Was that okay for you?

Well, we completed our major events programme for the summer last weekend with a fabulous gig by Big Country, The Stranglers and Bob Geldof only for a chap to walk in the shop on Saturday afternoon asking when the festival was happening. I reminded him that it was finished for good and was being replaced by a series of other events and then proceeded to list them for him. His next question? When do the events start? If he had ignited a fart over my pavement sign I wouldnt have been as surprised but you know what, in the true spirit of a seasoned local, I told him the events started next May and watched him leave peacefully, probably off to his padded cell to count his sea shell collection.

Anyway, in case you werent there, the gig itself was superb, as was the weather. Dianne and I were invited backstage to talk wine to Bob Geldof who turned out to be the most unassuming person you could imagine. A nicer gentleman you would find it hard to meet. Turns out Bob (just to his friends, Sir Bob to the rest of you) has just bought the state vineyards off the Ethiopian Government and was keen to talk to Jancis Robinson arguably the worlds leading wine expert. Twas Bobs lucky day as Jancis and I go back a long way so he should now be on his way to securing world class advice courtesy of a little gig in Whitehaven last Saturday. Big Country were superb musicians and opened the gig. Sadly their set seemed to end as fast as it had begun but Bruce and the team were so lovely, they joined the crowd to watch the Stranglers. As usual a few minor issues came up meaning I missed about half their set but I was back in the crowd for the big hits and by the time the opening chords of No More Heroes drifted across the pitch, my brain had turned back the clock 30 years and I had to forcibly stop myself from doing the pogo stick. Remember that crazy dance? It was actually inspired by bands like the Stranglers but while my brain kicked into gear just in time to save my dignity, lots of others didnt. I can only assume they were numbed by alcohol in the pit area of the crowd, either that or someone was making a killing selling his parents supply of Tramadols to the audience.

Anyhow almost before we knew it Bob Geldof and the Rats were taking to the stage and no one could argue that the guy had stage presence. Crikey, singing was optional with him but thankfully he did. Musically the Rats were as close to perfection as Madness and Geldof only matched by that other charismatic performer we had a few years ago, Boy George. I watched as respectable pillars of the community became engrossed in the moment and turned back into teenage punk rockers, probably railing in their minds against the very establishment they now represented. Sometimes the power of music is just awesome. Anyway, after a final blistering 'We are the Boomtown Rats' was belted out towards Dent fell, I popped backstage where I was asked the most surreal question of all by Mr Geldof; Was that okay for you? Thankfully my breath was taken away because the only reply on my mind was Ooh, yes, yes, yes, Oh my God yes, true Meg Ryan style.

Anyway, from the heights of the events and hobnobbing with legends back to reality is a bit of a fall and gets no easier no matter how many times you do it so heres to a humdrum existence for a few weeks, reading stock catalogues, planning Christmas orders, roasting coffee and so on, while all the time remembering that Sir Bob Geldof called me Gerard and asked if the gig was okay for me?