Weekender 2006: Review
A Weekend Through The Eye’s Of A Soulgirl And A Soulbag!

Review by Karen Bridges

 

Cor blimey! What a stonkin’ weekend. I’m like a shriveled prune having lost all my internal water supply which is now just a crusty memory on the beer towel I stole from the Bar in the main room. My feet, yet again, feel as though they have been abused by an overzealous prostitute armed with a barbed kipper. I’m not condoning theft in any shape or form but come on, was it hot or what! It’s now 9am Tuesday morning having had good nights sleep. Only got 2 hours sleep Sunday night before driving 8 hours back to Poole!

FRIDAY
The journey was a ‘same old same old’ affair. The sun shone brilliantly all the way so the pink glitter came out to play on my car as we zoomed up the 300 miles of motorway to Cleethorpes.

Carole and Steve Csordas had already arrived and were sunning themselves on the veranda of B27 – our 2nd year in this caravan just a stumble from the main entrance. Taking my necessities indoors I suddenly realized, to my absolute horror, that not only had I left my jimjams in the tumble dryer at home, I had also left my bloody towel! Wasn’t too much of an issue really, it was hot enough to dry off quickly and I used a tea towel hahahahaaaa. That’s soul for ya! Steve paraded around the veranda in his pants for our entertainment – god knows what the neighbours thought LOL. Marcell and Chris came over for drinky poo’s as did Keith and Maxine Woon together with Paula and Andy.

Alcoholically limbered we skipped over to the main hall. Lovely to see the same security staff as always, they’re so lovely. The main hall was rammed and the air already damp. I got some seriously wet dancing in throughout the night stopping every now and then to shake hands or hug – it’s an annual tradition! I wore my new offensive t-shirt. “Sorry girls, I suck dick” emblazoned across my chest. Fed up with being mistaken for a lesbian this I hope made it quite clear that I’m not LOL.

I perused the record bar in search of likely photographic candidates… there were some miserable buggers in there I tell you. Evidence abound if you look through them.

The dance competition got under way around midnight and there were a fair few entrants this year. I got some great photos of them, especially the Italian Stallion. I don’t know the winner, but he had some good footwork going on and the Irish lad really went for it… you can tell he really gets into the music. Respect! – Trickster tried, albeit flimsily, to enter incognito. I said to him “didn’t you stop to think that everyone knows your style of dancing?” Still, it was all good fun and gave a welcome break to my own weary feet. Marcell tried hard to be a soulie demanding I take a photo of her beer towel tucked in her trousers :o) 4.30am came and I turned on my heels in search of B27 – it was time for bed but not before I had my inaugural annual chicken burger (bleurgh!) The café was very busy so the Soulbag did her rounds for the eager crowd as any celebrity would.

The Soulbag got some action tonight – being hugged by all and sundry desperate to hold her black glittery fluffyness. I don’t know the name of the guy in the brown shirt and glasses holding it but I can tell you, he wasn’t very enthusiastic at all LOL. And didn’t Winnie look fabulous with his new hair do! Talking of fabulous, Soulful Cris looked absolutely stunning – I haven’t seen her since Rimini last year now that she lives abroad.

SATURDAY
Yay… the first afternoon session drew near. As you all know, they’re my favorites – the dance floor is empty! Guess what? I wore a girlie dress and shoes! I know, you didn’t think I owned legs LOL. There is a fab photo of my shoes that you can see here. Don’t suppose anyone got a photo of me in a dress did they?

The DJ’s for the day were fashioned around the World Cup (what ever that is). I love hearing what the foreign guys and girls do – always something a little different. Even our British lads did themselves proud. I must say I felt really odd dancing in a dress but after 4 pints of lager I don’t think I cared anymore. My wedges pounded that floor in clouds of talc that Johnsons would be proud of haha. Not having stolen the beer mat yet I had to swab my dripping face with tissues discarding my spectacles that did nothing more than slide down my nose!

Lindsay and I missed Saturday night after her bad news about Nige Shaw – we stayed in a chatted then fell asleep on the sofa. :o(

SUNDAY
Linsday and I decided a full English was required for our Sunday morning breakfast… over to the Beachcomber it was. I love it and hate it. The smell of frying fat makes me want to heave but the girls are lovely and the tea is strong. They were so kind bringing our breakfast to the table instead of having to go up to collect it – perhaps they could see my throbbing feet under the table from my dancing yesterday? Satiated we headed back to the van to get a few more menthols and Smirnoff Ice’s in before getting changed for the afternoon session.

Back Door Kenny was first up – a lovely mix of mid tempo amongst others. He looked absolutely fuckfaced so not sure how he managed to stand up there for an hour – kudos to him :o) There was a couple of lads called Eddie Hubbard and Tom – their set was just great – danced to most of it and Andy, he did a great set too. Mick Smith was up without his famous moustache! I’d read about it on Soul Source but this was the first time I’d seen him without it – he looks SO different!

Lindsay and I got fuckfaced ourselves during the afternoon. I started off in a long sleeved t-shirt, fuck knows why! An hour later I was sporting my abracadabra offensive one, stomping and hurtling around the floor like an overweight gibbon! I can’t help it… that music plays and I’m transported someplace no-one else is *shrug*.

Did anyone else think the questions for the quiz were read out really quickly this year? Anyway, I won the booby prize for the 2nd year running. That bought another round of drinks thank you very much and ensured I had a new CD to play in the car for the journey home hehe.

It was lovely to see Mat Bolton dance again – he glides around the floor like breeze.

Tracy was up to the stage to draw the tickets for the raffle that was arranged for Nige Shaw – they raised well over £600 which was lovely and I’m sure when Nigel is well again he’ll be over the moon.

Back at the van I had a lovely chat with Marcell and Chris, such a lovely couple. Sat there with my feet in a cold bowl of water was a necessity. Suddenly I came over all queer (no, not ‘that’ kinda queer), I think I must have been so dehydrated and possibly affected by the heat. A pint of water and lay down on the veranda I came back to life. Our neighbours had partied through the afternoon with a BBQ and a paddling pool! We were well jealous! I wanted a power nap but I knew if I shut my eyes that would be it so I battled on got my self ready for the evening’s party night. My tea towel was now rather useless but who cares LOL.

On with a trusty pair of black trousers I wandered back to the main hall – taking residence in the now empty record bar. Only 3 beers and some water for me this evening. The Soulbag got some more action – even Darrow Fletcher begged for a photo, well, I couldn’t disappoint him could I? He looks good for his age doesn’t he! He told me it was all down to his diet of liquidized vegetable and fruit drinks… I’m sure I spotted a packet of fags in front of him though LOL. I danced all evening – sometimes on the floor but mostly on the carpet where we were stood. The end came so quickly finding Lindsay and I trotting past the full swimming pool. Full of clothed northern soulers! I wasn’t having any of that. I was dripping wet anyway! Normally I’m a good girl on the Sunday night knowing how far it is to drive home but this year saw me falling on the sofa at 4am – eek! We had our final cup of tea in the café before heading back to the van and said our final goodbyes to the others that were also taking advantage of the open-all-hours eatery.

Thank you body clock for waking me up at 6am. Not happy! Still, meant we got on the road for 8.30am after doing the housework in the caravan before setting off.

What an absolutely brilliant weekend. I talked my Husbands ears off when he got in from work.

Thank you once again Ady, super memories with super people and more than super music. Photo's are up... >>> HERE <<<

Yours in soul,
Karen x