich gesagt musste ich die CD sehr oft hören, bis ich mich so richtig in sie verliebt hatte! Aber nach dem Konzert sah das gaaanz anders aus. - Ich war bis dato also noch total konzertunerfahren. Ich hatte keine Vorstellung, wie lang so ein CdeB Konzert wohl dauern würde und dachte schon nach 90 Minuten, es müsse jeden Moment zu Ende sein. Plötzlich, nach ca. 2 Std., sprangen einige Leute auf und rannten vor die Bühne.... ! Oh - wie schön! Vielleicht hätte ich alleine gar nichts unternommen, aber glücklicherweise sagte Angela: "Ich gehe auch nach unten!". Was für ein Glück, dass sie das sagte, so ging ich natürlich mit. Das war der Moment, in dem ich "verzaubert" wurde. Ich stand 5 m von CdeB entfernt, konnte ihm beim Mitträllern von "Sailing away" etc. in die Augen sehen - ich hatte zum ersten Mal dieses Gefühl, von ihm angeguckt zu werden. Ich liebte diese Art, wie er in die Runde guckte und sich jeden einzelnen Konzertbesucher anzusehen schien! Es war herrlich! Und wann immer ein alter Hit gespielt wurde erinnerte ich mich daran: "Ach, das Lied gab's ja auch noch....!" (‘Ship to shore’ etc.)!!! Ich war hin und weg und hörte gar nicht mehr zu klatschen auf - ich dachte, wenn ich nie aufhören würde zu klatschen, dann würde er auch nie von der Bühne gehen. Aber irgendwann waren ca. 3 Std. vorüber und das Konzert war zu Ende....! Und um mich war es geschehen! Auf dem Rückweg im Auto grinste ich vor mich hin und war absolut 'High on emotion'! – Chris ist eine tolle Droge! So beeindurckend hatte ich mir ein CdeB Konzert wirklich nicht vorgestellt!!
Wie schade, dass ich damals noch keinen CdeB-Fan von der Mailing-Liste oder aus dem Forum kannte. Mit einer Frau hatte ich mich vorne in der Menge unterhalten - ich wundere mich heute, ob's vielleicht jemand war, den ich mittlerweile kenne....! (Wer hat zu mir in Oberhausen gesagt, dass er Chris auch gerne beim Bügeln hört? ;-))

Bei uns zu Hause hatte das Internet einige Monate zuvor Einzug gehalten, aber ich hatte mich noch nicht weiter damit beschäftigt. Etwa 1 mal in der Woche setzte ich mich im Keller an den Computer und checkte die wenigen Mails, sonst war mir der Computer ziemlich egal!!!! DAS ist heute gaaaanz anders.....!!!! Und auch daran trägt CdeB eine gewaltige Mitschuld!
Nach dem Konzert suchte ich seine website, fand www.cdeb.com, vertiefte mich immer mehr ins Gästebuch und die MotL Sektion und war irgendwann auch so mutig, etwas ins Gästebuch zu schreiben. Damals hatten wir nur ein schrecklich langsames Modem - und jede Minute kostete.... so war ich immer unter Zeitdruck, wenn ich die MotL Antworten las. Ich fühlte mich dabei dauernd total gehetzt!

Sehnsüchtig wartete ich auf neue Konzerttermine in der Nähe, denn ich traute mich ja nicht, weit mit dem Auto zu fahren.....! Das war 2002.....!

Die Konzerte 2003 ließ ich tatenlos verstreichen....! Unglaublich!

Erst 2004 sah ich ihn wieder - und zwar am 22. Mai 2004 in der Tonhalle Düsseldorf. Für dieses Konzert besorge ich uns (3 Freundinnen und mir, mit dabei Birgit und Angela vom Sport, die Verursacherin der CdeB-Sucht....) Karten für die erste Reihe. Puh – der Ticketkauf war sehr aufregend – wie immer!!! Ich war so stolz, so gute Tickets bekommen zu haben - und das noch nicht einmal online, sondern in einem ganz normalen Ticketshop!
Ich erinnere mich noch sehr gut an den 22. Mai. Nachmittags lag ich im Liegestuhl und dachte, die Zeit würde überhaupt nicht vergehen - es war ein Gefühl wie als Kind am Nachmittag vor Heiligabend!!!! Endlich war es so weit, Birgit holte mich ab und dann ging's in ihrem Auto mit den anderen beiden ab nach Düsseldorf. Auf dem Weg zu Fuß vom Parkplatz zur Tonhalle guckte ich mich dauernd um, denn ich hatte das Gefühl, CdeB sei nun ganz nahe....! Damals kannte ich immer noch keine anderen Fans. Zwar waren mir schon ein paar Namen aus dem Gästebuch geläufig, aber ich war noch weder Mitglied der Mailingliste noch hatte ich mit jemandem korrespondiert.
Das Konzert war super! Und wie überrascht ich war, als Chris plötzlich mit Headset und Gitarre von der Bühne spazierte und ein Medley, bestehend aus mehreren seiner Lieder, sang! Ich war ja nicht vorab informiert! Es war so super - und zum Schluss, als er seinen Rundgang durchs Publikum fast beendet hatte, kam er direkt auf mich zu, die Worte singend "What you mean to me" blieb er vor mir stehen - später wurde mir bewußt, dass er eigentlich stehen bleiben MUSSTE, denn ich versperrte ihm den Weg. Mein Platz war in der 1. Reihe ganz links, und ich dachte, er würde die linke Treppe zur Bühne hochgehen. Aber er wollte vor uns vorbei und die rechte Treppe benutzen. Also stand ich ihm vor meinem Sitz im Weg... ! Naja, so hatte ich mir ein paar wertvolle Sekunden von ihm erschlichen. Den Blick werde ich nie vergessen. Er sah mich an - aber er guckte total ernst!!!!! Und ich merkte, wie klein er ist. Er war genauso klein wie meine Tochter Lena, die damals 10 Jahre alt war! Irgendwann ging er dann doch an mir vorbei und zurück auf die Bühne!

Am Tag nach dem Konzert machten meine Familie und ich eine Fahrradtour - und ich habe die ganze Tour über an das Konzert zurückdenken müssen, war in Gedanken noch völlig in der Tonhalle und hatte immer wieder ein Lächeln auf dem Gesicht! Ich hatte das Gefühl, jeder würde sehen können, dass CdeB tags zuvor vor mir stehen geblieben war!!!! Ich fühlte mich, als würde ich durch und durch strahlen! Es war sooo schön, und dieses Gefühl hielt noch eine ganze Zeit lang an (1 Woche oder so, dann wurde es ganz langsam etwas weniger).
Etwas später schrieb ich einen Bericht über meine Düsseldorf-Konzert-Erfahrungen ins Gästebuch (kannte ja die Mailingliste noch nicht!).

Im Juli 2004 musste mein Mann erstmals ein paar Wochen im Ausland arbeiten. Das kam zwischen 2004 und 2005 mehrmals vor. Die Auslandsaufenthalte dauerten jeweils zwischen 4 und 8 Wochen (war also immer ein überschaubarer Zeitrahmen). Ich musste ihn zum Flughafen Düsseldorf bringen, was für mich schon eine reife Leistung war, denn ich war bis dahin wirklich nicht oft Autobahn gefahren. Mein Mann war üblicherweise gefahren, wenn wir zusammen etwas unternommen hatten. Gewohnte Strecken zu Hause fuhr ich natürlich häufig – ich fahre nämlich eigentlich sehr gerne Auto. Ich fühlte mich einfach nicht so sicher auf Autobahnen, die ich nicht kannte, weil ich dort nie fahren musste! Heute erkenne ich mich gar nicht wieder! Damals war ich so stolz, dass ich ganz alleine den Weg zurück nach Hause gefunden hatte..... und im Auto hörte ich laut CdeB!!!! Ich wollte die freien Abende nutzen und ganz viel CdeB hören und seine Videos gucken etc.! Diese Zeit hat mich sicherlich auch etwas selbständiger gemacht, denn mittlerweile fahre ich überall hin und ich habe gar keine Bedenken, dass ich eine Konzertstätte evtl. nicht finden oder mich in einer Stadt verirren (verfahren) könnte – nun hat ja auch ein Navigationsgerät bei uns Einzug gehalten..... . Früher hätte ich kein Konzert-Ticket gekauft bevor ich nicht einen Chauffeur zu einem weit entfernten Konzert gefunden hätte. Heutzutage mache ich mir darüber gar keine Gedanken mehr!

Ende Juli 2004 stand plötzlich ein kurzer Eintrag im Gästebuch, der in Deutscher Sprache gehalten war: „Doris Neerfries aus Dinslaken, wenn du an einer CdeB bezogenen E-mail-Freundschaft interessiert bist, dann melde dich bitte bei mir!“ Es war Nicole aus Eisenberg/Bayern, der mein Gästebucheintrag so gut gefallen hatte, dass sie mich gern kennenlernen wollte. Sie war mein erster CdeB-Kontakt und ist heute meine beste Freundin. Ich habe sie schon mehrmals besucht (sie mich leider noch nicht, sie hat einen kleine Sohn – aber wir arbeiten daran!!!!) und wir e-mailen uns täglich - manchmal hunderte von Mails....! Sie war diejenige, die mich auf die Mailingliste aufmerksam machte. Ich konnte mir noch gar nicht richtig etwas unter dieser Mailingliste vorstellen.... . Erst im Sept. 2004 wurde ich Mitglied. Ich kann mich noch sehr gut an meine Schweißausbrüche erinnern, als ich mich registrierte und dann so viele e-mails bekam - Bestätigungs-e-mails etc. etc. etc.! Ich hatte solche Angst, dass ich etwas falsch gemacht hatte, computerunerfahren, wie ich war.....! Und dann kamen die messages - alle mit CdeB als Absender - in unser Postfach! Oh, das fand ich auch so unheimlich! Vor allem, was sollte mein Mann denken? So viele CdeB-e-mails....! Bald jedoch entdeckte ich das „Daily Digest“ – das war genau richtig für mich. Nach einiger Zeit konnte ich mir vereinzelte Namen merken, die häufiger auf der Liste auftauchten. Aber ich muss zugeben, dass es eine ganze Weile gedauert hat, bis ich so richtig ‚drin’ war!

Ich schaffte es sogar, mich für die Dortmund-Fanliste zu registrieren. Tickets hatte ich schon lange zuvor (ich glaube im Juni) gekauft. Das war auch sehr aufregend gewesen, denn wie gesagt, kaufte ich damals meine Konzert-Eintrittskarten ja noch nicht online. Schon mehrere Tage vor Verkaufsbeginn fuhr ich zu unseren lokalen Ticketshops. Wenn ich mich recht erinnere, wurde in unserer Tageszeitung das Konzert mitsamt Meet & Greet vor der Show für die ersten Reihen angekündigt. Da MUSSTE ich hin – koste es was es wolle! Das tat es auch...... – 92 Euro!!! Aber – man lebt ja nur einmal – und ich hatte das Gefühl, dass es richtig war – mir war absolut kein Euro zu schade! In unseren 2 Dinslakener Ticket-Shops bin ich seit dem Sommer 2004 bekannt, ich werde immer lächelnd begrüßt, weil ich damals tagtäglich anrief oder vorbeischaute, um zu sehen, ob’s schon Tickets gab und wieviel sie kosteten. Und als die Karten dann endlich freigeschaltet waren telefonierte ich vom Laden aus mit meinen potentiellen Begleiterinnen, weil der Preis ja nun doch etwas hoch war.... ! Im Endeffekt hatte ich einen einzelnen Platz in Reihe 1. Angela saß ein bisschen weiter hinten in Reihe 7 für etwa die Hälfte des Preises – vernünftig eigentlich...... ! Als ich die Tickets kaufte wusste ich ja noch nichts davon, dass auch die Mailingliste ein Meet & Greet plante.

Davon hörte ich zu der Zeit, als ich Listmember wurde. Ina war so nett, mir alles in letzter Sekunde vollständig zu erklären und so schaffte ich es noch rechtzeitig, der vorübergehend existierenden Dortmund-Liste beizutreten! Unser Computer wurde mittlerweile natürlich schon täglich eingeschaltet!!!

Die Dormund-Liste bestand aus Fans, die zum Dortmund-Konzert kommen und am nachmittäglichen Meet & Greet und an einer anschließenden After-Show-Party teilnehmen wollten. Ich glaube, wir waren ca. 100 Leute. Wir einigten uns darauf, dass jeder ein einheitliches T-Shirt tragen musste, ein "Read my name"-T-Shirt mit all unseren Namen drauf. Man konnte sich das Design im Internet herunterladen, auf Bügelfolie drucken und dann auf ein T-Shirt aufbügeln. Puh - dank Ina's Hilfe kriegte ich es gespiegelt ausgedruckt! Beim Drucken verhedderte sich allerdings die Bügelfolie im Drucker, der daraufhin nur noch mit Grünstich druckte und nicht mehr zu reparieren war. So musste ein neuer Drucker her - alles dank CdeB!!!
Desweiteren planten wir, Chris in Dortmund ein Ständchen zu bringen. Einige von uns dichteten das Lied 'Read my name' um.

Am 6.11.2004 fuhr ich also nachmittags mit Angela zu meinem 3. CdeB-Konzert. Ja – ICH fuhr! Schon nachmittags erreichten wir die Westfalenhalle (70 km von hier). Auf dem Parkplatz begegnete uns die erste Person, die auch ein ‚Read my name’ T-shirt trug, und ich (oder war es Angela? Oder wir beide? Ich weiß es nicht mehr genau, aber ich hätte es auch getan, vielleicht war Angela schneller) sprach sie sofort an. Es war Kerstin aus Bochum, die nachmittags ganz alleine war. Ihr Mann kam erst abends nach. Und so blieben wir die ganze Zeit zusammen (und sind nun auch sehr, sehr gute Freunde geworden)!!!
Diesmal kannte ich schon ein paar wenige Fans von der Mailing-Liste, denen ich Hallo sagte (Ina Stoecker und Heike Stelljes etc. und Jutta mit dem großen Stofftier-Hund Rufus). Es war einfach toll, so viele Gleichgesinnte auf einem Haufen zu sehen – wenn ich auch noch nicht so viele von ihnen kannte! – Schrecklicher Gedanke, dass einige von ihnen heute wirklich gute Freunde geworden sind (Marianne aus der Schweiz und Melanie aus Liverpool) und dass wir damals gemeinsam dort waren und noch nicht wussten, dass wir uns mal so gut kennenlernen würden. That’s life!

Wir wurden in die Westfalenhalle hineingelassen und bekamen von Astrid und ein paar Helfern (kannte ich damals auch alle noch nicht) Namensaufkleber (Name und Stadt). Während des Wartens sangen Ceasar, Brian und Morton aus Spanien, Kanada und Dänemark CdeB-Lieder und begleiteten sich mit ihren Gitarren, die sie extra mitgebracht hatten für das spätere Ständchen. Die Atmosphäre war super. Ich war begeistet!

Nach einiger Zeit durften wir in den Innenraum der Halle, allerdings waren für uns nur Sitzplätze in einem Seiten-Rang freigegeben. Dort übten wir alle zusammen unser Ständchen, begleitet von Ceasar & Co. mit der Gitarre. Allein das Üben war schon toll!

Dann ging's wieder hinaus aus der Halle - bis Astrid das Kommando gab, dass wir wieder hinein durften, diesmal vorne vor die Bühne. CdeB machte einen Soundcheck für uns, der fast schon ein richtiges halbstündiges Konzert war. Oh - war das schön!!!! Danach hatten wir Gelegenheit, unser Lied vorzutragen und ein gemeinsames Gruppenbild zu schießen! Leider war das aber auch schon alles - kein persönliches Wort oder so - dazu hatte er keine Zeit mehr.

Kurz vor dem Konzert fand das andere Meet & Greet, das der ersten 5 Reihen, statt. Wir versammelten uns in einen Raum, in dem wir mit Wein versorgt wurden. CdeB kam (begleitet von Chris Andrews), sprach 5 min. zur Menge und wollte schon wieder gehen, aber da stürzten sich fast alle anwesenden Fans mit Autogrammwünschen auf ihn. Chris Andrews versuchte natürlich alles abzuwimmeln, aber Chris signierte munter drauf los. Auch ich versuchte mein Glück. Ich hatte vorsorglich ein paar Fotos nachbestellt, welche ich ihm unter die Nase hielt. Zwar wäre ich fast erdrückt worden von den hinter mir stehenden Fans, aber ich überlebte, und er signierte 2 Fotos - und er guckte mich sogar an und fragte: "Are you from Holland?" - Ich antwortete: "No from Germany". Das war meine erste Konversation mit Chris de Burgh - und ich war wieder mal High on emotion :-)

Ein paar Tage später fand Nicole ein Foto von mir und Chris im Internet, wie er gerade beim Signieren meiner Fotos ist! Unglaublich! Es war ein sehr schönes Bild – eine tolle Erinnerung! Mittlerweile hängt dieses Foto natürlich unterschrieben in meinem Treppenhaus!

Danach suchte ich meinen Platz. Meine Sitznachbarn zur Rechten waren sehr schweigsam, aber links von mir saß - wie ich dachte - ein Pärchen, allerdings waren es Cousin und Cousine, wie ich später erfuhr. Der Mann machte ununterbrochen witzige Bemerkungen....! Wir kamen also bald ins Gespräch. Und als er sah, dass ich während des Konzertes gar nicht mehr aufhörte zu fotografieren gab er mir kurzerhand seine Visitenkarte. Nett wie ich bin e-mailte ich ihm am nächsten Tag, wir tauschten Fotos und begannen, miteinander zu korrespondieren - Michael und ich sind immer noch sehr gut befreundet. Er war also meine 2. Dortmund-Eroberung (neben Kerstin) - mittlerweile kennen sich alle auch untereinander - und wir treffen uns zu CdeB-Abenden und feiern Geburtstage zusammen, machen gemeinsame Reisen zu weiteren Konzerten usw.! Es ist alles so schön!
Dass das Konzert für das ‚Live in Dortmund’ Album aufgezeichnet wurde wußten wir damals noch gar nicht.

Nach dem Konzert fand eine After-Show-Party für die Mailinglist-Mitglieder im Parkhotel neben der Westfalenhalle statt! Aber Angela und ich blieben nicht lange. Wären wir länger geblieben, hätten wir noch mitbekommen, wie gemeinschaftlich CdeB-Lieder gesungen wurden - aber da waren wir leider schon auf dem Weg nach Hause.

Im Nachhinein habe ich herausgefunden, dass an dem Tag in Dortmund, wie schon erwähnt, noch viele andere Leute waren, die ich erst später kennen gelernt habe, so z. B. meine sehr, sehr liebe Freundin Marianne aus der Schweiz, die mich regelmäßig mit köstlicher Schweizer Schokolade beliefert, damit ich für’s jeweils nächste CdeB Konzert richtig schön fett und hässlich bin ;-) ! Wie schade, dass wir uns damals noch nicht kannten. Auch Melanie aus Liverpool war am 6.11.04 in Dortmund - sie ist nun auch eine meiner besten Freundinnen. Wenn CdeB in England spielt wohne ich bei ihr, besucht Melanie ein Konzert in Deutschland, dann bin ich ihre Reise-Planerin.... - auch unseren Urlaub haben wir in Liverpool verbracht und viel mit ihr unternommen! Ach - CdeB-Fans sind einfach nett!!!!!

Noch zu erwähnen ist, dass ich wegen dieses Konzertes nicht zum 65. Geburtstag meiner Schwiegermutter gehen konnte, dass diese aber auf unsere Kinder aufpasste, da mein Mann derzeit wieder beruflich in Malaysia verweilte! Ich bin so froh, dass sie mir keine Vorwürfe deswegen machte und trotz des Geburtstags-Stresses meine Kinder beaufsichtigte!

Michael hatte mir unterdessen einige Runrig-CDs geschickt und mich gebeten, sie anzuhören, denn im April 2005 würde diese alte schottische Folk-Rock-Band, die mal Vorgruppe von CdeB gewesen war, in Dortmund auftreten. Erst gefielen mir die CDs gar nicht, danach umso mehr, so dass ich mir tatsächlich ein Ticket für deren Konzert besorgte und mit Michael hinging!

2005 fanden mehrere Konzerte in meiner Nähe statt.
Das erste dieser Reihe war am 12. Juli in Bochum. Da es ein Konzert mit freier Platzwahl war dachte ich, wir hätten keine Chance, CdeB ein Geschenk zu bringen, dabei wollte ich ihm auch endlich einmal eine Rose zur Bühne bringen...., hatte ich zuvor noch nie getan. Allerdings hatte ich eine andere Kleinigkeit für ihn vorbereitet. Ich würde ja sehen, wie die Bedingungen sein würden - ansonsten hätte ich das Geschenk wieder mit nach Hause genommen.
Wir (Angela, Kerstin, ihr Mann und ich) bekamen sehr gute Plätze weit vorne (Reihe 3 oder so). Die Bühne war sehr nah und sehr flach - es war herrlich! Irgendwann erinnerte ich mich dann an mein Geschenk - und ich stand todesmutig auf und ging zu ihm nach vorne. Er nahm es und küsste mich auf die Wange! :-))))))))) Ich blieb ganz cool - erst als ich nach dem Konzert jedem, der es hören wollte oder auch nicht hören wollte davon erzählte, wurde mir klar, dass ich einen Kuss von CdeB bekommen hatte!!! Und ich konnte mein Glück kaum fassen! :-)

Am nächsten Tag fand das Konzert in Krefeld statt. Allerdings bekam ich morgens eine seeehr aufregende e-mail: Ich hatte ein Meet & Greet gewonnen!!!!! Und zwar vor dem Konzert in Lingen am 17.7.2005!!! Zwar hatte ich kein Konzert-Ticket dazu gewonnen, aber das besorgte ich mir noch! Egal – ein Grund für ein Ticket war wichtiger als ein Ticket....! Oh - wie war das alles aufregend! Ich hatte an einem Gewinnspiel der Osnabrücker Zeitung teilgenommen – und gewonnen! Unfassbar. Normalerweise gewinne ich nie etwas bei Preisausschreiben! Ich telefonierte mit Carola Alge, der zuständigen Journalistin - und wir besprachen, wann ich wo sein musste. Ich war eine von 4 Gewinnern! :-) Nun hatte ich 5 Tage Zeit, mich verrückt zu machen... :-) Außerdem sollte ich Carola etwas über mich und CdeB e-mailen. Das Ergebnis ist hier zu sehen: 'Familie leidet unter Verfolgungswahn'. Als ich abends in Krefeld vor der Konzerthalle ankam wurde ich schon begrüßt mit "Hallo Meet & Greet Gewinnerin" :-) – Natürlich hatte ich die Mailingliste an meiner Freude teilhaben lassen!
In Krefeld brachten Birgit und ich CdeB erstmals Rosen - und er machte Liegestütze vor uns als er sie entgegennahm, was auch in Zeitungsberichten erwähnt wurde.

