Standing Stone Report! - How I got My Autograph! by Tijl Vanbrabant

Finally I have found the time to post on the list. I did not sleep last
night at all and still I went to work, so I'm very tired.
The SS concert was a thrill for me: the music, the macca-l people and of
course the autograph...


I arrived in London on saturday with two Belgian friends of mine (there
were at least 7 Belgians I know at the concert). The rain was pouring down
so we only went to MPL and HMV (I bought the CD McGear).

On sunday we went to the Richard Porter Beatles Walk. By the time we
arrived at St. John's Wood, I met Joyce (what a great Beatlesjack she
bought at the beatlefest!) and Amy and so many more. 

Monday was macca-lunch time. Unfortunately I had a full UK breakfast at
morning so I wasn't really hungry (would you after eating potato's,
tomato's, an egg and toast? and then I even skipped the bacon). I was
really cool though to meet all this familiar names. I have to admit I was
a bit disapointed when Jorie walked in to say Paul arrived at the RAH at
12.00 a.m., right when our lunch started. Oh well, apparently Paul was in
a good mood so after the lunch I went to the RAH right away. But nothing
ever happened. We waited for hours and hours for Paul to come out.
'streetradio' reported orchestra rehearsal was at 2.30 p.m., chorus
rehearsal was at 5.30 p.m. and the full dress rehearsal at 7.30 p.m.
Anyway, as it was getting later, it was getting colder too (because of
the strong wind). We were standing there stonecold as someone stated it.
                          ~~~~~~~~       ~~~~~~
Joyce was trying to find protection against the wind under Paul's car
(the car was just standing in front of the RAH all day), but Jennifers
Idea was even better: she had her sleeping bag with her!!! Ever seen
Jenifer wrapped in a sleeping bag on the street? Well, it sure looked
CUTE. At 10.30 John Hammil came out and drove Paul's car the nearest door.
All fans had to step back. I figured out it had no use to wait for Paul in
the middle of a 50 fans crowd, so I went around the corner and I made up
this little plan. If Paul was going to Cavendish av. He sure would head in
the direction of Knightsbridge. If I was standing at an intersection,
maybe I had a chance to meet him.

And so it went. Paul came out, and I quickly took two pictures of Paul.
Then I ran away from the RAH. I had to run about 150 meters slightly 
uphill before I arrived at the intersection. I turned around and saw one
car then another car and then I saw a car with a familiar numberplate:
900 MPL. Then I was lucky. The lights were turning red so John had to stop
the car. Even before the car was immobilized, Pauls window was going down.
Paul was sitting in front and he immiately made a sign to me to hand over
the sheet music of 'A leaf' which I brought with me. Paul was on the phone
and I heared him say loud and clearly in the phone: 'how are you daaarling?' 
In the mean time Paul started to sign his autograph for me but I was
trying to get my photocamera which I was holding under the music folio.
When I was withdrawing the camera, the musicfolio was going up and down
and Paul said to me :"Hold it for me boy". Then he started his signature
again (I got the P twice:)) while I was taking a picture. After he'd
finished I didn't grab my pen as soon as Paul wanted because he said
"here's your pen son". I took my pen and the carwindow was going up again.
But when Paul I was trying to take another picture, he just made the
window go down again and did the thumbs-up-thing!! Since I had only two
pictures left on my camera I made a sign to him I couldn't go on and then
he laughed and pointed at me and doing the thubs-up-thing again. Now the
light was turning green and the war moved on.

Sooo? I'm AM very proud of my Paul autograph. Only a couple of months ago
I told the list I had really bad luck on a few occasions where I could
have got an autograph. I figure Paul only gave a couple of autographs
monday. Maybe some people at 12.00 am (Jorie can you tell us more?) and
one guy when he left the RAH.

When I met Paul I was waaaaay overexcited so I forgot to use the flash on
my camera. However, the photographer at my work is gonna try to make
something out of it in the devellopmentproces: maybe by lightening it
longerr then usual????

Immediately after I got my autograph I ran back to the listers at the RAH,
God I was happy with this ten year job. I think Paul was happy too when he
saw the happyness on my face. I didn't have to say a single word (besides
he was on the phone and I didn't want to disturb him) to him and yet I
think he understood my joy. I'm telling you: I didn't fall asleep right
away that night!


On tuesday, Paul went right in the Artists door when he arrived for the
press conference. After waiting at the RAH for eight hours I had a good
look at Mike arriving, and I also saw a glimpse of Sting (fans can email
me for the picture I took by accident). Linda arrived with one of the
daughters in a Range Rover (I didn't see her, neither did the papparazi.

At 7.30 I went in my box. I especially liked 'A leaf' and 'Spiral' (it's a
pity the latter didn't came out as a piano piece as well.). I noticed the
handkiss Paul gave to Linda during SS. The standing ovation after the
concert was well deserved. After the concert I immediately had to leave
for Belgium. I took the last train to Dover (23.30 p.m.), there I took the
ferry, and at 5.00 a.m. I was in Calais, France where I left my motorcycle
at the chunnel on saturday. Unfortunately the ferry port is too far
away from the chunnel port to do that by foot. The rain was pouring down
again so I was very wet when I finally got into a cab. My motorcycle was
still there but it was a hell to return to Belgium. It was raining so hard
and I didn't have my motorcyclegear with me. In France the highway's are
not lighted at night so it was very dark and I didn't see anything at
all. I rode behind a truck and tried to follow his lights. It was the
first time in my life I was scared on my motorcycle. When I arrived at the
Belgian border I was completely soaked with rainwater. and whatsmore: it
was cold as well so I really felt miserable. I arrived in Brussels at 9.00
a.m. without having slept at all, being very cold. I had breakfast at home
and went to work at 10.30 a.m. 

I am feeling too tired to drive to Paris today although I'd love to see
Linda and Stella again. I felt asleep at my work today (I have to give a
training at a girl and she woke me up before my boss came in).

SS was a great experience, I'd love to have another Macca-l meeting.

Tijl Vanbrabant
Belgium