My Best Damn Tour (May 29th – June 5th 2008)

[Emo Sausage]

I just had the best week of my life! Imagine watching Avril perform six times in seven days! Unbelievable

I’ll upload some of the pictures and videos as well if possible to the gallery when I sort everything out I took too many I’ll also post the detail of the performances at the last post.

Sorry this is going to bit long I try to keep it as short as possible and if I sound like an idiot and it doesn’t make any sense it’s probably because I wrote most of this either on the train or in the hotel room with only about three to four hours of sleep each day haha

So it all started a few months ago when The Best Damn Tour UK dates were announced. I was like YES! My most important purpose exchanging for a year is going to be fulfilled! Hah! So after making sure which dates does not clash with my exams and everything, I booked six tickets for this tour starting from Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Plymouth, Bournemouth, and finally London. I wanted to get more than one VIP ticket but I figure it would be a bit creepy and it’s expensiveee! So I got VIP for the Cardiff one. That’s that. All six tickets booked many weeks before it all started and the excitement!

Then time passed by….. and my exams are over. Holy crap. I had to start booking transportation and hotels and start planning! Thanks to Alicia for the help with her past experience and everything! I wasn’t that excited yet guess because there were so many things to take care of! Hah! ……………………… May 29th. The journey begins. EXCITED!





Good to go

[Emo Sausage]

Day 1: Nottingham --> Manchester (May 29th).

Starts here. I had 3 hours of sleep after spending the whole day planning and booking everything needed for this trip. So, I got up and rushed to the train station. Blah I missed the first train. So my schedule was a bit off. Then right after an hour and some burger king, off I went to Manchester. I stayed at a friend’s place there and chilled there for a bit before heading to the show that day. Had everything ready, camera’s all charged, my Sum 41 shirt on, and everything else needed set. I also decided to write “AvrilBandaids.com” on the shirt since I forgot to order my Bandaids apparel two weeks earlier!





Then I went to the arena at around 3 pm. It was still quite empty and lots of.. girls.. So I waited and finally they started to gather the VIP and Hot package holders and they were in this special queue on the side. Then there was this guy who told me he really likes Avril so I told him to check Bandaids out Then we decided to try and stand in the queue with the VIPs and see if we can sneak in. I was greedy When Avril’s tour security head were handing out the VIP wristbands we tried to ask him for one. He said no. Hah. So back to the GA crowd I was very close to the barrier to the catwalk for this one!



After sitting around quite a while where I almost fell asleep, it finally started! Jonas Brothers, then Avril!

I was totally excited when I saw her on stage again. The best feeling ever! Everything went very well for me that night until a point where I dropped my wallet in the crowd. First thing that came to my mind was how am I supposed to finish the rest of this tour now! My money (was a lot and meant to pay for hotels for the next 3 days), ID and credit card.. so I wasn’t really enjoying the last few bits of the show I was a bit frustrated. They didn’t find it and no one returned it to the customer service. What a night to start off a week of excitement. Was my fault too. I forgot and left it on my back pocket How could I be so stupid. So I went back and slept right away in to kill the shit mood.

Anyways it was my first time to see Jonas Brothers and they were not bad I would say. Avril was excellent that night! Couldn’t ask for a better performance!

[Emo Sausage]

Day 2: Manchester --> Birmingham (May 30th)

I woke up very early that day to sort out everything. First I called the arena’s customer service to see if they found my wallet, and nothing. I had to stay optimistic if I want to finish this trip so moving to plan B and off to the bank to sort out the card and emergency withdrawal. Whatever’s left in that wallet can be sorted out later I guess. Then to Birmingham!

There I rested in the hotel room for a while and decided to go to the arena not too early. I went at around 5 pm I think it was and the queue was mad! They had a merchandise stand outside this time so I went and got a shirt. Meant to get lots of stuff too the day before but my fucking wallet! Sorry Here’s a photo of the merchandise stand. Every venue has the same set of merchandise as far as I noticed.



Then it was seven and I got inside. This time I’m way at the back of the crowd as I was still in shit mood No squeezing around and suffocation during the show this time haha.



The Jonas Brothers came out and played the same setlist I think it should be. Again, about 35 minutes later, it was Avril! Was a good atmosphere the crowd was great. Avril was cuter than yesterday when she talks to the crowd this time haha. Another great performance! Hiighlight of the night was definitely when she played When You’re Gone on the piano. Just brilliant!