Übrigens befand mein Mann sich gerade mal wieder in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) auf Dienstreise, während ich 5 Konzerte in 9 Tagen besuchte - was sicherlich besser für ihn war, denn ich lief in der Zeit wie in Trance durchs Haus und war mit den Gedanken fortwährend woanders.... - meine armen Kinder - auf die mussten Oma und Opa aufpassen, während ich zu den Konzerten unterwegs war.

Bis Lingen hatte ich ein paar Tage Zeit. Häufig sonnte ich mich im Liegestuhl und überlegte mir stundenlang, was ich zu CdeB sagen könnte oder was ich ihn fragen sollte.... ! Das war soooo aufregend!

Dann endlich kam der große Lingen-Tag. Vor Aufregung hatte ich vormittags Durchfall!!! Mittags aßen wir bei meinen Schwiegereltern, dann startete ich durch, ich fuhr ganz alleine die 140 km nach Lingen. Es wurde erst in Lingen etwas kritisch, den Weg zum Marktplatz, bzw. einen nahegelegenen Parkplatz zu finden. Als ich einmal anhielt und meinen Stadtplan studierte radelte eine junge Frau mit ihrem kleinen Sohn an mir vorüber, die nur in Richtung geradeaus zeigte und nickte - sie hatte meine nicht zu überhörende laute CdeB Musik gehört und wusste genau, wo ich hin wollte..... :-) Ich parkte und ging zum Markplatz. Lingen gefiel mir sehr gut! Der Marktplatz war noch nicht abgesperrt. Ich setzte mich ins Café ‚Extrablatt’ (wo auch immer ich nun ein ‚Extrablatt’-Café sehe muss ich an CdeB’s Konzert-Tag in Lingen denken!). Von meinem Platz aus konnte ich sehen, wie plötzlich erst Chris Andrews und dann Chris de Burgh ins Rathaus gingen!!! Ich wäre fast geplatzt, weil ich da so ganz alleine saß und es keinem sagen konnte. Ich glaube, ich habe dann Ina eine sms geschickt! Etwas später begann der Soundcheck, den ich von meinem Platz im Café aus gut hätte sehen können, aber ich bezahlte schnellstens, stand auf und setzte mich in eine der vorderen Sitzreihen vor der Bühne! Wenn ich schon mal da war wollte ich auch so viel wie möglich erleben (Live for the day!). Das war auch kein Problem, außer dass Chris Andrews mir irgendwann zu verstehen gab, ich solle keine (ich sah es mal als ‚nicht so viele’) Fotos machen. Die freundliche Dame, die mir den Weg gezeigt hatte war auch anwesend. Und noch ein paar Bekannte. Danach mussten wir den Marktplatz verlassen, da dieser nun endgültig fürs Konzert abgesperrt wurde.

In der Zeit zwischen Soundcheck und Meet & Greet ging ich mit Ina, Heike etc. noch eine Kleinigkeit bei ‚Kochlöffel’ essen und lief danach allein eine kleine Runde durch Lingen. An meinem Auto machte ich Halt, da ich dort Haarspray deponiert hatte. An was man nicht alles denken muss!
Dann sammelten sich die Gewinner zum Meet & Greet. Ich kann gar nicht mehr genau sagen, wie das alles der Reihe nach ablief. Ich holte erst mal mein reserviertes Ticket ab und ging in einem Lokal zur Toilette zum nochmaligen Styling. Dort erreichte mich ein Anruf oder eine sms von Birgit, die mir viel Spaß wünschte. Oh – den hatte ich! Irgendwie fand ich das VIP-Zelt, wo auch Carola Alge und ihr Mann Hermann, der Fotograf, herumschwirrten. Wir 4 Gewinner bekamen einen Sekt und wurden ins Rathaus geführt. Dort warteten wir nochmals - zusammen mit der Bürgermeisterin. Ich war sooooo aufgeregt!

Endlich betraten erst Chris Andrews und dann Chris de Burgh den Raum! Das ganze Meet & Greet dauerte nur 5 Minuten. Chris unterhielt sich mit jedem von uns Vieren und signierte ein paar Dinge, allerdings hatte ich jede Menge Fotos dabei - und er unterzeichnete und unterzeichnete..... dabei hatte ich gar nicht erwartet, dass er alle signieren würde. Ich erteilte ihm einen ersten Lehrgang dahingehend, wie ich hieße, er möge doch bitte "For Doris" auf die Bilder schreiben. Er fragte noch einmal nach, dann verstand er!!! :-) Außerdem sagte er, er hätte mich nachmittags beim Soundcheck gesehen und er hätte mich vorher schon mal gesehen (klar - in Bochum, da hatte er mich ja auch geküsst - und ich trug in Bochum dieselbe Kleidung - also war ich gut wiederzuerkennen!). Als er gar nicht mehr aufhörte zu signieren sagte ich: "I think you don't have so much time", aber er guckte nur rüber und sagte: "I always have time for a pretty girl", was ich sehr süß fand, obwohl ich weiß, dass er als Gentleman das zu absolut JEDEM gesagt hätte. Er ist einfach einmalig! Dann erzählte ich ihm noch etwas über Nicole und ließ ihn ein oder zwei Fotos für sie unterschreiben.
Er trug sich ins Buch der Stadt Lingen ein und schon war das Meet & Greet vorüber. Und ich war wieder high on emotion!!!! Das Konzert erlebte ich aus Reihe 8, was nicht schlecht war, aber doch schon ziemlich weit weg, da ich in einem seitlichen Block saß. Und die Leute um mich herum waren sehr 'ruhig' - niemand klatschte mit oder so. Naja.
Nach dem Konzert fuhr ich sofort nach Hause.

Am 19.7. fand in Bonn das einzige Stehkonzert dieser Tour statt. Normalerweise gibt’s bei allen CdeB-Konzerten (fast) nur Sitzplätze. Tickets dazu hatten Kerstin und ich uns erst kurz vor dem Konzert gekauft, denn es schien sich herauszukristallisieren, dass dort eine richtige Party gefeiert werden würde....! So fuhr ich am 19. mittags nach der Arbeit nach Bochum zu Kerstin, sie fuhr uns von Bochum nach Bonn, dort standen wir erst mal nachmittags vor der Museumsmeile, dann IN der Museumsmeile, allerdings hatte sich das frühe Anstehen gelohnt, da wir ca. in Reihe 2 zu stehen kamen! Aber die vielen Stunden auf den Beinen waren sehr, sehr anstrengend. Unsere Rosen konnten wir Chris nur auf die Bühne werfen, und irgendwie war ich enttäuscht, weil er diesmal überhaupt keine Anzeichen machte, dass er mich wiedererkennen würde. Aber wie auch, in der Menge.....! Der Rückweg war sehr lang und ich fragte mich ernsthaft, warum ich mir das antat - denn am nächsten Tag 'musste' ich ja schon wieder los - alleine nach Schloss Nordkirchen, 68 km von Dinslaken entfernt.
Allerdings war am nächsten Tag die Anstrengung schon wieder vergessen (ist wie beim Kinderkriegen ;-)) und ich genoss schon alleine die Fahrt nach Nordkirchen. Leider regnete es vor dem Konzert - und es war sehr kalt geworden! Doch rechtzeitig zu Konzertbeginn klarte es auf - der Himmel wurde blau und das war Konzert super. Allerdings froren wir immer noch - bei 12 ° C (mit 3/4 Hose)! Gut, dass ich meine Regenjacke an hatte. Ich ging nach 'Natasha Dance' zur Bühne, und er bedankte sich für meine Rose mit "Thank you very much indeed" (hatte meinen Namen wohl schon wieder vergessen!!!! ;-))! – Als ich die Regenjacke bei nächster Gelegenheit (im Urlaub) wieder anzog klebte noch meine Sitz-Nummer am Rücken – das konnte man sicher auch bewundern, als ich vorne vor der Bühne stand! lol

Nordkirchen war mein letztes Konzert für diesen Sommer gewesen.
Mein Mann kam ein paar Tage später aus Malaysia zurück und wir fuhren in Urlaub (Kleinwalsertal). Allerdings stand ich noch so unter dem Eindruck der Konzerte - ich hätte gar keinen Urlaub gebraucht. Ich wanderte mit MP3-player die Berge hoch und konnte Chris immer noch sehr deutlich vor mir auf der Bühne stehen sehen!
Ich hatte sämtliche MotL-Fragen und -Antworten auf meinem Laptop gespeichert, so konnte ich sie abends oder bei Regenwetter studieren....! Ich glaube, das war die Zeit, als ich es nicht mehr schaffte, so viele Bücher zu lesen wie zuvor. Mittlerweile lese ich so gut wie gar keine Bücher mehr! (Verbringe zu viel Zeit am Computer.)
Nicole wohnt nicht sehr weit entfernt vom Kleinwalsertal, also besuchte ich auch sie zum ersten Mal in meinem Leben! Ich finde es super, wenn man Freunde, die man zuvor nur vom E-mailen her kennt, zum ersten Mal persönlich trifft. Lustigerweise war es zuerst Zeus, ihr Yorkshire Terrier, den ich auf der Straße erkannte..., dann sie und Baby Jonathan, der damals 3 Monate alt war - und daher hatte sie auch gar kein Konzert im Sommer 2005 sehen können! Es war toll, sie zu treffen und den Tag mit ihr zu verbringen. Meine Tochter hatte ich mit dabei, die Männer wanderten derweil ohne uns!

Im Sept. 2005 bekamen wir endlich DSL = schnelleres Internet und eine neue E-mail-Adresse. Ich teilte all meinen Kontakten die neue Adresse mit, so auch Melanie in Liverpool, mit der ich eigentlich kaum Kontakt hatte. Ihre E-mail-Adresse befand sich nur in meinem Adressbuch, weil wir zuvor Vidoes ausgetauscht hatten, aber wir hatten uns danach nicht weiter geschrieben. Sie antwortete allerdings auf meine Adressen-e-mail, dass sie zwar kein Deutsch verstände, aber soviel mitbekommen hätte, dass wir eine neue E-mail-Adresse hatten. Ich schrieb zurück und wir kamen ins Gespräch - so entwickelte sich eine tolle Freundschaft.

Kurze Zeit später gab's Tickets für die Storyman-Tour 2006 zu kaufen - und da Melanie mich ja nun mal kannte war ich ihr Ansprechpartner für Deutsche Tickets... und natürlich besorgte ich ihr eins mit und bot ihr ein Bett in unserem Hause an :-) Leider machte ich beim Ticketkauf den fatalen Fehler, dass ich um Mitternacht, als eventim den Ticketverkauf startete, 6 Tickets für Reihe 1 kaufte, aber nicht Reihe 1 Parkett Mitte, sondern in Bock 4. Und erst am nächsten Tag wurde mir bewusst, dass ich 6 Tickets für einen weit von der Bühne entfernten Block irgendwo auf dem Balkon oder so gekauft hatte, von dem man sich wahrscheinlich abseilen musste, wenn man zur Bühne wollte, um Rosen hinzubringen oder später zur Bühne zu stürmen!!!! Im Internet wurden nur diese Tickets angeboten, die Innenraumplätze gab's telefonisch! Ich hätte mich erschießen können! Ich war untröstlich! Es handelte sich ja schließlich um sehr viel Geld! Aber nach ein paar Tagen Kriegsberatung entschlossen wir uns, es noch einmal zu versuchen. Diesmal rief Kerstin beim Ticketshop an und orderte nochmals 6 Tickets. Glücklicherweise konnte ich die Block 4 Karten später an andere Fans verkaufen! Interessant, dass der weit entfernte Block 4 genauso teuer war wie die 1. Reihe vor der Bühne! Wir bekamen am Ende 6 Tickets für Reihe 6, was noch ganz erträglich war!

Melanie hatte derweil das gleiche Problem mit ihrem Ticket für das Konzert in Birmingham. Sie hatte erst ein Ticket per internet gekauft, dann ein besseres telefonisch. Also hatte sie ein Ticket zu viel. Sie fragte, ob ich es haben wollte, aber – ich wollte doch nicht so weit fliegen..............! Naja, das war im Herbst 2005!!!

Nun gibt es unter den CdeB-Fans auch jedes Jahr oder manchmal nur alle 2 Jahre eine Tribute-CD, auf der Lieder erscheinen, die von Fans nachgesungen werden. Im Sommer 2005 trafen Birgit und ich uns häufig, um zusammen zu singen, und irgendwann überlegten wir uns, wir könnten ja bei der Tribute-CD ein Lied einreichen. Also schrieben wir ein Medley, bestehend aus 5 CdeB-songs, welches wir im Oktober 2005 aufnahmen. Mein Bruder Wilfried half uns dabei mit seinem Mischpult, und er begleitete uns mit seinem Bass. Ich spielte Gitarre, und Birgit und ich sangen. Das ganze hat sehr viel Spaß gemacht und Birigt und ich hatten häufiger mal einen Grund, uns zu treffen, was sehr schön war. Ich erinnere mich an einen Abend, als Birgit und ich hier bei mir zu Hause ‚probten’ und derweil guckte Marianne in der Schweiz unserem kleinen chaotischen Privatkonzert via Webcam-Übertragung zu! Das war so schön! Ich weiß nicht, wie sie es ausgehalten hat – aber so etwas vergisst man nie! Ich jedenfalls nicht!
Unser Lied hat es nicht bis auf die Tribute-CD geschafft, aber es ist immer noch als Bonus-song auf der website zu hören.

Im Sommer 2006 verbrachten meine Familie und ich unseren Urlaub in Grainau unterhalb der Zugspitze, und wieder war Nicole nicht weit entfernt. Diesmal besuchte unsere ganze Familie sie. Lustig war, dass der MotL an dem Tag, an dem ich sie besuchte, gerade eine Frage von mir beantwortet hatte - und er begann seine Antwort sehr lustig...... Das war am 7.7.2006.... :-) Astrid hatte mich schon gewarnt, ich solle am 7.7.06 MotL lesen, sie hätte sich köstlich amüsiert beim tippen der Antwort.....! So teilte Nicole mir schon vor unserem Besuch morgens per sms mit, was in etwa CdeB auf meine Frage geantwortet hatte!

2006 war das Jahr, in dem ich begann, Radio zu hören...... . An einem Morgen im Febr. 2006 traf ich Melanie zufällig im msn Chat. Wir chatteten nur kurz, denn sie musste zur Arbeit. Sie schickte mir den Link zu ihrem Lokal-Radiosender Magic 1548 Liverpool. Ich sollte einfach mal reinhören, denn sie hätte sich ein CdeB-Lied gewünscht. Hmmm, eigentlich wollte ich ja einkaufen fahren, aber nun musste ich abwarten und hören. So richtig viel verstand ich nicht von dem, was sie dort im Radio erzählten - all diese fremden Leute.... lol :-) Und dann sagte Phil Easton plötzlich, für Melanie in Thornton und Doris in Dinslaken/Germany würde er CdeB spielen - und es folgte "When I think of you" - wow! Das war das aller erste Mal, dass ich meinen Namen im Radio gehört hatte, und schon war ich süchtig.....! Ich hörte immer häufiger bei Magic rein und schrieb Phil immer mal wieder e-mails - immer häufiger. Ich erzählte ihm über CdeB und wie ich Melanie kennengelernt hatte etc. Melanie kannte er schon lange, da sie seine Sendung schon ewig hörte. Das hatte sie mir vorher noch gar nicht erzählt. Ich schrieb Phil natürlich nicht nur über CdeB. Er erwähnte mich häufiger, ob’s war, dass die Kinder mal wieder ein Handballspielt hätten, dass in Dinslaken die Sonne schiene, oder ob er einem meiner Verwandten oder Freunde zum Geburstag gratulierte oder meiner im Krankenhaus liegenden Mutter gute Besserung wünschte. Ich nahm diese guten Wünsche jedes Mal auf und spielte sie anschließend den Beteiligten vor, die das sehr toll fanden – aber nur anfangs. Heutzutage brauche ich ihnen nicht mehr so viel über meinen Radio-Tick erzählen, es ist nichts Neues mehr für sie.
Mittlerweile verstand ich immer mehr von dem, was dort im Radio erzählt wurde. Ich glaube, je mehr ich hinhörte, umso mehr gewöhnte sich mein Gehör an die englische Sprache – und heutzutage verstehe ich fast jedes Wort – und wenn ich mal ein Wort nicht weiß gibt’s ja noch meinen Freund Leo.
Ich lernte somit auch immer mehr über Liverpool, kannte durch die Verkehrshinweise (der netten Claire) auch schon diverse Straßennamen, lernte viel über den Radiosender und konnte gar keinen Morgen mehr ohne meine Breakfastshow sein. Kann ich immer noch nicht! Zwar haben mittlerweile die Presenter gewechselt, aber ich höre immer noch Magic! Phil macht nun die Breakfast-Show bei City Talk, die man allerdings als Podcast zeitversetzt hören kann, aber ich liebe auch Keiron Fox’ Breakfast-Show bei Magic. Übrigens befand sich mittlerweile ein Laptop in meinem Besitz, der sehr bald dauerhaft mit Lautsprechern (mittlerweile sogar von Bose) versehen in der Küche stand und immer noch steht und daueronline und immer eingeschaltet ist, wenn ich zu Hause bin.

Phil hatte für Magic zuvor schon mal Radio-Konzerte veranstaltet. D. h. CdeB-Konzerte in kleinem Rahmen, die aufgezeichnet und später im Radio ausgestrahlt wurden. Hörer konnten die Tickets nicht kaufen, sondern nur gewinnen. Melanie hatte es 2 mal irgendwie geschafft, solche Tickets zu gewinnen, auch wenn sie auf der Arbeit dazu unerlaubterweise Radio hören und mit 2 - 3 Telefonen gleichzeitig im Radiostudio anrufen musste :-)
Ich wünschte mir bei Phil häufig CdeB-songs, und so ca. 1 x pro Woche hatte ich Glück und er spielte wirklich ein Lied für mich :-) Außerdem erklärte ich ihm stetig immer mal wieder, dass er unbedingt noch einmal so ein Radiokonzert veranstalten müsse - und mich dazu einzuladen wäre auch eine sehr gute Idee :-)

Phil Easton ist außerdem Stadionsprecher in Anfield, beim FC Liverpool - er ruft dort die Spielernamen auf, wenn diese ins Stadion einlaufen, und er unterhält das Publikum vor dem Spiel und in der Halbzeitpause. So trifft er Chris auch manchmal - und er ist mein geheimer CdeB-Spitzel. Ich frage ihn nach jedem Heimspiel, ob Chris auch da war.
Aber eigentlich ist Phil sowas wie der engl. Thomas Gottschalk, denn er hat Chris in England bekannt gemacht, indem er ihn in seiner früheren Radio-Sendung "The Great Easton Express" hat auftreten lassen als Chris noch völlig neu im Geschäft war!

Im März 2006 teilte Phil mir eines morgens mit, dass er ein CdeB-Interview geplant hätte - am St. Patrick's Day, und dass ich das gerne den anderen Fans mitteilen könne. Also schrieb ich's sofort auf der Mailingliste. Das war mir doch ein Vergnügen!
Natürlich saß ich am 17.3.2006 gespannt vorm Radio, als die Sondersendung zum St. Patrick's Day - live aus der Guiness-Brauerei in Dublin - ausgestrahlt wurde. Und dann - endlich - kam das Interview. Es war soo lustig, dass CdeB sagte, er hätte noch nichts davon gewußt, dass Phil ihn interviewen würde, bis er es auf seiner Website gelesen hätte, a lady named Doris hätte es dort geschrieben, noch bevor sein Manager ihn davon in Kenntnis gesetzt hätte....! Und er sagte: Hi Doris! - Ich wäre fast gestorben - ich war wieder mal sooo high on emotion!!!! Ist Chris nicht einmalig? (Dieses und einige andere Interviews sind hier zu hören. Auf der linken Seite unter „television“ befindet sich ein Player, bei dem man die einzelnen Interviews zum Hören anklicken kann. Oder hier.)

Im Mai 2006 erzählte Phil on air, dass er bei einem Fußballspiel CdeB getroffen hätte und sich mit ihm unterhalten hätte und dass sie auch auf mich zu sprechen gekommen wären - und als er Chris fragte: "Do you know Doris from Dinslaken?", da hätte Chris "yes" gesagt. Und dann machte Phil eine bedenklich lange Pause, bevor er sagte: "It was all good" (was sie gesprochen hatten...... naja, ich kann mir schon vorstellen, dass sie viel gelacht haben müssen..... crazy Doris from Dinslaken oder so..., aber was soll's ;-))!

Tja, die Magic-Playliste änderte sich kurz darauf drastisch, so dass fast gar kein CdeB mehr gespielt wurde, aber mittlerweile hatte ich mich so in diesen Lokalsender und dessen Presenter verliebt, dass ich trotzdem tagtäglich weiter Magic hörte!!!!

