The Streets at Dreamland 2023

Margate, England, September 8th 2023

On February 24th Mike announced this gig. Thanks so much Mike. He will sort us out. We still had a voucher for the Ferry from DFDS, because Southern sunset festival got cancelled. Ozzy will call them to redeem the voucher. Now we only have to book an hotel still. We booked that on the 3rd of March.

Thursday September 7th

I had to work. I was struggling. I was looking forward to tomorrow so much. Luckily I was working with a colleague and not alone. Time flies!! All my colleagues are lovely, so i don’t mind who it is. After work i drove home, I picked Roos up at my mums. We got home at 6:30, and Mark wasn’t home yet. He played Padel. I didn’t have time to eat something. After a short while Mark got home. Mark and Roos dropped me off at the train station. Bless them! I got the train at 7pm. Roos wasn’t very happy. She was crying. It made me feel very bad. Luckily Mark cheered her up. She could watch the telly, while Mark had dinner.

At 8pm ish I arrived in Rotterdam. Ozzy was waiting there already. We went to Starbucks for a drink, and I finally got something to eat. it wasn’t a culinary dish. I mean, I’m at Starbucks after all. Although I did pay the amount of something culinary…. I had a chocolate cake. Going to Starbucks became some sort of tradition, if Ozzy needed to pick me up there. An iced pumpkin spice latte for me. It’s so hot outside that I needed an iced version. 

When we arrive at Ozzy’s, we had a drink. We have to wake up at ridiculous o’clock tomorrow morning, so we wont stay up late. We watched Holland beat Greece, but before half time started, we went to bed. It was 2-0 by now already. Although I wasn’t very tired. I read a little, hoping sleep would catch me. At 11 pm ish I went to sleep. I had to cos my alarm was set at 4am. I wasn’t very tired. Holland won with 3-0.

Friday September 8th

I wake up at 3 am. It’s still too early, but I’m wide awake. It’s very warm in Ozzy’s spare bedroom. Hopefully I can sleep some more in the car. I’am also very hungry. I didn’t eat much yesterday evening. Only this chocolate cake. That didn’t help either ofcourse.

At 5am we reached the Belgium border. We put the car full with petrol. We bought some coffee and a stroopwafel. Then we continued our journey. Still 2,5 hours to go. At 7:30 we arrived at Dunkirk. Here we took the Ferry.

The check in changed our ticket to 8am. We booked the ferry for 10am, but we get a boat earlier. Now we have to hurry. 🙈Then we go through the French and UK border. In 1 minute the gate closes. “Go go go go go” the guy from the gate said. At 8am we have our breakfast and the ferry left. We’re on our way. 

We walked around, but it’s a short journey. Only 2,5 hours. A small ferry too. Not much to do. We sit down in the restaurant, where we had breakfast earlier. The windows are pretty dirty. So we don’t have much of a view. although we could see more when we stood up. There is no outside deck either, well we couldn’t find it… Ozzy nearly fell asleep. He is going to make a walk to stay awake. He found a way to get to the deck. We stayed there for a little while. The sun was shining. Heating up in the sun was lovely. I got a little sea sick, until we sat down. I was fine then. Then at 9am (10 am Dutch time) it was time for us to wait till we could access the car again. We had priority boarding, so we were one of the first to leave the ferry.

At 10 ish we arrived at the hotel. We stayed in Canterbury bell. We were way too early. because of that early ferry. But there is a shopping centre across the street. I wanted to go to Primark. I lost quite some weight, so I need some new jeans. I see a lovely Simba sweater, I needed to have that too. And I need a small bag for the gig tonight. I was looking for something for Roos as well, but didn’t find anything for her. It was time for some coffee. Starbucks is too far away, well not really, but it was so warm. We went to Costa instead. The airco is too cold here I was freezing. It felt like our holiday in Florida all over again haha. I want to go outside in the sun. There was no point of staying here, we sat on the terrace of the hotel. Waiting till it’s time to check in. Waiting is so annoying. Wish the time would go faster.

At 12 ish we could check in to our hotel. I took a shower first. Ozzy took a nap. After my shower I took a nap too. And after our nap at 2ish, Ozzy takes a shower too. An hour later we take the bus towards Margate. It’s busy on the road, It’s Friday’s early rush hour i guess, so it takes us a little longer than 15 minutes. But we’re early anyway . We had time. The doors will open at 5. We’ll have some lunch/early dinner at Maccy D. Then it’s time to check, where the venue is. It’s still very quiet. Everything is still closed. it’s only 4 pm anyway. We still have an hour to go.

