Picked up at the airport from a tour assistant guy. (he came on the train with a keyboard... thought he might just play a bit with the band! ... He didn't have a car ..... HE CAME ON A TRAIN ...... arrived drunk) and so our European tour began.

We rented a car and started driving to the show. (almost couldn't... the tour assistant's breath was reeking so much, the agent didn't want to rent us a car). The evening followed with a 3 hour autobahn traffic jam, two hot potatoes caked with cheese for dinner, dark beer that tasted like pennies (good pennies, well deserved pennies, pennies that never tasted so good!) We declined the accommodations in moldy attic above the bar. (evidence of previous band shenanigans still haunted the room...and the uh....bathroom) What a wonderful show. We love Dave the manager at the bar. No sarcasm, we really do like him, and the two guys in the front row who kept us hydrated all night long. (ah those pennies)
 

Museumskeller, Erfurt -  Jan 17, 2003

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Vee go to Erfurt, ya? First we dump the rental renault thingy. Jump into a borrowed beeamer. Good and crazy drive, go east, go west, go. Staight on. you shut up. no you shut up. Do you have da map in your hands....no....well here! Shit ..that map is a stamp...not a map...O.K. let me drive. No Melanie drives. Mel are you awake? You drive like you are sleeping. Wake up! Shit...sorry...you drive. Staight on. Nothing else! you drive and nothing else. Good. Shtraight on. Pass the sausage, maybe some peanuts, ya? I have to smoke. No cannot smoking in da car. Langsam,,shit you drive too fast. Bread sticks, no peanuts, ya? I have to go to the toiletten at the filling station now. There is museum skeller. Where? Behind the small gothic door. Man this is kool. If Dino did not drive in carosels we be there sooner. Next time I drive. Whö? Show. Packed house. Sandwiches, good sandwiches, band rider from heaven - cheese on bread, meat on bread, eggs on bread, butter on bread, different cheese on bread - Water with gas to drink. Beer to heavy for mel to hold. New friends for Dino to hold. Steffie and Micheal - ahh, sanity. We come back, Ya!?!?
 

see day 2 for driving log. add more yelling and more bad turns add you are crazy....no you are crazy. Shitte, we are all crazy. Ah the Pumpe! yes okay we are hear! i mean here. O.k... so we are 4 hours late. and this time it is not Mel's fault. this time. the show wasnt quite what we had hoped and we were not as early as they had hoped...everybody in town came and that was fantastic. everyone in town left and that was fantastic. the newspapers were all over it. we were too fast for the news! poster on front door reads "Melanie Dekker fell ill tonight, sorry"....melanie dekker felt ill now.
 

Wochenendausgabe Newspaper -  Jan 18/19, 2003

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Rostock, Germany - Jan 19-20, 2003

Rostock is beautiful. Lots of old architecture and walkway along parts of the Baltic sea.Dino was in awe with the street trains and thinks Lonsdale in North Vancouver could adopt this electric and quiet transportation. The german bakery is the best in the world. as far as we know. the sandwiches, the chocolate and the pasteries. our bodies are changing... perhaps.So how did the irish figure that they could out drink the germans in their own country!? irish pubs are everywhere. Bockworst is the largest say hotdog anywhere and i couldnt do it. but Dino had no problem eating this thing that is larger than a horses....euw gross! The internet cafes kept us warm and busy and there so high tech and chic. we stayed on the George Buchner war ship one night and this was truely a treat. though mel could still hear dino snoring through the walls!!!!!
 

Rostock, Germany - Jan 21, 2003

Szenerio in Rostock was a pretty cafe and our performance was intimate and close and we were part of the menu. Dino cheese and Melanie soup! Both were fantastic dishes by the way. Fun night and word is out that we are in Germany. The place was packed, the owners a Swiss and German combination and cds flying out the door.
 

Neubrandenberg, Germany - Jan 22, 2003

Aah yes we made the beautiful drive to Neubrandenberg. A place where a wall still surrounds the old city and remainders of a moat still exists too. Huge brick structures and an irish pub packed with people. A little stage but lots of joy. We sang and drank to the wee hours of the morning and then made a very special bed in a very unique place. Kelly's irish pub was for us Kelly's irish bed and breakfast, I believe we were the first and only guests ever to stay ALL NIGHT. This night we learned from the irish, in particular a fantastic man named Damien, that apparently the Scottish stole everything from the Irish especially the whisky and the pipes.We saw a new piercing up close. Dino does not remember her name but they traded shirts (his funky retro one for a green killkenny size small t-shirt...hmmm) and she had this piercing hanging above her front teeth. yikes! And i am still afraid to pierce my bellybutton!