Im Herbst erschien das Storyman-Album, also doch wohl wirklich ein Grund für ein Radiokonzert.....!!!! Und tatsächlich, Phil machte immer mal wieder Andeutungen, aber sagte nichts Konkretes! Endlich, am 19.9.2006 gab er das Ok, dass ich meinen Flug buchen könnte, aber ich durfte niemandem etwas erzählen. Offiziell konnte man die Tickets nur gewinnen - aber ich glaube, Melanie und ich waren nicht die einzigen, die auch ohne Teilnahme am Gewinnspiel auf der Gästeliste landeten.

Ich verbrachte also im Okt. 2006 vier Tage in Liverpool. Es war mein erster England-Aufenthalt und ich wohnte bei Melanie und ihrer Mutter. Alle waren soooo nett! Das Konzert war das Highlight, aber die Stadt endlich zu sehen, von der ich jeden Tag im Radio hörte, das war auch toll! Es war übrigens das erste Mal, dass ich Melanie persönlich traf (bewußt persönlich traf - in Dortmund hatten wir uns ja noch nicht gekannt!). Zuerst erkundete ich Liverpool on my own, da Melanie arbeiten musste, abends fand das Konzert statt.

Es war nicht nur aufregend, Chris zu sehen, sondern auch, Phil zum ersten Mal zu begegnen, und im Trophy Room von Anfield (Stadion des FC Liverpool) zu sein. Auch ein paar bekannte Gesichter waren dort: Chris Williams u. Stewart, Steve Bennett und Chris High. Und zu unserer großen Überraschung (oder nur zu meiner?) auch mein Freund Diego, ein lustiger Listener, der leider Manchster United Fan ist....... Wir e-mailen uns seit März 2006, aber er hatte mir nicht verraten, dass er und seine Frau Verna an dem Abend auch dort sein würden...... . Es war eine coole Überraschung! Wie alles so super ist, was wegen Chris passiert!!!
Es war alles 'magical'!!!!! Auch wichtige Fußball-Leute waren im Publikum (aber ich kannte sie ja nicht!!!!!) Insges. sahen 90 Leute zu, es war also sehr übersichtlich - und toll!!!!!
Das Konzert dauerte ca. 1 Std. - und nach 1 Lied oder so fragte Chris, ob auch jemand from Germany dort sei. Ich winkte zu ihm hinüber, und er sagte: "Hi Doris! Well done!" - Oh - war das toll!!!! Melanie und ich brachten ihm später, um präzise zu sein nach ‚Lady in red’ natürlich wieder unsere Rosen, und vorne sagte er nochmal "Well done" (,dass ich so weit gereist sei) zu mir.
Nach dem ca. 1-stündigen Konzert posierte er noch für Fotos - und George Sephton – The Voice of Anfield (Stadionsprecher, er ruft Ergebnisse und Auswechslungen aus und legt die Musik auf etc.) machte ein ganz tolles Foto von Diego, mir, Chris, Phil und Melanie - ein international photo, welches unterschrieben in meiner Küche hängt, und welches ich heiß und innig liebe. George e-mailt mir ganz selten und ist auch total nett, wie alle Leute in Liverpool Wenn ich mal auswandere, dann nach Liverpool – keine Frage!!!!
Außerdem signierte Chris noch diverse Dinge, u. a. ein Fotobuch, das ich aus seinen Fotos zusammengestellt hatte. Er sagte, er hätte gerne eine Kopie davon (ich nahm es nicht ernst, denn so ein Fotobuch ist sehr teuer). Außerdem wünschte er mir noch eine sichere Heimreise.

Am nächsten Tag zeigten mir Diego und Verna Chester, und am darauffolgenden Tag hatten wir eine Einladung in den Radio-Tower in Liverpool, von wo aus Magic ausgestrahlt wird. Die Studios befinden sich in einem Tower in der Stadt, von dem aus man eine tolle Aussicht hat, und der seit 2006 mein Lieblings-Gebäude ist! :-) Wir besuchten den weekend presenter Keiron Fox, den ich mittlerweile durch E-mailen auch kennengelernt hatte. Es war sehr beeindruckend, zu sehen wie er arbeitete. Und er war auch sonst sehr nett - nicht umsonst ist er nun eigentlich mehr mein Freund als mein Lieblings-Radio-Presenter.....! Wir haben uns schon mehrmals gegenseitig besucht usw. ........ :-) Und all das nur wegen Chris de Burgh! Also - hätte Angela damals beim Walken nicht das Ticket angeboten - dann wäre mein Leben nun wirklich gaaaaanz anders! Hier sind Details über meine "Journey to Liverpool" nachzulesen.

Mittlerweile hatte ich eingewilligt, Melanie’s zu viel gekauftes Birmingham-Ticket zu übernehmen und zum ersten ‚Storyman’-Konzert im NEC Birmingham am 18. November 2006 nach England zu fliegen. Birgit und Michael begleiteten mich, Melanie reiste mit dem Auto an. Nicht nur das Konzert war super, wir genossen das ganze Wochenende in Birmingham inklusive Weihnachtsmarkt. Als Melanie und ich Chris während des Konzertes unsere Rosen brachten sagte er gaaaanz laut, aber ohne Mikro: ‚This is Doris from Germany!!!’ - Ja - seit dem Trophy-room-Konzert wußte er nun endgültig meinen Namen :-)!

Nach dem Konzert hatte ich Geburstag, also um Mitternacht. Ich feierte mit Melanie, Birgit, Michael und Col in unserem Hotelzimmer. Melanie hatte einen Geb.-Kuchen besorgt sowie Wein und Luftschlangen und die supertollsten Geb.-Karten, die ich je bekommen hatte: eine von Diego und Verna, eine sogar von Phil and the Gang :-) und eine von CdeB :-))))))))))! Ich glaube, ich strahlte den ganzen Abend! Am nächsten Morgen rief Keiron Fox an, und ich war mit einem Birthday-Call live on air. Ein toller 38. Geburtstag! Nachmittags flogen wir leider schon wieder zurück nach Hause, wo ein schöner großer Blumenstrauß von meinem Mann auf mich wartete. Seit 2002 wünsche ich mir zum Geb. ansonsten nur noch Geld – Ticketgeld :-).

Nur eine Woche später kam dann Melanie zu mir, ebenso Malcolm und seine Familie aus Cornwall, die wir auch schon in Birmingham getroffen hatten. Kurt und seine Schwester Heidi quartierten sich ebenfalls in Dinslaken ein. Kurt war zuvor schon einmal während seiner ‚Listmember-Tour’ im Oktober 2005 bei mir gewesen (wir hatten damals einen tollen CdeB-Abend zusammen mit noch ein paar anderen Bekannten verlebt) – und er hatte ein gutes Gasthaus 5 Gehminuten von unserem Haus entfernt ausfindig gemacht, in welchem er nun schon mehrmals genächtigt hatte. Mittlerweile sind wir allerdings endlich im Besitz einer Schlafcouch für Gäste...... !
Samstags fuhren wir alle zusammen nach einem Mittagessen, das meine Mutter für uns gekocht hatte, nach Dortmund zum nachmittäglichen Fanmeeting, Soundcheck, dann Konzert und abends After-Show-Party mit der Band und Krystina Myles. Wir verbrachten ca. 12 Stunden in Dortmud. Es war super, dass auch Nicole aus Eisenberg gekommen war – aber leider schaffte sie es nicht bis zu mir nach Dinslaken, da sie am nächsten Morgen schnell wieder zurück zurück nach Hause zu ihrem kleinen Sohn musste! Nachdem sie 2005 gar keine Konzerte besucht hatte war ich total überrascht, als sie mir eines Tages verkündete, sie suche nun Tickets für Dortmund!!! Super, dass sie auch da war, aber ich hatte nicht genug Zeit für sie, weil ja so viele Bekannte gleichzeitig anwesend waren.
Diesmal kannte ich schon viel, viel mehr Leute. Ich sprach mit vielen, obwohl man meistens doch nicht viel mehr zu sagen weiß, als ein ‚Wie geht es dir?’. Aber es war toll! Es ist eine tolle Gemeinschaft unter den CdeB-Fans!
Luis Costa aus Porto/Portugal schreibt mir noch häufig und hört mittlerweile mit mir zusammen freitags Radio Caroline, ebenso Sylvie Muller.

Anfang Dez. sah ich Chris nochmals zus. mit Kerstin in Düsseldorf.

Lustig war noch, dass im Herbst 2006 unser lokales Anzeigenblatt "Niederrheinanzeiger" die Leser fragte, wer ein ausgefallenes Hobby hätte. Irgendwie fühlte ich mich angesprochen und e-mailte, dass ich CdeB-Fan sei, dass meine Waschkellerwände mit seinen Postern nahezu tapeziert seien, dass ich alle Alben, CDs und einfach fast alles von ihm hätte und dass ich manchmal sogar nach England zu seinen Konzerten fliegen würde. Das fanden sie wohl recht interessant, denn im Oktober (wenn ich mich recht erinnere) bekam ich besuch von einem Journalisten und einem Fotografen. Es erschien ein toller Artikel über mich und mein Fan-Dasein in der Zeitung - und JEDER sprach mich im Laufe der darauffolgenden Wochen bzw. Monate darauf an. Jeder der mich nun heutzutage trifft u. nicht so recht weiß, worüber er sich mit mir unterhalten soll, der fragt mich, was CdeB denn so macht.....! Ich schickte CdeB den Artikel zum Unterschreiben - und das teilte ich dem Niederrheinanzeiger wiederum mit, die nochmals einen Artikel schrieben: "Auch Chris de Burgh liest den Niederrheinanzeiger".... , das musste der arme Sänger dann nochmals unterschreiben....!

Mein Sohn schrieb auch mal einen Zeitungsartikel über mich im Deutschunterricht, welcher hier zu sehen ist. Hmmm - jetzt stand schon lange nichts mehr in der Zeitung...... ich kenne da noch eine Zeitung, in der Leser schreiben können über was immer sie wollen...... ;-) Wenn ich mal vieeeeeel Zeit habe....! :-)

Im März 2007 interviewte Phil Easton Chris noch mal bei Magic. Chris war derzeit für ein paar Tage in Liverpool. Phil hatte das Interview aufgezeichnet, aber rief ihn dann doch noch live an, da abends zuvor ein LFC Fußballspiel stattgefunden hatte, und darüber konnte man sich nun mal nur live unterhalten.
Phil war darüber informiert, dass Nicole per Telefon mithörte. Sie konnte nicht online Magic hören, aber hatte mich angerufen – und ich ließ sie per Telefon mithören. Das hatte ich Phil geschrieben – und Chris begrüßte Nicole und mich mit Namen – während des Interviews! Ebenso Melanie, der er erzählte, dass ein paar ihrer Freunde ihn ein paar Tage zuvor getroffen hätten. Das stimmte. Melanie’s Kollegin Chris hatte unseren Chris gesehen und ist einfach hingegangen, um sich ein Autogramm für Melanie geben zu lassen. Als sie sagte, sie hätte eine Freundin, die Fan von ihm sei uns sogar manchmal zu seinen Konzerten nach Deutschland reisen würde sagte er: ‚That must be Melanie – and Doris’ – Der arme Mann – leidet sicher schon unter Verfolgungswahn!

Im Sommer 2007 sah ich Chris nur 2 x - in Gymnich bei herrlichstem Sommerwetter und in Bielefeld im strömenden Regen.
In Gymnich brachten wir unsere Rosen ziemlich früh - nach "The same sun" zur Bühne. Nachdem wir unsere Rosen überreicht hatten entdeckte ich einen kleinen Jungen vor der Bühne, der auch ein Geschenk für Chris hatte, aber er war zu klein, um Chris zu erreichen. Also schnappte ich mir den Jungen und hob ihn hoch, so konnte er Chris geben, was er für ihn hatte..... . Lustigerweise machte ein Journalist ein Foto von uns - und das erschien in der darauffolgenden Woche in einer lokalen Zeitung.... . Auch fand ich irgendwie die e-mail-Adresse der Familie des Jungen (über's CdeB-Gästebuch) und schickte meine Fotos dorthin. Aber der Kontakt brach dann auch wieder ab.
Krystina, die mittlerweile schon mehrere Foto-CDs und Video-DVDs von mir bekommen hatte (sie ist meine myspace-Freundin) hatten wir nachmittags vor dem Konzert auf ihrem Weg zum Soundcheck getroffen - und ich hatte ihr ein Hochzeitsgeschenk gegeben. Sie erkannte mich sofort - das war schön! :-) Auch den Soundcheck - allerdings ohne Chris - konnten wir in Gymnich genießen. Das Fanmeeting vor dem Konzert war sehr kurz. Die meisten Bekannten waren uns schon nachmittags vor dem Fanmeeting begegnet.

Nicole sah ich im September 2007 wieder, als ich ein paar Tage bei ihr Urlaub machte. Ich fuhr 10 Std. mit dem Zug von Dinslaken nach Eisenberg (inkl. mehrmaligen Umsteigens) – und ich genoss die familienfreien Tage sehr! Es ist so schön bei Nicole. Die Alpen beginnen direkt hinter Eisenberg/Zell. Von ihrem Wohnzimmer aus hat mein einen tollen Blick auf die Berge. Sie wohnt das ganze Jahr über in einer tollen Urlaubsgegend. Wir wanderten viel, machten jede Menge toller Fotos!!! Und wir erkundeten Schloss Neuschwanstein. Lustig war, wie wir Phil versuchen ließen ‚Schloss Neuschwanstein’ im Radio zu sagen – das scheint für Engländer ein Zungenbrecher zu sein!

Im November 2007 flog ich nochmals für 4 Tage nach Liverpool, besuchte Melanie, und wir fuhren zusammen zum Cdeb-Konzert nach Manchester. Meine Freundin Birgit reiste auch an. Wir hatten eine tolle Zeit, an der auch Keiron nicht unbeteiligt war.
Das Konzert in der Bridgewaterhall war super. Als Melanie und ich unsere Rosen nach vorne brachten unterbrach CdeB das Konzert und sagte: "Sorry, I'm just talking to Doris" - ha ha ha! :-) Nach dem Konzert trafen wir noch Krystina und Al, die Autogramme gaben u. ihre CDs verkauften, und später erschien David Levy kurz, der bereitwillig ein Foto von sich machen ließ.

Von unserer teuren Übernachtung im Thistle Hotel hatten wir nicht sehr viel, da die Nacht früh für uns endete. Denn um 9.00 Uhr mussten wir schon im Radio Tower in Liverpool sein, wo wir einen Termin mit Phil im Studio hatten! Dieser war allerdings das frühe Aufstehen wert! Er erwähnte, dass 'Doris and the Gang' mit sill glowing faces vom CdeB Konzert abends zuvor bei ihm seien - und Birgit durfte on air beteuern, wie wonderful alles gewesen war.S cherzhafterweise fragte Phil uns, wieso wir gerade Chris bewundern würden, wir hätten doch genug Deutsche Sänger, wie z. B. Heintje – lol :-)

Im April 2008 fand ich durch Zufall heraus, dass CdeB bei der Präsentation für die DTM Meisterschaften (Autorennen) in Düsseldorf auftreten würde. Er sang 3 – 4 Lieder auf einer Bühne – Eintritt frei. Also fuhr ich sonntags morgens ganz alleine nach Düsseldorf. Ich genoss jede Minute, allein schon die Fahrt und das Laufen durch Düsseldorf. Vor der Bühne traf ich Sybille und Andrea Lucas. Wir warteten zusammen und genossen CdeB später zusammen.

Kurze Zeit später bekam ich von Phil eine e-mail, dass es mich sicherlich interessieren würde, dass er am nächsten Tag einen gewissen Herrn de Burgh interviewen würde. Und OB mich das interessierte. Ich nahm also City Talk auf – und tatsächlich, Phil sprach mit Chris u. a. über sein nächstes Album „Footsteps“ und obwohl es sich so anhörte, als wenn Phil versuchen würde, es zu verhindern sagte Chris ‚Hi Doris’!

Melanie sah ich im Sommer 2008 wieder mal häufiger als manch anderen. Mein Mann u. ich hatten 9 Tage Urlaub in Liverpool verlebt und natürlich Melanie häufig gesehen, sowie all die anderen netten Freunde. Der Urlaub war wunderschön (ich will wieder hin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). Nach knapp 1 1/2 Wochen zu Hause reiste Melanie an - und wir sahen CdeB in Aachen. Ausnahmsweise schien die Sonne fast 3 Tage am Stück, so dass wir ein gaaanz tolles Wochenende hatten. Wie unser Aachen-Wochenende im einzelnen aussah ist hier zu lesen. Das highlight für mich war, dass ich wegen meiner Video-Camera dem Meet & Greet beiwohnen durfte - es war so toll - und ich fand's super, dass ich von Chris sofort mit "Hi Doris, how are you?" begrüßt wurde. Tja, seit Aachen bekomme ich ganz viele E-mails von ganz vielen netten Leuten, die mir schildern, wie toll es war, CdeB gegenüberzustehen - und wenn ich antworte bekomme ich wieder nette Antworten - so habe ich nun alle Hände voll zu tun, viele E-mails zu beantworten, aber ich freue mich immer, ich finde es toll! :-)

Als wir (Melanie, Kerstin und ich) in Aachen unsere Rosen zur Bühne gebracht hatten stand auf einmal wieder ein kleiner Junge vor mir. Ich dachte und sagte sogar leise vor mich hin: "Das ist ja wie ein Déja-vu. Ob das derselbe Junge ist, wie letztes Jahr in Gymnich?" - Ich half ihm wieder, Chris sein Geschenk zu geben. Das war alles. Etwas später allerdings schrieb ein neues Community-Mitglied, sie sei mit ihrer Familie in Aachen gewesen usw. und irgendwie hatte ich das Gefühl, dass das die Familie des kleinen Jungen sein könnte. Also schrieb ich eine private message und fragte, ob sie (Ulrike) die Mutter des Jungen sei, den ich zu Chris hochgehoben hätte, und ob sie zufälligerweise auch im Jahr zuvor in Gymnich gewesen seien und ich dort auch ihren Sohn hochgehoben hätte. Falls ich total daneben läge, solle sie die message vergessen, aber ich MUSSTE einfach fragen. Lustigerweise war es tatsächlich die Mutter dieses Jungen - und es war derselbe Junge wie in Gymnich. Ist das Leben nicht lustig? Sie kommen noch nicht mal aus der Nähe von Aachen oder Gymnich! So ist allein schon die Tatsache, dass wir die selben Konzerte besucht haben ein seeeeeehr großer Zufall, und dass Florian (ihr Sohn) immer gleichzeitig mit uns zur Bühne gegangen ist, ist der zweite Zufall - so ist es wohl kein Wunder, dass wir uns jetzt ausführlich e-mailen..... . Sie hat mir sogar ein T-Shirt mit CdeB-Zitat geschickt! Ich finde das alles einfach toll!

Jetzt bin ich sehr gespannt auf neue Tourtermine. Ich würde gerne noch einmal einen Grund haben, nach England fliegen zu können - aber Florian einmal zu treffen, ohne ihn nur kurz hochzuheben wäre auch toll! Dazu bräuchten wir Tour-Termine in Deutschland!

In Sachen Radio muss ich noch Radio Caroline erwähnen!
Alsooooo - in einer Magic-Sendung erwähnte Phil, dass jemand ein Buch über das alte Radio City 195 geschrieben hätte, und zwar Kathy Barham. Titel des Buches: "Radio City 195 - The heart of Liverpool". Ich besorgte mir das Buch (Diego schickte es mir netterweise) - und verschlang es. Es war so ziemlich das letzte Buch, welches ich gelesen habe, denn der Computer frisst mittlerweile immer mehr meiner Zeit, so komme ich nicht mehr zum Lesen!!! Kathy erinnerte mich so sehr an mich als Radio-fan - nur dass sie zu einer Zeit 'aktiv' war, als es noch kein Internet gab. Ich schrieb ihr nach dem Lesen ihres Buches, wie toll ich es fand, und seitdem schreiben wir uns und haben uns auch schon einmal getroffen. Sie meinte, ich solle mal Radio Caroline hören, dort würden sie noch Musik ohne Playliste spielen. So hörte ich im Juli 2006 zum 1. x Radio Caroline. Zufällig war es ein Dienstagnachmittag, und Barry James war gerade on air. Ich schrieb ihm, ich sei ein großer CdeB Fan und wünschte mir natürlich ein CdeB-Lied. Er spielte "Missing you" für mich - und er sagte, er würde in der darauffolgenden Woche ein paar CdeB Schallplatten mitbringen, ich solle ruhig wieder einschalten - seeehr geschickt :-) Natürlich hörte ich wieder seine Sendung und er spielte 2 Lieder für mich. Tja - mittlerweile höre ich jede seiner Sendungen - und er spielt manchmal bis zu 3 CdeB-Lieder in 4 Std. Ich stehe nun auch in Kontakt mit anderen Hörern (in Indien und auf Kreta/Griechenland)! Vor 1 Jahr war Al Vosper bei Barry im Studio und Barry hat ihn interviewt - zwischendurch wurde ein Überraschungs-Telefon-Interview mit CdeB eingefügt! Wow!!! Ausgerechnet an DEM Tag hatte ich Besuch von meinem anderen Radio-Presenter Keiron und war nicht zu Hause, um das Interview zu hören, aber Nicole rief mich an, so konnte ich (während der Autofahrt auf der Autobahn) das Interview mit CdeB live hören. Er grüßte mich sogar! :-)! Hinterher schickten mir die netten Leute von Radio Caroline eine CD mit dem ganzen Interview!
Barry ist sehr nett und spielt ganz viele tolle Lieder - ich habe ihn auch Runrig-süchtig gemacht, indem ich ihm eine Menge CDs von Runrig geschickt habe - mittlerweile war er auf Konzeten von Runrig und ist sehr begeistert!
Seine Sendung ist nun freitags von 10.00 - 14.00 Uhr UK time. Ein Glück, dass dann Keiron's Breakfast-Show bei Magic zu ende ist.... lol!

