sydney weekend part

Well my mates,
I don't think that I shall ever come down from the huge weekend that we shared together. I have so much to report, and so many terrific pictures that were taken, that we would like to share with you allЕ
Here is my personal rendition of how the weekend went!Е

Approx 3-30pm Friday afternoon,
Tania, Anthony, and Julie arrived at the hotel lobby, where I said I would meet them.
We sat and became aquainted talking of what was to come, but really at this point in time, we could have never imagined what was ahead and how wonderful it all would be.
We then went to the desk to check the Melbourne mates in, we had told the desk clerk why we were together, and he had the hide to say he had never heard of Keith Urban?Е who is he? And he asked us if he was a wrestler, I think that would have to have been the funniest comment all weekend!
Once the Melbourne mates had time to settle into their room, I knocked on their doors and presented them with a welcome kit.. which consisted of a few little goodies for themЕ a special inaugural Urban weekend certificate, to say they had attended the weekend, name tags, bandanna , a welcome letter, with a schedual , and a few other little bits and pieces which I hope they enjoy!
We met up for pre dinner drinks in the bar and started taking photos immediately,
Two nice guys offered to take some shots, so we could all be in the photos, I then returned took a snap of them, and told them to check out the website!
Tania told them it was going on a porn site, with their faces super imposed on naked bodiesЕ So I am sure they will check out the site!!!!

We then waited for other people that said they would meet us at the hotel, but they didn't show, so we decided to go on to china town and take in a little tour of the city, while we walked thereЕ
At this point I wish to say, we all got on like a house on fire, laughing and being silly, we even gave each other new nick names for the weekend.. and I think the names will stay with us for life!
After dinner we went on to the Arizona Bar, where we danced, but we found it hard to enjoy the music, as it wasn't Keiths!Е and we were all just wanting to hear something by Keith!
So I suggested we go back to my room and put some albums on the cd player that Pip brought along, and we could dance and sing as much as we wanted..
Ahhhhhhhhh .. what a time we had, drinking champagne, chatting, singing, dancing!
Doing fashion parades of our Urban T shirts.

.

Phoned a couple of our American mates to share some of our fun and excitment
And we discovered Anthony's tattoo!~

None of us wanted to say good night, but we knew the day ahead of us would be another fun filled day, Well some of us went to bed, Tania and Julie, went out to the Irish Pub, and found a Keith look alike!Еwho came from Canberra, and he knew exactly who Keith wasЕ and didn't confuse him as a wrestler!

Saturday 9am
Belinda joined our happy little group, and we all joined together for a hearty breakfast. Then we headed out down to the Rocks, and had a little bit of a photo shoot! In the same place that Keiths photo was taken. We did an okay job of recreating it!Е no matter what we sure had some laughs and fun thereЕ and I am sure, that people walking around there that hadn't heard any of Keiths songs, have now heard somebody like you!.. heheh.. I think Keith would have been hiding, if he heard our rendition of it! We also met some guy that is going to fly around the world..and a documentary will be shown on channel 7 here, he wanted some money from us.. I said on one condition, he had to promise that he would mention Keith Urban's name on his flight! LolЕ ( Im dreadful, I knowЕ I just like to make sure everyone knows keith!) Id hate to tell you all how many cards advertising the site that I gave out!

Belinda had the fan magazine faxed to her,and this is me reading about urbanmates!
We were all thirsty after our singing, and started heading back to the hotel, when we came across Sam!Е our limo driver!ЕYES YOU HEARD RIGHT!ЕOUR LIMO DRIVER! WHAT A GUY!

We headed towards a pub and had a couple of drinksЕ and boy did they go down wellЕpip and the girls had some errand to run , so they went their way, As we Anthony, Belinda and I walked back to the hotelЕall of a sudden a very important car pulled up in front of us, it had the Australian flag on the front, and the crown!.. so we knew there must be someone important in itЕ
The army and the police ran to the car, and an old man with his wife got out, I asked the policman next me, who this bloke was? He replied "THAT'S THE GOVERNOR GENERAL!Е sheesh I felt an idiot.. for our overseas mates, wondering who the Governor General is, In our country he is higher than the Prime Minister. He is the Queens right hand man, He watches over Australia for the Queen.
WowЕ I couldn't believe it..what an unexpected guest to our urban weekend!.. he must have heard the radio interviews about it, and didn't want to miss a chance to drop in for Keiths weekend!Е hahaahaha Е well he was there to lay some wreaths, but we all like to think he wanted to join in on our weekend!

It was back to the hotel to get ready for our huge night at the Basement!
All the guests said I wasn't allowed to go till later, because they had a surpriseЕ
Phooey I thought!Е that's not fair.. they aren't to surprise me! But I went along with their request!