 

Giessen, Germany - Jan 23, 2003

Another Irish pub but this time we had a sound guy. A very good sound guy. He did sound 2 1/2 years ago for a 4Play show and tonight gave Mel a live recording of that show. Packed full bar. We do love that. A super cool friend we met in Marburg followed us to this show, Ruteger. We decided to call him the giant gnome. He could be from Lord of the Rings. Makes his own clothes, rolls his own cigarettes, likely cuts his own hair and he's as honest as a sunny day. Encores and encores...another long one. Beer is becoming a staple so we try to drink Guiness, more vitamins apparently. Our choice of beer is directly related to how hungry we are when we arrive at the show. It seems that the hungrier we are the darker the beer. Explored Giessen with Rutiger and there were lots of shops for mel, we kept tabs with the walk-e talk-e's. Our breakfast too was with Ruteger,a healthy one of course. Good cheese on good bread. And this alternative for chocolate spread. yummmy.

 

Fulda, Germany - Jan 24, 2003

Off to meet a venue booker Micheal by the busy train station in Fulda. We are escorted by himself and his compadray...(dude that hangs out, says nothing, but makes everyone look more important because of his demeaner and presence) to Kardstat, the big prestigeous mall. On the way we notice that Mel's face is on posters larger than the local election candidates. Her head really is getting bigger, uh oh! ....cool! A big metal door allowes both cars in. Secret and secure entrance. In a flash we are escorted through the back of the mall with big cargo evelators and special key washrooms to change. I lost a boot along the way. Once on stage in the mall I removed the one other boot and played in socks..."Blush" was appropriately the first song.We signed things, Dino was hoping body parts, but maybe later. Then we ate at the most exquisit mall cantene. Dino commented on the amazing sauerkraut salad. Everyone laughed and said "why do u think they call German krauts!? I was given a gift certificate to spend on whatever i wanted in any area of the mall. fun!!! i was given 15 minutes and had no problem. got a tshirt, FA deoderant (my fav!) and at last the body suit of my dreams. It's amazing what a shopping high will do.silly. We were shuttled to the club in the two fancy cars, and oh!, dino found mel's shoe in the car, and off to Alte Piesel. This club was huge and so was the sound system. Fantastic monitors and a stage to run back and forth on. And we did. We ran, we sweat, we jumped, we acted out the songs like we were in a playground. Our fav performance so far. Dino did a solo and from now on he'll have to do it at other shows cause it was fantastic and people went mad. Not enough fans to fill this 400 person venue but enough to make enough noise that we did three encores and sold a cd to almost everyone in the house. Sleeping quarters were quaint and just outside Stadmitte (the center) and we got a deal for being stars or something like that. Why should it be any different i keep thinking? we are the same as anyone. But at this point of cash level and sleep deprivation ... we accepted graciously.
 

Brühl, Germany - Jan 25, 2003

We wake in Fulda from our deluxe stay and grab a smoke-filled room breakfast and do a little walking through the town. Lots of shops and bakeries through cobblestone walking streets. We ate fish and chips, fish from the Baltic sea. Afterwards we made a rough drive to Brühl.....sputter sputter...."It's the valves, no it's da cold, no it's maybe bad gas, no just drive slower, no is better fast - it's cold, no I think it's a valve thing, it needs gas....it's definately not reliable anymore and we are getting little jolts of whiplash while driving. We were welcomed by a greek owner, Yanni, and his family who ran this Em Hotche (a slang word)

Play a fantastic show to a standing room full house, sound troubles are frustrating but small beers in little glasses are served non stop to the band and everyone. Drink em fast, they just keep coming till you place a coaster over your glass. Encores till we drop. Dino burst a finger on the drum once again. Mel does a favor at the end of the night for some song writers and translates or does english fix ups on english lyrics writen by a German writer. fun. Stay up late organizing tommorow's transportation and route...Bye Bye Beemer.
 

