LDN-DND

8 in the morning and we're driving down the motorway towards London. At this point however, I am completely unaware of this fact, as I am asleep.

The hotel was ok. I immediately grabbed the first shower, got clean, and headed out. I've been to London only once before, but I didn't really pay attention. I think I was ill or something. Anyway, I'm good at finding my way around strange places. I got on the Underground to Picadilly Circus after paying a stupid amount of money for a ticket. I tried to take pictures but they didn't come out too well and people looked at me funny.

Picadilly Circus was kinda cool. I've never been there before, so it was a bit like walking onto a film set, seeing something you've only ever seen in pictures before. I looked at the statue of Eros and remembered the little in-joke. It made me smile.

I picked a random direction and started walking. I figured, this is London, so whichever way I walk, there's gonna be something to see. I was right. Two minutes later I'm at Trafalgar Square. I tried to take pictures of Nelson's Column but I had to stand so far back that the focus messed up and it blurred. I probably could have taken an ok one, but to get in the place I want, I'd need to be dodging traffic.

I walked past Downing Street. I was shocked to see the big fences at each end, and then realise it makes sense. If they weren't there then people would just throw stuff. It's the same at the Houses of Parliament. I spent ages trying to get a good photo of me and Big Ben, and then set my watch by it. There was a statue of William Churchill facing it. He looks like Goldfinger to me.

I took a stroll down the Thames. It made me feel quite poetic, or like I was in a romantic comedy. I ended up back at Picadilly circus and remembered that the Bathing Ape store was nearby. So I walked over to a bus stop to look at the map. I couldn't find the street the store was on, but something else caught my eye. In the bottom left hand corner I see this street, tucked away, called Lillie Road. Now, in life, certain opportunities present themselves, and you have the chance to do something unexpected. This was one of those times. So I jumped on the Underground and scooted my little romantic ass over. I walked down this road, trying to find a street sign to take a picture with. 15 minutes later, I find one that suffices. Now bare in mind I had to wait 10 minutes for the tram, then another 10 minute journey to get to the actual street. Some people may wonder why I went to all this trouble. Well, if you know me, you know that I don't pass up chances to be romantic very often. If I can do something for my Lily (even if she isn't actually MY Lily any more), then I'll do it. Things like that still mean a lot, whatever the circumstances.

After walking another 15 mins back to the Underground station (what the hell man, so you spent 50 minutes to get one lousy photo? Yes motherfucker, I did, now get off my back. I'm sweet, sue me) I headed over to Kings Cross to get a picture of the wall between platforms 9 and 10. I figure I'm here, why not? I got a nice surprise when I arrived to take a picture of a blank wall however. There's like a sign saying 'Platform 9 3/4', and a luggage trolley stuck halfway through the wall. Bad fuckin' ass.

The rest of my night consisted of me heading back to the hotel, my Mum thinking I was dead because she hadn't hear from me, watching Skins, not being able to sleep, getting lost on the way to the Apollo and taking an hour to make a 5 minute journey, being mistaken for Gabe Saporta, and eventually going to sleep with a headache.

Day two, I woke up at about 11, stayed in bed till about 11:40 (so what, I'm on vacation). The problem being we had to check out at 11:30, so the cleaners kept knocking on the door trying to get me out. I got ready in record time and rolled out at a quarter to twelve. My sister, the little lurker that she is, went down to the venue at 7 in the morning, so I knew I had a front row place guaranteed. The doors opened at 5:30, so I spent the day wandering around, trying to avoid talking to random kids, and avoiding being on MTV. Seriously, if that shit ever goes on MTV, there's like a bunch of kids screaming to the camera, and then there's this one dude with a chicks hoodie and flip flops leaning on this shitty ass white van looking all sultry. I expect to spot that shit on Youtube.

Pretty uneventful day. Saw Panic in a hairdressers, which was kinda unexpected. I guess dudes gotta look good.

Got straight to the front at the show. Started out fun. Cobra Starship impressed me, but they didn't really fill the room. Full version of 'Snakes' was bad ass though, with Travie and William Beckett.

I haven't really given The Academy Is' new album much of a listen, but the songs sounded awesome live, and I rocked that on my ipod on the drive home.

Gym Class kicked ass. I wasn't sure how receptive the crowd would be, because last time I saw them in a support slot was with Fall Out Boy at the Academy in Manchester, and like half the people in there booed. They totally came through though for London and everyone loved it, especially the token scream when Patrick came out to sing Cupids Chokehold.

At that point, when GCH walked off stage, I decided that I didn't like being crushed by 15 year old girls. I wasn't even standing up on my own anymore, liek you tkae away the people around me and I'd have just fallen straight over. So I backed up to a safe distance to watch P!ATD.
Panic were so amazing. I've never seen them live before, and from beginning to end they were just perfect. Played new songs, which were awesome, totally what I was expecting, and totally spot on. The crowd reactions, the stage presence, everything was just perfect. I can't wait for them to tour the new album.

So then I'm waiting there expecting Fall Out Boy to come out any minute. It had been about 40 minutes since Panic left the stage, and I see peopel around me getting restless. Then Dirty walks out and I'm like 'finally'. He grabs a mic and announces that there's a little surprise. I'm still reeling from Panic so I'm like 'what now?'. I'll tell you what now. Fucking Tom from the Plain White T's walks out and plays 'Hey There Delilah'. Everyone sings along, it's just amazing.

So after all that, Fall Out Boy take the stage. They're a lot more polished than the last time I saw them. The whole set smacked of pop style, but it was still damn good. Travie rapping over 'The Take Over', the covers of 'Beat It' and 'Ignition', the Timbaland track getting played, albeit minus the man himself, throwing the 'Dance Dance' moves down in front of a bunch of kids who've only ever heard these guys on the radio, and two-stepping to Saturday. The only bad thing was Pete looking as if he didn't want to be there, but that's so minor compared to the rest of the show I don't even care. By the time everyone left I was so wired on adrenalin I couldn't keep my legs from shaking.

I managed to get rid of it and sleep on the drive home. Got in at 6:30 and passed out.

Same time next year.

xxo