UK GTG 2012

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by Sundae

Anyway, enough moaning!

There can never be enough moaning.

Great picture ladies. Looking good.

[Sundae]

Oh me of little faith - posted a picture of myself before coming to this thread to see you'd been more generous and got all three of us!

Thanks Limes.

I had more camera-grief this year, can you believe it?!
This time with Mum's camera, which is actually my old camera but she's so enjoyed having it. I took it to Glasgow (as mine is marooned in a closed school) and managed to break it. I've suggested Dad buy her another one - it doesn't have to be a whizzy one - but that went down like a lead ballon.

Still, that's most of the sadness out of the way, as long as you mind a little bick if sick later on...

First here's a shrunked version of Limey's photo.

[orthodoc]

Great pic! And your photo in the other thread is beautiful, Sundae. Have a great time!

[DanaC]

Was much, much fun.

Seeing mah homegrrrls always a delight. And as ever the panto was very funny. The more of them I see, the more I appreciate them. There's something delightfully anarchic about a well done pantomime. Whilst at the same time absolutely following the expected conventions.

There was a family seated to my right, with two youngsters. Their responses were fascinating. Especially when everybody donned their 3D glasses and things were flying out from the stage at them.

There's a really interesting balance of humour. There's stuff in there for adults, in fact, a lot of it is downright filthy, but it's double entendre, nudge nudge wink wink filthy. Flies over the kids heads. So, the adults are in stiches at at some lewd throw away line whilst the kids are laughing their little arses off at a fart gag.

There is no fourth wall in pantomime. It is collaborative throughout. The performers directly address and enlist the audience as part of the story. This allows for some lovely little touches. I can't remember (sorry girls) whether it was Limey or Sundae who pointed out the underlying function of the magic wands, but the kids really went for that. In terms of the player-audience collaboration, the kids were waving their flashing light whizzy wands at various points, instructed by one of the characters, in order to help 'protect' the adventurers or to help them get past monsters. So not only were they involved, they were also empowered with a form of protection during the potentially terrifying 3d encounters.

Clever, clever ;p

I'll let Sundae wax lyrical about John Barrowman. Suffice to say he was very entertaining. I cannot even imagine what that kind of energy level must feel like.

[Nirvana]

[limey]

First of all sorry for posting that pic in the fantasy football thread ... don't know what happened there and I blame Tapatalk. Definitely!
Secondly a word about our lodgings. The Alamo B&B is a fabulous Victorian townhouse, wonderfully restored and decorated by Steve our host. The decor is rich and, well, decorative, and serves as a great backdrop for the Christmas decorations which are liberally festooned around the public rooms. It really is a home-from-home for us now as we've stayed there three times (and Mr Limey and I have also stayed there once). Steve gives generous discounts/concessions to regulars and serves a delicious breakfast (sausage, bacon and scrambled egg, with toast, and excellent coffee). In addition he offered us a free taster (by which I mean full serving!) of his egg nog, which was FABULOUS and a great start to the day after the panto! Can't recommend the place highly enough!
The panto! Well, what can I say. As Sundae will only have had eyes for Mr Barrowman, let me say that the Krankies were their usual hilarious selves, and there was a Real Horse in the show, which did tricks, and a Real Pantomime Cow!! As Dana said, the 3-d special effects were astonishing too. We all had a ball, the only fly in the ointment was that we were together for so short a time!

[infinite monkey]

I thought the football post was funny.

Sounds really great. I want a steve breakfast right now!

[ZenGum]

3-D effects? Ummm ... like, using actual actors and props and stuff?

[limey]

No, like putting on the special glasses and seeing creatures and things flying straight at YOU hovering in front of YOU that aren't there.

Sent by thought transference.

[Sundae]

Right, where did I leave you?
Oh goodness I'm still at home!

Well, Mum offered me some money for a taxi, as Dad could not drive me to the station, so I pocketed it and walked. It's only about a mile and it wasn't raining at the time.
The carriage was pretty much empty and stayed that way. Just as well - just outside of Marylebone (London) I surprised myself by being sick. Too sudden to move. It was only a small amount, and I caught it on my newspaper. Sadly I also caught it on my lovely pink jumper, which I had also intended to wear on the way home.

Just had to fold it inside out and put it in the carrier bag I'd taken for dirty laundry. Sigh.

Legs a bit rubbery I retired to the Ladies as soon as we disembarked, but aside from the shudders and bloodshot eyes I seemed okay. Just an inauspicious start.

Off to Victoria coach station for the overnight coach.
Once again I requested - and got - a lower berth, so that was okay.
Most people stowed their bags and were in bed before the coach even started moving. I assume that's why we had no announcements (safety or otherwise) and no evening snack. That was okay by me, I was still worried about my stomach.