2008-08-22T19:59:00.008+02:00

A magical weekend:

CdeB-weekend 15. – 17.08.2008 – Aachen

Fr., 15.08.2008:

For CdeB’s summer-tour in Germany we (some friends and me) had bought tickets for only one concert – the one in Aachen on Saturday, the 16th of August. It was the only concert which was not too far away. So Aachen was our only chance to see CdeB without driving too far – and we took it (the chance)! As the concert took place at a weekend it was also possible for Melanie to come over from Liverpool and spend some nice days with us – with Chris as the reason….!

The weather had been rainy nearly all summer long – so I was surprised that it was sunny with blue sky already on Thursday evening, the evening before Melanie should arrive!!!
During the week before I had not yet really been back from our holidays, my thoughts were still in Liverpool. Only 2 days before the concert – when I drove back by car from the supermarket and listened in a very loud way to the “Storyman” album while singing along, so that the other traffic-participants certainly thought I was mad, I could totally look forward to see the concert. I had heard about the previous concerts, and not everybody liked the orchestra parts, but I never had seen Chris performing with orchestra before. – Also the weather had not been very good during the previous concerts. So for me everything was just perfect.
On Wednesday I had pre-ordered our roses for Chris at our local florist in Eppinghoven (suburb of Dinslaken). I don’t buy flowers very often, but when I ordered our 2 single red roses and 1 yellow rose and stressed, that we would need the most beautiful roses they could get they smiled, and when I commented: “They are for Chris de Burgh” they smiled even more and remembered, that I had bought flowers for Chris in their shop before. In the car I also listened to ‘Just a word away’ – and when I arrived back at home and checked my e-mails I found a message from Dimitra in Greece, and she wrote: “I’m just a word away….. “ – how spooky was that? She was leaving Greece and flying to Germany to see the Hanau-concert on Friday and the Aachen concert with us on Saturday. She even had a ticket for a seat in our row!

On Thursday I made Melanie’s bed in our cellar – with LFC bed-covers of course……! And I prepared the lunch for my family for Friday, as I would not be at home when the kids came back from school – Rabenmutter! I tried to go to bed early (which I never seem to manage!!) and on Friday morning I went up a bit quicker than usually. After only 1 hour of Keiron Fox’s Magic-breakfast-show = at 8.00 a. m. I left the house to drive to the airport. It was already a pleasure to drive the 40 km on the Autobahn/motorway. The weather was so nice and I was singing along to CdeB again. I arrived at the airport in time, texted Angelika Baumeister, because she had told me she also would pick up a few ladies from England (Chris R., Alison and Sheila) on Friday morning in Düsseldorf – but it was her turn a bit later – so we missed each other. Never mind – we later met in Aachen before the concert.
I had my camcorder handy while waiting for Melanie to arrive – because I intended to film her first step out of the airport-gates. Funnily there was an about 60 – 70 years old man standing and waiting with a photo-camera in his hand. When we recognized that we both had the same idea we smiled at each other and started talking about the guests we were expecting. He was waiting for a lady from Yorkshire, who he’d got to know during his travels while he was a student. Because of the internet their contact had become more frequent again, and now she would visit him for his birthday. Happy Birthday!!

Melanie arrived soon (at 9.35 a. m.) and we decided to drive to Duisburg. We just had seen each other only about 2 weeks ago during our Liverpool-holidays. I see some of my friends here in Germany less often than I meet Melanie from far away Liverpool (I had already seen her at the end of May/beginning of June, when we went to see Sir Paul McCartney at ‘The Liverpool Sound’ in Anfield)!
We walked through Duisburg, where I had worked for several years before I got the kids, which means I stopped working there in 1992. I’d been working at the Courthouse in the centre of the city, and I had spent my lunch-breaks with shopping in Duisburg nearly every day – but now I hadn’t been there for a long time – and so much had changed. We had a look at the harbour-cruise ships but decided not to take part in such a cruise (Hafenrundfahrt), but to walk to the new inner-harbour, where they had built a lot of cocktail-bars and nice restaurants along the waterfront – a very nice area – especially exciting at nightime, but we also enjoyed sitting in the “Cubar” for lunch. I will come back some day for the evening-buffet and eat crocodile, ostrich, kangaroo etc.(must compare, if it tastes like in the south african restaurant Jabula in Ellesmere Port, near to Liverpool).

After a very funny text-conversation with a nice friend we walked back to the city centre, acted like tourists while taking photos of the Salvatorkirche and the townhall and even became witnesses of a legal wedding, and then we drove to Dinslaken.

We have a very nice ice-parlour at the market-place in Dinslaken, and Melanie had not yet tried the ice-creme there. So this was her first chance to do so. We sat down in the sun and had Tiramisu-Eis and a Whisky-Becher. Yummmmy! Poor people from the neighbour-table had to take pictures of us with the huge beakers in front of us!

Then we drove back ‘home’, relaxed a bit and had something to eat. Melanie had got some very nice gifts for us – even if this absolutely wasn’t necessary at all. But I love the Monopoly game, the edition of my favourite-city Liverpool with all the well known street names and buildings (Walker Art Gallery, World Museum, Lime Street Station, Tate Liverpool, Radio City Tower!!!!!, Merseyside Maritime Museum, Everton Football Club and Liverpool FC, Aintree Racecourse, Forthlin Road in Allerton, Speke Hall, Ablert Dock, Sefton Park Palm House, Metropolitan and Anglican Cathedrals, John Lennon Airport and Mersey Ferries, The Three Graces, Philharmonic Hall, St. George’s Hall, ACC Liverpool = Echo Arena and Liverpool One, the new shopping Centre, where I had even been at the opening day = 29th of May 2008) and the Liverpool-T-shirt she’d bought for me.
As the time was too precious to be wasted we drove to the river Rhein, only 3 min. by car from here, where we went for a walk on the dike between sheep, cows and geese, we enjoyed a beautiful sundown and admired the rising moon. ‘Niederrhein’ (= lower Rhine)-impressions!

We let the evening finish with a glass of wine while watching parts of our Liverpool-holiday-film together with Arno, my husband (who had time to join us when football on TV had finished!).

photos of Friday

Sat., 16.08.2008:

photos of Saturday and Sunday

The next morning we slept untill about 8.00 or 9.00 a. m., started the day slowly. When I switched on our little shower-radio while I was having a shower the first I heard was the weather forecast for the weekend: 24 degrees and sunshine – no rain!!!! Rain would start only on Monday and get worse on Tuesdady! Who cared for Monday or Tuesday – at the moment it was the weekend which counted. Weather could not be better for us!!!!! While having breakfast, we listened to the Magic-breakfast-show (in Liverpool – online), as I always do, but that day there was a substitute on air, Mark Jones, and I knew, he NEVER plays CdeB-songs. Ok – I know they unfortunately don’t have any CdeB in their playlist (silly playlist!!!!!!!! – We really should start a campain to change this!!!!), but some songs are still in their system! I know this! And when Mark asked the listeners to request songs with ‘drums’, we requested a CdeB song, as there certainly also would be played the drums in his songs, even if he’d play “Don’t pay the ferryman”. He certainly found it very funny to make his jokes (only via e-mail, not on air) with us, and he gave in (pretended to give in) to play CdeB at 5 past 10 – ha ha! German time? Then the show would not yet have finished. In the end he wished us much fun at the concert – what else should we have expected of him?

After we had finished breakfast I got a ‘sandwich-making-lesson’ from Melanie. I love the engl. sandwiches! And as we would go to a ‘picnic-concert’ sandwiches were very appropriate. CdeB always says we should bring sandwiches and pyjamas. So we did! (Well, I left the pyjama in the hotel and didn’t bring it to the concert!)

Then I started cooking, because not only we but also my family needed something to eat. If I already had to neglect them so much they at least should not starve hungry! Between cooking (tortellinis in spinach with ham and garlic, which is quick and easy but tastes delicious) and eating Melanie and I walked to the florist to pick up the roses – and the florist made some nice comments again about CdeB, and that he should come and sing in Dinslaken, when he gets so much roses from there (stickers of their shop in Dinslaken were on the foil of the roses)!!!! Yes – that would be great!!! Maybe I should give the florist some pictures of how CdeB holds our flowers or how they are lying on the piano. Maybe I’ll get discount then the next time I buy flowers for him (when will this be????) – no – I will pay for my roses, but I still like the photo-idea (they can name themselves then: ‘Official Chris de Burgh-flower-distributor’!!! lol

Meanwhile the kids (14 and 16) had woken up. We had an early lunch, Melanie had the pleasure to see my husband Arno in his Schützen-Uniform (rifleman/marksman-uniform), because he had to go to a ‘Schützenfest’ early that afternoon. He’s adjutant and so he wears a lot of feathers on his hut. He became ‘Schützenkönig’ in 2001 and chose me as his Queen and I had to wear a crown and beautiful dresses, even long dresses, like ‘Sissi’, which was pretty cool!!!!!

After lunch we packed everything – the whole car was full of suitcases, cool-boxes (for the picnic) – and the quote from ‘Missing you’ really fitted: ".... We've got the roses, we've got the wine, with a little luck we will be there on time. Aachen's the place that we will go, with romantic music and the sun getting low..... ."

We started our way to Aachen at 13.15 p. m. and it took us 1 ½ hours to drive the 129 km. The strange thing was that when we switched on the CD player in my car (containing a self-made CdeB CD with my favourite love-songs) the first sentence he sang was: “The journey has begun……” – how very appropriate!
It was no problem to find our Mercure hotel at the Jülicher Straße 10 – 12, we checked in and waited for our friends to arrive. They arrived a bit later, but were not yet ready to leave the hotel so soon, so Melanie and I went on our own to have a look at the venue, the Kurpark of Aachen, which was only a 5-min.-walk away. When we asked the lady at the hotel-reception where we would find the Kurpark she wanted to know, what would happen there tonight, who would sing there. We told her, who it would be – and she already was worried that we would bring him back with us to our hotel later that night – ha ha ha!
We immediately met other CdeB-fans. The first fellow-fans we met were Claudia and Willi. It was nice to talk to them. I had seen them several times from a distance but we never had talked together so far. CdeB had touched her hair the evening before in Hanau, so we joked about if she had washed her hair at all since then! Doris Henseler also came along, so did Chris and Stewart. The whole city seemed to be full of CdeB-fans! Also Stephan, Annette and little Tabea (about 4 years old) were there, still worried about where to pick up their tickets, which they had ordered before. Doris told us something about a surprise for people, who had had to travel far – like Melanie....! But that was all she could tell us....! Very exciting....!

We talked to the security-man at the entrance, who was very, very friendly. I asked him, if we
really would be allowed to take bottles (glass-bottles – maybe filled with wine......) with us into the venue – because usually you can not even take small bottles of water with you. Yes, we were allowed. Typically me I went on asking, if they would allow photo-cameras – this would be no problem. And as I just had my camcorder hanging around my neck I asked: ‘And what about camcorders?’. Of course I expected a ‘No, you are not allowed to film the concert!’, but he said: ‘You can bring it, we won’t examine your bags today, everything will be very relaxed!’!!!! I thought that I could not trust my ears – but I was glad to hear this. Melanie and I walked around for a little bit longer and heard the orchestra playing CdeB-songs – so it was the orchestra soundcheck. No singing to hear. There was another couple standing at the fence to the Kurpark, and they asked, if we also would be at the concert that night. We would! They were a couple from the Netherlands. I asked, if they were members of the mailing-list, they said they were, but I didn’t know their names – and forgot them again – sorry!!! Soon Melanie and I had to go back to the hotel to get changed for the concert.

We left our hotel to walk back to the venue 20 min. later with our friends. It was about 18.00 p. m. when we arrived. The picnic should take place at 18.30 p.m.. It was interesting to watch all the people and to recognize some well-known faces again while waiting, e. g. Ina, Claudia S., Evelyn etc. Meanwhile we already got a little taste of what would expect us in the evening – because we heard the soundcheck. I only wonder, if they were doing the soundcheck all day long, because somebody had told me that they also heard the soundcheck already at 14.30 p. m. What we had heard in the later afternoon was only the orchestra. While we were waiting for the gates to open I first saw Nigel walking through all the waiting concert-visitors away from the venue – and after a while Al and Dave did the same. Nobody noticd them – unbelievable – do they all only know Chris and not his band? Or was everybody so well-behaved and pretended not to know them in order to let them go without any fan-attack back to their hotel?

The doors finally opened at about 18.40 p m., we searched for the signs, which Lore had put up for us ‘Internet-friends’, it was a bit like “Schnitzeljagd” (scavenger hunt or paper chase), but then we found the meeting-place. Do only I have the feeling that the time then began to pass much, much quicker than it did before? Suddenly everybody was there – lots of people I had seen often before. Astrid was there, and I can’t tell all the names, I certainly would forget somebody, but it was great to meet Dimitra!!! We had exchanged several nice e-mails during the last maybe 2 years. And she even had a present for me: a nice greek candle-holder in Santorini-decor (and a CD-ROM)! That was so kind of her (thanxxxxxxx!!!)– and I had nothing to give to her!!!!! But it was great to see her! I immediately recognized Arash, he looks like on his community-picture, Lore was ‘full in action’ giving away pieces of sticky tape for us to write our names on. But I still had my Dortmund-button from Nov. 2006. So I didn’t need any tape. We opened our wine-bottle and ate some of the prepared sandwiches, but I hardly had time to eat nor drink, because it now became very exciting to talk with everybody. It was nice to get to know Kathy and Robert from Belgium, I can’t even remember how it happened that we started talking together. To some people I didn’t manage to say more than “hello”. Time flew!!! Longer fan-meeting next time again, please!!!

Very soon Astrid told us that those of us, who had read the community website yesterday evening, would know that she had prepared a little surprise for us: She had talked to the management and got the allowence to bring 20 people to a short meet & greet before the concert. And as there were so many people from abroad she would give those people who had had to travel rather far some stickers, which were the ‘ticket to the meet & greet’! Ok – I only live 129 km away......! No chance. But Melanie....? - Astrid stood on a bench while telling us all this – and she immediately knew a few people, who would get ‘tickets’, like Arash from Iran, a couple from Russia, someone from Sloviakia and Ursula from Switzerland etc. My friend Birgit shouted: ‘What about Melanie from Liverpool?’ Astrid agreed and gave Melanie a ticket. Soon Astrid did not really know who to choose anymore. I was walking around with photo-camera and camcorder (video) and so I asked, if they would need a camera-woman. Astrid had to admit, that a video would be very good, so I got a ticket, too. Wow. Good that I didn’t know this before and that I didn’t have any time to get very, very excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was just happy!!! Very happy!!!! - And I again realized, that only people who SAY what they think or want can be helped! I always used to be rather shy (when I was at school and also later) and always tried not to catch the eye of anybody. But I love CdeB’s quote: “It’s better to have tried in vain than never try at all”, and that was simply what I had done that late afternoon!

There was not much time left till the meet & greet should take place. I just rang up Nicole to tell her what was going on, then Sheila from England came to me to introduce herself. She told me she had been living in Weeze about 20 years ago because of her husband, who was at the airforce in Weeze. Meanwhile Weeze is an airport for cheap flights. I once wanted to fly from Weeze to Vienna, had booked a flight with V-bird, but before my flight took place the airline got bankrupt and I never saw my money again nor did I fly to Vienna (to visit my cousin). I could have bought 3 CdeB tickets for the money I lost!!!!! Better not think about it! Shiela, Chris R. and Alison had met CdeB already in the afternoon at the first soundcheck, so they did not need to go the the meet and greet with us and were so kind to leave their tickets for other fans.

At 19.30 p. m. we 20 lucky people went with Astrid to the right side of the stage and waited. After a while we were allowed to enter a backstage-area (outdoors). Because I was the ‘official’ photographer and camera-woman (a friend of mine meanwhile simply calls me ‘cawo’) I didn’t mind not to be on the group-picture, which we took, I took pictures with several cameras which the others handed over to me, but then somebody (sorry, I don’t know the name, maybe he was from Russia?) took some pictures, and I also gave him my camera and posed with the others for the group-picture. But then Chris arrived!!! So I went to the front and got my camera back. Chris saw this and one of the first things he said was: ‘Hello Doris, how are you?”. I think I first didn’t really say anything, maybe I said “good”, but then I certainly more thought than said: “busy” (because I had to film and take pictures). I switched on the camcorder as soon as I could and filmed the whole meeting, which lasted only 5 minutes.
I think it was Carina, who told him about a wedding where she had been before (not her wedding!) this day and had sung ‘In a country churchyars”, also Arash told him how much he loves him, then Chris joked with little Tabea (Annette and Stephan’s daughter), Melanie told Chris the half-time-score of Sunderland ./.LFC – it was still 0 : 0. Melanie’s colleague Mark, who is stewart in Anfield, had texted her the score, and also intended to text her the final result. Very intersting! Chris signed a lot of tickets, CD covers and even a hand and hugged a few people before Chris Andrews, who had been with us all of the time, told him it would be time to go. The last words Chris said were: “Tschüss, bye Doris” while looking into my camera. So you see, in spite of not having time to pose for pictures nor asking for any autograph he ‘signed’ my video by saying something to me – he really knows how to please absolutely everybody! And he tickled my belly while saying this. I really should make more gymnastic for my belly, shouldn’t I?

We then only had time to search our seats before the concert began. In spite of having tickets for row 2 left we were sitting on the right side from the audience’s view! The concert was great! Chris sang the first few songs solo. He said, he had organzied something special for us for later that evening: an eclipse of the moon. I must say, I didn’t manage to see the moon untill we were on our way back to the hotel at about 23.00 p.m.
While he was singing “Shine on” Melanie got a text from Mark again, telling her that Liverpool had won 1 : 0 and Torres had scored. So now we could go to the stage and give him our roses. One of my friends got my video-camera in order to film how we (Melanie, Kesrstin and I) brought our roses to Chris, that was nice. We were the first ones, but lots followed us! Melanie told Chris the football-result and he asked who had scored. She told him: Torres! Suddenly a little boy was standing in front of the stage (like last year in Gymnich, it was like a deja-vu). I took the boy (maybe it was even the same boy as last year? Only 1 year older?) and lifted him a bit higher to the stage, so that he could give Chris his gift.

Then the band appeard during “Borderline”. After 1 hour we had a 15 – 20 min. break (which I used for texting!), then Chris returned on stage with band AND orchestra. That was great! I loved the orchestra-sound, I even liked “Leningrad” with the orchetra. It sounded much, much better than last year, when he sang it solo (but with orchestra from the tape). The song which I liked most that evening was “I’m not crying over you”!!!! My new favourite-song for the moment!!!
My phone had rung several times that evening, and usually it was Nicole. She listened to nearlythe whole concert via my phone!!!! Her poor telephone-bill!!!!
After “Lady in Red”, during which Chris walked through the audience, we all hushed to the front and we got good places.
While I was standing there my Liverpudlian friend rang me up twice. Explain me, why I at all answered the phone, I knew I would not understand any word!!!! It was too loud. And it must have looked very funny from the stage to see somebhody trying hard to understand something at her phone during the concert! Lol! He even rang twice!!!!
Much too soon the conert was over. And Chris had said before, that it would become a very looooong concert. Including break it had lasted about 2 ½ hours. But we knew this before – so we were not too disappointed. And WHAT we saw during the 2 hours and a bit was absolutely great!

After I had told my friend that the concert was over I got another call – NOW I could finally understand him!!!!!
It was about 22.30 p.m. Time again passed so quickly. Some of us had become hungry, but we somehow didn’t manage to go to any restaurant. After having eaten something in the venue we went back to our hotel, ‘killed’ the last bottle of wine and watched my video, which I had filmed. We then finally only slept at 2.00 a. m.
The beds were a bit short (for my taste) and the pillows too thick, besides we sweated very much, but it was only for 1 night.

Sun., 17.08.2008:

On Sunday we slept untill about 8.30 a. m. and got slowly ready for breakfast. I texted my family to let them know how the concert had been – and to wish them a nice day. They were invited at my little niece’s baptism, which I would miss. There were soooo many events that weekend – I couldn’t be everywhere – and the CdeB weekend including international guests and hotel-rooms was already booked and planned before little Ronja was even born. Sorry, I couldn’t be there. I also missed my Godson’s birthday-party on Saturday afternoon/evening.

All of us gathered for breakfast at 10.00 a. m. – The breakfast in the Mercure-Hotel on the Jülicher Straße was very, very good – they even offered saucages and scrambled eggs – like for a full English breakfast!
We checked out at 11.30 a. m., brought our luggage to the car and then walked together into Aachen City to make a bit of sightseeing. We didn’t see much more than the Dom (Cathedral) of Aachen and a ‘Printen’ (gingerbread, for which Aachen is famous) store, but we met Chris and Stewart, and later Kathy and Robert from Belgium crossed our way. CdeB-fans everywhere…. .
We had a nice lunch in an italian street-restaurant, then we quickly made our way to Cologne, because I wanted to show Melanie in the limited time we had the Cathedral of Cologne (Kölner Dom). In the car we listened to the albums “At the end of a perfect day” and “Crusader” and sang along. We even enjoyed “Brazil”, we were in such a good mood! While approaching Köln (80 km from Aachen) we rang up Eberhard, who lives in Köln. We only had 80 min. time in Köln, so it was just enough time to climb the Cathedral tower – which was very crowded. Back downstairs Eberhard and his son just had arrived at the platform in front of the Dom, we only chatted for 10 min., then all of us had to leave again. But it had been nice to meet him!
And Melanie will come back next year without CdeB – then we’ll have more time for sightseeing and relaxing!

I brought Melanie to the airport Düsseldorf and I arrived back at home after a wonderful weekend at 19.00 p.m. During the last 10 min. of my trip home it had started to rain. I know a nice irish singer who wrote a song named “Timing is everything”…… !

I was so tired that I only managed to sit down in front of the TV!
Melanie had to wait a bit longer till she could lie down in her bed. Her plane even was 1 hour late…., but she met Alison who had booked the same flight as she had.

