UK LRC more photos and "Thankyous"

[Manchester]

Yes I know, post title taken from the Lady herself, on my favourite album (tatty as it was, it is now signed by Janis!). After such an amazing experience there are so many people to thank, so at the risk of sounding like an actress at an award ceremony, indulge me.

First, and most importantly, to Janis. Not just for the most perfect day, but for giving so freely of your own time, and paying the crew to work when you get no reward – unless your payment is the forty beaming faces in rapt adoration of every note?
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/Million68/UK%20LRC/davidjanis.jpg
For all the time spent in signings, the photos, the patience and the smiles, but especially for the knock-out follow-on performance in Brighton last evening! Bravo!

Secondly, to birthday girl Rowy, for asking me to co-ordinate the event, and for paying for the superb venue and booking the accommodation for a whole week. (During Easter they only accept bookings for the whole week but Rowy graciously let the Rudies just pay for the nights they were there.) The venue was a group of cottages beautifully converted from a number of old barns in a wonderful countryside setting.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/Million68/UK%20LRC/view.jpg
I went through the whole gamut of emotions when Rowy asked me to help make it happen. From giddy, can't sleep, elation, to terrified, can't sleep terror! Rowy It has been a wonderful, once in a lifetime experience and a pleasure to work with you and Lynda on this project….. nearly 16 months in the planning, I think we may have pulled it off!

When Rowy asked me to go into this with her I told my darling hubby Mike we’d be putting up half the cost of the LRC. What he wasn’t aware of, until the show, was what the cost actually was! As Mike was there filming the event, I think we may have a little camera shake on the part where Janis tells us what the Pearl Foundation receives from each Living Room Concert! So, to the 19 Rudies who shared the cost of my 50% by replying to my post about the concert, you made it happen too. Thank You, I knew you wouldn’t let me down. My first question from Mike after the concert was “what if you hadn’t had any takers?” Hello? As if! ;) Rowy's places were allocated to her close friends because the original reason for the concert was to celebrate her 60th birthday in February. Nearer the time a few places became available and Rowy was able to invite Chris Sawyer, Greenpaul and Song.

To Mike UK, thank you for the superb summary of the performance as ever, and for being every bit as charming as I imagined you to be. It was also a pleasure to meet your lovely wife Susan, I think she and ‘my’ Mike had something in common… both are married to a Janis fanatic!

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/Million68/UK%20LRC/marjanmike.jpg
Marjan and MikeUK

…/

[Manchester]

(Part 2)
As MikeUK and Susan were only there for the LRC day he couldn’t include details or photos of the other gatherings the Rudies had over the four days. On the Friday evening 13 of us went to Rowy and Lynda’s local pub, The Blacksmith’s Arms, for a delicious meal, a great opportunity to get to know each other. On the Saturday more guests arrived and we had a BBQ planned (down, Redjack!), alas the heavens opened and it soon become a cook-in for 22 instead, accompanied by lots of Janis talk into the evening.
The LRC was on the Sunday and it was all hands to the pumps with Janis arriving at 12.00noon…. or so we thought! The car arrived at 11.30 and in strolled Janis, totally at ease and making herself drinks and chatting in the different cottages. Including the LRC, Janis was with us for nearly six wonderful hours! (Shhh…. Nobody mention the Terms & Conditions!).
On the Monday we had a day “at leisure” as they say in the holiday brochures. Most of us went into the nearby seaside town of Brighton for the day. Little did we know that Janis and crew were also there, visiting the same places we were….. I wonder if they did see us and had to hide in a fairground attraction? On the Monday evening 18 Rudies gathered at the Duke of York’s theatre for another stellar performance, where to our delight we had two rows of seats with “reserved” markers on them! Result = one bunch of very happy Rudies!
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/Million68/UK%20LRC/dukeyork.jpg
We also met Des for the first time with his lovely partner Julia. Des has a very interesting piece of film with Janis grinning into his camera, but it was so dark he didn’t realise it was directed at him!
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/Million68/UK%20LRC/twodavids.jpg
Des and DavidUK.