I went back straight after the show to try and get a good sleep for tomorrow’s big day at Cardiff. My meet & greet! I couldn’t believe it it was finally going to happen haha. Oh I forgot to mention I had BK again the whole day



Sums up what I’ve been having the whole week Not good for health but they had one at every station!

Hah I ended up rolling on the bed for more than two hours not being able to sleep. Too nervous for Avril I guess

[Emo Sausage]

Day 3: Birmingham --> Cardiff (May 31st)

Big day Had a proper breakfast finally haha. Off to Cardiff! Was about a 2 hours trip and I spent it writing and practicing what I’ll do and say to Avril during the meet & greet

Then BK was again just outside the station. Dammit On my way to the hotel from the station I saw lots of big stage buses parking outside the international arena and my hotel was just opposite the gates. Saw lots of buses not too sure which one’s Avril’s one. So I showered and cleaned up and prepare for the M&G! Very very nervous. Everything was set and I went across the street.

When I asked the security guy he told me they were kind of doing the registration for the meet & greet already. He let me in from the other gate and I rushed in! Phew lucky half of the people were still queuing for registration. Again this time I saw Avril’s tour security head and this time I got the wristband Everyone was given a bag and a cap as the gift promised.

As we were waiting Avril’s security head explains how everything will work and we were all finally brought to a hallway to wait for our turns to meet Avril. It was about half an hour before the line starts moving and it goes really fast! It was finally my turn. Before I went in I asked whether it’s fine to give this necklace to Avril and he said yeah that’s perfectly okay. I also had this banner kinda thingy for Avril to sign. I was dead nervous



Believe it or not yep I wrote a page of plan of what I would do and say during the meet & greet That’s the banner I gave Avril to sign and the necklace was the one I gave to Avril

Not long after that I had an “ok you can go in” sign from the guy inside the room. She was there. OMG. She’s to tiny! Haha. I cannot believe myself. She was right there. Then I asked the cameraman “So I go now?” Yep he says. *Moves towards Avril*. I wanted to cry and hug her I just cannot believe myself

Me : “Hi Avril it’s so good to finally see you!” *opens my arms and asks for a hug*

She looked to a staff behind me and I was confused for about a few seconds

Avril : “Oh, shake shake.” *with a very beautiful smile*

I was terribly embarrassed I think they didn’t allow hugs but I wasn’t aware of that So I shook her right hand. It was a bit awkward haha. I handed her the banner to sign and..

Me : “Oh I’m from Bandaids can you sign here?”
Avril : “Oh cool!”
Me : “Oh can you write my name on it? hehe.. That’s.. yeah that’s j-u-a-n..”
Avril : “d-a?”
Me : *Shocked* “Yep d-a yeah! Thank you! Oh have a little something for you..” *hands her the necklace*
Avril : “Thank you. Cool!”
Me : “I’ll just hold this up for the picture.”
Avril : “Okay.”
Avril : ”Thank you.”
Me : “Thank you Avril!”
Avril : “Enjoy the show!” *with even a cuter smile*

Then I went out of the room and I was like “Fuck!” What is wrong with me?? My head just went blank when I saw her haha. It was really fast too I think it was about less than 30 seconds. But it was the best moment in my life Avril was just beside me I hope the picture didn’t turn out bad!



It kinda did.. Nooo I wasn’t even smiling properly..! Meh Avril was beside me I’m happy


Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee she wrote my name!

So I went downstairs afterwards and bought another shirt before heading to the VIP section of the standing area. It was so close to the stage and I can see everything clearly! Very very excited. The Jonas Brothers came out and I’d have to say after watching them three times in a row they were quite good hah. As usual, the stage was redecorated and all after their performance each night for Avril. A good 35 minutes went by and the lights went off.

