July 2007 Archives

It was a case of here, there and nowhere to be seen as far as Paul McCartney was concerned at Lipa graduation last week.
The former Beatle turned up, handed out badges, kissed the girls, did his usual graduation day speech - then vanished.
It left Queen guitarist Brian May to do the glad-handing at the after-graduation party, and frankly, legend or no legend, £800m or no £800m, was just a little bit rude.

So, what do you think about the grand scheme to drain the dock dry and party inside it?
It's certainly ambitious and if it comes off it could be rather spectacular.

I made my first visit to the Summer Pops at Aintree last night and picked up some backstage gossip into the bargain.
I was there to see terribly nice Anglophile Canadian Bryan Adams (he may play rock and roll but his rider - dressing room requests made by the artists - apparently included TWO types of cake: marble and lemon)
He put on a good, if not stunning, show with the 'help' of a bubbly but tone deaf Scouser called Kayleigh who was invited on stage to do the Mel C bit from Baby When You're Gone.

A friend of mine took her boyfriend to see "I'm Not In Love" legends 10cc at the Summer Pops last night.
Afterwards they met the band - and that's when things got a bit surreal.

I was one of those lucky enough to be at the Philharmonic Hall on Saturday to see Marcel Khalife.
In fact, I seem to have spent most of the weekend at the hall, being back yesterday afternoon for a Last Night of the Proms featuring conductor Carl Davis in a succession of lurid frock coats.
His wardrobe must be stuffed with them.

I took a trip across town to the 'opposition' yesterday.
It was the topping out ceremony of the Bluecoat Arts Centre and slightly bizarrely it was being hosted at the Beeb's new building in Hanover Street.
Why aren't we AT the Bluecoat I asked their communications department?
Turns out the place is still a hard-hat-and-two-hour-safety-briefing building site and it was easier to get the great, the good and me on to the Beeb's balcony to watch proceedings from a slight but safe distance - with a glass of something fizzy in our hands.

Fiona Bruce presents her fly on the wall programme about Cherie Blair on TV tonight after following the former 'first lady' around for several months.
Those of us who have also trailed Cherie over the years will be interested to see how it turns out.