To the three other “European Janismaniacs” thank you all for travelling from abroad (well Wes, as a Lancashire lass, Yorkshire may as well be another country!) , it was an honour to meet the people I have seen on Janismania so often. Anna, you are just as lovely in person, and your killer wit had us in stitches! Wonderful.
Marjan, you too are just as nice as I expected, thank you for the StroopWaffels, and for being so good natured when I was repeatedly trying to sneak off with your gorgeous black denim Janis jacket!
Wes, well, what can I say, another incisive wit, it was great meeting you and delivering your hug from Dar – including the one which MikeUK should have had! ps, Wes, a tip for you for the Lowry gig… if the film is nearly at the end, chances are your camera may start rewinding automatically if you take a shot when Janis is talking! ;) /….

[Manchester]

(Part 3)
To the delightful and lovely SongDragon and your wonderful family. How many people would get off the red-eye flight from NY at 6.30am and drop their daughter/granddaughter/niece off at a remote farmhouse in another country with forty complete strangers? Song, your Aunt Liz is the best for helping us make it happen! I do hope you enjoyed the rest of your stay in the UK and that us Brits driving on the “wrong side” won’t scare you for your forthcoming drivers’ test! Thank you mostly for being a good secret keeper – in the face of lots of direct questions, you managed to keep the surprise for Janis. Quote from Janis: “What the Hell are YOU doing here?”!!! It was a pleasure having you with us, Song, thank you. http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/Million68/UK%20LRC/songsurprise.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/Million68/UK%20LRC/song.jpg
Song in Rudie heaven
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/Million68/UK%20LRC/chetjanissong.jpg
After this was taken Janis quickly sat up completely straight-backed and said to both Song and Chet, “Nah nah, I’m the tallest!”

To Chet. Apart from Rowy, I think you invested the most to attend, not just in terms of flights and vacation time but also time away from your family at a most difficult and sad time. It was such a pleasure to meet you and I do hope that you will take back many happy memories, along with your photos and autographs!

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/Million68/UK%20LRC/chetsign.jpg
NB, after this shot Chet got a hug and a kiss on the cheek!

[Manchester]

(Part 4)
As soon as Chet is home in Malaysia at the weekend I expect we will see a lot more photos in the Rudie Tour Gallery. I will send you mine Chet, although unfortunately a lot of them are blurred because I tried to take them in the LRC without disturbing Janis with my flash. :( BTW, following an earlier post, we have proof that Chet and Janis’ hands are the same size!
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/Million68/UK%20LRC/chethands.jpg

Chet with Henry
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/Million68/UK%20LRC/chethenry.jpg

Chet in Lewes with Marjan and DavidUK
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/Million68/UK%20LRC/inlewes.jpg

To PeteCC, who shared our car journey and our cottage, for keeping us entertained (or not) with his endless terrible puns and quick witted remarks – some of which were not PC, but hey! In Pete, my hubby found another fan of real ale and they then found a local brewery which suited their research needs!

Thank you Pete for taking charge of the food preparation and delegation when Rowy and I were with Janis pre-concert. To any interested girls out there, Pete would make a wonderful wife! I am certain that the “CC” part of his board name relates to “cooks and cleans”.

/….

[Manchester]

(Part 5)
PeteCC also talks to the animals…..
Eyes Front!
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/Million68/UK%20LRC/eyesfront.jpg
“Don’t be alama’d”, said Pete!
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/Million68/UK%20LRC/petecclamas.jpg

To Pete and DavidUK for taking me “to the seaside” on the Monday! I felt like a small girl again, ice creams on the promenade, cones of chips (fries) and fairground attractions on the pier, throwing pebbles into the sea, and wandering around idly ‘people watching’ and listening to buskers. Another special day to remember David, even though we couldn’t get you on the big circle spinning ride….! Thank you.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/Million68/UK%20LRC/seafront.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/Million68/UK%20LRC/fairground.jpg

Not all of the Rudies who attending the weekend post regularly on the board. Some haven’t re-registered, I know, but they still look in and know what’s happening. To avoid any embarrassment, I wouldn’t like to name anyone else without their permission, but they should all know that their presence was what made the day the success it was. We would like to see them posting more, and I hope they will share their photos too. The four girls in our adjoining cottage were a “right laugh” as we say in Manchester, it was wonderful to meet you all and I hope to see you at another show one day.