I got into bed too and managed to sleep almost immediately.
Woke up at 03.00 I think, one of the scheduled driver changes. Went to sit in my seat (as last year) because it's far cooller there. I dozed on and off, which is much easier on a double seat and I feel more relaxed knowing I had a bunk I could turn into if necessary.

I tuned in and out of the drivers' conversations.
I think I heard them rating the female passengers for attractiveness, but I misheard many things that weekend!

Arrived at Buchanan Bus Station in the rain. Left my breakfast (pain au chocolat and a carton of orange juice) on the coach, just couldn't face it. The whole weekend my teeth felt as though I was on amphetamines, just a clenched jaw and a general unwillingness to let anything through my mouth.

[Sundae]

I had already decided to walk to the B&B. Again, it's just over a mile - albeit uphill. I knew it was simple, find Sauchiehall Street and follow it until it connects with Gray Street. Ta-daaa!

Only problem was, the silly directions I printed out advised me to head West.
What?
Oh let me get my handy travelling compass out... Oops, I don't have one.
Still, I knew it was uphill and I do actually have a good sense of direction, although I mostly keep this a secret, so I started plodding away.
At some point on this walk Glasgow broke my umbrella. Blew it inside out more than once and eventually the struts gave. I shall be sending a bill to Alex Salmond.

Squelch, squelch up the hill. I knew I was still on Sauciehall Street because of the occasional roadsign, but I was slightly wary that I was heading the wrong way. I wanted to ask directions, but I daredn't, because I did not know how to pronounce the name. I was pretty sure it wasn't Saw-chi-hall, but I couldn't even take a stab in another direction. Limey later confirmed it is Socky-hall.

Still, I should have had more faith in myself. A bus stop confirmed I was on the right route for Kelvingrove, and knowing that I lost my fear. Sure enough, Gray Street turned up and I was at The Alamo.

Now for the tricky part. I was there at about 08.00. Smack bang in time for their busiest time of day - breakfast. Nowhere else was open nearby and anyway all I wanted to do was collapse. So I entered the lobby and just sat dripping quietly, reading my book.

[Sundae]

Steve came to my rescue.
Seeing me sitting there he recognised me and actually invited me in for a breakfast I certainly wasn't entitled to.
When I declined (I could not have eaten anything at that point) he plied me with tea. We had a chat about the panto and what time "the girls" would be arriving. The man is such a superb host. If JB isn't in Glasgow next year I won't miss the travelling but I will really miss The Alamo.

He even kindly offered me use of a single room to have a kip, on the understanding I could keep it free of charge for the night as they were not at capacity. What an angel. I unpacked and dozed on and off through the morning.

Aside - Flash the solid but apparently ageless cat is still alive and well. He came running to greet me when I opened the door. If we're not at the Alamo next year I think I will send a card and certainly include Flashy in it.

[Sundae]

Got a text message from Dana to say she had missed her train.
NB - Dana doesn't do catching trains well. We remembered the rules about walnuts and vodka and starters from the last two years. This time we learned the train rule

Limey was about to arrive, so we agreed to talk about it face to face.
Thing is it threw out our original dinner plans.
Did we eat without her? Or in a mad rush? Or after the show all together?
I couldn't weight any of the options in my befuddled state, so I waited for a more level head to appear.
Secretly, there was a tiny part of me that was glad. I already knew about not being able to eat, so going to a restaurant of my choosing seemed like a bit of a mean trick to play on the others, especially as it involved a taxi ride. But on the other hand just sitting at a table with my girls is a great experience.

Limey arrived! Hurrah!
I think the large room was ready, but she came into mine anyway, much more sociable as I already had everything strewn about.

We decided we would see if any of the local restaurants would take a booking after the panto (this was the Saturday night before Christmas so we weren't sure).
We got a booking at Mother India, one street over. Then went to check the menu, and it looked teh yummeh so all was fine.

We chatted and enjoyed ourselves until Dana arrived just about in the nick of time.
I was already ready pretty much happy to leave as soon as the ladies got changed. Bit of a whistlestop for Dana!

[Sundae]

I led the way confidently but in a slightly haphazard fashion.
Turns out there is more than one way to the SECC and I look us by the longer route.
In my defence we hadn't tried the reverse route before, always coming from the SECC rather than going to it.

We arrived across the vast expanse of carpark in the pouring rain.
I didn't even have my hat on as I wanted to avoid hat-hair. Instead I modelled the drowned rat look.
We also arrived at a totally different entrance and got to see just how big the damned thing is. We went past a miniature fairground at one point!
Rushed past the hotdog sellers (even I drooled) and into our seats. We were nowhere near late, but things kicked off reasonably soon after we sat down.

Time to take photos though!
Limey and Dani. Sorry bout the Dani one. I can't remember if she just wouldn't stay still or if it was the low lighting.

[Sundae]

In the row ahead of us, at the very left hand end was Scott Gill, John's partner!
I was very excited to see him, least of all because he is also very yummy.

This shot shows our position in the auditorium.