Hiya,

Venue not very good for wheelchairs but since it was either that one/not seeing SS @ all, I had no choice. I wore my black & red dress w/ flappy sleeves & gold criss-crosses on the bodice, which I got complimented on later.

Glenn [??] Butler – support act, OK but not really my thing, esp. since I'd been hoping for Lady Maisery. I did like his song about a water wheel, but I didn't like his work enough to want to buy his cd.

Then SS [mostly their 'Wintersmith' set]:

I have to admit I wasn't impressed on 1st hearing. I thought ½ of it was a bit nothingy – not that that would've put me off getting it, mind.

'The Making of a Man' made me cry; the line about the dog did me in.
There was a drum solo before my fav, 'The Dark Morris Tune' by the whole band. BomBomBom ….....Bom.....Bom, getting progressively louder. It seemed to pulse through my whole body. Said 'Tune' *sounds* wrong but it's not; I want it to end, yet I don't. Then my fav 'The Dark Morris' – "you may never dance back," but I didn't want to.

Then 'I Shall Wear Midnight' – yes I know it's now been changed to WE but that doesn't fit in w/ book which shares its name. As a disabled person & writer I really id w/ it, then on top of that, what w/ Peter Knight leaving, there's the prospect that SS "shall wear midnight" too. I cried so much I started to choke; I really thought I was going to be sick. Why do SS do this to me?? On the other hand, it would've been worse if they hadn't made me feel *anything*.

Heard a voice next to me. "Hello! Is it too loud?" I said no. Asking how many times the man had seen SS I waxed lyrical about how much I loved them as a child, told of the tape that made weird noises @ the end from overplaying.

His response?

"I'm IN the band......"

It was Rick Kemp. I'd been talking to their bass player! My ♥ stopped. Thank God I didn't tell him I used to think SS had magic powers, or that they were my imaginary confidantes. Mum roared when she found out. I struggle to recognise people sometimes.

It's no wonder said tape made weird noises. I've loved fantasy since I was little – always wanted to live "deep in the forest, clad in black" & I believe that love of one feeds love of the other, & if love for one ends so does love for the other.

I love, love, LOVE 'Edward' live – I thought it was called 'Telling Lies' for ages. That riff went right through me. I *had* to break out the air guitar! Even now I think the live version is 10x better than the studio one. I wish they weren't so different.

Always enjoy 'The Bonny Black Hare'. I'm not sure what that says about me given who's singing, but I don't care.

Got a tour programme & finally a t-shirt, & best of all –- a hug & kiss from Maddy, whose dress was similar to mine. If she has to pack up singing she could always become a chiropractor, cos I was Aching all over & she squeezed me so hard she warmed me up & it stopped. It felt brilliant. I wished time could stop too – & then preferably go backwards so I could see the whole gig again.

Sadly SS get better w/ age, & I desperately hope they continue w/o Peter Knight, but somehow I don't think they will.

I prefer hoodies to t-shirts cos I've never liked those high-necked t-shirts that most bands seem to have on offer – but I sense I'm looking for something to find fault w/ --- w/ such a dearth of SS merchandise – @ least I/we know why now – you can't.