Thursday, May 31, 2001

Well I'm on a roll so I might as well get right up to date.

LOST WEEKEND #2 (in a farmhouse in Ripponden...)

Was meant to be up in time to go to the gym. After the few beers from last night I decided this wasn't wise. Good move. Got myself organised and ended up in Soho at the Edge to meet everyone at 1pm for the minibus trip up north. The gang eventually all turned up - Stevie P, Richard, Suzie, Craig Wa, Craig Wr, Bruce, Billy, Javier and my good self. Thus by 2pm we were on our merry way. We stopped for scran and so on, and finally arrived at the infamous Misty Moor at about 6.45pm. Many an introduction and then people started getting ready. We'd very kindly been invited to a house-warming party by some people we didn't know, and we got there at 9pm. Not before I'd spotted a very nice man by the name of Andy. The party was fun - nice place, nice people - and slowly we began to be more a part of the crowd. Guest list to Essential had been organised, and so we had to be there by 11.30pm, so we made a move at 10.30pm. I was sad to hear that the lovely Andy wouldn't be joining us, though would be back at Misty later.

So, minibus ho to Manchester. Arrived at the club and met up with more people - Jonnie B for one. The club was fun - friendly, nicely laid out - I had been once last year but had forgotten! The locals didn't think too much of the music, but most of our crew thought it OK. There was a tragic PA - Sweet Pussy Pauline - guest vocalist on the Candy Girls tracks from 1996(?), and she was a shocker. Things picked up after that - they managed to get everyone back dancing again by playing Revolution by Rich B - a tune that Darryl had heard the previous week and been banging on about. Great track. We danced until just after 3am when we thought we should head back to Misty. We were there, showered and changed with drink in hand to let the minkering commence around 4am. And did it commence. Boy oh boy oh boy!

I don't think I've ever been anywhere quite like it. Paul and Alan (our gracious, lovely hosts) have converted an old farmhouse into a great house - and a great party venue. Enough room for dancing, quiet areas, balconied areas, mantle halfway up the fireplace to dance on, disco lights, club style sound system - fantastic. Must have been around 70 people there. It just went off. Completely mad. It beggars description unless you were there really. I think the music was only really turned off properly at 4.30am Monday morning. Ay caramba. Never seen a crowd so up for a good time. Met loads of fantastic people. Best news of all though was that Andy was there as anticipated and he turned out to be the most lovely guy. We spent most of the weekend together and it was a lot of fun. I finally slept for the first time about an hour before the music went off, and woke at 9.45am Monday morning.

The place at that stage looked like carnage. We were meant to be heading home by midday. However, once people had coffee and toast and kind of came round, it only took Revolution to be back on the stereo (about 8 times in succession) and it kicked off again. We were then leaving at 2pm. Then 3pm. Then 4pm. Then 6pm. We left at 6.20pm having had the most fantastic time. Andy is a very lovely man indeed. He'd gone home and returned and it was nice to catch up with him again before I left. Everyone was very sad to leave, and the minibus trip home was much more subdued. Eventually home by midnight. Thanks to Stevie P for organising it, Paul and Alan for hosting it, everyone else for being such good fun and to Andy, just for being so lovely. Sigh. I'd heard so much about the Misty Moor parties from Paul who we met in the Canaries and it was my first (and last) one. I'm so, so glad I didn't miss out. Next stage? Misty Moor International - the web cam link to Sydney for the first two centre party experience!!

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