Hannau, Germany - Jan 26, 2003

Awake in Brühl with the sun. Train to Hannau (leave luggage in Brühl to travel lighter temporarily). And then there we are in a jam packed country bar! A country bar in the train station full of people chain smoking and drinking heavily and dressed like Nashville fanatics. The show runs from 11am to 3pm. That is a long time, especially in this place. The folks try line dancing to Mel's songs. Mel pulls out some John Denver and Kenny Rogers to save the "gig". One mic stand short so dino hangs a mic from the plastic maple leaf tree and tries to sing into a swinging and dangling microphone. The women in the audience giggle throughout the entire show. Cd's still sell though not as many and the owner holds back a chunk of the payment and says that Dino is not a band. Until now that had not been a problem. People have loved that Dino is the band! Mel hangs with a guy called the prince of Bruhl and a lady named Hoover. Yup she sure cleans up! Train back to Brühl to get luggage, time is tight and we are lead to the wrong train by our "tour asssitant/promoter" stefan delay...delay...it's the milk run, now we see all of germany the slow way. Brühl to Marburg train to make the show. Two huge suitcases, a guitar, a bass, 4 hand bags...consider throwing away something to lighten the load. We miss our own show but our "help" Stefan already there with the story. We won't be taking advice or travel with him again. We give a few CD's away to the fans that waited all night. Eat beer and a potato, pass out in a room above the Molly Malones.
 

Marburg, Germany - Jan 27, 2003

A day and night off in Marburg. Sleep in ....Ahh. Mel spends what is left of the day at the expensive internet cafe and Dino spends the day looking?! for a laundromat (washe salon). Thank you Germany for your bakeries. Oh my the castle and the enourmous church skyrocket over the town and are breathtaking. The best ever italian pizza is discovered (dino should know!) and Mel does chai tea x4 with an East Indian dinner, somehow this feels like home a little. Mel spends the night with details of a Canadian mitap application (hoping to get some funding for these showcase/tours) and hiding to save her voice, and Dino does a solo show with just his bass down under our hotel room in Molly Malone's Irish pub.
 

Marburg, Germany - Jan 28, 2003

Marburg, Molly Malone's show. Mel trys to send overnight mitap package to Canada. Option #1: Fedde Exeh..Vas is dat??" Option #2: Express post will not take music inside the package!Option #3: Mel trains and cabs to Giessen to get to a UPS shipping office. Chinese store in Giessen makes her incredibley happy on this arduous and somewhat adventurous tour as she finds some of her favorites: ginger tea, ginger candies, japanese apples, leechee nuts and a clothes line for Dino. (now he can wash and hang in the rooms). While Mel is in Giessen looking for the UPS, Dino stays in Marburg and lounges with local new friends Stephan (looks like a young and handsome Clint Eastwood) and Danny (keyboard player and bachelor). The boys practice Mel's songs (unknown to Mel) and then later Stephan (clint) joins the show at night. He rocks. Okay that is some sort of an understatement...Mel is now in love with the electric guitar again and it had been along time. Never heard anything so sweet or appropriate or clever! Battle of the booking agents at the bar. Hung out with 4 Stephans this evening. They are accumulating on this trip as Dino and Mel made a pact that they would find a Stefan or Stephan in every venue. Inconceavalbe! But it is really happening and now they are fans and meeting each other. It is so silly it is worth a giggle in the middle of the night. Mathew, a German Navy sailor rock solid type guy offers to be our driver for a few days and Stephan (clint) will be meeting up with us for 3 more of the shows in Germany. Incredible! A round of mini guinesses for everyone (shooter with kalua on the bottom and a small layer of bailies on top)!
 

Efurt, Germany - Jan 29, 2003  

Matthew is more than a driver: He is now our translater and body gaurd/security and this is fantastic! A rock with a smile. Straight to Steffie's castle in ERfurt. She has turned a wearhouse 4th floor into a 3000 sqft gorgeous and trendy, supa spacious home. Pool table, bar and couches pushed together for princess Mel and prince Dino. Museumskeller in Erfurt was really ready for this concert. Lots of press and word had gotten out around here. Sold out! and almost sold out of CD's. The band platter/rider was especially divine after the long, sweaty and heartfelt show. Oh... to get to the toilet or WC one has to walk thru the snow, and ice and wind and chilling cold and around the museum. Mel really had to go right before the show...and wouldnt go "there". She found another way...

