Rimini Rare Soul Weekend 2006
With everything packed, including my new bib (you’ll see what I mean when you look at the photos!), Lindsay and I arrived at Stanstead with excited anticipation of what the weekend would bring. Being my fourth Rimini I knew what to expect and I couldn’t wait!
Arriving just in time for lunch, having had to catch a bus, train and cab to the resort, we made a bee-line to my favourite eatery… the orange one. Satiated we headed back to the Waldorf Golden Tulip for a middle-aged snooze before putting on the glitz for our first nighter.
A girl called Tina played some nice tunes outside the IO Bar for our pre-party warm-up. Andy BB excitedly bought one which put a cheeky schoolboy grin on his face and I must say – it was an absolutely beautiful track by someone Roberts? See, I’m crap at remembering records LOL.
Having enjoyed our pre-party drinkypoo’s upstairs we all gathered our shit and trundled down the stinky steps to what was going to be our first night of musical delight. I wasn’t disappointed at all – the DJ’s chose choons that made me feel alive and I skipped around the dance floor in my naughty tee-shirt like the naughty girl I am *titter*. Lot’s of hellos and photographs later the lights went up. It had gone soooo quickly. At first I thought something was wrong because I couldn’t believe it was already finished. It was close to 5.30am and I wasn’t even tired. The Soulbag also took time to acquaint herself with old friends. She only came out the one night – upstaging me? I’m not having that!!
Convening upstairs we carried on drinking, laughing, smoking and chatting – I didn’t want this night to end. Still, bed called me at around 8am so Lindsay and I stumbled back to the Hotel just in time for Breakfast. The waitress’ eyes widened as she learned we had just stole in from a whole night of partying and the other guests just looked and whispered about us as I noisily made toast in the annoyingly slow toast machine!
Lindsay, Jason and I chatted bollox for a couple of hours in our room – leaving briefly to purchase the re-supply of beer, they found me in slumber upon their return! After around 5 hours sleep we nipped out to buy pizza and enjoyed our feast by the rooftop pool. Mustering enough strength to dip our toes in the hot water was about all I could manage – besides, I didn’t want to get harpooned such a short time into my Italian holiday did I!
Another mid-life nap beckoned so my wrinkled batteries could be restored for what promised to be yet another soulful hot and sticky night ahead. The muster point was already buzzing by the time we’d got our shit together and we enjoyed cold beers at the café before descending the stairs once again for more soul and serenading. I’d donned yet another naughty tee-shirt affirming yet again my attention whoring status I’ve worked so hard to achieve, that by the end was wringing wet with soulful sweat.
Arthur Fenn, Terry Jones, John Weston, Dave Thorley, Christian B, Barbara Grassi, Soulful Chris, Simone and Christian whipped the dancer’s arses with an array of soul that rewarded them with appreciating adulation and respect. The listeners weren’t to go empty eared either and I witnessed a lot of foot tapping and swaying in their chairs.
‘Not again!’ the lights lit and the bouncers huddled us together like unsuspecting lambs for slaughter. It was morning again and I couldn’t believe it! Huddled whispers and silent pointing in my direction suddenly made me realize that yes, I had stayed up all night for the 2nd night in a row! I’m not sure how I did it and no, I was not aided and abetted by any small helper either. Woohooo…. I got to sit outside while the sleepy sun rose in the air, drinking café latte and wine! Yes wine! The IO café bar graciously adorned us with gratis vino as a thank you for our custom. How nice was that! Actually, I think the wine was the morning before! It’s all blending into one long day I can’t remember exactly what happened on what day. I do remember that Terry Jones said his goodbyes and everyone cheered…. Except me! I booed LOL. Not to him but to his leaving – thanks Liz for making me feel so terrible about that. I had to explain to Terry the following day the meaning behind my booing. I just didn’t want anyone to leave!
Back to the hotel for breakfast and more noisy toast making and more noisy snoring… meeting up with Tracy, Pete and Jason, Lindsay and I enjoyed a fantastic lunch at my fave orange restaurant again. Paul joned us too. Three hours and a hundred euros later we strolled back to the hotel for some tea. Room service had gotten used to our telephone tantrums for tea with milk and no longer delivered a tray with lemon slices. Lindsay and I chatted wearily about the weekend so far but the huge lunch had taken it’s toll. I fell asleep again….
LINDSAY! WHAT TIME IS IT I shouted. I had woken to find outside pitch black and my stomach turned as I tentatively awaited her startled response. It was around 11pm! Bloody hell – I jumped out of bed with legs like Bambi and skidded into the shower. We were ready in record time and nestled between those we love back at the café bar above IO. Getting one beer in before flashing our wristbands to enter the bowels of soul we had yet another great night amongst friends. There were a lot of new faces this year which was lovely to see – I hope they all come again.
Rab, the annoying Scots lad went a tad too far and got escorted from the club only to appear like Mr Ben a few hours later with his tail between his legs… Bless him :o)
Mick Lloyd played some sixties sounds in the smoking room and for a short while we were shuffling and spinning in there with delight. Still, the main room beckoned and I skipped out, camera in hand, to capture the evenings event once more. I was fast running out of space on my 1 gig card so a quick perusal of pictures taken to date thinned them out appropriately to ensure the last night was caught for eternity.
The lights lit, indicating that yet again the night was all over. Where had the time flown this weekend. I scored an awake hat trick and sat with the rest, outside at the café bar, drinking half pints of bloody Baileys haha. What were we thinking? I made a new word up at the table which made Jason look at me with startled eyes and a chuckle. I can’t even remember how I used the word but it was Coiffant. Something betwixt coiffeur and bouffant. I must have been referring to someone’s hair do that meandered past our table at sunrise :o) Anyway, having purchased the most gorgeous pair of shoes from the porn shop Lindsay and I swayed drunkenly back to the hotel at 9am for a slightly quieter breakfast after which I took myself and my indigestion to bed.
The weekend was over – booohoooo. Still, before we left for the hotel I stopped Cris to thank her and everyone else for such a great weekend. Explaining my disappointment at not being able to buy the Rimini 06 CD at Cleethorpes she promptly placed one in my hand. I was made up and glad that we could listen to this on the way home in the car.
Arriving at Stanstead found me furious. The battery had gone flat and I had to await the arrival of the AA. I’m not a member and yet he jumped me free of charge. I say! Big it up the AA.
You’ll notice the last photographs are of a rather large dent in my rear panel… courtesy of a rather large lorry that couldn’t stop in time when the M25 went from 3 lanes down to one. He rear-ended me, knocked me sideways, and after a bit of 4-wheel weaving I came to rest in a graveled area to the shock of the workmen standing there. Of course, it was my entire fault according to him. He called the police and they were like, why have you called us, no one is hurt, the vehicles aren’t that damaged, and it’s something for the insurance companies to arm wrestle about. I was breathalysed, told I was sober as a judge, and released without charge :o)
So here I sit – reminiscing about another Rimini romance. See you all next year.