THE BASEMENT EVENTS:
AhhhhhhhhhhhЕ what an unbelievable night this wasЕ. It was what dreams are made of!
I walked in and there was a huge huge pic of Keith there to greet me,

I mingled with the guests that had already arrived, and noticed a TV and DVD player situated on the bar, I just thought, ohh Pip must be going to play Keiths video clips,
I got to meet Keiths agent Rob, after writing with him for sometime, and I was so pleased and amazed that he took time out of his heavy schedual to spend time with us.
Answering questions for us, and chatting,

Then we got down to the nitty gritty of events!
Pip stood and delivered a beautifully written speech, That had my head nodding in agreement with what she read out, words that spoke of Keith, and all the wonderful people we have all got to meet throughout the world because of Keith, I will be posting her speech so you can read it for yourself, I am sure you will be moved just as I was by her words,

She also introduced our special guest artists, Steve Passfield on guitar and Simon Watts on fiddle, they played a brilliant rendition of Walk in the country, and home spun love! They had us kicking our heels up, clapping ,screaming, and had us in awe of their talent, and delivery of these songs! I can sincerely say this, and I know everyone will agree, that they helped so much in making the night special for all of us there, we were hooting and hollering, because they gave us such a brilliant performance.

After the performance we then were directed to the DVD player, where Rob pushed play!ЕЕЕ.at this point I think a feather could have knocked me to the groundЕ I had to do all I could to hold back a flood of tears that I could feel wanting to escape,
I couldn't breath, and I felt in total shock!

IT WAS KEITH!Е.. SENDING US THE MOST AMAZING MESSAGE!

Even typing this up at the moment my heart is jumping a million miles an hour at the thought of this DVD.
He was in the studio working on the new album, and took time out to make this especially for us!!!!Е he put everything he was doing on hold!ЕЕjust to make sure we knew, that he knew what we were doing in his honour, he said he was moved that we put the party together, and he thought it was really cool , and thanked us for continuing to support him in Australia , he apologized that he couldn't be there in person!
He was going to call the Basement , but felt this was a much nicer and personal way of doing things.
AND HE WAS RIGHT!Е
He spoke a lot of the new album and many many other things, But these are personal words , that those at the party were privileged to hear, I was very surprised at how long the message went for.
He ended it with, I love you all, thanks again for this party, and I will see you all very soon!

NOW HOW UNREAL IS THAT????????? WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO BE US!

After that huge shock!, then came another, Tania got up and did a wonderful special speech, She spoke of the friendships that have been brought about because of Keith, and the bonds that we all share, I sat there hanging onto her every word, because she was so able to express how we all felt. This weekend has bonded urbanmates in so many ways.
Tania also said a very special speech about me, I can tell you I am so humbled, she spoke of how the site, and I have brought people together with a common love, and thanked Pip and myself on behalf of everyone for the efforts we made and the huge success of the weekend, then Rob Potts, presented me with a huge bouquet of flowers,
And some lovely scented candles!

We then had some lucky door prizes, a rather lot of them in fact!Е and Rob pulled out the numbers, at this stage I wish to THANK KMM from America, for graciously donating a Ranch CD and DVD and shirt for the party!
Then we just danced the night away to keith songs, and took silly photos..
The huge poster print of Keith, made it feel as if we had Keith right there with us!
I don't think that one person can say they didn't have the time of their life .
Afterwards we continued to party more back at the hotel, till the wee hours of the morning.

I have so many people to thank,
Pip,
this started out as a dream for us, to bring the fans together, without all your help in the organization, that dream may not have become a reality!
I do sincerely Thank you for all your time and effort in making this so successful

TO OUR INTERSTATE MATES
from Queensland,(twinkles) and Victoria , I can't thank you enough, for believing in our dream. For all the expense and time you also put into this weekend, YOU GUYS AND GALS MADE IT HAPPEN!, and did far more than you may ever know!WE HAD THE BEST TIME WITH ALL OF YOU!

TO ROB POTTS
Thank you for all your time and effort and hard work, in changing the format of the DVD so we were able to watch it, I know you were trying to work that out for most of your Saturday, Then dragging in a TV and DVD player, and setting it all up for us, and we thank you for your time that you spent with us, we know and appreciate you are a busy man . Everyone that attended extends their appreciation for all you did for us!

To STEVE PASSFIELD on guitar and SIMON WATTS on fiddle
WOW OH WOW!Е. you guys had the joint jumping, Simon traveled a long way to be with us, and to perform. They did this as fellow Keith Urban lovers, and donated their time, and talent. Your performance really set the place alight!..
WE LOVED YOU GUYS!

To the NEW SOUTH WELSHIES "MATES" we thank you for coming along also, because your company and fun loving excited attitudes all helped complete this night for everyone!

To the radio stations that took interest in our weekend,
Nick Urby, Johnno, Barabra, and also Helens Rage Page, I thankyou for the support you gave us!, in helping us promote the weekend!

To the kind photographer Graham, who allowed us to use a personal image of Keith that he took, we do thank you very much! You have no idea how much pleasure your photo brought to all that attended our party!

TO OUR URBAN MATES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD,
you were all in our thoughts and words,
As this party was our way of celebrating the bonds made because of our passion for
Keith Urban, not only between the people here in Australia, but throughout the world,
It allowed us to reflect on the friendships that have been made, because of Keith.

And to the man himself
KEITH URBAN
I could never find the words to express what you have done for so many, through your music, and your passion for life, and Aussie character! you have touched many in many different ways. I personally wish to thank you, for opening a window that has given me the most amazing view of some of the most wonderful good , giving people in this world.

Е and its all because of
SOMEBODY LIKE YOU!