Marburg, Germany - Jan 30, 2003

Ok Matthew drove us to Stefan's place, the guitar player, and we had a cool time together until we had to pack the car...And pack it indeed. Okay, ready...set...roll down the window and ..."plop". Window has fallen and wont get back up! Bye sun and hello big snow. The boys take apart the door eventually two smoke, hold unbrellas and Dino in his mongolian hat removes parts of the door and an hour later it stops snowing and the window is up. It will stay up forever now. The back window is cracked open now when guitar Stef smokes. Who by the way can roll his own smokes with one hand while driving. At 160 km's per hour we are on the autoban in the slow lane and Dino says nervously "...uhmm... you need a hand with that?" Quick to Frankfurt cause Mel needs and American Express office! Note to future travel plans: Do not enter Frankfurt close to rush hour or you'll be late and running like thieves through foriegn streets, parked on sidewalks, fumbling with walkee talkees in the dark and not getting anything you go there for! Also, in Germany, always carry change! One has to pay to use the toilet everywhere. (I think that is why some elevators smell like pee). By the way, the coolest toilet ever lies in Germany somewhere off a highway. A key attached to a hammer lets you in...you sit down or lean over-or whatever your style is-do your thing and then press a button to flush. Good god! The toilet seat (or porcelain bus) becomes maleable and wiggles while rotating and cleans itself! Mel runs out of bathroom screaming and passes the hammer to the boys who must visit the psychodelic female toilet!! Axel at Weinhof-Reinhiem made his own Mel posters from the CD art. They were uhm HUGE! We competed with a Kareoke contest across the street. Our nemisis. Flowers awaited!?!! Rudiger was there! This was the first show that we did not sell any CD's but later got an amazing amount of fan mail. We all giggle..."You never can tell with bees". To get to a bed we drove 2 hours through a whiteout snow storm with 2 cars. Mela and Dino each their own driver now and 2 german companions. Mel does not recall curling up to sleep. Complete exhaustion with the help of a few tequila :)
 

Fulda & Braunsweig, Germany - Jan 31, 2003

Mel checks emails to find a few fans in Fulda are anxious for a visit to their hi fi haus stereo store. They have been reading our tour diary and make a comment on the country bar in Hanau. They say, "Dino is not a band...he is a big band!" Hot chocolates, a guitar and an amp are set up between 9000 Euro speakers! Uh-huh is being played on this amazing stereo and it sounds like a dream. The way the record sounded when it was being made kind of sound. What a treat. We play a song for them and they do an immediate hi-fi bootleg. Mel teaches Stef the song as they go and Dino drums with his mouth (you must see a show to know more about this!) We had to spring for windsheild wipers and just afterward it stopped snowing. We arrive in Braunsweig with ease cause Stef knows the way. The band change room is in the slippery floor kitchen. Dino is told he is lucky to get dinner and Mel and Stef get no dinner. So we call this the asshole bar. We focus on the good beer, soundsystem and enthusiastic loud audience. We had seen Mel posters side by side the Blues Brothers tribute band the entire tour and tonight we got to meet the roudy bunch. They kept saying how lucky we were to be doing what we really loved. Funny they would say that on a night we were not really so sure! Emmy, Stef's cool friend stays with us in our towel-less hotel room. Dino makes a call but the bartender says, "sorry, I can not help you and it would take alot of dish rags together to make one towel." Absurd. Well, let's say that some keys fit more than one room. Dino played locksmith and hunted down towels.

Heldesheim, Germany - Feb 1, 2003

Heldesheim: rated the number 1 irish pub in Germany. Fight in the bar where Mel ends up pushing a guy hard to get him away from the gear (it felt good), we perform on a candle lit corner stage. Wax on everything. Met our first Canadian and I think she was happy to meet us too. Stef and Dino sing cheek to cheek into one mic. We make our own fun. Stayed in a retired couples beautiful house. Dolls were everywhere. 100's of them! Mel says it is like Toy Story and Dino says it is like a Horror movie. As we figure out sleeping arrangments Stef replies to Dino with a smile and as if he is the lucky one, "So you are going to snore for me tonight!?" Late night laughter and stories of all the insane moments. Heineken and chocolate snacks. and aaah... fresh bass strings.
 