/….

[Manchester]

(Part 6)
One last person I will mention is Henry (SoulMerlin), a true gentleman, who gives the most wonderful hugs. (Not as wonderful as Janis’ but nearly). You were just as I imagined Henry, it was a pleasure meeting you at last.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/Million68/UK%20LRC/merlin.jpg

Finally, I HAVE to thank my better half, Mike. He did want to accompany me at the weekend, but there was an ulterior motive; he knew there were good hills for paragliding around Brighton. Unfortunately the weather meant it didn’t happen for him, despite setting off in fine conditions on Monday morning. However, every cloud …. and I think we might have another Janis fan... he was totally blown away by Janis’ LRC performance! As it is our Silver Wedding Anniversary in five months, and I was a Janis fan six years before that, it’s taken me a little while to convert him! :D

Speaking of conversions – the freelance reporter sent to cover the LRC hadn’t really heard anything about Janis on the day I left for the venue. After the LRC and interviewing Janis, she wanted to come to the Brighton show, and we saw her there. Her name is Nicola and she’s now a Rudie!! Hopefully she will be posting a thread on which paper has bought the story very soon.

Sorry if I’ve taken up too much space with these ramblings, or missed anyone out, one last Thankyou again to Janis and Rowy.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/Million68/UK%20LRC/threedegrees.jpg

Anne
:D

[Agnes]

Sounds perfect to me! :D

Great pictures, Anne!

[Randy & Betty in Pa]

Anne, thank you for such a wonderful write up about the trials and tribulations of the "Grande Rudie Weekend".... I could read that over and over and just keep grinning... You all seem to be such a wonderful bunch... Now send back Songdragon!!!!

Take care my friends....

R from pa

[david uk]

fantastic pictures Anne! and a great write up!

wow I'm still floating :)

[Dee]

Thanks for sharing your photojournal with us, Annie. Nice to see all those smiling faces in one place. :D

[MARILYN/GEMINI]

:) :) This is wonderful.....I really enjoyed the pictures of all the Rudies and Janis...also the view of the countryside......Lovely!!! Thanks so much for posting these !!!

[Irish Beth]

Thank you, you not only made me feel like I was there, but you made me feel like I was back at Club Cafe on March 7th. How is it that the Rudies all turn out to be such wonderful, caring, funny, thoughtful, and charming individuals?

Irish Beth

[Mike UK]

Great posts, Anne - thank you! Phew, I'm exhausted again just reading them!

And Beth - there's just one simple answer to your question, isn't there? No prizes ... :)

Mike

[Lin]

Awesome, simply awesome!! Thank you for taking us on your wonderful journey!

Lin

[diver_boy]

oh my...it is so awesome to see all you guys on the other side of the ocean with janis. chet, you are 100% what i imagined....genuine and sweet

thanks for sharing the pics, makes me feel like i was there. : )

Chris

[Wes]

I thought it was a '36' exposure not a '24' !!

Think the camera wanted to get in the groove. Well 'Unwinding' is a Janis song!!!

I know I have an answer for everything!

Regards Wes

[SongDragon]

Thank you Anne! Wonderful pictures. I was definately in Rudie Heaven.

~Song

[Kathleen Brogan]

How wonderful!!!!

[Marcia Drummergal]

Thanks for sharing with all of us your truly wonderful Janis/Rudie experiences. Memories all of you will treasure for a lifetime. Great pictures and stories. What FUN!!!

Marcia :)

[RedjackRyan]

Thanks for the stellar write up, Between yours and Mike's posts , I feel like i was right there with you all. Its also very good to see the faces of friends in the UK.

[Amy in Vermont]

Anne, thanks for the wonderful right up.

How can I express how totally jealous I am of all of you?

:D

[Marcia Drummergal]

Anne, thanks for the wonderful right up.

How can I express how totally jealous I am of all of you?

:D

Amy. You just did! LOL And even your license plate is green with envy!