It had been a wonderful weekend with a lot of driving, a lot of sunshine, a lot of friends and much fun – and the reason for all this was – like so often: CdeB!

And now I have no concert nor flight tickets left. High time to make new plans!!!! Perhaps UK-concert-dates for Nov./Dec. in the UK, close to Liverpool, maybe in the new Echo-Arena? It would be nice to celebrate my 40th birthday there (but how would I explain this to my family and relatives?).

Still awake?
Well done! xxxxx

2008-08-22T19:36:00.006+02:00

Meet und Greet mit Chris de Burgh in Lingen - 17.07.2005

Kreis Emsland 15.07.2005

"Die Familie leidet schon unter 'Verfolgungswahn'..."
Von Carola Alge

Meppen/Lingen

Die Resonanz auf die "Meet and greet"-Aktion unserer Zeitung mit Chris de Burgh war gewaltig: Unter anderem aus Miami in den USA sowie aus weiten Teilen des Bundesgebietes erreichte uns eine Leserzuschrift.

AUF CHRIS DE BURGH dürfen sich vier Leser ganz besonders freuen: Sie treffen den Sänger vor seinem Konzert in Lingen zu einem "Meet and greet" unserer Zeitung.
Baris Evran ist seit 1988 Anhänger des Iren. "Ich habe all seine Poster, CDs und bin sein größter Fan aus der Türkei", schreibt der 30-jährige Istanbuler, der unter anderem in Oberhausen und Hannover gelebt hat und jetzt in Florida wohnt. Er gehört einem türkischen Fanclub an, dessen Mitglieder sich "fleißig per E-Mail über Chris de Burgh austauschen.
Zu den vier Gewinnern unseres "Meet and greets" vor dem Konzert am Sonntag, 17. Juli, auf dem Lingener Marktplatz gehört Joachim Hock. Der 45-Jährige hat Chris de Burgh 1983 zum ersten Mal während eines Berichts im Hessischen Fernsehen gesehen, in dem ein Porträt des Sängers gesendet wurde. Ein Jahr später besuchte der selbstständige Netzwerkmanager und Privatdozent das erste Konzert des Künstlers, "Man On The Line". Seitdem ist der Lingener Fan von de Burgh.
Für ihn ist jeder Besuch eines de-Burgh-Konzerts "eine Reise durch die Welt der Gefühle und Stimmungen". Hock liebt den Wechsel der Songs des Iren - mal "High On Emotion" ("Höchste Emotionen"), mal "traurig und melancholisch wie bei 'Moonlight And Wodka'". Am Ende jedes Konzerts habe Chris de Burgh nicht nur sein Bestes, sondern alles gegeben", meint Hock, der sich sicher ist: "Auch Lingen wird wieder ein toller Abend". Dort hofft er, "endlich ein Autogramm auf mein erstes Konzertposter von der Tour 'Man On the Line' zu bekommen. Und vielleicht wird er in Lingen ja auch mit dem Künstler gemeinsam den Song "Carry Me" anstimmen dürfen. In der "Alten Oper" in Frankfurt hatte er bereits dieses Vergnügen. "Noch viel besser als das gemeinsame Singen" findet der Lingener jedoch das kurze persönliche Gespräch mit Chris de Burgh. Er will die Gelegenheit nutzen, um von ihm zu erfahren, "warum er nicht mehr mit seiner alten Band, mit der er sehr erfolgreich war, auftritt".
Weitere Gewinner des Treffs sind Edeltraud Wessels aus Lingen, die mit dem Lied "Lady In Red" "sehr schöne Erinnerungen verbindet", und Ilka Frerich, die die Musik des Sängers seit 1984 liebt.
Vierte im Bunde ist Doris Neerfries. Sie ist absoluter Fan von Chris de Burgh, hat gerade erst seine Konzerte in Bochum und Krefeld besucht. "Meine Familienmitglieder leiden schon unter 'Verfolgungswahn', denn kommen sie ins Haus, läuft meist irgendeine CD von ihm, steigen sie ins Auto, erklingt seine Musik aus dem Kassettenrekorder, und auch sonst hängen in unserem Haus so einige Fotos von ihm - im Waschkeller 13 Konzertplakate", erzählt die 36-Jährige schmunzelnd. Seit etwa 20 Jahren hört die Dinslakenerin die Musik des Iren. Ein "so richtig exzessiver Fan" sei sie jedoch erst geworden, nachdem sie im Oktober 2002 durch Zufall an ein Ticket zu seinem "Timing Is Everything"-Konzert in der Arena Oberhausen kam. "Seitdem ist es um mich geschehen. Ich bin total hin und weg", bekennt die zweifache Mutter, die Chris de Burgh im November letzten Jahres bereits einmal kurz gegenüber stand. Mit anderen Fans einer Mailing-Liste hatte sie dem Sänger bei einem internen Soundcheck ein Ständchen zum 20-jährigen Bühnenjubiläum in der Dortmunder Westfalenhalle gebracht. Dass sie ihn nun in Lingen erneut persönlich trifft, findet sie mehr als Klasse. "Ich kann es gar nicht glauben. Das ist toll, das ist ja Wahnsinn", war ihre erste Reaktion, als sie von dem Gewinn erfuhr.

Press article by Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung from July 15, 2005

by Carola Alge

"The family is suffering from persecution mania..."
The response to the "Meet and greet" promotion with Chris de Burgh of our newspaper was huge: We received mail from Miami in the USA and frommany parts of Germany. Baris Evran is a fan of the Irishman since 1988. "I have all of hisposters, CDs and am his biggest fan from Turkey", the 30 year old man from Istanbul writes, who has lived in Oberhausen and Hannover and now lives in Florida. He belongs to a Turkish fanclub, whose members diligently exchange e-mails about Chris de Burgh. One of the four winners of our "Meet and greet" before the concert on July 17 on the Lingen Marketplace is Joachim Hock. The 45 year old has seen Chris de Burgh for the first time in 1983 during a TV report in Hessen TV, which broadcasted a portrait of Chris de Burgh. One year later the self-employed network manager and private lecturer visited the first concert of the artist, "Man On The Line". Ever since then the man from Lingen is a fan of de Burgh. For him every visit of a de-Burgh-concert is "a journey through the world of emotions and moods". Hock loves the change of songs of the Irishman - sometimes "High On Emotion", sometimes "sad and melancholy like during 'Moonlight And Vodka'". At the end of each concert "Chris de Burgh hasn't just given his best, but everything", Hock says, who is sure: "Lingen will be a great evening too." There he hopes "to finally get an autograph on my concert poster from the 'Man On The Line' tour. "And maybe he can sing the song "Carry Me" together with the artist in Lingen. He already had the pleasure to do this in the "Alte Oper" in Frankfurt. "Much better than singing together" the man from Lingen finds the chance for a short personal conversation with Chris de Burgh. He wants to use the opportunity to hear "why he doesn't perform anymore with his old band, with which he was very successful". Other winner of the meeting are Edeltraud Wessels from Lingen, who "associates very beautiful memories with the song 'Lady In Red'", and Ilka Frerich who loves the music of the singer since 1984. The fourth winner is Doris Neerfries. She is an absolute fan of Chris de Burgh, has just visited his concerts in Bochum and Krefeld. "My familymembers are suffering from persecution mania, for when they enter the house there is usually a CD from him playing. When they enter the car, there is his music in the tape player, and there are some pictures from him in the house - 13 concert posters in the laundry in the basement.",the 36 year old tells smirkingly. But she only became a "really excessive fan" when she got by chance a ticket to his concert in the arena Oberhausen in October 2002 for his "Timing Is Everything" concert. "Since then it has happened. I have completely lost it", the mother of two confesses, who already stood in front of Chris de Burgh briefly once in November last year. Together with other fans of a mailing list she had serenaded the singer during an internal soundcheck for his 20th stage anniversary in the Dortmund Westfalenhalle. That she will now meet him again in Lingen, she finds more than great. "I can't believe it. That is great, that is madness", was her first reaction, when she heardof her winning.

And here my review, written at the following day:

Hello everybody!

I'm sure you're already eagerly waiting for my report of the meet &
greet, which I'd won before the concert in Lingen yesterday.

Well, here it is:

Everything really was very exciting. First I intended to drive to Lingen
after a night of good sleep. So I went to bed rather early (23.00 p. m.),
but of course I couldn't sleep until 1.00 a. m. Ok, the next morning I
had time to sleep long, because we were invited for lunch at my parents-
in-law. But I awoke already at 5.45 a. m.!!!!! Nothing with beauty-sleep!
Time didn't seem to pass until noon. It was terrible. And after the lunch
nothing could stop me from leaving for Lingen. At 13.25 p. m. I started
the 140 km-drive. Lingen was easy to find. I must tell you, that 1 or 2
years ago I never would even have thought about driving alone to cities,
where I've never been before. Usually my husband drives the car, when we
make such trips or when we go on vacation etc. But Chris makes me even
drive such distances, and I like it.

I arrived in Lingen at 15.00 p. m. In the city I didn't really know,
which street to choose and stopped for a short time to have a look at the
map. But I didn't need it. Lingen really has very friendly inhabitants.
A young lady rode with her bike and her child along the street. She could
hear, which direction I was searching for, because she heard the loud
music from inside my car, of course nothing else than Chris singing! She
showed me the direction to the market place J That was easy. I parked
near the market, walked some steps and hardly could believe it, when I
was suddenly standing next to the stage. And there were still so much
people walking over the market place. The seats were standing there and
I already could see where I had to sit in the evening. Then I saw a few
familiar faces from the CdeB-crew and sat down in a café to have a
cappuccino.

At 15.15 p. m I saw Chris Andrews coming upstairs into the Cityhall.
Chris followed wearing his sunglasses. Nobody seemed to have seen them.
After another 15 min. the soundcheck started. I quickly paid my
cappuccino and took place at one of the seats in front of the stage.
From there I could enjoy the soundcheck including Chris walking between
the chairs practicing his Britney-part. He even tried to get a cup of
coffee at the Café, where I'd been sitting before.

I also met the friendly woman who had showed me the way and talked a bit
to her. She was very excited, that Chris was coming to her town. She had
seats in the 3rd row middle for the evening. Several people from Lingen
seemed to be very happy and enjoyed it, that such a famous star came to
their sweet little town!

Then I had time until 18.45 p. m., when the winners of the meet & greet
were expected at the production office. Fortunately I met Heike, Ina,
Ilka, Jutta and Iris and we sat down at the "Kochlöffel"-restaurant and
ate something to be fit for the evening! Time passed rather quick. Once
it seemed to start raining, but fortunately stopped soon.

Meanwhile they had closed the market-place and told all the people to
leave.

The "Abendkasse" had opened already at around 18.00 or 18.30 p. m.,
earlier than expected, so I could take my ticket before the meet & greet.
The other 3 winners of the m & g also arrived and also Carola Alge, the
newspaper reporter and a photographer. Nobody really knew, through which
entrance we had to go into the venue, but at 19.00 p. m. we finally were
inside and waited at the V.I.P.-tent, where we got a glass of champagne
(Sekt). We took some photos of each other and talked about why we were
fans of Chris and how we got it, and we waited and waited.... . At 19.15
p. m. we were told to go into the cityhall. There we waited again. The
photographer went outside every now and then a looked, if he already
could see Chris, and then, at 19.30 p. m. Chris finally arrived. Our
hearts were beating heavily!

He came in, said "hello" and first was greeted by the major, a really
friendly woman. But soon he had a look at us. He asked: "Who is this?"
and shook hands with all of us.

First the most important thing had to be done: The press-photo! Wow! I
stood next to Chris and he laid his arm around me. I put my arm around
him, but it wasn't so easy, because I'm nearly 1 head taller than he is J
My heart was beating. I'm sure he must have felt it.. Then we m & g
winners gave him the things to sign, which we had prepared, or cards etc.
When it was my turn he said, that he had seen me at the soundcheck in the
afternoon. And he realized, that I had given something to him, a DVD. Yes,
I had given him a DVD in Bochum, and I'd got 2 kisses of him there J Nice
to see, that he really remembered me J I had prepared some Din-A-4 size
photos of him, which I'd taked in Bochum, Krefeld and Dortmund, and I
asked him to write "For Doris" on them, when he signed them. Well, I
thought, he'd only sign one, or only one with my name and the other
simply and quick with CdeB. But no, he had a look at each picture and
didn't stop writing "For Doris, CdeB"!!!!! After 3 pictures or so I said,
that I thought, he wouldn't have so much time to sign all the pictures,
but he answered - typically him: "I've always time for a pretty girl!" J
After the 5th photo I managed to stop him and asked him to sign the 6th
with "For Nicole", and he did. I hope I didn't steal too much of our
precious time with Chris from the other winners. I can't really remember,
what he did for the others.

Afterwards he had to sign the guestbook of the city Lingen (and the
ticket of the major!), and he got a book about Lingen from the major.

All this happened within 5 minutes - no time to ask any questions, so we
still must again fall back on the MotL -, but as we were prepared, that
we wouldn't have too much time, it was ok for me! These 5 minutes were
worth buying a ticket and driving to Lingen, and let my poor children at
my parents-in-law (My husband istn't jet back home from his job abroad in
Malaysia, where he's working for 5 weeks). I didn't even drive to
hospital with my son, who had a broken toe. His aunt did it, while I
stood next to Chris for the photo!

Then I searched for my seat in the 8th row. During my last concerts in
Bochum and Krefeld I had been sitting amongst other fans, but this time
there were "normal" people sitting next to me. The couple at my left side
didn't clap hands at all during a song. They also didn't talk very much.
The elderly couple at my right side was ok, but also not so very active.
It was a funny feeling, when I sang along and clapped my hands so totally
alone between those people, but I did! But I was glad when we were
allowed to come in front of the stage, it was much nicer there.. And I
also met the woman who had showed me the way in the afternoon again. But
I wondered, where Ina, Heike, Jutta and the others were. I didn't see you
anymore in the front! Real strange!

I liked the whole atmosphere of the market place, with all the houses
and cafés and restaurants around. People were sitting in all the windows.
Poor inhabitants of the houses behind the stage! They only could see
Chris during his Birtney-part.

Unfortunately he only played for 2 hous 15 min. this time L He didn't
sing "Once upon a time", and no Beatles-songs!

At 23.45 p. m. I already was back home, where I was told about the broken
toe of my son.

So I had to get up early today and drive again to the hospital for a
check at 8.00 a. m. Back home afterwards I found a first photo of me with
Chris, which the newspaper-reporter had sent to me. I was so excited that
I printed it and took it in my bag, when I had to drive to my oculist. I
had to let check my lenses. He always asks me, when I wear my lenses,
well I answered mostly, when I'm doing sports or when I want to look
nice! And then (I know I'm crazy!) I put the photo out of my handbag and
showed it to the oculist and said: "Or when I do something like this!" I
was surprised and asked, how I managed to get such a photo. He immediately
was interested to visit one of the following CdeB-concerts, but
unfortunately he has to work on Tuesday and Wednesday, when Chris' last 2
concerts around here take place. The following concerts are too far away.
Perhaps around here we don't have enough tour-poster, so he didn't know
earlier about the tour.

That was my Sunday in Lingen. Now Bonn and Nordkirchen are still left,
and then for me the tour is over ;-((((( I really got used to the
tour-life meanwhile, in spite of only having attended 3 concerts this
year.

Good night,
Doris

2007-04-02T21:21:00.000+02:00

Phantasialand Brühl - 2nd of April 2007

During our Easter-holidays we (our family and my Godson Christoph) made a day-trip to the pleasurepark Phantasialand in Brühl , near to Cologne. It's about 120 km away from Dinslaken, but it took us nearly 2 hours to drive there in the morning because of all the traffic. We arrived at about 10.00 a. m. and had enough time to enjoy a wonderful spring-day over there:

I'm very proud of myself!!! When I got to know my husband Arno in 1987 we both loved rollercoasters. We tried all the wildest rollercoasters-rides with loopings etc. on every fun-fair around and in every pleasurepark we could reach, but after I had been pregnant and got the kids I didn't dare riding those rollercoasters anymore. The kids grew older and accompanied Arno on the rollercoasters - and I waited on the safe ground and took photos of them. BUT today - I don't know why - I dared using them (nearly) all again! And I can't explain myself anymore why I didn't do so during the last 15 years!!!!! - It has been such a nice day! - For 29,50 EUROs admission per person it really would have been a shame not to use as much of the fun-rides as possible!

Read more about the Phantasialand.

2007-03-09T07:35:00.002+01:00

Little journalist Thomas (14 years old)

26.02.2007:
Most of the time life is really hard with 2 teenagers in the house. My daughter Lena is 12 1/2 yrs. old and seems to think she's much older than she is - and she behaves like this...., my son Thomas is 14 1/2 yrs. old and believes, he's very, very cool - and whatever I say seems to be wrong in his opinion!!!! However some days ago he managed to surprise me!! At school they talk about newspaper articles during their German-lessons at the moment. In our local newspaper there's a rubric named "ZEUS - Zeitung und Schule" (=newspaper and school), where pupils or schoolclasses write articles. And so the pupils from Thomas' class now start deciding what to write about. And what happened? - My son intends to interview his own mother! When his German-teacher asked him today, what Thomas wants to write about he told publicly in the class, that he will interview me, because I'm a fan of a certain irish singer, and I'd even travelled abroad to see his concerts....etc. The teacher asked, which singer he was talking about, and when Thomas answered "Chris de Burgh" the teacher began singing a line of "The Lady in red". I'm sure he did it in an amused way, and maybe he's one of those people, who only know this one song of CdeB. I NEVER would have expected that my son would publicly write about his mother being a CdeB-fan!!!! I was very positively surprised :-))))) Let's see how it will work, the article has to be ready in just 1 week.

09.03.2007 - NRZ:

Von Chris de Burgh verzaubert - Bewitched by Chris de Burgh

Music. Thomas' mother is a big supporter of the singer. About 5 times a year she visits his concerts.

All the time it's being heard - the music of Chris de Burgh. You hear each song daily. Everything began with a left over ticket for a concert of Chris de Burgh, which my mother took over from a friend, who was on holidays when the concert took place. At the beginning of the concert she was sitting rather far away and hardly could see anything.
Towards the end of the concert she went with a few other fans to the front, and there she got "bewitched" in the true sense of this word by his charisma, which gives every visitor the feeling to be welcome at the concert.
Her life changed the day after. She discovered the official website of Chris de Burgh (www.cdeb.com) and became member of the mailing-list, a kind of internet-fan-club. There she got to know a lot of new people from all over the world, and close friendships developed.
Even if she drives alone to a concert she never really is lonely, because there are always "CdeB-crazy people", which she had got to know via the internet.
During each tour she visits about 5 concerts and finally even was in Birmingham. In Liverpool she was guest at the radio-concert of the local radio station "Magic 1548", which was held in the trophy room of the FC Liverpool, where even the Champions-League-Cup is kept.
At each concert Chris calls her personally by her name when she brings him a rose to the stage. She already is planning her next concert-visits for summer 2007.
3 tickets for the front-rows are already in her possession, she has invited international guests and she intends to go on visiting Chris de Burgh's concerts in the future!

Thomas Neerfries
Form 8a
Otto-Hahn-Gymnasium

08.03.2007:

Von Chris de Burgh verzaubert
Mit persönlicher Widmung und den besten Grüßen von Chris de Burgh.
MUSIK. Thomas Mutter ist große Anhängerin des Sängers. Ungefähr fünfmal im Jahr besucht sie ein Konzert.
Ständig läuft sie rauf und runter, die Musik von Chris de Burgh. Jedes Lied hört man täglich. Alles fing an mit einem übergebliebenem Ticket für ein Konzert von Chris de Burgh an, das meine Mutter von einer Bekannten übernommen hatte, da diese im Urlaub war. Am Anfang des Konzerts saß sie zimlich weit hinten und konnte ihn kaum erkennen.
Gegen Ende des Konzerts ging sie dann mit ein paar anderen Fans nach vorne, dort wurde sie dann im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes "verzaubert" und zwar durch seine Ausstrahlung, die jedem einzelnen Zuschauer das Gefühl gibt, auf dem Konzert wilkommen zu sein.
Am Tag danach änderte sich ihr Leben. Sie entdeckte die offizielle Website von Chris de Burgh (www.Cdeb.com) und wurde Mitglied der Mailingliste, eine Art Internet-Fanclub. Dort lernte sie viele neue Leute aus aller Welt kennen, woraus sich teilweise enge Freundschaften entwickelten. Selbst wenn sie alleine auf ein Konzert geht, ist sie nicht wirklich alleine, denn es gibt immer "CdeB-Verrückte", die sie durchs Internet kennen gelernt hat.
Sie besucht pro Tour etwa fünf Konzerte und war zuletzt sogar in Birmingham. In Liverpool war sie Gast beim Radiokonzert des Lokalsenders "Magic 1548" welches im Trophäenraum des FC Liverpool stattfand, wo auch der Champions League-Pokal aufbewart wurde.
Bei jedem Konzert wird sie von Chris de Burgh persönlich mit Namen angeredet, nämlich wenn sie ihm eine Rose zur Bühne bringt. Sie plant schon ihre nächsten Konzertbesuche für den Sommer 2007.
Drei Tickets für die ersten Reihen befinden sich schon in ihrem Besitz. Außerdem hat sie schon internationale Gäste eingeladen und hat auch in Zukunft weiter vor, Konzerte von Chris de Burgh zu besuchen.
Thomas Neerfries Klasse 8a Otto-Hahn-Gymnasium
08.03.2007

2007-01-31T08:47:00.000+01:00

Faithful reader from Ireland

In spite of the great distance pop-singer Chris de Burgh reads the Niederrhein Anzeiger nearly regularly. That's because of Doris Neerfries, his most devoted fan from Dinslaken (we reported). She sent the Niederrhein Anzeiger with her article to "her" Chris, who honoured this trouble. A further article about de Burgh's autograph was sent again by Neerfries via mailing route. It was obvious for the singer, that there had to be written an autograph on it again! And of course also, that this matter had to be printed again in the Niederrhein Anzeiger.

