Shari

Sunday morning we get up at our leisure and potter about to catch up with the people we know and have met before at this function. Have a lovely Sunday roast dinner to set us up for the rest of the day. Meanwhile there is always something else going on in the grounds of the camp. 5 a side football, darts, swimming pool, crazy golf, snooker etc.

We head for the ballroom for what's next on our itinerary, being the scavenger hunt. This involves people begging or borrowing items that they can find from a pre organised list.

It's great fun seeing the initiave some people go to. For instance, Brian May's Red Special guitar. A photo will not do, you have to use your imagination. Someone went to the trouble to cut up an old box and make it into a proper sized guitar!

In the afternoon we hung about fo Mike Moran being interviewed. (yes Mike Moran and Lyndsey de Paul sang Rock Bottom for Eurovision once in the 70's)

He is a really nice guy. Interesting and plenty to say. We all laughed when he told the story of how Freddie wanted him to be the conductor on the Barcelona video. He had to hold a luminous baton to conduct his orchestra but when he tapped it on the bar, he got an electric shock which Freddie had some dealings in!

Guest interviews with Spike Edney and Jamie Moses, interspursed with Guess the song/name that tune session. They are such funny guys.

Another guest interview followed with Queen archivist Greg Brooks. He played some rare and unheard Queen and solo material. We were not allowed to tape that bit incase anyoen puts it on youtube.

Brian is quoted to have said, "If anyone uploads any of this rare stuff, it will never be done again"

I hope no-one does upload it. It will spoil it for the rest of us.

Then comes the raffle and prize presentation...we didn't win anything this time. The evening starts off with abrilliant group from Italy called Queen Mania from Italy. The lead guy, dressed like Freddie but the others did not.

You could feel the love in the room, it was an awesome performance and the band really enjoyed it too. I would recommend them.

Finally, we are treated to some rare video's that you only get to see at conventions for a couple of hours...then dancing again. All to Queen music, drinking and having a bloody great time!

Monday morning we have to be out of our chalet at 10:00 am. We drift around to say good bye to hangers on, and then set off ourselves, weary but psyched by the great weekend even if it flew past with a blink!

Till next year.........

Hope you enjoyed that, I'm off to bed now.

Love love me

Shari xxx

Later on, (this is still Saturday) there was a Queen quiz challenge, winners v. celebrities. I think the celebs won as they were allowed to cheat!

The first band on this evening was a hungarian acoustic band called Queen Unplugged Project. There were 4 guys with only 3 instruments and they were amazing. Teo Torriate brought a tear to my eye and a lump to my throat.

They were absolutely fantastic. I took some video, but you really had to be there to appreciate their talent. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/1003/Queenie/?action=view&current=MOV01362.flv

Stll packing things into Saturday, then came the fancy dress. The theme this year was Hallow'een. Everyone made a fantastic effort as usual and there were some very outrageous costumes. Dracula in his coffin, witches, zombies etc, but I think the winner was Mr Staypuft (Ghostbusters). A great costume and everyone looked incredible.

Then the Red Sox came on (Spike Edneys group. He usued to play extra piano in the 80's for Queen), they are the only group allowed to play music other than Queen!

It was like an intimate jam session, funnies and messing about, plus they can really do it live. Proper musicians.

Finally rounding off another hectic Saturday night with Queen disco again.

want me to carry on?????????

In the market place hall, there is an auction lot preview. Some of the things that Brian Roger, John and even Jim Hutton have donated towards the 2 specified charities. Vitalise which used to be the Winged Fellowship and I have to say, I forget the other one at this moment.

Usually, it's clothing, signed stuff, Rogers drumsticks etc. They all go for many hundreds of £'ssss.

Back to the ballroom for the Queen Quiz elimination round and we were anticipating guest interviews from Terry Giddings (Freddies chauffer) and John Brough (Queen producer/engineer) but neither turned up.

After that is the Q-Factor (like the x-factor but Queeny) All had good voices, that were being judged by Jeff Scott Soto, Phoebe a member of the public and Jim Jenkins (Queen officianado)

All did well especially a girl from California, singing Don't Stop Me Now.

Later on there was an interview with Freddies old school friend Bruce Murray. Quite interesting and he brought along an old pic of Freddie at school. Bruce now manages the Quireboys, if anyone from the 90's can remember them!

After that we had the charity auction which over runs. Not sure how much was raised but a grey t.shirt of Freddies that read "Under Pressure" sold for £990.00

Following that another guest interview this time with Phoebe. (Peter Freestone, Freddies personal assistant) He's a lovely and very approachable guy. Told some great stories and we all had a laugh.

