Dublin, Ireland, October 24th 2023
Tonight is the original Dublin gig. We booked this gig together with the Belfast gig on August 20th. We see them 3 nights in a row.
Aoife is also going. I wanted to sleep in. I think after 3 terrible nights of sleep I could use it as well, but again only 4 hours. Time for a shower. I feel like becoming a person again. We have breakfast. but we didnt go until 10 ish. We had to hurry sort of, cos breakfast was until 11.
We are going to Tower Records. It’s a record shop. We walk past the Molly Malone statue.
I have seen the statue a few years ago when I was in Dublin with Mark. At noon we pick up the ordered CD.
There is a huge poster in the window from this album signing. I asked the shop if I could have it. I won’t know until Friday. I’ll be back home then, but Aoife might be able to pick it up for me.
The plan is to go to the Dublin castle and have a Starbucks. On our way to the castle, we didn’t see a Starbucks, but its raining, so we skipped our plans and we went shopping instead. I bought some souvenirs, also presents for Xmas. We dropped the stuff off at the hotel before we go back to the shop.
We ordered the album and that gave us access to the meet and greet. I want this huge lighter signed. Aoife, Anya and Matthew are also going to the meet and greet. Just before 1 we walked inside, there was a small queue. We jumped in. Anya and Matthew arrived quickly after that as well, they joined us. Aoife was on her way, but before she got there, there was a long queue. She arrived when it was our turn.
Mike saw us and asked “Who are you?” haha He also took photo’s of my 3D printed lighter. He loves it I think. We got our albums signed as well. They were getting a black sharpie for him, so he could sign my lighter. We had to wait with Keith. Keith is lovely.
There was a small poster on a pillar. I asked if I could get that. They gave me the small poster.
Someone took my lighter and gave it to Mike to get it signed. He has a black sharpie now.
When that’s done, I joined the queue again with Aoife. I’m there for her moral support. After that we get out of his hair. I do feel like a total stalker. Mike was lovely tho. He said “no, stay! If you want” But we needed a coffee. See you tonight Mike! We have stalked him enough for now.
We have a drink at Costa. Then Aoife leaves. We go to the Castle. We’re not going inside. Just walking around. I had been inside with Mark back in 2013.
Then we go to the Disney Store. Aoife never told me there was one in Dublin. I’m so disappointed LOL. I saw a lady walking with a Disney bag and a toy in it, that’s how I found out that there was one. I want to buy these Streets playing cards tonight, so that kept me from buying anything at the Disney store. Sorry Roos, no Xmas present for you 😉 (Don’t worry I do already have a few presents for her).
Time to go to the hotel to drop our stuff off and have some rest before we got to queue up for the gig. Matthew and Anya are on a “business trip”, so they have some research to do. They fly home tonight.
At 4 we go to the hotel bar. We still got a voucher for a free drink. We’ll also get some food. After this we go to Brogans for a drink and we’ll wait for Aoife. Just before 7 we go to the entrance and queue up. We have to wait a little, until the guest list is ready. We are staying in the box. We have a good view.
Masterpiece is the support act again.
AMAZING!!! More rowdy than yesterday. It was also busier. Mike was very brave to go into the crowd and become one with them.
After the gig we go to the stage door. We see Kevin. He comes over for a chat. We also see Oliver (Olly Olly Olly) He gave me a setlist. Thanks so much!!
After a while we see Cassell and Wayne. They go to Brogans until the bus leaves. We are allowed to tag along. We’ll get another drink. While we’re waiting, Mike comes over, and says hello, but there are a few guys bothering him, so he leaves again.
There is a lady who asked Mike to sign a Jesus picture. What???……. Yes….. Can’t explain this either.
There is another lady coming over to Cassell. He tells her she just missed Mike, She nearly lost it. but she left in the end. She also kept shouting “This is Cassell, the drummer of the Streets!” Why shouting? I think its cool you recognise him, but let him have some quiet time out.
At 11 the bus comes, Mike comes over again. And again people start to bother him. He goes back in the bus, but not before he says goodbye and takes time for a photo.
This lady who just missed him, came back running with food in her hand still. Cassell tells her she just missed him, again. She nearly cried. She wanted to get Mike out of the bus. We told her that he wouldn’t come out. She didn’t listen and went to the side of the bus. The door was open. She was waiting for Mike to come outside. He didn’t. Her friend went over to her to drag her away from the bus. We said goodbye to Kevin, Oliver (Olly Olly Olly), Baz, Max, Wayne and Cassell.
We walked towards Aoife‘s hotel, but we stopped for food. We took the food to our hotel. So did Aoife. Night hun. hopefully see you before we fly home tomorrow. Back at the hotel I put the blog online, we watch the Belfast gig.
Wednesday 25th of October
This morning we wake up. I took a shower and then we packed our bags. We got some breakfast and checked out.
We walked to Aoife‘s hotel. We’re going to have a drink together and have another hug. Saying goodbye again. Trying to convince her to come to Birmingham next month. Before we have to catch our bus.
There was another bus trying to park somewhere, blocking the road. We couldn’t go further. After a while he gave up and we could continue 🙈
Going through security went smoothly. Then it’s waiting in a pub until we can board. Our flight is delayed with half an hour. At 6:30 ish we arrive again in Holland. Mark and Roos pick us up. At home we have pizza. We also cancelled our hotel for Sheffield. And we changed the flight to the new rescheduled gig.
On Thursday, while I arrive at work I see I’m on Mike’s Instagram post, after Matthew informed me.
The Official Mike Skinner Fansite 