He read it again.....! That's how the article now (24.2.07) looks like:

2006-12-13T08:59:00.000+01:00

Even Chris de Burgh knows the

Niederrhein Anzeiger

Another newspaper-article appeared at the 13th of December 2006 in our weekly advertising-paper, after "my" journalist contacted me in order to ask me, if there were any news about Chris de Burgh and the concerts I visited recently. Here it is:

Even Chris de Burgh knows

the Niederrhein Anzeiger

Fan Doris Neerfries: with greetings from Dinslaken to Liverpool

Dinslaken/Liverpool. If you'd meet Chris de Burgh and ask him for Doris Neerfries he certainly would answer: "Yes, I know her well". The woman from Dinslaken is no longer unknown for the singer, and she's a welcome guest at his concerts, just like shortly in Liverpool
"Well done" said the well known Irish singer, when the female fan from Dinslaken showed him the Niederrhein Anzeiger. She is an enthousiastic fan of the singer (we reported), she doesn't only visit his concerts regularly, she also built up friendships all around the globe, is well known with radio-presenters and of course meets Chris de Burgh in person again and again at his concerts.
But recently, when she once again was able to shake his hands at an exclusive radio-concert in Liverpool, she even had the Niederrhein Anzeiger with her, to let it sign. She intended to let it "ennoble" with his personal handwriting. And she managed it. Because of personal contact to the presenter of the radio station Magic 1548 in Liverpool she was one of only 90 fans, who had been choosen to be there to see a very individual concert of Chris de Burgh.
"Chris came on stage and said good evening to the audience. He said that he had the feeling to know everybody in the room. And when he asked, if there was also somebody from Germany I of course took up my hand immediately" tells the lady from Dinslaken "and Chris welcame me then even with 'Hi Doris'."
This had been once again one of the unforgettable (memorable) moments, which Doris has faced since her enthusiasm for the singer had started.
"At every concert I bring Chris a red rose to the stage, and now it already got an habit, that he thanks me each time with the words 'thank you Doris'" she tells happily after her return.
For a further concert, which took place this time at the end of Nevember in Dortmund Doris Neerfries had invited a lot of guests to a fanmeeting in her house. Her friend from Liverpool stayed with her in her house, a family from Cornwall booked a room in a hotel nearby. Of course they all met her idol - before everybody else met him - at a soundcheck in the venue.
Even the singer himself makes sure, that Doris Neerfries will go on thinking of him. After another concert in Birmingham some weeks ago she celebrated her birthday with friends in a hotel. And how else could it be - she also got a birthday-card from Chris de Burgh. "Indeed my foreign friend Melanie had organised this and had sent Chris an empty card. She had asked him to write something on the card. But this card was better than any other birthday-present."
Even if the tour is over so far for Doris Neerfries - the singer of course is not forgotten. Christmas is approaching soon, and a Christmas-card for the singer is already on its way to Ireland. In spite of this, the following weeks shall become a bit more quiet for her and her family, who doesn't really share her passion. "Now it's time" so the lady from Dinslaken "that my life will become a bit more normal again".

And here's the text in German:

Auch Chris de Burgh kennt

den Niederrhein Anzeiger

Fan Doris Neerfries: mit Grüßen aus Dinslaken nach Liverpool

Dinslaken/Liverpool. Würde man Chris de Burgh mal begegnen und ihn nach Doris Neerfries fragen, würde er sicher: "Yes, I know her well" antworten. Für den Sänger ist die Dinslakenerin keine Unbekannte mehr und ein gern gesehener Gast auf den Konzerten. So wie kürzlich in Liverpool.
"Well done", sagte der bekannte irische Sänger nämlich, als ihm der weibliche Dinslakener Fan den Niederrhein Anzeiger vorlegte. Sie ist begeisterte Anhängerin des Sängers (wir berichteten), besucht nicht nur regelmäßig seine Konzerte, sondern hat sich rund um den Globus Freundschaften aufgebaut, ist mit Radiomoderatoren bekannt und begegnet natürlich Chris de Burgh immer wieder auf seinen Konzerten persönlich.
Doch als sie jetzt bei einem exklusiven Radiokonzert in Liverpool de Burgh wieder einmal die Hand schütteln durfte, hatte sie zum Signieren sogar den Niederrhein Anzeiger dabei. Den wollte sie sich mit seiner persönlichen Handschrift "veredeln" lassen. Und das ist ihr gelungen. Durch den persönlichen Kontakt zum Moderator des Liverpooler Senders Magic 1548 war sie eine von nur 90 Fans, die ausgewählt wurden, um bei einem ganz persönlichen Konzert von Chris de Burgh dabei zu sein.
"Chris kam auf die Bühne und begrüßte die Zuschauer. Er sagte, er hätte das Gefühl, jeden im Raum zu kennen und als er fragte, ob jemand aus Deutschland da sei, meldete ich mich natürlich sofort", erzählt die Dinslakenerin, "und mit 'Hi Doris' begrüßte mich Chris dann auch."
Das war wieder einer der unvergesslichen Momente, die Doris seit ihrere Begeisterung für den Sänger erlebt hat.
"Bei jedem Konzert bringe ich Chris eine rote Rose zur Bühne und nun hat es sich eingebürgert, dass er sich jedesmal mit Worten wie 'Thank you, Doris' bedankt", schwärmt sie begeistert nach ihrer Rückkehr.
Zu einem weiteren Konzert, das dieses Mal in Dortmund Ende November statt fand, hatte Doris Neerfries zuvor jede Menge Gäste zu einem Fanmeeting zu sich nach Hause eingeladen. Ihre Liverpooler Freundin wohnte bei ihr, eine Familie aus Cornwall quartierte sie in einem Hotel ein. Natürlich trafen alle ihr Idol noch vor allen anderen beim Soundcheck in der Halle.
Dass Doris Neerfries auch weiterhin an "ihren" Chris denkt, dafür sort der Sänger sogar selbst. Nach einem weiteren Konzert in Birmingham vor einigen Wochen feierte sie mit Freunden in einem Hotel ihren Geburtstag. Und, wie sollte es anders sein, es war auch eine Glückwunschkarte von Chris de Burgh mit dabei. "Zwar hatte meine ausländische Freundin Melanie dies organisiert und Chris eine leere Karte geschickt mit der Bitte, diese ausgefüllt zurückzusenden, aber die Karte war besser als jedes Geburtstagsgeschenk."
Auch wenn die Tournee jetzt erst einmal vorbei ist: für Doris Neerfries ist der Sänger dadurch natürlich nicht vergessen. Weihnachten steht for der Tür, und eine Karte nach Irland zum Sänger ist bereits unterwegs. Trotzdem sollen die kommenden Wochen für sie und ihre Familie, die ihre Leidenschaft nicht unbedingt teilt, ruhiger werden. "Es wird Zeit", so die Dinslakenerin, "dass sich mein Leben mal wieder ein bisschen normalisiert".

2006-12-04T10:11:00.001+01:00

Chris de Burgh Concert in Düsseldorf -

3rd of December 2006

The concert in Düsseldorf was my last CdeB-concert for this year. Already more than 13 (!!!!!!!) months ago I had bought 2 front-row-tickets for Kerstin (from Bochum) and me.
After all those concert-weekends during the last time this was "only" a normal concert for me - no airports included….., no longer journeys, no foreign guests.

I started to drive to Düsseldorf at 15.40 p. m. in the afternoon (45 min. - 63,3 km). This time I drove alone, Birgit and her husband Olaf followed later. The weather was terrible, it was raining heavily, so driving on the motorway was no pleasure - but with such a nice reason for the trip and with the right CD in my car-CD-player (would you believe it - I listened to the "Storyman"-album?!) all this was no problem. Kerstin arrived a few minutes later. We both parked very close to the Philippshalle. We had planned to spend the time before the concert together and intended to go for a walk together or to a Café, but as the weather was so terrible we only managed to surround the Philippshalle when the rain just had stopped for a while Soon we met Angelika B. and her husband in front of the entrance, the crowd in front of the venue got bigger and bigger, and time passed rather quick until we could enter the hall at 18.00 p. m., just when the rain began to get heavier again.

Like always the last hour before the concert passed much too quick while meeting a few other listmembers, having something to eat, looking at the merchandising-articles and also with the long toilet-cue. We met Birgit and Olaf short before the concert began, but they had bought their tickets only 2 weeks before the concert and so they were sitting in a block far away from us. That's why we couldn't enjoy the concert together. But we met again afterwards.
When Kerstin and I wanted to sit down short before 19.00 p. m. (yes, the concert started 1 hour earlier than usual) we had to find out, that our seats were not on the left side in front of the stage like it was to be seen in the seating-plan. They seemed to have changed Block A and B, so our seats were in front of the right side of the stage. Also good - no problem. And Kerstin was glad to be sitting in front of David! All the mailing-list-members were sitting there, as they all seemed to have bought their tickets at midnight of the 29th of October 2005 when eventim started to sell their tickets.

I don't know why, but for me this was the best concert of the 3 (Birmingham, Dortmund, Düsseldorf) concerts I've seen this year. Maybe because at the previous concerts there happened so much other things like travelling and meeting friends over all the other weekends - which I enjoyed very, very much!!!!! But this time I could concentrate only on the concert, and I wanted to enjoy the songs and Chris and the whole atmosphere one more time - every second of it. I even had planned not to take so much photos.
Don't worry, in spite of taking photos I enjoyed it!!!!!
Kerstin and I went to the front with our gifts after "Spirit" again. When I told Chris, that he please should come back soon again somebody behind me also agreed, he should return soon. I realized, there now was a whole crowd of people standing behind us with their gifts. Already when Chris spoke to Kerstin and me he said to the audience: "Just a moment, I'll be with you again soon". He took some more presents, then he went on singing while the others, which had not yet delivered their gifts could enjoy the next song standing right in front of Chris. It was their turn after "The same sun".

Angelika Baumeister even managed to climb the stairs and go on the stage, when she handed the calendar over to Chris, which she had made for him. She had designed a wonderful calendar with as much photos of listmember, as she could find, and a lot of us even had written some sentences on the calendar-pages during the After-Show-Party in Dortmund the weekend before.

Chris even had two special guests this evening!!! So far he always had had one guest: Kristyna Myles, who sang the duet "Raging storm" together with him. But this time Aled Jones, who is working for BBC radio also was his guest. Aled accompanied Chris' and Kristyna's song "Raging storm" with the drums. Tony was standing next to the drums with a rattle in his hands during this song. And Aled Jones was not alone, there was also a film-team - from BBC television I assume - who filmed his whole appearance. When the acoustic session started, Aled played the Bongos sitting next to Tony. Later he came once again back on stage to dance and sing along (as kind of background-singer together with Kristyna).They all seemed to have a great time on the stage! All this was filmed.

When Chris started singing "The Lady in Red" we all were still on our seats, but when he went down from the stage to "visit" the audience below, where he hugged a few ladies, we decided to stand up and start with the party-part of the concert. It was great, and I had the feeling, the fans around us were singing much louder than at the other concerts I've been at. Too soon followed "The snows of New York", which meant, everything was over…….. .
The lights were switched on, we talked to some other fans, also to Birgit and Olaf, then we had to leave the venue. Kerstin and I didn't hurry to get into our cars, as the parking-area was still so crowded. But at 23.00 p. m. we finally had to drive back home…….. , where I arrived short before midnight.

2006-11-28T19:40:00.001+01:00

Chris de Burgh Concert in Dortmund -

25. November 2006

The weekend around the 25. November was another special weekend, an exciting weekend with only a few hours sleep - but we had to enjoy every second of this weekend……

Friday, 24.11.06

This time it was Melanie's turn to come over from Liverpool to Dinslaken and stay with me to see Chris de Burgh! We had planned this trip already 1 year ago, when I had bought our tickets, but when we first arranged everything for this weekend we didn't yet know, that we would meet even twice before (in Liverpool and Birmingham). So now we even met for the third time within 6 weeks!

We don't have an extra guest-room in our house, so my daughter Lena was so kind to sleep together with her brother Thomas in his room for 2 nights and Melanie could use Lena's bed and room - even with FC Liverpool-bed-covers!!!

It was a nice surprise of Phil Easton at Radio Magic 1548 Liverpool to play a get-up-and-go song extra for Melanie, as she was meanwhile at Manchester Airport waiting for the plane, which would bring her to Germany. He said, she wouldn't be able to hear it, but he knew someone who was - I assume he meant me - listening online like every morning. Then he played the song "Airport" for Melanie! Soon I had to leave to pick her up at 9.40 a. m. at the Airport Düsseldorf. She arrived in time, so we were at home in time to tell Phil before the end of his show, that Melanie now was with me in Dinslaken. Only 3 minutes later Phil told his listeners, that Melanie now would be with me to see Chris de Burgh on Saturday, and what about him….? He was still over there in Liverpool. Amazing, Melanie had breakfast in Liverpool and lunch in Dinslaken……!

Yes, and as Melanie should get to know as much as possible about Germany I cooked something typical German for her: Sauerkraut with "Kasseler", "Mettwürstchen" and mashed potatoes. Meanwhile Kurt and his sister Heidi also had arrived at the hotel Gambrinus in Dinslaken, just a few hundred metres away from our house. They also came over and had lunch with us. Heidi had brought a cake with her. We really didn't have to starve hungry that weekend. I also had baked a cake. We had some coffee and cake right after the dinner, and afterwards I showed Kurt, Heidi and Melanie Dinslaken. Unfortunately the weather wasn't very good. I suppose, they all come back once again in spring or summer, when everything looks a bit brighter and nicer……!

At 17.00 p. m. Melanie and I had to pick up Lena and 2 of her friends from their handball-training. Melanie was amazed, when all the girls (not only Lena) started singing along the "Storyman"-songs, which of course was played in the CD-player of my car. Well, I'm their handball-chauffeur once or twice every week, and so they all heard the CdeB-songs in my car already rather often!

Back at home we had some time to get ready for our long planned CdeB-evening. We expected Kurt and Heidi and my friend Birgit at 19.00 p. m. It seemed that they all enjoyed watching the latest TV-appearances from England (thanks to Chris W.!!!!) and Germany and also the video-film of our Birmingham-trip. Instead of going to bed early to be fit for Dortmund we stayed awake and watched CdeB untill late at night!

Saturday, 25.11.2006

Saturday - the great day of the concert including fanmeeting and after-show-party!!!!!
We had a lazy morning, listening to Magic during our breakfast and getting ready for the events which should happen.
At about 11.00 a. m. our strict schedule started: We first had to pick up the pre-ordered roses, which we intended to give to Chris in the evening during the concert. We got the roses for Melanie (a yellow one of course!!!), Nicole (a bunch of 3 red roses!!!), Heidi, Kerstin and me (just one red rose each - but the most beautiful roses of the world!!!).
During the morning Kurt and Heidi had picked up Malcolm, Linda and Katie (who had come over from Torpoint/Cornwall) from the Airport Dortmund. Malcolm and his family had booked a room in the same hotel, where Kurt and Heidi were staying, so we had them all near to us in Dinslaken! After having checked in they came with us to my parents' house, where my mother had prepared lunch for us. I guess she was interested to see, if other CdeB-fans are as crazy as her own daughter. Unfortunately we had to hurry. We quick had a look around the house to see the homing-pigeons, canaries and the fish-pond, then we had to drive back to our house, where Melanie and I changed our clothers.

Birgit meanwhile had arrived, and after a short stop at the hotel Gambrinus we finally started our trip to the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund at about13.45 p. m. Heidi, Malcolm, Linda and Katie drove in Kurt's car, Melanie and Birgit came with me.
When we arrived at the Westfalenhalle there were already a few mailing-list-members standing in front of the venue, but we couldn't reach the car park - at least not on the normal way…… , as the barrier was closed. It was too early in the afternoon for the concierge to collect money for parking. BUT there was no barrier at the gateway which you usually use to drive out of the car park. There was already another car using this way to drive in, and so I did the same - I drove backwards through the way out on the car-park!!! Birgit and Melanie thought I was crazy - but you know - I AM!!!! I would have been willing to pay the 4 EUROs parking-fee, but I didn't want to drive away and search for another car park far away!!!!

When we left the car Kerstin, Anke, Michael and Nicole came to us! It was so nice to see them all again!!! Malcolm, Linda and Katie didn't stay with us in the afternoon, as they wanted to see as much as possible of Germany during the short time they spent here. So they went to see the Christmas-market in Dortmund. We went to the entrance of the venue, where I met some people for the first time face to face (like Eberhard etc.), and others, which I hadn't seen before even started talking to me, like Beatrix and Maarten, Judith, Cora from the Netherlands Franziska Huber with her husband from Switzerland and even Luis Costa from Portugal! He introduced himself, his daughter and his brother and took a photo of us together. They were all so friendly and told me, they had read my blog, had seen my photos or had read my mailing-list-messages! I felt a bit like being famous!!!! But of course it was the same with all the others. I also found it great to meet people, which I only knew from their messages at the mailing-list, even if we only changed a few words. Angie, who had bought 2 of my Block 4 tickets had a belated birthday-gift for me: a mug with 2 CdeB-photos on and birthday-wishes "Doris Happy Birthday - Angie xxx" written on it. And a little CdeB-button (mirror). Also Kerstin had a little Santa Claus out of felt for me. Thanks so much. It was so nice to arrive in Dortmund!

At 15.00 p. m. we about 150 crazy fans could enter the Westfalenhalle, where Astrid, Tina and a few others sold the name-buttons. After 30 min. we all were inside and then went together to the room, in which our afternoon-fanmeeting took place, which contained a karaoke competition, where 10 singers sang their songs for us. They were accompanied by Cesar (from Spain) and 2 other guitar-players, and we finally had to vote for them. The prize for the winners was to sing their song in front of Chris de Burgh himself after the soundcheck. So Anke and Heike had the pleasure to sing "St. Peter's Gate" later again….. .

Time had passed rather quickly and we all were looking forward to 17.15 p. m., as the soundcheck should take place at that time, and we all were allowed to watch the soudcheck. We were told to take place in the first rows of the middle-block in front of the stage, but not in row 1. We saw Chris, the band and Kristyna Myles, who sang the whole song "Raging Storm" for us 150 visitors in the audience. Chris also sang "Sailing away" and a few other songs, but only half songs…., and much too soon everything was over.
Astrid and Alison gave Chris our gift: a big poster with all our Storyman-photos, which we had taken in March 2006 already for the video, which is shown now during the song "Living in the world" at the concerts.
Then Chris was told to sit down in the front row and watch Anke, Heike and Cesar singing their karaoke song "St. Peter's Gate".
Before Chris left he signed a few things, also an album for Alex Schestag, who unfortunately couldn't come to the concert, as he'd got ill and had to stay in hospital!

Then we had enough time to eat something. Doors were opened for the public, and soon the Westfalenhalle was full of people. Malcolm & Co. also had arrived back.
Very soon it was 20.00 a. m., and the concert started in time. The atmosphere was wonderful - much better than in Birmingham! Chris got so much gifts. Nearly after every song somebody went to the stage to bring him flowers or a bottle etc. Maybe also because so much fans from the mailing-list were there altogether! We (those people, who had been at the fanmeeting in the afternoon) had some colourful lightsticks, which Angelika B. had organized. It looked magic (I could overlook it very good from my seat in row 6. Row 6 was ok, and this time we were sitting all together, which was much nicer than sitting alone (you're never alone at a CdeB-concert, because there are always people with the same taste in music sitting next to you at a CdeB-concert) - like at the concert in Birmingham. Of course I anyway don't notice a lot what's happening around me, when Chris is on stage, but being together with friends simply is nicer. Angela (also from Dinslaken) arrived just in time before the Storyman theme started. Nicole and her "chauffeur" Dirk even had seats in row 2 just next to the aisle. Dream-seats!!! At the beginning of the concert Chris even said welcome to the Chris de Burgh-fans from the mailing-list!
We went to the front with our roses after "Spirit" again, and I even managed to thank Chris for his birthday-card. "No problem" was his answer.
This time we already stood up from our seats and ran to the stage during "Lady in red". One song earlier than before. A surprise was, that Kristyna Myles also was with Chris and the band on the stage during "Say goodbye to it all", and she obviously enjoyed herself! During the standing-in-front-of-the-stage-part, when Chris sang "Living in the world", our Storyman-photos were shown again.

Time passed so quickly again and after 2 hours and 50 min. the concert was over!
But the evening was not yet over. Now we went to the Parkhotel, which was just next to the Westfalenhalle. There the After-show-party took place. When we sat down and had a drink I thought I'd fall asleep and never wake up again. I was so tired. But after about 1/2 hour a man entered the room, and with him there came Kristyna Myles. Later I got to know that this man was Kenny, Chris' manager. I never had seen him before. Kristyna was very happy about being able to be on tour with Chris, and we all love her and the way she sings the song "Raging Storm" together with Chris. She signed a lot of things for all of us, posed for photos and was smiling all the time. Later she sang another song for us and accompanied herself at the piano. About 30 minutes later Kenny entered the room again - this time with the boys from the band! They also signed T-shirts, tickets, CD-covers etc. and posed for photos. Time passed so quick, but I think after about 30 minutes they left again. We went on singing CdeB-songs while Cesar and the other 2 boys accompanied us with the guitars and Astrid played the piano. It was a wonderful evening. But at 2.00 a. m. we had to leave, as the restaurant was closed. After saying goodbye to Nicole and Anke, who had booked a room in the Parkhotel, we wanted to drive home, but all the doors of the hotel/restaurant were closed. So we ended up in the bar, where we met Nicole and Anke again, and also a few others, even Chris Andrews and some bandmembers. They posed again for a few photos, and it was 3.15 a. m. until we finally managed to drive home - after having spent 12 1/2 hours in Dortmund!!! I was so tired that I wanted to drive quick home - too quick, so that I drove into a radar trap!!!!! Usually I can't sleep when I come home from a concert, but when I was in bed after 4.15 a. m. that night I fell asleep immediately!