We’ll walk around town. Such a disgusting, shabby place. I wouldn’t want to be found dead here. Why don’t they do anything about that? It could have so much potential. Anyway we’ll do anything for The Streets. Hope we’ll survive Margate. Time to find a pub and wait in the airco and kill some time. Don’t feel like drinking anything. I can still taste the cola from Maccy D. 

At 5pm the doors opened. I’m on the list. Thanks so much Mike 🧡 Ozzy is not though, but there is a guy who said: “if she is and Mike did that for her, and if he’s with her. It’s ok. I wouldn’t argue with Mike. Just let them through. He’s fine”. We’re VIP 🙏Thank you Mike! We also thanked this guy who helped Ozzy.

This was the view from the VIP area. There is a guy wearing an Ajax shirt.

At 6:45 Emmeline starts. Nah… don’t like it much. We left the VIP area and sat in the grass, so we can move to the front when needed. 

It was getting busier at the barrier. At 7 we get to the front. Just in case we couldn’t get to the front anymore. At 7:30 a DJ, Zed Bias starts. The sound is very loud, but he plays Streets music. I like him already. Thank god for my ear plugs. Zed also remixed “Troubled waters”.

Just after 8 a DJ from Kojey Radical starts with some 90’s hits. Love it! But unfortunately that was not the act, someone else came on…. oh he’s Kojey. I don’t like Kojey much. NEXT!!

At 9:15 it was finally time for The Streets after 4 years!!

Amazing gig!!. I brought the huge Streets lighter, which Calzo got me. Mike liked it a lot. 
There was a couple who loved the lighter as well. They said that Mike should sell it as merch. Nah… now I’m special. They agreed. It was a funny conversation.

When the band comes on, Wayne sees me and waves and we send hand kisses.

When Mike comes on, he puts his thump up.

When Kevin comes on, he pointes at us.

During Church, Mike sees the lighter.

During I wish you loved you as much as you love him, Mike comes over to grabs a ball which is laying beneath me at the barrier. What you can’t see is that he holds my hand.

During Cliff,, Cassell walks to te side of the stage. He sees us and says hello.

Loved the new songs. They are amazing. Rob wasn’t there, but Max did a very good job. Kevin was amazing too. He doesn’t need Rob’s help.

After the gig Tim gave me the set list. Thanks so much!! Cassell motioned to get to the side of the stage. We had a little hug and chat with Kevin & Cassell. Cassell even made a photo of me with the lighter. 

The curfue was at 11. All shops were closed already. A few minutes later we left the venue and walked to the bus. We took the bus back to the hotel. We’re both a little hungry still. Tankfully Maccy D is still open. It’s open 24/7, guess where we’ll have a late dinner? After Maccy D we go back to the hotel. There was some weird guy sitting on the ground. looks like he is having a chat on the phone, but as soon as we walk buy he asks us where he could get beer and drugs. Euh…. I wouldn’t even know in Amsterdam, let alone in this place. Oh you’re from The Netherlands. I LOVE THE NETHERLANDS he said. Weirdo….. Oh no… he’s also staying in the same hotel. Oh no…. he’s walking behind us. You’re not our neighbour are you? Pfew… he isn’t. He stays a few doors further and across the hall. We get some tea and coffee, while I try to upload the blog. But adding the video to YouTube takes so long. I fell asleep.

Ted was at the festival as well. We didn’t see him unfortunately. We saw a photo of him on Tim’s account.

Saturday September 9th:

At 4am I’m awake. Why this early again? I finished the blog. The video was on youtube now. I add Ozzy’s photos to the blog. And go back to sleep. I’m still tired. I’m sure I can sleep. At 7am I’m awake again. Guess it’s time for a shower again. Breakfast is next. We’ll have breakfast at the hotel. Then we don’t have to go anywhere else. After breakfast we check out and drive towards Dover. At 2 pm we have booked the boat to go back home. We’re early again, like yesterday. We’re hoping for the 12 o’clock boat. We arrive at 10:30 we were in the queue for an hour, but we still got the earlier ferry at noon. Wich means we’re home 2 hours early as well. I can get to see Roos before she goes to bed. We’re home just after 7. Time to cuddle Roos and bring her to bed. After that we stream the gig on the telly to relive it all over again.

Next is Belfast and the 2 Dublin shows!

They released a few video’s since the last blog.