Pinch me!

Clockwise from left: Mark, Koos, Jim, Debby, Stephanie, Gary, Jill and me

It didn't really happen...
Or did it?

Was I really there? Did I do what I remember doing?
Or was it all a dream?

No, it was REAL and I have witnesses too!!!

It's 5pm and I'm very cold, I'm walking in Richmond on my way to the Aisla Taverna in the hope that I will find some of my fellow bloggers, before the Basement Jam.

As soon as I open the door, I hear my name. Mark and Jill are there. So is Koos F, who is a boy by the way. Sitting with us are Gary and Stephanie, Jim and Debby, all from the USA, all fantastic. After a while Delbut is there too. This is great!

After a couple of drinks, we head for the Oceanic Studios. It's still freezing. I meet Paul and Pieter from Holland and Andrea from Italy. People start gathering around the gates and the anticipation and excitement are evident from everyone...

Finally the gates open and we go in the basement studio. There are chairs and tables, so we pick one and we sit down. It's freezing because the air conditioning is on.

My heart is beating fast... I'm finally here!

The show starts at around 7:30pm from the Attic.
And then we see Rachel coming down. The applause are bringing the house down. I'm so happy!

Mikey with his lovely voice, which I find more amazing everytime I hear it, sings five beautiful songs, and my favourite Plasticine is among them. In his final song, Pigeon Friend everybody's joining in. This is starting to be a great night!

Simon. Ah, Simon! So happy to see him live again. I love his songs so much, and I was so happy that now I knew all the ones he performed tonight. He perfomed six awesome songs including Save Me From Me, Girl In New York (*sob*) and ending with Sex Change, Simon delivered a brilliant performance. And I was getting warmer...

Then Foy hit the stage. What can I say? I think since the Bedford gig I had the need to see Foy sing again. I absolutely loved the last song Bailie's Blood. Foy's got a unique voice with such feeling. An incredible talent.

During the break I met Mikey who signed my CD and took this picture with me. He's so sweet. Simon was very sweet too to sign my Simontownshendis CD. Thank you both so much, you are so kind!

After the break: RACHEL! Her songs and voice have been the soundtrack of the last two months and for me was like coming home, when she started singing Into My Heart. Her band was incredible tonight! Rachel was amazing! Lovely Spin and Jigsaw made my day!

And then another break. And then something happened, this is where it got surreal. I saw Rachel in front of me, I called her name and I introduced myself. She said hi very sweetly, like she knew me forever and then she said "Marietta, come to the Attic with me"

I was dreaming, right? Mark and Jill came with us and we entered a room, which was probably the control room. A man was standing in the middle of the room and said hi politely. Rachel introduced me, then Mark and Jill, and the man shook my hand. A warm handshake, a warm smile that warmed my heart.

The man was Pete Townshend.

I always thought that if I ever met Pete I would just stare and say something like "bradithn klstewa parlsx". Tonight another Marietta said to him "I am so happy to meet you" and I smiled back at him.

I can't remember how I got in the Attic. By flying? Floating? Dunno. So there we were, Mark, Jill and lil' ol' mois, us ordinary bloggers, with Queen Blogger Rachel, in the friggin' Attic!!!! The very room we watched every week. This was getting too good to be true. And then we were live! I got hyper and I was talking continuously, don't know if anyone noticed, but I feel bad about it now. But it was a magical moment. Rachel is so sweet to invite us. I gave her the Little Book Of Quitting, which I hope it will help her.

Back in the room, I mean the studio, Mr Pete Townshend gave a performance that made me scream, shout, faint, dizzy, all together.

Behind Blue Eyes was just incredible. He was amazing.
Blue Red and Grey uniquely sung.
Pete told us about the history of the studio where we were and he was very sweet and funny, in a great mood.

I had a taxi waiting outside, so I ran quickly to let them know I will be another 20 minutes. The show took another half hour, with Pete ending his performance with a fabulous Let's See Action and then Rachel and Pete together singing amazingly Sunrise and Just Breathe.

The show ended with the whole gang singing Shine, which was fantastic. I don't think I've heard it before, I loved it!

It was time to go. I walked out in the cold, but I was warm inside. My cab driver was waiting patiently for me. I said to him "Sorry to keep you waiting so long. If there's anything extra I'll gladly pay it. In fact, I don't care if you charged me a million pounds, a night like tonight is worth it!!!!"