Kinks Konvention 2012/ Kinks Night at the Clissold

[sleepwalker24]

I'm sorry that I haven't got around to posting anything about the Kinks Night at the Clissold Arms or this years Konvention before now - I've just not been feeling very well I do know that Uncle in particular wanted to hear a bit about it and see some photos though.
I don't have the energy right now to write something like that art show review I did, but I'll do my best to write a bit - thought I could at least post some photos though.



Here's Olga Ruocco singing with Geoff Lewis and the Kinks Fan Kollectiv at the Clissold Arms on the Eve of the Konvention -



Dave Davies' son Christian was there and also sang a few songs - Fortis Green, Days and Death Of A Clown. What a nice guy, I got chatting to him and someone had told him about Lola (who was parked right outside the Clissold.) He remembered Uncle Ray's car and wanted to come and see her.
Here's a photo of me, Christian and my friend Dawn with Lola -



There was a snow machine in the beer garden...I loved it!



It was a very fun night, the band must have performed at least 60 Kinks songs that night, the pub was packed and there were Kinks fans from several different countries present.

I got permission to leave Lola parked outside the Clissold Arms overnight, whilst I went back to my hotel. I thought she would like it there, opposite Ray and Dave's childhood home, 6 Denmark Terrace, which can be seen in the photo below. This photo was taken when we went to go and pick her up the next morning -



And here's one of me and Lola outside the pub -



I know I have several photos outside 6 Denmark Terrace, but I couldn't resist getting another -



And thought I'd get one last pic outside the pub before I left -



I had a letter that I wanted to post to Ray with a few pics of Lola enclosed (I believe I mentioned this in my art show review.) It only seemed right to get a photo of Lola there since that was where Ray had her registered to from new, in 1987 -



We also took Lola for a drive around Highgate (I'm sure you can guess why!) and just happened to pass Mick Avory on the road I asked him about this at the Kon and he confirmed that it was him driving a 4 by 4 through Highgate at 11.45am!

Next onto the Boston Arms for the Konvention - the place was heaving, it was lovely to meet up with friends and people I knew, as well as meeting some fans I'd never met before.
Mark Haley kicked things off with a couple of acoustic songs -



Here is my fave picture of Ian Gibbons from that night -



Love this one of Mick, thought that hat suited him - he was singing Mr Pleasant. Mick's not the best singer and he clearly knows it, but it was obvious that him singing was supposed to be taken as a bit of fun - which it was! He kept forgetting the words and afterwards John Dalton said 'I need a drink after that!'



Here's a photo of Ian singing - he did Apeman



I like this one of Mick and John G - it looks like they're having a little chat



One of John Gosling and Dave Clarke -



A nice one of Jim Rodford -



And a couple of Dave Clarke and John Dalton -





Here's one of John Dalton singing Alcohol -



One of the best parts of the night was when Ray showed up! No one knew he'd be there and when he showed up the crowd went wild! Ray didn't stay for long - maybe 5 minutes. He explained that he was poorly with the flu so he couldn't sing. I think he'd really just showed up to say hi to everyone and to wish us all a good night. He'd clearly been backstage for at least a little while though as he commented that 'Better Things has never sounded better'
Here's some pics of our RD







I manged to get photos with various Kinks, as well as several autographs -

Here's one of me and Mick -



And one with John Dalton -



(Funny story about John...after Alcohol was performed John placed his half empty pint of beer into it's holder on his microphone stand. I was right at the front of the stage and was very hot and thirsty - I hadn't had a drink in over an hour as it was really hard to get to the bar because the place was packed. When he wasn't looking I reached over and 'borrowed' his drink and finished it ;D I'm honestly not that naughty normally! Later on when I was getting his autograph I asked him if he'd been looking for his drink and he said that actually he had. I confessed that I had taken it - I said I was just really thirsty! He said something like ''You naughty girl!...Oh well, at least it went to a good cause!'' I did say sorry but he laughed about it so I don't reckon he was that bothered! I even had the cheek to get him to sign the plastic cup - he also wrote 'Your Welcome!' ;D

One of me with Jim Rodford -



And with Mark Haley -



(After this was taken Mark told me that his car wouldn't start and asked if I had any jump leads he could borrow. Funnily enough I did have some of my mum's in Lola, until recently when she took 'em back Lola could've saved the day. I wonder if Mark ever did get his car started....)

I was happy to get this photo with John Gosling. I got one with him at last years Kon but the photo didn't turn put for some reason - glad I got another chance -



Here's one of me and Dave Clarke outside the Boston Arms -



I had wanted a photo with Ian and he was stood with Jim Rodford. Ian said something like 'You can have two for the price of one!' Christian Davies was also at the Kon, he was stood with Jim and Ian so he joined them for this photo. I like this one - although for some reason I look as white as a ghost!



And last but not least, here's a photo with me and Christian Davies at the Konvention -



No idea why my new camera seems to turn my face white!?

[Kinkcan]

Great photos Sleepy !



Thank you very much for commenting all of them.

[sleepwalker24]

You're welcome Kinkcan, and thank you

[uncleson]

Thank you very much Sleepy! Great pictures! Everyone having a GREAT time and Ray came for a visit as well! And Christian showed up too! : )

[sleepwalker24]

No worries Auntie I know you've been wanting to hear a bit about the Kon. Yes, everyone had a blast, and it was great that Ray turned up, although I was genuinely quite sad that he was poorly
Christian's a nice guy, who is clearly very proud of his dad and Uncle

[HollyH]

Lovely photos, Sleepy -- thanks so much for sharing them! You are certainly good at getting the band members to pose with you; I'm usually too shy to do that for myself. Perhaps your photographer helped! I love the fact that you took Lola to "visit" her old haunts. You look great in the photos from the Kon, even if your face did get a bit bleached out by the flash. Nice to see you change things up with a more subdued make-up style. And I love your shoes in the Kinks Night photos!

[sleepwalker24]

Aw, thank you Holly
Regarding getting band members to pose with me.. I'm actually quite a shy person - Pete did a lot of the asking for me! Although I do find the other Kinks easier to approach then Ray - I get very nervous trying to talk to him.

Yes, I like taking Lola to her old haunts, we've done it a few times now. I get the feeling that she knows exactly where she is

Thank you for saying I look nice in the photos, but to be honest I think I look a bit yucky in some of them I had no makeup at the Kon because I simply didn't have time to put any on! I was too busy packing at the hotel and taking advantage of the breakfast included in the price.

Regarding my white face... I have a new camera and still can't get used to all the settings - it doesn't seem quite as good as the old one (which was ruined when a friend spilt beer on it in a pub :

Don't want to sound boastful but I have had so many comments on those Union Jack boots since I bought them. Even John Dalton said he liked 'em
The story behind them - I bought them before Ray's UK tour. I was with Pete in Bridlington (a seaside town) and saw them in a shop window so went in to take a look. I sat on a chair to try them on. I said to Pete ''I really love these, they'd be cool to wear at the Ray shows, but can I really justify buying another pair of shoes?'' As I said that Sunny Afternoon came on in the shop! It seemed like a sign so I bought them.

[uncleson]

They look great Sleepy!

[mrlennie]

Thanks Sleepy! Great shots!!

[sleepwalker24]

Thanks Uncle

And you're welcome MrL - glad you liked the photos