Forgive me, but who is the guy with you Char?

The first event of the Friday evening was the karaoke at 7pm. That is usually held in a different part of the complex. I never usuallt go to that because I really don't like karaoke, but we sat thru it and met up with my ebay pals who are Queen fans too.

The official welcome was 8:50pm and then there was a special fans top 20 Queen songs/videos for us all to watch on the big screens. That took us thru the whole evening ending up with a Queen disco.

Saturday saw the opening of the "Market Place", where other Queen fans trade their wares, both Queenie and computer generated. There are some amazing things to buy and people are so nice, letting you take photos of their merchandise.

I bought a few things including the final 3" mini CD that I have been missing from my collection for about 15 years.

Also collaborated within the hall, is an Arts and Crafts exhibition where some people have laboured hours over their creations. A Queen cross stitch picture was a joint winner with 4 hand made dolls to look like Queen and their instruments. It always surprises me how much effort people put into making this stuff.

Also in this hall, there are a coupel of Queen experts who value items and tell a bit about the history etc. That is always very interesting.

One thing they say every year, Freddie never signed his name with a "y". Please don't buy off ebay anything signed with a Y or after 1991 because Freddie died in 1991!

Night Silver, congrats on the 900...........

Yes we had a brill time thanks. Friday we got there after a 5½hr journey, stuck in traffic. I thought I was going to be late for the "welcome". Usually Keith who organises the event, has a chat over the mic and then introduces Jacky - our leader. (Runs the QFC)

Then we get to see on huge screens, the personal message from Brian and Roger.

The sound people cocked up this year as Brian May was half way thru his message before they turned the sound up! Slightly annoying, but we were promised another viewing as the weekend went along.

The convention is held at a holiday camp company called Pontins and this year it was in Brean Sands in Somerset. The main attractions take place in the ballroom with stage, to which either side is a huge 20ft screen for the benefit of people near the back of the hall.

I thought of Andy Fluffington this year as there is always a camera man following the stage events.

Leona, no I never got the chance to start a thread about the convention. RL stuff etc.

Ask me anything you want..........

It's a cosy place to be in the oldlings isn't it Char?

Hello Leona, nice to see you again

Heeeeey I'm back, hello all. Nighty night to all the ones I've missed whilst indulging in Queen.

I'm good thanks Kath, will tell all about it soon.

Vicky, there's only 1 thing that can tear me away from MikaFC and that's Queen. Be back after I promise xxx

fantastic Wendi thanks. I feel stupid for gushing about it so much, but you don't know how long I have waited to have a gorgeous new room. (Brown recliner is getting thrown out eventually)

Here's a link. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/1003/Queenie/?action=view&current=RoomcompleteApr08.flv

Hi folks, thought I might be about on here tonight, but RL got in the way - again!

QUEEN are on Al Murray tonight if anyone's interested!!!!!! 10pm ITV1

If anyone was wondering about Clare, she sent me a letter (snail mail) to say she is having ongoing internet problems, so that is why she has not been about for over a week.

Well I am off to bed now too. Was waitng for a video to upload but it's still at only 46%.

Nighty night everyone that is left.xx

Fascinating phunkygal. I like to analyse dreams. I too dreamed of Mika last night, but in my dreams he's uninterested in me. He was driving a small Citroen C5 car up and down London streets, with me trying to catch him.

Analysis of that I suspect is chasing a dream that is unattainable in real life?

Wendi going too. Nighty night sweet one.

Night AMP, enjoy your bath.

Come on Vicky, do your usual orgasmic-Mika picture posting before I go to my bed...please

Night pooh, I hope you sleep undisturbed.

Night Vicky. xx Sleep well.

Nighty night ruth too.

Hi weealx. How have you been?

Will keep tapping my fingers then Rose........

Phunkygal, have you looked at the date on the piece? Mind you it could be real. My nephew went quiet one day while his mum and I were upstairs. He's only used duct tape all around his bits!

Hey Shari! Welcome back! Rose has kept us in Limbo with her pictures. LMAO!

Hehehe Char, another one making us wait patiently eh?

Hi Wendi, been gorgeous here too. Really spring like. My "Bleeding Heart" plants are looking so pretty.

BTW, when I called you from the convention, I apologise if it was late. What did it sound like. My phone is carp!

Hi again.

Rose, did you post any piccies whilst I was away over the last 4 days?

Hello Ruth, xx

Hello Char, thank you. It's a bit hectic here what with the decorating/carpet laying/assembling furniture, and I haven't had time to go thru my vids yet. Looked at some of the piccies and am quite pleased with how they have come out seeing as it's a new camera to get used to! They all could quite easily have been rubbish.