Rostock, Germany - Feb 2, 2003

yes! all the way back North to Rostock. Tonight we do our big music school concert which is in a renovated Monostary ...the show has been moved to the bar next door. Hemingways gets to hear Stef (guitar). We write a song over dinner called "something to get lost with". The audience flips and we flip.After the stage we sit amongst singers and players and play sing alongs with 15 part harmonys! Reik your voice can be hard in Russia and Rico ( our male dancer friend) we will look you up on the internet and see what it is you really do! We celebrate at Ullies place. He gives up his bed. We drink danish stomach cleanser. Bernard gives us a gift to get ready for amsterdam. After 2 hours sleep we must go and Ullie exclaims as he wakes up cheerfully "That is too much sleep for one person!"
 

Amsterdam - Feb 3, 2003

Bye bye Stefan Rapp (guitar)! At least for now. Good fart! (the german way of saying have a good trip!).Today was full of trains, planes and automobiles...minus the planes today and add bus rides and expensive unexpected taxi rides. Add a snow storm that is windy enough to shut down all trains to Amsterdam. Add luggage that is now a few items heavier. Dino is very happy he has brought his back wiz and to see Jen Wright who came from Bath to visit him! and Mel is happy to see her cousin Rob Sweitser at Maloe Melo.The bar could have been a tad busier but we had a good time and Mel loved speaking dutch-even if it made some people laugh. We ate a 2am fantastic Indonesian dinner with Rob. The hotel heater would not shut off and not a chance the sliding door would be left open even if we were staying on the roof... strange people. There were "coffee" shops with special menus everywhere and cocaine sold on the street to increase "our fun". (not necessary). With less luggage, more money, and a little menu translation to avoid overdose- we could be back!

 

Amsterdam - Feb 4, 2003

Amsterdam has a real shady train station. Hold on extra tight to our babies (guitar, bass, djembe drum) and sweat with the luggage. Mel is even nervous to use the phone (using one of the 4 different calling cards she now has to choose from). Jannie and Dick! We are on our way to Mel's aunt and uncle and are picked up at the train station in Deventer, Holland. Dino says within an hour of being there "It feels good here". It takes the same time to walk to the center and the new lodging as it does to drive. Pedestrian only are (every town and city has had one on this trip), means the car has to go around the long way. Today felt like a holiday. Walk, talk, fresh air, no smoke, fantastic home cooked food; Boerekole for dinner, which is a typical "dutch" farmers meal. Potatoes, Kale and us jus made by Martijn Sweitser. Uncle Dick shakes his head in disapproval and bewildermeant at our mapping of the tour and asks if geography was considered in our plans!? Mel tries to explain that at first everything had ideal routing but the 2nd consideration become more important...."Take whatever stage you can!"
 

Berlin, Germany - Feb 5, 2003

Was that 3 hours of sleep again? We've stopped counting really cause it hurts too much to know and at this point...to count. Meet Stef Rapp in Hamburg and we are off to Berlin. The venue called the Soda Salon is super cool. Curtains and drapery on the ceiling, couches, tables, good lighting, a merchandise table, an organized organiser ( www.tom-cunningham.de ) and some fantastic songs performed by fabulous writers. This is really the right place to be now four our last night together, comments Stef. Indeed. Sold out show and lots of songwriters. Stef's amp intimidated everyone involved. Dino and i smiled...wait till they hear what beauty soars out of it. Yes, indeed. As Stef put it, "We kicked asses!" (tee hee, somethings are truely precious when translated word for word!) We meet antoher promoter for a huge venue across the courtyard and heard Beepo explain to the fans in German how my bio translated on Google.com sounds! People laugh alot. Dino and I are a little lost in a happy sort of way while being laughed at. A place called Alcatraz was our accomodation.
 

Nieuwegein - Feb 6, 2003

A really bad day. Really bad. But if your day goes into your night and you just keep going ... eventually it gets better...
 

Veldhoven, Netherlands - Feb 7, 2003

Bed and breakfast with Jerry and Roland. A "modern" couple. They show us a home made B movie they made based on the film Scream. We laughed. We are a bad influence and our presence makes them decide not to open the bar at 4pm and instead show us around a little and eat a little more. Together we open the bar at 7pm. At the show Dino is surprised to find sunglasses in his drum case...they are from Stefan Rapp (guitar). He gets emotional. It is a full house, though a talkative one, they smoke different stuff here in holland and it makes them chatty but non the less a cool audience. Jerry, and ex American vet from Miami who now has a dutch accent says, "Cool man they applauded after your first song and every song...they never do that...not even with the Doors cover band!"Mel stops singing in the middle of a song. She just says", OK that's it, my voice is gone...(squeek) goodnight". Our hotel is not "arranged"so Jerry and Roland are extra cool and we stay with them again. Dino and Mel manage in a small bed, but now a warm one. "move over...."..Ï can't!
 

