A Midsummer Night's Dream

I seem to be having a lot of luck with my weekends as of late. It could be the consistently fabulous weather we've been having or it could just be that I feel a little magic in my life recently.

Friday night I had a special treat organised by BW. My Christmas present that I had so patiently waited for. Tickets to see ACDC at Wembley.


Well it's not just 40's Jazz that I'm into, I have very broad musical tastes I'll have you know!


I've seen a couple of amazing concerts but this topped the lot. Now there's a group of performers who know how to work an audience.


They love what they can do and you can see and feel that from the moment the concert starts to the very last bar. We had a fantastic time and rocked out to all our favourite's, even if we did have to slip out before the last song so I could get my suitcase from the information desk and make our trains.


I'm definitely going to create an act to one of their tunes. Wow.


So BW and I reluctantly parted ways at Kings Cross station. He was heading home but I had a gig on Saturday in London and was staying once again with Duchess Divine.


Saturday was hot, hot, hot. After a slow start and breakfast at the cafe up the road Duchess and I were about to head into Camden markets to pick up a few things I needed for my acts. Just before heading to the tube she suggested we check out the second hand store over the road. Of all the miracles!

I found the most divine 40's style navy and white hat, just the thing for the Chap Olympics. Now just to find the dress, gloves and shoes to match.


We strolled further along in the blazing sunshine ducking in and out of second hand stores and I remembered why I love op shopping. Before the second hand stores starting calling themselves vintage stores and tripled their prices my girlfriends and I would scour the stores and revel in the thrill of finding something secreted away amongst the rows of enormous osty-frocks and tiny shoes.


It seems there are still some real op shops left after all, and after discovering a 60s shift and a 20s inspired covered in so many sequins it looked like scales, we decided it would be best to head back to the house before I spent everything in my purse.


All good intentions of a rehearsal went out the window as neither of us had had a great deal of sleep the night before and before too long we were nanna napping. Thank god I did because it was to be a very long night ahead.


We woke to the raging thunderstorm that hit London in the early evening. It made me feel like I was back in Brisbane in the middle of Summer. The heat of the day culminating in the relief of a very heavy downpour.


Before too long I was ready and off to my gig. Or so I thought.


I had received a last minute booking via email late in the week and thought I had checked the address correctly, looked up google maps and wrote down all the travel details. How wrong I was! Lesson learnt, always check the postcode.


I found myself in the far reaches of East London feeling very conspicuous amongst the drunks and the lads. After a quick discussion with a mini cab driver I realised that I needed to be in North London. Essentially back where I came from.


Despite feeling a little irritated at my silly mistake I found myself in fairly good spirits and found my way to the venue, arriving in plenty of time.

and what a venue...


The evening was called Die Freche Muse, a 20s themed night in a magical building.

I was led upstairs to get ready and I felt like I'd entered another era. Chandeliers, stuffed birds, paintings, old lamps and an enormous dining table filled the cavernous space. Downstairs the elegant guests danced and drank to the jazz band playing and lounged around candled tables.


It was like coming home.


It was my luck to meet 2 of the other performers, the sweetest girls you'll meet. Chrys Columbine and Annette Bette. Annette saved my life when I put the biggest ladder you've ever seen through one of my stockings and my spare had mysteriously vanished from my case. Whipping out a spare pair of tights and some scissors she kindly let me create new stockings for my act. Phew!


Well I certainly hope to perform there again. Next time I'll have a bit of warning so will be sure to put the details up on my Events page so you can all join in the fun.


The inevitable race for the first train to Brighton was as expected but not nearly as hard thanks to my nanna-nap. In fact I was perky enough to watch the sun rise and see the low fog swirling over the countryside as the train chugged it's way home.


Imagining everyone tucked up in their beds as I witnessed the early morning spectacle, with Heartbeats by Jose Gonzales and Aqualung's Strange and Beautiful playing on my MP3 player it really did feel magic.