London, Dec 6, 2010.. The review

[ludovica64]

What a wonderful review Ella. I am so happy you enjoyed having the surplus bits and bobs from the various VIP packages. It was wonderful to meet you and Itai and it would have been nice to hang out more, but I think we were all so focused on the concert nothing else much mattered. I was definitely "on a mission" (other people like Vikki and Nancy know what a laser focus I develop LOL)and had been for that whole excruciating week of ice and snow and TERRIBLE travel disruption. I am so glad we were able to get such a great spot for you and your great camera (and camera skills) and I dont know if you knew this, but as soon as we were with Al he told Graham to phone you and get you to come up with us, but we couldn't reach you so we were very glad to see you later and it was a relief that you got to meet him after all. Thank you THANK you for the myriad photos and clips. You captured the confusion at the start, (uniquely, I think?) and a lot of the talking parts.. and Al doesn't talk to the audience all that much generally. Anyway it was enough to hear how raw his throat sounded, and the WBUL footage .. well... to say nothing of the great chant as well and a few other prime bits, enough to give everyone a taster, but with mostly about 30 second clips its hardly as if theyre bootleggy. GREAT camera work, and much better sound than on that other guys clips. I'm so grateful you did this. I simply would have forgotten to switch the camera on at all
I don't know if Al will return to the UK.. I hope he will, but I still hold that its easier to go to the US. I would never have managed to go to either Manchester or London if it wasnt for John in Manchester putting me up and getting to share a hotel with Graham. London was a triumph and, other than the weather it was just one good thing after another. Manchester was tough. I dont fancy doing that again, not my favourite city.
London was pretty much perfect for me though in every aspect. I just wish every day of my life was that good.
Ella.. I thought 2008 was my "once in a lifetime"... believe me.. now you've been bitten by the bug... you will be back if its humanly possible !

incidentally. It took longer coming back on the train from Manchester to Lymington that day than it takes to fly from Heathrow to Philadelphia. We were stuck at Milton Keynes for four hours waiting for a signalling failure to be straightened out. Other trains people had to sleep overnight on.. crazy weather