Glenn’s Birthday Extravaganza Day Day
The Living End & Hotel Stay – 3rd October 2008
Got x-rays in the morning of my mouth, to find that my bottom wisdoms are crooked as! Dropped into Sarah’s picked her up, then came home to get Dad to take us in to Geelong station and buy my special ticket. Found Hudge at the station and went up to Melbourne. Glenn and Kath were on the same train, but in another carriage. Once at Melbourne, we all ventured for lunch, and settled for eating in a food court. Continued the expedition down to Allan’s music – and once there Me and Sarah went to Brooke’s to return her laptop (which I fixed the sound for). Got drove back to Allan’s Music by Leelee and looked at some expensive pianos with the crew. Now raining, we dropped into Target and Hudge got himself a belt – as he was in need.
We walked to Mantra on the park, where we were meant to be staying and found that they had over booked it – so we were upgraded to a better room at the Mantra on Russell St. We checked in there and unpacked and explored. Reece and Sarah went looking for the pool, and found it on Level 6. There was also a spa, gym and sauna there too! We pretty much immediately got changed into swim stuff back at our room and got into the pool. We swam around, while watching Glenn working out enthusiastically on the rowing machine. We then got into the spa part of the pool and stayed in there for quite some time relaxin! We all then went out for dinner at the Waiter’s Club. It was a restaurant down an alleyway and up some stairs. Quite hidden, but really really yum and filling.
After woofing all our food down, we dropped into a convenience store/bottle-o were I got me some vodka and breakfast juice. We all returned to the hotel and had our respective drinks while watching RV on TV and shuddering at it’s lameness. It got better as we drank though. Soon I was feeling the effects of drinking out of a jug instead of a glass. 2 jugs later we began the walk to the Queens Bridge Hotel. We took a crazy route through Southgate and stopped in at the ATM circle so everybody could cash out.
We got our monies and continued walking to the gig. Everyone was busting to go, me the most so. We snuck into the arts centre and navigated through the MSO crowd to seek relief, and found it at the toilets with padded walls. We arrived at the Queens Bridge Hotel and watched Children Collide open for the Living End. Crazy crazy noise! Then as the Living End were a few songs in Me and Glenn made our way close to the front. It was a fair mosh bit, not brutal at all – so we really loved the Living End set. Which included ‘Run to Paradise’ into Roll On. Just Awesome! Exhausted, we walked back to the hotel stopping at Fed Square for hydration and McDonald’s for the girls. Got back and crashed!!!
The next day… – 4th October 2008
Packed up and checked out in the morning and began walking again! Sarah and I had breakfast at Cafe Caldera in DFO (old Cafe Sapore). Smashed a huge hamburger, and reunited with the crew. Then caught the VLine bus home with Sarah and Hudge. Stuffed!
Originally published on Vox [ronovan.vox.com]
5th October 2008