The Gig That Never Was

[joolz]

Well folks, we're back...from our Tarts Tour of Barcelona....more like a 72hour scene from Mad Dogs!!!

First off all I can say is I have seriously NEVER laffed so much in all my life - I feel like ive done about 500 situps from the pain in my stomach/rib area..

So as you know, ManTart & myself invited a few virgin TOURists on this little trip, just to give them a taste of life in the UB40 fast lane - so there's us two, Dean (my mate), Johhnie & Mark..(Paul's mates) we all met in Leeds Bradford airport for a quick shandy before boarding the cattle truck to sunnier spain! Everything going to plan, no delays, no travel traumas....nice one!

Despite a few of us being split up on the plane as we were way too tight to reserve a £10 seat next to each other we continued our beverage consumption soaked up by the obligatory inflight peanuts and started swapping tour tales!

We landed in at Barcelona Airport - ontime! Our wonderful Xaivier 'courtesy driver' squeezed us into his tiny car and we made haste across town to our hotel...In The Ghetto! Quite literally as we were about to alight the car the texts started coming through that the gig was cancelled..we shrugged it off at first thinking - yeh yeh you blooming loonie jokers! There's No Traumas on this Tour! Only to have it quite literally confirmed from the horses mouth

OMG you can not even believe the shock ManTart & I was in... plus the fact we'd dragged our friends across the water for actually (no reason!) All Paul and I could do was look at each other - we'd look away, then look back at each other in shock, disapointment, upset, not quite believing it...but it was true.

We unpacked our bags - ok rehrase that, we threw them in our hotel rooms and headed straight for La Ramblas...well, we needed to drown our sorrows Pronto!! The cocktails flowed..and slowly our dissapointment and disbelief soon turned to much hilairty, raucous jokes, and the notion that we had to make the best of this weekend away in a FABULOUS city as everyone seemed to be getting along just fine to say they didnt know each other some 4 hours earlier!

After mucho vino, cocktails, champagne and tapas, we were well in the Spanish laid back frame of mind! Some more so than others... but the less I talk about ManTarts friend the better!!!!! (although he 'being the oldest of the group' was the craziest!!

The next day saw blue sky - sunshine - a stiff breeze - and us sat by the beach propping up the Ice Bar..and so the quaffin of Champagne started all over again, well we needed some lubrication after our 'cheese n ham' sarnie breakfast - what is it with cheese and ham on the continent!!?? Anyway our wonderful hostess was much obliging when we told her we were here to watch UB40, we'd travelled from the UK, and the gig was cancelled, she swiftly cranked up her DJ skills and UB40 was piped through the bar on a loop...and so we danced until the morning light...on the beach in the sun, with a great bunch of guys, reliving stories, jokes, situations all mixed in with some serious belly laughing

I would like to say we then went and took in some sight seeing, and city culture - but - we didnt!! Our sorrows were well and truely drowned this weekend, my skin is well and truely de-hydrated, my stomach still hurts, my face aches from laughing and ive made some close bonds with good friends.

So in a way, I have to thank UB40 for kinda not being there.... we all had a fantastic fun filled weekend : geez even on the flight home we still had the energy to poke fun at each other and howl with laughter!

Tarts Tour Traumas continue.............. hehehehe xx

Big Love to ManTart its been AMAZING!!! Thanks for organsing our flghts/hotel/transport etc.... right - dare we plan to go to Russia or what????

[hickpaul.96]

So the moral of the story is:

Take Joolz with you as she's ace at doing post-gig (gig less) reports!

That was a brilliant read, here's a couple of pics...

[Leidy Maas]

Great Read , nice pics.

[Homely Girl]

Awwww, it all turned out fine in the end....

Great read Joolz and delighted that you all had a brilliant time. UB40 or no UB40, the Tarts sure know how to have a good time

Russia? Russia?

Gx

[hickpaul.96]

Russia Russia is too expensive - plus it's midweek.

On t'other hand, Lithuania is on a Saturday night and you can fly for £100ish out of Luton (Friday AM) and in to Doncaster (Sunday). Ummmmmm

Shall we?

[~Shaz~ (aka DubGal)]

nice one tarts..mission accomplished..sorta!

[Homely Girl]

Originally Posted by hickpaul.96

Russia Russia is too expensive - plus it's midweek.

On t'other hand, Lithuania is on a Saturday night and you can fly for £100ish out of Luton (Friday AM) and in to Doncaster (Sunday). Ummmmmm

Shall we?

Would be rude not to

Are they deffo on though? Is Duncan fit?

Gx

[hickpaul.96]

Originally Posted by Homely Girl

Would be rude not to

Are they deffo on though? Is Duncan fit?

Gx

Well Dunx bought a new hat for the occasion so I assume he'll make sure he's fit just so he can wear it!

By the way, better to go Friday PM from Stanstead.

What d'ya think?

[lisa]

Nice read. Glad you had a good time anyway!

[joolz]

... no can do on the Lith side....work work work that weekend im afraid. Looks like your on your own ManTart..plus side is you prob wont have a Travel Trauma if Im not there! lol

Ohhhh im soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo tired when is this working day over