Sunday, 26.11.2006

After 4 hours sleep I woke up again on Sunday morning. The last day with Melanie. At 12.30 p. m. Kurt, Heidi, Malcolm, Linda and Katie came and we went together to an Italian restaurant not far away from our house. Birgit and her husband Olaf already were waiting there for us. So we had an after-show-lunch altogether. Malcolm gave to me a little ironing-board (for ties and sleeves) for my famous ironing-room! They had too much - but nice - gifts for us, including a calendar with pictures of the beautiful scenery of Cornwall, where they live.
As the sun was shining in the afternoon we decided to make a trip to Götterswickerhamm, where we showed our English guests the river Rhein, before we drove back to our house, where we had some coffee and cake. Soon it was time for me to bring Melanie back to the Airport Düsseldorf, where her plane started at 20.30 p. m. Kurt and Heidi meanwhile showed Malcolm and family Dinslaken.

Monday, 27.11.2006

The next morning they all visited me once again, before Kurt and Heidi brought Malcolm & family back to the Airport Dortmund, which was just on Kurt and Heidi's way back home to Wildflecken. And the wonderful weekend finally was over.
It has been a great weekend once again.

What I liked very much was, that now my CdeB-friends which didn't all know each other before this big fan-meeting all got to know. They exchanged e-mail-addresses and hopefully will stay in touch. It's like a little fan-group within the big mailing-list-group.
It was great that even Nicole from Eisenberg finally managed to come to Dortmund, even if she didn't have enough time to visit me in Dinslaken. 2 years ago she listened to the whole concert via her (and my) mobile-phone, and in the end she had to pay nearly the same prize as for a ticket!!! But it has been something special! We had met twice before when I visited her during our summer-holidays in Bavaria, but we never before had been together at a concert.

Michael lives in Dortmund, and I got to know him 2 years ago at the 6th of Nov. 2004 at the CdeB-jubilee-concert, where we were seat-neighbours.
Also Kerstin from Bochum is a friend, which I first met on that special date 2 years ago. She had been the first person which we could identify wearing a "Read my name"-T-shirt, and so we got in touch.

And Chris de Burgh is the reason....... !

Thanks to Michael, Birgit, Melanie and Nicole for their photos, which I also used in my links!!!!!!!

2006-11-21T08:49:00.001+01:00

My journey to Birmingham

- 18./19. November 2006

Photos

Everything began in October/November 2005, when the tickets first were sold. I had got to know Melanie from Liverpool short before, and I'd bought a Dortmund-ticket for her, so she didn't have to bother with ordering a ticket via a german website, as she doesn't speak any German. She had bought a Birmingham-ticket for herself, but after she had ordered the first one she thought, she might get a better seat and organized another ticket. So she now had one spare ticket and asked me, if I would like to take it. I never before had flown abroad to see a concert! So I thought - no, I will never do it! But the more I thought about it the more did I want to see the concert over there in Birmingham. My birthday approached, so I told everybody, that my only birthday-wish was ticket-money. At the beginning of December I attended a Runrig-concert with Michael (got to know him in Dortmund 2004, he had been my seat-neighbour at the CdeB-concert there) and told him about the Birmingham-concert. He simply said - why don't you fly? I'd like to accompany you. Ok. I was a bit worried about what my family would think if I'd fly with a "strange man", so I asked on the mailing-list: "Who wants to fly with me to Birmingham?" Claudia answered immediately. She just had booked a flight from Düsseldorf, "our" airport. Fortunately I managed to persuade my husband Arno, that I simply HAD TO fly there!!! He finally agreed, even if he couldn't really understand it, and soon before Christmas I booked the same flight, that Claudia took also for Michael and me! And Melanie bought another ticket for him. In March my friend Birgit finally also decided to accompany us. So we were already 4 - 5 CdeB-travellers!

Travelling from Dinslaken to Birmingham

On Friday, 17.11.2006 I tried to go to bed early, as our flight started at 7.00 a. m., which meant, I had to wake up at about 3.00 a. m. - in the middle of the night! Of course it was not very easy to sleep - thinking of such an exciting weekend ahead! But who cares…? Soon it was Saturday morning, 4.00 a. m. and Birgit came to pick me up. We arrived at the Airport at 4.35 a. m., where we soon met Claudia and Michael. Time passed rather quick, as we all were looking forward to the concert and had a lot to talk about. Then it was time to enter our plane - and you could hear 4 rather enthousiastic CdeB-Fans laughing, when we saw the sign next to the door of our small (54 seats) British Airways plane: a blue spot with the words: "One World" - So we could be sure to have found the right plane! The flight went well. We arrived at Birmingham Airport at 7.40 a. m., drove with the sky-rail to the NEC, where we already saw several Storyman-posters. Always a good reason to stop and take photos of each other in front of the posters.
When we came near to our hotel, the "Crowne Plaza", we already could see Melanie through the breakfast-room-window and she came out, said hello and helped us to check in. She already had driven from Liverpool to Birmingham the afternoon before.

Birmingham

As it was still rather early in the morning we had much time left. Claudia stayed in the hotel - she needed some sleep. But Birgit, Michael, Melanie and I drove by train to the City of Birmingham. We were rather surprised to find a German Christmas-market (Weihnachtsmarkt) there. It was like at home. How funny, that we had to travel to England to show Melanie (from England) a German Christmas-market. The weather was lovely - sun and blue sky all the weekend! We enjoyed drinking some Glühwein (mulled wine). Then we drove back and had a rest at the hotel in order to be fit for the concert in the evening.

We met again at about 17.00 p. m. in the hotel-bar. Meanwhile Col had arrived. We only knew him from chatting and met him for the first time "live". He had brought some Kendal Mint Cakes for each of us, as he had promised us to bring them already months ago! Also Malcolm and his family were on their way, and after a few phonecalls we managed to find each other. It was very nice to meet them finally after so much e-mailing and chatting. I felt like knowing them all already very good, because Malcolm had sent me so much photos of his family during the last months! Unfortunately we couldn't spend much time together, as we had to leave to go to the NEC, where the concert took place, soon. But we'll have more time together next weekend, when they all come over to Dortmund and Dinslaken.

The concert

We were very nervous about if we would be allowed to take our photo-cameras with us into the venue, as it was said, they were rather strict in the NEC and we would have to lock our cameras somewhere instead of taking them into the venue with us! So I had hidden my camera in a big bag. I even took a water-bottle with me in order to distract the security-people. But it was vice versa. They didn't notice the bottle, but found the camera. My heart stopped missing a beat, but it was ok, I was allowed to take the camera in with me.
I had planned to meet a lot of listmembers in the venue, but time passed so quick, that I didn't manage to find them all. We had a drink and the cue at the toilet was rather long, so it soon was 19.30 p. m. My mobile phone kept on ringing, and text-messages flooded in. It was most important to find Angie, as I had 2 Dortmund-tickets for her. As we knew her seat-number we found her. Another nice experience to meet somebody for the first time, which I only knew from chatting and a few e-mails - and a photo, which she had sent to me some days before. I even got to know her father. Another person I intended to meet was Shenna, who had also bought some Dortmund-tickets from me, but I didn't manage to find her before the concert. And unfortunately there was no time to meet Lyn. But of course I met Chris and Stewart Williams, and Claudia introduced Yogi and Marietta to us.
We all took place. I had a seat in block A, which was left in front of the stage, row D was the 4th row, and seat 11 was rather in the middle of the row. So it would not be easy to walk out of the row to bring my gift to the stage and later to rush to the stage to celebrate there. My friends were sitting far away.
When the Storyman-theme began the light was still switched on, only at the end of the song it was switched off and the music became louder. Chris appeared during the next song: "Where we will be going". Then followed, as far as I remember "One World", before Chris said good evening and also mentioned, that his family would be there. He also welcomed his oldest fan, who was there. Her name was Nora, and I think he said, she's be 94 years old. And his youngest fan …., and all the birthday-children…! Then followed "The Storyman", "Sailing away" and "The Traveller".
As Melanie and I intended to bring our roses together to Chris we had planned to go after the song "Spirit". How excited I was when the song began after about 35 min.! I must admit, that I couldn't really enjoy the song, I was always thinking about how and when I'd get out of my row. Of course I didn't like to disturb my seat-neighbours = the whole rest of the row, but I had to. And it was worth it!!!! Melanie and I met in front of the stage. The song was over, and Chris was looking at the audience. We already were afraid, that he didn't see us, because the stage was so high. So we waved a bit with our roses below him! He first asked, if we had some wine for him. Maybe he expected something containing alcohol after a song like "Spirit"!!! But unfortunately we had only roses and a book. I hope it pleased him in spite of this. Then he said: "This is Doris"!!! I didn't hear what else he said anymore…..!!!! This was my "High on emotion"-moment of the concert!!!!
Two songs later Chris sang my favourite song of the Storyman-album: "The mirror of the soul", and I must admit, I loved it, how he said: "Wait, wait, something awful happened" to the band, when he forgot the words. Those moments always show, that he's simply human - and we could enjoy this wonderful song for about 1 minute longer….. .
Then Chris introduced the young singer Kristyna Myles, she appeared on the stage and they sang the duet "Raging Storm" together. She has a wonderful voice!
The next stressful moment came, when the batteries of my photo-camera were empty. It was when Chris was singing "Leningrad". No problem to find a new package of batteries somewhere in my big bag. But already opening the photo-camera in the darkness was not very easy. Then I had the problem to find out, how to put the 4 new batteries in (which pole in which direction). It was very difficult, and I tried it several times. So I missed "Leningrad" and "The grace of a dancer", but then at least my camera was working again!
My poor seat-neighbours had to suffer again, when finally the first people stood up and went to the stage. I had waited for this moment and intended to hurry to the front then, too. But it was not so easy from my seat the middle of the row. I hope I didn't hit the foot of the people next to me……, if I did - sorry!!!!!!! By the way, it was "The words I love you", when we got up!
It's hard to believe how difficult it is to find somebody in the crowd in front of the stage. I couldn't find Melanie nor Michael or Birgit or Col. Afterwards I found out, that Melanie had only been about 2 metres away from me.
It was a great moment, when our "Storyman-photos" finally were shown during the song "Living in the world". It was no morph-video as it had been planned, but the heads were shown one after the other. Sometimes there was a break, then we could see the audience. A filming camera-man was standing on the stage. It was very nice to see several friends - also those who were not at this concert - in the video! The faces were very, very large, so that the chins and even parts of the mouths of the faces disappeared behind the drums. (The members of the Chris de Burgh-Mailinglist had taken photos of their faces and sent them in for this video already in March 2006.)
The only 2 songs of the "Storyman"-album, which Chris left out were "The sweetest kiss of all" and "The shadow of the mountain".
The concert lasted 3 hours, but it was so great and wonderful, that it seemed to have only lasted 1 hour, when the last song, "The snows of New York" had ended. Well, the sound hat not been as good as it could have been, but I didn't really care about it.
When the concert was over I met Melanie and the others again and suddenly somebody was standing in front of me, smiling at me and saying "Hello Doris, nice to meet you finally!". It was Shenna, accompanied by her family. The whole family was so friendly! We took a few photos together, and they told me, how happy they were to come over to Dortmund the next weekend!

Setlist (as far as I remember):
- Storyman-theme
- Where we will be going
- One world
- The Storyman
- Sailing away
- The traveller
- Spirit
- The same sun
- The mirror of the soul
- Raging storm
- A spaceman came travelling
- Spanish train
- The leader/The vision/What about me?
- In a country churchyard
- Lonely sky
- Where peaceful waters flow
- Borderline
- Leningrad
- The grace of a dancer
- Love of the heart divine
- The Lady in red
- Moonlight and Vodka
- The words I love you
- Bal masqué
- Living in the world
- My father's eyes
- Say goodbye to it all
- Don't pay the ferryman
- High on emotion
- Band introduction
- Patricia the stripper
- The snows of New York

My birthday

It was about 23.15 p. m., when we arrived in our hotel. Suddenly my mobile-phone rang: A happy birthday-message from Germany! It already was my birthday in Germany, as they are 1 hour ahead! So my little birthday-party could start! Melanie, Birgit, Michael and Col celebrated with me, and Melanie was the party-service!!!! She had organized everything. Not only wine, beer and a birthday-cake, she also had received birthday-cards of wonderful people, which she had to hand me out at midnight!!!!! I never before got sooooo exciting and "magical" birthday-cards!! - Even one of Chris de Burgh!!!! Of course I also got a few nice gifts. Thank you very much! But before I was allowed to enter the party I was forced to stay in the bathroom until the preparations were ready. I left the bathroom at 23.30 p. m., halftime between midnight in Germany and midnight in England. We even listened to CdeB-music in our hotel room. At 1.15 a.m. the party was over and we were glas to be able to sleep after such an exciting day.

Sunday

Already at 6.15 a. m. the next morning I received another birthday-message. I didn't know, that my mobile-phone could be so loud!!! So we both - Melanie and I - were awake. Thank you in spite of this, Judith! Judith just was at the airport in Kopenhagen, she had seen Bruce Guthro live the night before, while we saw Chris!

At 7.50 a. m. our "real" telephone rang. As I hesitated, Melanie picked up the phone. She went on speaking, so I didn't really care about the phonecall. I thought, maybe Birgit or Michael were asking her something. But then she said: "Just a second, I'll hand you over to my room-mate"!!! So the phonecall was for me. First I didn't recognize the voice, than the mysterious caller said, he was Keiron, and I would be live on the breakfast-show at Magic 1548!!!! What a nice surprise!!! I'm very glad, that it hadn't been me, who picked up the phone first, because Keiron wanted to make a joke with me. He intended to pretend that he was living in the room next to us and was searching for the naughty channel and didn't dare asking at the hotel-reception how to find this channel. As German is my mother-tongue and not English I'm not sure if I would have understood, what he had meant….. - I'm so glad, that Melanie picked up the phone!!!!!! So I only had to tell Keiron, how much I enjoyed the concert last night, he played a birthday-blast for me and then of course a CdeB-song: "When I think of you". But unfortunately I couldn't hear the whole song, as we were too far away from Magic's broadcasting-area! This birthday has been totally different from the usual ones. I'll only be able to celebrate with my family after the 3rd of December, when all the concerts I'll visit are over.

Birmingham-city

After having had breakfast we checked out, left our baggage in the hotel and drove once again by train to Birmingham, where we visiteed the City and the Christmas-market once again.
Back at 14.00 p. m. we met Claudia, Yogi and Marietta, and soon we had to start our way to the airport again. My bags never have been searched as often as during the last 2 days. I must have looked rather frightening - maybe like a terrorist!!! But all the security-men were rather friendly, so it be them forgiven. It's only their job!

Our way back home

Our plane left at 16.50 p. m., when it was already dark. It was nice to meet the same steward in the plane as on our flight to Birmingham the day befroe. He of course still knew us from our previous first flight!
We reached Düsseldorf in time, said goodbye to Michael and Claudia and then Birgit drove me home, where I arrived at 20.00 p. m. A big bunch of flowers was waiting there for me already……… !!! They had not forgotten my birthday!
It has been a great weekend!!!

2006-10-27T11:53:00.001+02:00

Fan-Love in the ironing-room

At the end of September our local advertising-paper, which is delivered once a week to every household in Dinslaken, called up for people with interesting hobbies. I didn't hesitate and wrote a long e-mail to the editorial office. Soon later the responsible journalist rang me up and made a date for an "interview"! He and his photographer visited me the next day. The photographer left soon after he had taken his photos, the journalist stayed with me and listened for further 45 minutes to what I had to tell about Chris de Burgh and how I became such a huge fan. I was a bit worried, if I didn't confuse him too much with all I told him - but the morning before I left to Liverpool (18. Oct. 2006) this article was published in the newspaper. The telephone rang often that morning, because my friends and relatives had noticed me in the paper .... ! I'm nearly glad, that I was in Liverpool for the following days! The kids were asked at school, if their mother's name was Doris.... . My husband Arno's colleagues told him, they had seen my picture in the newspaper......! Even 1 week later, when I was buying CdeB-tickets for a friend of mine, who just decided to come over from Cornwall to see the Dortmund-concert, the ticket-shop-assistent said: "Haven't you been in the Niederrhein-Anzeiger the other week?" I felt a bit like being famous! Also in my sport-club several people said, they had seen me in the papers. One of them even asked me, if I hadn't dared coming to the sport-course last week (the day, when the newspaper appeared), because of this article - but I had to disappoint her, I told her that I had just been in Liverpool last week to meet Chris de Burgh!!!

And Chris himself signed this paper for me in Anfield!!!

The following week they reported about a man who was collecting prayer-books.......

28.10.2006:
Today I received a package, which made me smile!!! A friend sent me an ironing board cover with a little note saying "Happy ironing :-)". Thank you, Malcolm!

Here is the translation of the article:

Fanlove in the ironing-room (washing-cellar)

Dinslaken - While washing it's the "Ferryman", while ironing the "Ship to Shore" and while drying it's "The Lady in Red". Doris Neerfries has got the fever. She's crazy for Chris de Burgh. The detail is in the ironing-room.

Already on the way into the lower part of the house in Eppinghoven (our part of Dinslaken) there are uncountable rememberance photos decorating the walls. In the ironing room itself tour-posters are the objects, who decorate the walls. Chris de Burgh as far as the eye can see! From the speakers you hear the new song "One world". The current album is just out. Of course she already owns it and listens to it again and again. Chris de Burgh also is permanent guest in the CD-player of her car. But Doris is totally alone with her passion about the irish musisian. Besides her not her husband nor the two children really like the singer. And because of this fact she has her own external harddisc-drive at the family-computer, which is only for files and photos of de Burgh.

Since 2002 she's fan through and through. "A friend took me with herself to a CdeB-concert 4 years ago. Since then I'm high on emotin", that's how the Lady from Dinslaken describes the feeling herself. "At the end of the concert we all went to the front. It's the way Chris looks, who bewitched me. He gives everybody the feeling to be a friend" adores the Lady from Dinslaken. She owns more than 50 CD-albums. "That should be nearly all" tells Doris Neerfries. But it isn't all done with buying one new CD. If there are several editions like "slide pack" or "special edition" Doris Neerfries must have them all. Of course there are also uncountable legendary vinyls of the artist in her "repertoire". She's very proud of a rare not sold anymore biography, which she bought via the internet.
With her passion to Chris de Burgh she already made herself a name in the "szene". So besides others her photo is even on Chris de Burgh's official homepage. Doris Neerfries is using the fan-chat regularly and communicates worldwide with same minded people. Her friends live all around the world. "I meet some of them at the concerts, which is always a great pleasure."

At home she gives Chris de Burgh evenings for friends. Videos are watched and they talk about CdeB-stuff.

Her personal star-hours with "her" Chris are so called "meet & greets", where special fans meet the star backstage for a short talk or to collect autographs. "Once he had invited 150 fans to an exclusive soundcheck, where he sang 1/2 hour only for us". So it's no wonder, that the woman from Dinslaken is not unknown to CdeB. Together with friends she has recorded a song for him for a tribute-CD from fans, and she already sent several e-mails to the singer, which he even answered personally in the internet-forum, the so calles "Man on the line".

Uncountable signatures decorate the cellar walls of her house. "The greatest thing would be", tells Doris Neerfries, "if he once would give a concert in the Burghtheater."

The next time she will be very close to her idol at a concert in Birmingham at the 18th of November. "It will be wonderful" she says, "because at the following day it's my birthday, in which I'll celebrate with the other fans." And which kind of music there will be played - you certainly can imagine.

2006-10-25T17:56:00.001+02:00

My journey to Liverpool - October 2006

Introduction - How I became a Magic-listener

From the 18th till the 22th of October I spent 4 wonderful days, met some people I always wanted to meet personally - and all this because of Chris de Burgh!
I'm listening to the radio-programme Radio Magic 1548 Liverpool since February 2006. I started listening to Magic, because my e-mail-friend and also CdeB-fan Melanie had told me to listen to Magic and sent me the link, because she just had requested a CdeB-song for us 2 one morning (It was the 10th of February to be precise)! So I listened and was totally enthousiastic to hear my name and the song in the radio. Soon later I started corresponding with Phil. I requested a song and he played it. Later I listened to Magic every day, all the 4 hours of the breakfast-show. Soon I couldn't even go shopping before the end of the show. I got so used to Phil's show, and once or twice a week he played CdeB, mostly because I requested it. That's how I got to know about and got addicted to Magic, that nice local Liverpool radio station.
After a few weeks I had heard the name Derek or Diego rather often, and this person also seemed to be a CdeB-fan. One day he requested a Chris de Burgh-song (Missing you) for me. It was so touched by this, that I asked Phil to give my e-mail-address to Derek. Phil did and I got my first e-mail from Derek at the end of March! It's nice to write to somebody who listens to the same radio-station as you do, who is as crazy as you are, who also likes to be mentioned in the show! I could go on telling, how crazy we were, we even both managed to get on Phil's website with creating Marketing Magic-items like a cake in form of the Magic-symbol, which I baked, or Magic jingles, which Birgit and I sang, and Derek even won this competiton with his exciting Cereal-box! A photo of this winning object still is on www.magic1548.com .

Since March I had asked Phil, if he would make a CdeB-radio-showcase, when CdeB's new album appeared, and I had told him, I would really love to be there. I would pay the flight myself and would arrange hotel by myself, I only would need an invitation!!!! Poor Phil got e-mails about this idea from me since March! Meanwhile I got so used to Phil, I switched on the computer at 7.00 a. m. every day, even during the holidays - crazy!!!! Also when the playlist was changed and they were not allowed to play any CdeB-songs anymore (which I never will understand!!!!!) I went on listening to Phil. Meanwhile I also loved his show, and not only the CdeB-songs he played!
Time passed and not yet anything about a CdeB-radio-showcase. Phil sometimes said something which sounded like he was thinking about organizing a radio-showcase, but of course he mentioned not too much. One day in September, a few weeks before the official appearing-date of Chris de Burgh's new album he said, that somebody in Germany (he must have meant me) would be very pleased to know, what he was holding right now in his hands - it was the new "Storyman"-album. A promo-CD for the radio-stations. He wasn't yet allowed to play any songs but I already could hear it: he clapped with the CD-cover in front of the microphone!!!! How cruel!!! Melanie wrote an e-mail to him, he should stop teasing me, I'd become hysteric!