Castricum, Netherlands - Feb 8, 2003

"You snuggled"..."No..Ah oh...sorry"
We take a Saab to Castricum and Mel gets a little home sick (ha ha). We are now well equiped with family goods. Cell phone, keys, insurance, really good directions! cool. we are getting this. The bakkerij is not a quaint bakery, which is what Mel thought. It's a big youth place with volenteers as management and bartenders. Roland makes on the bar for everyone "working"that night. It is hard to use the mirrors in the real washroom because the graffitti has taken over. The band hang out area is huge but shall we say very warn-out and there is strange decor of broken glass bits glued to the ceiling. During the performance a guy comes up and does a back street boys type dance to the song 6 weeks. Again there are dutch "cigarettes" thickening the air. We get a mini disk copy of the performance. We will wait.
 

Oldenzaal, Netherlands - Feb 9, 2003

We've noticed that the dutch venues constantly use one type of glass for beer and the other glasses for beverages. In other words one can not get a coke in a beer glass. Classy. In Canada we mix all glasses! We walked through an anticipatining crowd who cheered as we made our way to the stage. In Oldenzaal, he stage was just right. Mel's voice took on growls of its own due to a cold and general fatigue. Dino said he loved it. Mel felt differently. There were cousins in the audience and an interview with a publicist on the break between a two set night. We were treated by a young sculpter who works in the bar, Ilje, to a late night, all that was open fast food place. Chips with mayo and fried chicken. The hotel must be remarked on because it was old but carefully cared for. The bathroom fixtures were that old pee green color that 30 years ago seemed cool. And the elevator was like something out of a movie that should be made. It fit one person in it. like a small closet. Dino and mel and three instruments couldnt squeeze in. though Mel noticed inside it said max. three persons. ..they would have to be hugging in order to fit!
 

Nijmegen, Netherlands - Feb 10, 2003

Got in an Audi and had a slick ride to Merleyn. And it too was a slick place- truely beautiful complete with a art gallery and "dutch" cigarettes. We've been warned about slow Mondays everywhere...and so it was. Though well equiped with a sound tech named Erik and old lamps adding to the cool mood on stage. The band room came well equiped with dozens of Heinekens, TV (is there a war going on!?), a huge table full of bags of chips and chocolate bars and other condiments...i mean condoms. Dino mistook them for chocolate! Watch out for cute little black packets that "looks like chocolate!"...designed for your taste. A dutch comedian was our opening act and they call that a Caberet performance. Which confused us a little at first. Mel managed to catch some of it and he made a funny comment on the new warnings on cigarrette packages (which are larger than the brand itself here!) and said that that only entices people to smoke more because everyone wants to feel like Indiana Jones...the good/bad guy.... he figured campaining "this will MAKE YOU UNATTRACTIVE" would do a much better job. it was funny at the time. We signed a long contract and agreement for our 50 euro (huge huh!?) that was in dutch. Ok...mel's dutch is that of a five year old...we crossed our fingers and signed. Nijmegen is a cool student city so we must come back. Aunt and uncle (thankx jannie and dick) helped to sell CD's and we sold to half the room! fantastic for our last night in the Netherlands. We have gotten very good at toasting "proost"! we must look very thirsty all the time because ...we are....Also in Germany we were told it was custom to look everyone in the eye when you toast. If you dont, then you will have 7 years of bad sex....oooh. we picked up the "custom" quickly. Churches are beautiful regardless of what they represent. Dutch vs Germans...we prefer not to comment because there is beauty in all difference- in fact the more weird we are the more adventurous the conversation!
 

London, England - Feb 15, 2003

London is fantastic. It was Dino's birthday and he took the night off. Mel's show was packed and it couldnt have been more central if you'd tried to point at the middle of London. The world's largest peace march had finished only a few hours before and people were everywhere. It was truely mad and exciting to be out. Liz and John Spindler got Mel to the show in a brand new silver mini, with her shoes on (tee hee), but without gloves...left in a London black cab...always something. The show went smooth and for the first time Mel got to sing I'll wear this ring for the couple it was originally written for! Happy tears are a fantastic feeling. Can't wait to come back and do this all again. Well, except for some bits!