Marcia :D

[MARILYN/GEMINI]

So how many Rudies would have to chip in to create a LRC ? :confused:
Marilyn goes to the corner of the room to count on her fingers and toes :(

[CD Matthew]

What fantastic pics of everybody! Thanks so much for posting the pics and for the reports and reflections. I've been thinking of all y'all over there, and wishing I could be there, too! The pics and writings are ALMOST as good as being there (but NOT).

SO COOL to see familiar faces coming together around their love of Janis's music, and Janis herself: Chet, DavidUK, Marjan, Pete, Anne, even Songdragon,and so many more!

Thanks again,

CD Matthew (in Boston)

[Rickster]

Anne, simply exquisite pictures and story!

[Manchester]

... we did wish that you could all be there, thanks for all the lovely comments.
A few people have mentioned what we all said during the weekend, that each and every guest from the board was exactly as we had imagined them to be from their postings. A wonderful bunch of people, I am proud to be a part of this board.
Marcia, I think it was you who said we had a mini-Janismania? I'd take that as a huge compliment. It was nothing on the scale of the real thing, we only had Janis with us on one day, but it was every bit as special to us.
You guys are the best!
Anne

[david uk]

anne that post just brought tears to my eyes- in the words of des it was f****g fantastic!:)

[gisli]

Oh man you guy´s rock big time. Thank you so for sharing this.

[Denise]

Anne what a wonderful writeup and pictures. Like everyone else, you made us feel a part of it all. I'm so happy for ALL of you that got to participate in such a wonderful gathering!
As SongDragon said - "Rudie Heaven" was truly evident in all the postings recently!

[Jak]

Great to see the pictures from the weekend. What a fantastic time !!

Lovely to meet everyone.

Thank you so very, very much for letting us join you over the weekend. With out you and Rowy working so hard the LRC would not have been such a huge success.

Take care, Jak and Sue

[marjan]

Thanks to Rowy, Lynda and Anne!!!
I've had a wonderful time meeting everyone of you, some of you just briefly during the LRC and some of you a bit more staying at the Barn for the weekend. But overall I admit I'm just very happy to have been part of the whole event. It is definitive a weekend to remember. I will post more of my personal point of view when I've get my photo's, probably next monday or thuesday.
Marjan

[david uk]

jak do you have pics to share???:)

[Dar]

Anne
Thanks for that fantastic write-up and the great pictures. Thanks for delivering the two hugs to Wes. I'm so glad to hear that this batch of Rudies was as wonderful and sincere and fun loving as the Janismania2004 bunch. I was very happy to find that every single person I met, was almost exactly as I had expected them to be, and it sounds like this experience was the same!

If anybody here in the states decides to have an LRC, I'd love to be on the guest list and would happily contribute a portion of the expense.

and how much did you enjoy the stroopwafels? aren't they ymmy??
mmmmmmmmmmmmm stroopwafels mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[MARILYN/GEMINI]

Me too....me too....I wanna' attend a LRC and would be happy to chip in....have not hit the lottery yet to have one myself :(

[Anna from Dublin]

Just to add my 2 cents - it was a great event and I was so happy to be a part of it. I think the combination of the two concerts was marvellous - the LRC which was magical and intimate and the brilliant performance in Brighton which showcased Janis' talent so wonderfully. It was like two very different sides of the one coin, so to speak. Thanks to all who made it happen and made it special.

[Dougster]

I am SOOOOO jealous!

But thrilled for you all.

[Chris Sawyer]

Great to see the pictures from the weekend. What a fantastic time !!

Lovely to meet everyone.

Thank you so very, very much for letting us join you over the weekend. With out you and Rowy working so hard the LRC would not have been such a huge success.

Take care, Jak and Sue

Hi, I totally agree. re living the day though your write-up, Anne.
And, through the DVD, which I look forward to.
Nice to meet you. I look forward to seing everyone in the future.
Regards
Chris Sawyer

[david uk]

just looked through this thread again Anne- your write up is such a great summary of the atmosphere of the 4 days we all spent together from the Friday night pub dinner through the LRC to the Brighton show.... very very special!:D