Since the end of July I also listened to Keiron Fox' weekend breakfast-show. I started writing to him. And soon he seemed to know, who "Doris from Dinslaken" was! He even once rang me up and I had to review the newspapers with Derek on the telephone, which was rather terrible, because at the end I didn't understand any English nor German anymore!!! It was sooooo terrible! I still hope, that all the other listeners still were asleep, when I was talking!!! I also took part in the "Talented listeners' competition" by singing "Hey Jude" (accompanied myself with the guitar) and also with playing the flute (recorder). Well, I didn't win the VIP-Tower-Tour!!! But I got something much better last Saturday!!!

At the beginning of September I asked Phil once again, if there were any news about the CdeB-radio-showcase. If I would be allowed to come I would have to be prepared, had to book a flight, and also I had to make an appointment for Lena's eye-surgery. Lena is my 12 years old daughter. So he told me to make a mark in my calendar at the 19th of October!!!! The following week he told me, that it now was sure for me to book my flight and for Melanie to try to get 2 days off (Thursday and Friday, 19. and 20.10.). We had planned, that I would stay with Melanie in her house. Arno didn't want to accompany me. But what a pity - Melanie didn't get the 2 days off from work!!!! So I asked Derek, what he would do if he was a lonely girl in Liverpool for 2 days. He phoned Melanie, when he got to know about my plans, and they talked about me. Derek unfortunately couldn't care for me (as he said), because he had to go to London just during these 2 days!!!! Didn't he know the song "Timing is everything"? But they told me, his wife Verna would care for me on Friday. On Friday she would show me the city of Chester. I was very happy with these plans. That all these "strangers" over there in Liverpool were caring so much about me not being on my own in Liverpool!!!!! Great!

Wednesday, 18.10.2006:

On Wedenesday, the 18th of October my father-in-law brought me at 11.40 p. m. to the railway-station in Dinslaken. Already in the train I received my first text-message from Thomas (my 14 years old son) while I was driving from Dinslaken to Cologne: "Mama, how is it in Liverpool?" - How sweet, I was just 1 hour away from home, he still was at school - and already asked if I liked my trip. He was the one who didn't want to kiss me when saying goodbye!

This flight was only my 2nd flight ever. My husband Arno and I had spent our belated honeymoon in Sept. 1990 on theplane from Cologne/Bonn Airport to Liverpool started at 16.10 p. m. and landed in Liverpool (John Lennon Airport) at 16.40 p. m. English time. I enjoyed the flight very much. It only lasted 1 hour + 20 minutes. It was funny to look down out of the plane window and seeing the cars driving on the "wrong" side of the street!!! We landed, I found my suitcase, and then I met Melanie, who was already waiting for me! It was the first time I met her. We were together at the Dortmund-concert in 2004, but at that time we didn't yet know each other! She drove me straight to the naked men, the 100 iron statues by Antony Gormley, standing at the beach of Crosby. I always wanted to see them, and now I finally did. In the car we listened to Magic!!!The first time I could listen to Magic via a "real" radio! It was really cool to drive on the wrong side of the road.

Then we drove Melanie's home, where she's living with her mother. Her Mum had prepared a delicious meal for us. She cared so much for us! It was better than in every hotel in her house! I had a nice little room, and the first thing Melanie brought me was a radio, so I could listen to Magic whenever I wanted. In the evening we checked the CdeB-website and mailing-list and our mails together, sorted out which clothes we would wear for the concert the next day, and which other things we would need to get prepared for the evening, because Melanie had to take them to work with her early in the next morning. Soon it was time to sleep.

Thursday, 19.10.2006:

The next morning, Thursday morning, my mobile phone rang very early. My friend Birgit wanted to wish me a nice day via text-message! OK, I was awake early, so I had much time to listen to Phil's breakfast show (on a real radio!!!!!)! Melanie had to leave the house early, as she unfortunately had to work. I stayed in bed a bit longer, took a shower, got my breakfast in the living-room, then I went back to my bedroom and went on listening to Phil. His last song was "Don't pay the ferryman" for the people who were visiting the CdeB-concert that evening, and for those, who were just in town because of this!!!! - He must have meant me!!! It still was raining a bit - which was not very nice, because Melanie had all the clothers at work, but there would be no possibility to use a hair-dryer!!!!! But we HAD TO be beautiful!!!!!

I managed to take the bus to Liverpool City (50 min. drive) And suddenly I could see the Tower!!!!!. It was the first time I saw the Tower with my own eyes! - The RadioCity-tower, in which the Magic studio also is situated. The 2 stations are sister-stations.
It still was raining a bit when I arrived in Liverpool City, so I had to be careful with my hair…. I went into shops, when the rain became too heavy, but I managed to reach the Anglican Cathedral, in which CdeB had given a concert in October 2004, and then the new and modern Metropolitan Cathedral. Whenever I saw the tower I had to take a photo of it!!!! I couldn't help, I had to!!!! My favourite building of the town! I had lunch at McDonald's! Then I went down to the River Mersey, where I saw the Liver-Building and the Albert-Dock. Meanwhile the sun was shining and I really enjoyed myself.

At 16.00 p. m. I had to be at the Royal Bank of Scotland, where Melanie is working. I took a taxi at 15.30 p. m. and actually managed to arrive in time to meet Melanie. We got dressed in the toilet of her bank. All her colleagues seemed to have to go to the toilet while we were there, and they all asked, where we were going to go to! But they know Melanie and that she loves CdeB! When we were ready we drove to Frankie's and Benny's, where we had a hot pizza. I already got rather nervous, thinking about that the long expected showcase was so near now!!!!

The concert in Anfield

We arrived in Anfield, parked the car, and while driving in the parking-area I thought: This man looks like Derek!!! But he had told me he was in London!!! When we got out of the car I could see: It was Derek, Verna was not far from him!!!! - So I was right: no trip to London. He always planned to go to the CdeB-showcase!!!!! Melanie even was involved in his plans and didn't tell me!!! It was very nice to meet Derek and Verna there and to be able to spend the evening with them!!!! Soon we already could enter the Trophy-room, where we found a nice place. There were big round tables with seats for about 90 people. Trophies were on shelves along the wall, a red carpet with LFC-letters on it was on the ground! A real "magic" venue for a CdeB-concert. Some officials of the Liverpool FC also were there. Soon we saw Chris and Stewart Williams enter the Trophy room, and also Steve Bennett and Chris High. I had seen Steve Bennett in 2004 in Dortmund, but didn't know Chris High. Melanie introduced him to me. As far as I know these were the only mailing-list-members. We had found a nice place not far from the stage. Some people went around and took photos of all the trophies. I gave Derek the Storyman CD, which I had bought to let it sign by Chris for him and the photo I had brought for this reason - now he could let it sign himself - even better! We could have free food and drinks, and Derek was so neat to bring us some redwine. Time passed rather quick. I meanwhile had got over the shock, that Diego (another name for Derek!) was there.
Phil also came over to welcome us.

Then Phil said good evening, told us to switch off our mobiles and the "Storyman-Theme" was played. Not much longer to wait for Chris to appear. He came from a door at the left side! He looked very relaxed and seemed to be in a very good mood! No wonder - in this special venue!!! Phil talked with Chris a bit about the album, how he recorded it with the orchestra etc., then Phil left Chris alone on the stage. Chris looked around and said: I think I know nearly everybody in this room, so why don't we forget the whole thing and go out for a nice dinner (or something like this). Then he searched for Sheila. I don't know, if he saw her or who she even was! And after this he asked, if there was somebody from Germany. I waved to him, he looked over to me and said: "Hi Doris, well done" Now I'd really like to know, if Phil told him to say something like this or if he did it, because he knew I was flying to Liverpool, as I had written him about this in a letter before! I'll never get to know this!
He started with "One world". Such a powerful song. I'd have loved to clap along right from the beginning, but nobody did, so I also had to "behave". Only at the end of the song he invited the audience to clap. Of course he played all the songs this evening solo with guitar or piano. After "One world" he introduced "Spirit" by telling us something about this song and then sang it - wonderful! Then he sat down at the piano, and while already starting playing some tunes he told the story about the song "Leningrad". If he'll also tell those stories at his following concerts?
"The grace of a dancer" followed, and then again with guitar "My father's eyes".
And of course "The Lady in red" couldn't be left out. Melanie had bought a red and a yellow rose for us to bring them to Chris, and we had decided to give him our roses right after LIR. Melanie gave him his yellow rose first (and got a kiss!), then it was my turn. I gave him my red rose, he kissed me and said again, that is was nice to come the long way from Germany. While we were on our way back to our seats he said "I especially like the colour of the red rose", which was certainly not very nice for Melanie……, then followed "Spanish train" and "A spaceman came travelling". Before he sang "The snows of New York", which is about friendship he said, that he always feels like visiting old friends, when he comes to Liverpool. That's the same I felt!!!! So much neat and friendly people who looked so nice after me!!!! After SONY followed "Don't pay the Ferryman". Phil let some people ask questions to Chris. So Diego took out his old "Power of ten"-T-Shirt and asked Chris, who had written the song "The words I love you" including the words "with a lifetime guarantee" obviously for his wife Verna, if his merchandising articles also had a lifetime guarantee. He had bought the shirt in 1992, but now it didn't fit him anymore…… . Chris asked again, when Derek had bought the shirt, and Derek said: in 1992, when ManU won the Championship! Phil intervented and said: enough Derek, sit down, shut up!!!! George - the voice of Anfield, who tells the half-time-scores in the stadium - also asked a question. Then Phil explained, that Chris now would play a very appropriate song, and Chris sang "You'll never walk alone", the song, which the FC Liverpool-supporters sing at football-matches! Wow! It was great, everybody was singing along, even the ManU-Fans - like Diego!
And then everything was over - at least the concert was over.

Phil had told us before the concert, that Chris would come to our tables later, but Chris came in through another door later, and we hardly noticed it. Phil went to our table and told us, Chris now would be there, so we quickly went up and straight to Chris, where we had to wait a few minutes, till it was our turn. I was not as excited (nervous), as I was in Lingen 2005 before the meet & greet. Everything on this trip had been so exciting - so I already got used to being excited and didn't nearly die because of a heart-infarction, when I was standing in front of Chris! When it was my turn Chris immediately said: "Hello Doris", took my Storyman-album and wrote "For Doris, CdeB" on the cover, then I explained him, that I had a lot to sign - like always. I finally was so lucky to have got his biography (from eBay), and he signed it, I showed him the photo-book, which I'd made out of the photos of his summer-concerts in 2005, and he asked me, if he could have a copy (he certainly didn't mean it seriously), he also signed it. And then I also let him sign the newspaper-article about my ironing-room and my exciting hobby (CdeB), which just was in the newspaper 1 day before! Just in time to take it with me for him to sign. He again said: "Well done". Then he wished me a safe journey back home. Derek had his things signed too, including the photo I had given to him. He told Chris, that I had taken it. Then we had the idea (was it me, who had this idea?) to take a photo of all of us together: Derek, Phil, Chris, Melanie and me. Only Verna missed. We got a very nice picture. George took it. We still hadn't given our gifts to Phil, so we had to go to his table, where also his wife was sitting. He introduced us to her and we said hello. Once again Phil said, that she's half German (that's what he'd written to me in his very first e-mail). Phil also mentioned, that he thought in the morning, his computer was broken, because no e-mails were coming in! Well, I haven't been at home to write to him! After a little more chatting we left, met Steve and Chris High again on our way out and talked to them a bit. Meanwhile Phil had gone out, talking there to somebody else. I said one last time "Thank you and goodbye" to him, and his last words were: "…he even said your name". The way he said it sounded rather impressed. So I don't think that Chris said hello Doris because Phil told him to do so……. ! I'll never know!
We brought Derek and Verna to Limestreet-Station and then drove home, where we couldn't sleep at all, because we were so high on emotion!

Derek, Doris, Chris, Phil and Melanie

Friday, 20.10.2006:

So we all were very tired the next morning. Derek also couldn't sleep, and he and Verna were my tourist-guides on Friday. They wanted to show me Chester. Melanie had to work again. Poor Melanie. She had to wake up rather early in the morning to bring me to Limestreet-station, where she set me in a train, with which I drove to Hooton, where Derek and Verna picked me up 1/2 hour later.

While Melanie and I were driving to the station Phil said in the radio to Claire, the traffic and travel-reporter: "Claire - say good morning to Melanie". Claire said "Morning Melanie", then he told her to say "Good Morning Doris", and so she did. Phil explained, that I was just in town because I saw Chris de Burgh yesterday evening, I had heard Claire and Phil talking about the roadworks all the time, and I was now here to see with my own eyes what was happening on their streets and I would now be able to understand, about what they were talking and complaining every day! Melanie would bring me to the Station, and I'd drive to Diego and Verna, who would guide me through Chester - the whole big Maigc-family (or something like this). It was really nice, what he had said! He talked about the Chris-concert very often, and stressed, that he was in bed way behind his bedtime, because he had been out for dinner with Chris etc. (but without us - and we also were tired…….).
Derek and Verna picked me up at the train-station, and we had to drive about 20 min. by car to Chester. Of course we listened to Magic on our way. Good that Derek and Verna are also Magic-fans, so we all stopped talking always when a song stopped and Phil said something. Good to have same minded company! We arrived in Chester at 9.30 a. m. and started our sightseeing-tour through this old Roman town next to the river Dee with beautiful old houses and a city-wall around the town. We took a lot of photos, visited the Cathedral, had a cup of coffee at Marks and Spencer, had a nice meal in a French restaurant and had a nice time. In the end we all were rather exhausted and Derek brought us back to his house, because it still was too early for me to drive back to Liverpool. Melanie still was working and only would be able to pick me up after 17.00 p. m. So we had a cup of coffee, talked a bit and I could see Derek's house and garden in Ellesmere Port, which I had only seen on a lot of photos before. Now I also know, where all his funny e-mails are created! After a while they brought me to the station in Hooton again. This time we listened to a Chris de Burgh-CD on our way in the car. After another 30 min. in the train I arrived at Limestreet-Station in the centre of Liverpool at about 17.00 p. m. Melanie picked me up at 17.20 p. m., so I had some time to walk quick around the tower to the FC Liverpool-shop, because Thomas had ordered a LFC-trikot. Unfortunately they only had them in XXL - rather much too big, but the next day they expected smaller sizes. OK.
Melanie picked me up at 17.20 p. m. and we drove to her home, where her mother had prepared a nice meal again! She should open a restaurant! I even had the chance to watch "Coronation-Street" (a soap-opera which is showed about 3 times a week, and which everybody in England seems to know). I often had heard about it at Magic!
Besides we checked our e-mails and the cdeb-website and soon it again was time to go to bed. Time really passed so quick in England!
Click here to see photos!

Saturday, 21.10.2006:

On Saturday we again had to wake up early. Melanie woke me up with the words: You're already famous again. Keiron Fox had told in the radio, that he would be expecting international guests - Doris from Dinslaken would come into the studio today. Yes - we (Derek, Melanie and I) were invited to sit in with him for the last hour of his weekend-breakfast-show. Derek had asked him in an e-mail 1 1/2 weeks ago, if he maybe would show us the tower, because I would be in the town. And 1 week ago Keiron had e-mailed us, that it was ok and we would be his guests in the studio and afterwards he intended to show us the tower. Great! Better than a "normal" tower-tour, which you can book at the weekends.

Melanie and I left the house already at 7.45 a. m., drove by car to Crosby station and from there with the train into the City, where we met Derek at 8.45 a. m. in front of the tower. We went in, and the security man guided us in the lift, which had been stuck several times last summer!!!!! But we arrived safely in Keiron's studio! Cool - to be in the studio, from where I had already heard soooo much hours of Magic-radio-programme!!!!
When we entered the studio Keiron simply went on talking into the microphone, told his audience, that his international guests just had arrived, that I was in town because I had been at the CdeB-concert in Anfield the other day, and he asked, if we had been there all together, and if we had liked it. Of course we answered with "yes". Keiron didn't even give us the chance to say more than "yes" or "good" or any other longer sentence, and that was good, so - no stress with the English language! It was rather impressing to see, how Keiron spoke on the phone, answered e-mails, switched buttons and used the computer, played jingles, talked to us and talked into the microphone - all at the same time. He even found time to come around his desk for a photo. He wasn't bothered when we took photos or filmed him, while he was doing his job. He was hardly distracted by us watching, what he was doing - a real professional! After a while a 16 years old boy named Jordon entered the studio and brought us some coffee. They really treated us nice up there in the tower! Jordon's intention was, to become a famous broadcaster, so he had written to Keiron, and Keiron tought him all he had to know. Jordon was Keiron's production assistant, as he called him. When we spoke to the boy later he really seemed to be totally determined to start a career in the radio. He knew what he wanted to do! And he was very lucky about Keiron teaching him all he had to know. He even said, that if he'd get a job in the radio, he would name himself after Keiron -Jordon Fox!!!!
At 10.00 a. m. the breakfast-show was over, and we thought Keiron now would show us the tower. But he stayed on his seat and played some recorded telephone calls for us, in order to explain us, how a radio-show works, and with which ideas he wanted to attract the audience, e. g. with funny phone-calls. He told us so much, he hardly ever stopped talking!!!! He really loves his job and wanted to tell us as much as possible about it. Unfortunately he didn't have so much time, because he had another date. But it was totally ok. It must have been nearly 1 hour, which we spent together in the studio after the programme had finished. Suddenly he stood up and said, we should follow him. Nobody should know, what he now was going to show us: he showed us "the heart" of the tower, all the technical equipment, the computers from where the programme was broadcasted! Really cool! Then Derek and I gave him our little gifts to say thank you for the invitation! Keiron said, no problem, we were his friends. And if I ever would come again to Liverpool I'd be invited to be his guest. How nice!!!

As Keiron had to leave very soon he asked Jordon to show us the tower. We took a few photos out of the windows, and then we left the tower!
Then it was time to say goodbye to Derek. Melanie and I went to a few shops. Melanie certainly was surprised, when the shop assistant in the LFC-shop already knew me and immediately told me, that the smaller shirts hadn't yet arrived.

We bought some sandwiches in a supermarket and drove by train back to Melanie's car and with the car to Crosby beach, to see the naked men once again. But there was high tide, so that most of the men were under water. In spite of this I took a few photos and we ate our sandwiches at the beach. Then we drove further to Southport, a nice holiday-town North of Crosby. We had a coffee in a coffee-shop, I bought a naked-men-poster, and we asked in every sport-shop for LFC-trikots in size M. But we didn't find any. Melanie will buy one and bring it with her when she'll come over to the Dortmund-concert. I only bought 2 England-trikots (shirts) for my kids - one in red, one white-coloured.

We drove back to Crosby beach in the late afternoon, and this time we could see the naked men, because the water had disappeared. We finally could see the men from the front! There were a lot of people, as the politicians just had thought about getting rid of the iron men soon! What a pity! - Meanwhile they have decided to let them remain at Crosby beach for a bit longer. - Hey, were the naked men only afraid for Doris from Dinslaken and wanted to run away while I was there?

After this photo session we drove to Melanie's house, checked e-mails, ordered a table in an Italian restaurant, took a taxi and went out there for a meal! It was very delicious.

Sunday, 22.10.2006:

On Sunday morning Melanie's mother made a full English breakfast for us with sausages and bacon and fried egg! While we had breakfast the phone rang - it was Melanie's sister in Australia. She even wanted to talk to me!!!!! And when I got the phone she sang "Lady in red" for me!

I packed my suitcase, hoped that it wouldn't be too heavy, because of all the books, mugs (LFC-mug) etc., which I had bought!

At 11.00 a. m. it was time to leave, my plane started at 13.30 p. m., and through the window I could throw one last look on the tower! How sad!!!! I was sitting next to a young lady, who was German. She was not sad at all. She was living in Liverpool for job-reasons, but didn't like to live over there. We talked a bit, and it was funny to find out, that she was listening online to a german radio-programme named SWR 3, while I was so crazy about listening to Magic and Radio City!!!! But - we're living in "one world"!!!!! She didn't even know about the naked men!!!

We landed in Cologne/Bonn before 16.00 p. m. after nearly only 1 hour + 5 min. flight.

Now the most terrible part of my journey began. It took me 3 hours to get by train to Dinslaken. The trains were crowded and had delays. I was glad to be in Dinslaken at 19.00 p. m.

Photos: click here!

That was the end of a brilliant journey!

Thanks to my family- I'm glad they let me go (Chris de Burgh: "If you really love her let her go"). Arno had taken 2 days holidays from work to look after the kids, and the grandmothers cooked for my family.

And of course thanks to Melanie and her mother, who let me stay in their house and looked so good after me, thanks to Derek and Verna, who also cared for me so much, thanks to Phil, who invited us to the radio-show, and thanks to Keiron, who showed us the studio!

Doris

2006-08-11T19:35:00.000+02:00

Hello and welcome to my blog!

Doris' Blog

Chris de Burgh - Footsteps-Tour 2009

Tickets for sale:

Bochum, Monday, the 18th of May 2009Tribüne Mitte, Reihe (row) 1, Platz (seats) 12, 13 and 14

Jukebox Helden - 25.12.2008, 9.40 p. m., WDRRecording 17.12.2008

Wie alles begann.....

Bochum, Monday, the 18th of May 2009
Tribüne Mitte, Reihe (row) 1, Platz (seats) 12, 13 and 14

Jukebox Helden - 25.12.2008, 9.40 p. m., WDR
Recording 17.12.2008