McFly | The Memory Lane Tour Experience

I can honestly say that 16.05.13 was the best night of my entire life. Partly because Will Daley commented on my facebook photo complimenting me, but also because I was part of the Memory Lane Tour and finally got to see my idols after 10 years of waiting for the perfect opportunity. 

McFly have changed my life and I'm so thankful I was given the opportunity to revel in this fantastic experience with someone that McFly brought me a lot closer to. 

To say that we were excited was a bit of an understatement. For weeks and months before, we were going out of our minds so you can imagine how bad we were on the actual day! Unfortunately we had school so we had to contain the excitement somewhat, but as soon as we arrived at our homes and it was time to get ready, all hell broke loose. 

My mother put the Memory Lane CD on very loudly and helped me decide what to wear (finding something to wear to a concert is a very important, in case you overheat and end up fainting or something ridiculous). 

Then, at 6.20(ish) Ellie and her fantastic sister picked me up and that's when our journey to The Brighton Centre for the best night of our lives started. 

In the car, the three of us were utterly beside ourselves, although Ellie's sister was probably a little less excited than us and kept reminding us to 'chill' because it got to the point where we weren't even communicating through English language, we were literally squealing and flailing our arms around. 

When we finally arrived in Brighton and saw the queue outside the Brighton Centre, that's when it actually kicked in that we were seeing THE McFly. The four boys that were in Smash Hits magazines, Girl Talk magazines and on posters around my room when I was younger. 

After we parked the car, we practically ran down 12 flights of stairs (which after the concert, felt as though they were twice as high). Then we had to decide whether to join the massive queue at the front of the Centre or join the small queue at the back (even though we weren't entirely sure if that's where we were meant to go) but nevertheless that's where we decided to go. 

We joined the queue, and three representatives for Saint Kidd came and gave us some flyers and a sticker (which I've stuck in the back of my Unsaid Things copy). The queue moved rather quickly, which none of us were expecting. Then we got inside and saw the merch stall and started squealing... again. 

I bought a wristband and a poster which I was so chuffed as the merch was a little less expensive than I first thought it would be. There was literally so many people once we got inside the Brighton Centre, and I found myself looking around and keeping an eye out for people I knew would be going, although couldn't see any (until we actually got to our seats).

Whilst in the queue for the loos, Danny tweeted a photo of him stood in the middle of the centre facing the stage and you could see so many girls running around showing people whilst trying not to scream. 

The one thing I didn't understand was why you had to keep lids off of your bottles, although that's probably incase people got a bit frisky and decided to throw them on stage or at somebody else. 

Claire (Ellie's sister), Ellie and I 

Once we got to our seats, which weren't obstructed what so ever, it wasn't long before the first act (AKA JAMES FREAKIN BOURNE OF BUSTED) was introduced by 'Mr Ant-Tastic' and only a few of us on our side were stood up, which took the absolute piss to be quite fair. BUT, despite that, nearly everyone knew the words to Air Hostess and Year 3000 and it was simply magical.

After James had finished head banging to country music, which admittedly, was a little weird, Ant-Tastic came back onto the stage and got everybody hyped ready for The Vamps.

The Vamps were unbelievable and I'm so thankful they were supporting McFly on tour. They performed 4 songs; Teenage Kicks, Cecelia, Little Things and Wild Heart and nailed every single one of them. I screamed a little too much when they came on, especially when they zoomed in on James' face and Trists' arms, and my voice had nearly gone by the end of their set.

Then there was a huge gap of time for everyone to go and get a drink, go to the loo etc etc. During this time one of my friends came over and found Ellie and I and told us of how she was close to James and he smiled when she screamed for him to marry her. 

Before long, the lights eventually went down and the whole centre erupted with screaming girls and people lighting up their phones or raising their hands in the air.

The set list, was perfect. 

Memory Lane (Acapella) 

That Girl

Star Girl

Transylvania 

5 Colours In Her Hair

Falling In Love

Room On The 3rd Floor

Obviously

Corrupted 

Nowhere Left To Run

Lies

I'll Be OK

Bubblewrap

Smile

Shine A Light

One For The Radio

Memory Lane

Love Is Easy

All About You

The Heart Never Lies 

There's only one thing I was slightly disappointed about, the fact they didn't play If U C Kate as it's one of my favourites but even so, it didn't make the night any less amazing. 

One of the highlights was definitely the entire Centre taking part in the YMCA. It made everyone feel completely ridiculous, but it was also incredibly fun! 

It was a sensational evening, and one I'll certainly never forget.

Were you a part of the Memory Lane Tour?

If so, which date did you go to?

Cheeky Summer Treats #1 |

These little gems, are absolutely perfect for a summer's evening sat out in the garden with a group of friends, to take to the beach or to take on a picnic!

They're incredibly easy and relatively cheap to put together and taste absolutely delicious.

All you need to do is buy a punnet of raspberries from your local market or supermarket for £1-£2 and buy two different packets of chocolate chips(either white and milk, white and dark, milk and dark etc) for £1.50-£2.50.

Then once you get home, find either cute cupcake cases or a pretty plate to put them on and simply slot the chocolate chips into the tops of the raspberries. 

The smooth chocolate contrasts with the sharp raspberry to make the perfect combination and think of it this way, you're getting 1/5 of your 5 a day, whilst being a little bit cheeky and having chocolate in doing so. 

What are your thoughts on this idea? 

Do you think it sounds good?

Never Let Me Go | Kazuo Ishiguro

“Memories, even your most precious ones, fade surprisingly quickly. But I don’t go along with that. The memories I value most, I don’t ever see them fading.” 

Kathy is 30 years old who's reserved adult life is interrupted by her past by her two friends from school, Ruth and Tommy. They grew up in a place called Hailsham, a remote and sheltered private school which happens to be cut off from the outside world. The Hailsham students are brought up to be happy and healthy and lead to believe their perfect childhood and health will one day be of service to society. 

Kathy reflects on her life at Hailsham after rekindling her friendship with Ruth, questioning the meaning behind her own life, her determination and her complex relationship with Tommy.

Her memory starts in the classrooms at Hailsham with the rest of the school's children, where creativity and a health are encouraged and supported. The children are completely isolated but seem content enough to carry on living their lives this way as it's all they've known and see it as normal. In fact the idea of the outside world thrills them, yet terrifies them at times.

The world only gets more confusing as the Hailsham children enter young adulthood and leave the confines of the school before accepting their inescapable fate to 'serve society'.  

From left; right: Keira Knightley as Ruth, Carey Mulligan as Kathy and Andrew Garfield as Tommy in the film adaptation of Never Let Me Go

The Verdict: 

The story and tone of Never Let Me Go is so unique that it doesn't fit a specific genre. 

Kathy's passive narrative style allows the sci-fi elements of the story to blend into the background with ease, whilst the reader concentrates on the completely human side to the story.

Her relationships with both Tommy and Ruth are so different and complex to each other, yet the three are peculiarly tied together until the very end.

This novel appears as quite simple, but Ishiguro manages to tie in themes of friendship, deceit, love and death, all while exploring the meaning of life and the idea of having a soul with the story getting increasingly complex the closer you look.

Never Let Me Go was adapted into a movie, featuring Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield and Keira Knightley as the main roles. It's a completely captivating and heartbreaking.

What are your thoughts?

Would you be interested in reading a book like this?

Have you already read it? 

If so, comment below with your thoughts!