This had to be the best one I’ve been to so far. Crowd was good too and lots of different types of audiences around me which was awesome. I waved and waved so many times to Avril I hope she saw it haha. Lindsey was in front of me a few times when she was dancing and I kept waving to her and she smiled everytime I hope it was to me During “I’m With You”, when the cameras were always pointed to the crowd and displayed on the big screen I was ready and I took out my banner and kept recording the big screen. Turns out I was holding it too high up and I could only see half of my face in what I recorded

Then there was the acoustic sets. I was on the left side and Jim, Avril, and Steve was right in front of me a meter away. I gave Jim a thumbs up during Don’t Tell Me, he smiled and nodded his head to me yes! I hope it was for me

It’s one hell of a view where I was standing! I kept waving and waving to everyone on stage and singing during the night and it’s really awesome Best one so far! Finally after “Sk8er Boi” everyone left the building and I headed to the hotel. It was just opposite the buses’ gate so I decided to stick around with some people there waiting for Avril to come out. Everyone waited for about an hour plus, then the steward said he was just told by the production that she was not coming out to sign. Everyone still waited and about half an hour later a bus came out and after it left the steward told everyone Avril was in there so she has already left. Nobody trusted him There was this one guy who came out and chilled just behind me but I didn’t really recognize him. He probably was with the Jonas Brothers! Hah so after another half an hour wait and nothing was happening, I went back to the room to sleep I probably should’ve waited a bit longer

[Emo Sausage]

Day 4: Cardiff --> Plymouth (June 1st)

Another day without enough sleep for the early train. I think I had a dream of reliving the meeting Avril experience Hah so off I go to the station.

One of the trains was cancelled so I had to wait for about an hour for the next one and I reached Plymouth at around half past two. I followed the signs to get me to my accomodation and I think I saw Avril’s tour bus on my way there. They looked similar to the ones I saw the day before and they were just stopping outside this hotel which I don’t really remember. So I looked around a bit but nobody was really there

Again I went to the venue at around 5 pm. The Pavilion was quite cool. Just outside, I saw lots of buses and trucks like the ones I saw the day before so they’re definitely the tour crews. I got my black Avril hoodie this time from the merchandise stand! They finally had my size



The show was equally awesome to the other ones, the only difference was this venue was a bit smaller compared to the other ones I’ve been to so there was only one big screen in the middle (no side ones), no reserved VIP guests standing area, and Avril had to skip some parts of her performance (eg. playing with the crowd during He Wasn’t). I brought my banner again this time and hope Avril will see it I lifted it up again during I’m With You but I’m not too sure if it made it to the screen.

So how do I feel after watching Avril four times in a row in four days every night? FANTASTIC! I was not bored even a bit and pumped up for more! She’s always energetic and fun and brilliant every night! Avril is too awesome Jonas Brothers were also very good and their songs started to repeat themselves in my head haha.

The show finished around 09.50 pm then I went outside and waited at where the buses stop where everyone else were waiting for Avril to come out as well. Again after about half an hour the steward told everyone she’s not coming out. Another 15 minutes went by then I decided to go back. I was so tired On my way I met this awesome Avril fan who was probably about in his 30’s (I’m sorry if I’m wrong ). I asked him how the meet and greet went because he had the VIP tag with him and he said it was kind of brief and too quick haha. He had the same experience of mind going blank when he went inside the room where Avril was! Chatted for about 20 minutes all about Avril and the tour and I have to say he truly is a huge Avril fan just like us We were just outside the a side door of the venue and we saw tons of stuff and crew coming out from there. I think I recognise most of them already heheh.

After that I went to get a burger outside where I saw a bus going out from the venue parking lot it might be Avril’s one I walked back to the hotel afterwards and had my burger while watching some footie: England vs. Trinidad & Tobago Went to sleep right after that and finally I get to have an at least 6 hours sleep!

[Emo Sausage]

Day 5: Plymouth --> Bournemouth (June 2nd)

Nothing much this day except this was the most tiring journey compared to the rest Left Plymouth at around 1 pm and I reached my hotel in Bournemouth at around 6 pm! There were like 4 or 5 changes and it involved a lot of walking with my extremely heavy bag filled with god knows what (Merchandises ) I also had to use the VIP gift bag to fit some of my stuff in already





Finally a hotel room with free internet access I went to check out the venue a bit and grabbed some Chinese for dinner earlier. Now here I am 12 am at midnight watching Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Detroit Red Wings I don’t even watch hockey! But I’m kinda getting into it.. Avril loves hockey right?

Haha well a day off from this hectic 5 days so far. I’ll get a good long sleep tonight so I’ll be fit for tomorrow’s and London’s shows Night!