Abenberg, Germany - July 13, 2007


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Ursula Fankhauser:

Hello folks

I just came home from a 3-days trip to Heilbronn and Abenberg. And to 
be honest, I'm quite exhausted after this 5-hour driving. Still it 
was so much worth it! But let's start on Thursday morning, when I 
started in my small but reliable golden Toyota. I drove about 5 hours 
until I arrived in Abenberg, where I have booked a little room for 2 
nights in the castles guesthouse. Soon after I've checked in, I made 
my way to Heilbronn, where my first CdeB-concert of this tour took 
place. Full of excitement I was howling one CdeB song after the other 
in my car and didn't stop, until I arrived my goal. Thankfully I saw, 
that the way to the concert was signalised. 

Arrived at the venue I had a seat on my chair in the first row. The 
rows where filling up slowly and on stage the last preparations where 
done. The woman which was sitting beside me spoke a beautiful british 
English and I already prepared to exercise my poor English-knowledge 
a bit, when for a short moment I saw the little notice on her rose- 
arrangement. Then I realised that I was sitting beside Chris and 
Stewart from the list. A bit later Gerlinde also member of our group 
appeared. All of them lovely people. I really have to say, for me 
this is the valuable thing about this group. So many years I was 
attending concerts on my own, having fun as well, but sometimes I 
missed the exchange between the people. With meeting some people from 
the list, this has changed. You know they are the same way crazy 
about Chris' music as I am and beside this it's just great to know 
the faces behind the messages in the internet. 

But lets go back to that evening: Soon later – the air was already 
filled with joyful expectations - the concert started, and hey, it 
was fantastic!!! I really liked the song-selection (well, "moonlight 
and wodka" was missing, which I really liked the way they were 
playing it last year) and I almost couldn't wait until we all could 
stand up and dance … it always takes too long to that moment, doesn't 
it? 

Anyway, after 2 ½ hours of playing the concert was finished, even we 
were still yelling for more (of course Chris already sung additions). 
On my way back to my car I had a big, broad smile on my face … lucky 
enough, I would attend another concert the very next night already! 
With that prospect - the smile would not disappear from my face - I 
drove back to Abenberg, where my pillow was longingly waiting for 
me ...

After having slept only about 4 hours, Friday morning came much too 
early as I woke up at 6 o'clock in the morning! Shouldn't my inner 
clock know that I'm on a holiday and won't have to get up as early as 
on a working day??? 

Let me ask you one question: Do you also feel kind of strange after a 
concert? I feel like all different kind of feelings are roaring in my 
belly. And there's a longing for the next show, which is rather 
difficult to explain. Is Chris' music a drug, wich is addictive as 
soon as you fall for it??? Makes you think "I want more of that 
beautiful feeling"? At least that's the way I experience it and so 
far this never happened with another singer … 

But lets not loose the topic: When awake I was too much agitated as 
that I could go back to sleep. Have you ever watched tv at 6.00 h in 
the morning? Rubish, whatever channel you choose! At 8 o'clock I went 
for breakfast up to the castle where I heard the latest gossip from 
the receptionist. She told me, that on Wednesday John Fogerty was 
playing at the castle. And he really dared to come 1 hour late to his 
own concert and when he finally played, he did not play one single 
additional song when the audience plead for it … Beside this his 
management ordered 62 (!) dark towels for his room (what ever they 
were used for) and in addition he and his management were apparently 
rather nasty guests. However, when I heard this, I really thought how 
happy we can be, that CdeB is still quite normal in his behaviour. As 
far as I've heard he only ordered a certain kind of mattress (even he 
finally didn't stay over night at the castle) – does anybody know if 
he's an allergic person? 

After breakfast I had to kill a lot of time. Even Abenberg is a nice 
little place, there's not much to see. So I mostly stayed sitting on 
the castles wall, watching the stage installations proceeding. 
Finally the sun found its way through the clouds and even me as 
someone who usually escapes in summer to the far north or even to the 
arctic, really enjoyed the sun rays on my face after all these days 
of rain. Just a perfect day to let the mind wander and start 
daydreaming – that's what I understand as 'peaceful'.

Evening came and soon I found myself standing in the queue for 
getting the best seats. Chris and the band were still doing the 
soundcheck and I had a lot of fun with the Germans around me. Even I 
tried to speak proper German it often took only a sentence until they 
asked: "Are you from Switzerland" … yeah, what can I do, my accent 
can't just be missed. Then we were let in and here I have to say a 
biiiiiig thank you to Chris and Stewart who where so nice to reserve 
a place for me in the front row – THANK YOU SO MUCH! In the meantime 
the sun burnt down and the drinks were sold excellent. In turn this 
caused, that a lot of people where running for more drinks or for the 
toilet during the concert and not a few where choosing the way 
between the front row and the stage – a bit annoying but far not 
enough to turn my temper bad. The concert was again an experience 
itself. The crowd was swept along with the very first notes and Chris 
became a lot of presents (flowers, wine, chocolate and beer). 

I'd love to sit once behind the stage watching the audience dancing, 
singing and celebrating. That night it must have been an 
extraordinary view, because there was a beautiful sunset. More than 
once a band member made a picture from behind the stage. Beside this, 
unsurprising the songs were the same as the day before (but this time 
in the right order :-). The end just came to quick and we all left 
the venue. After the concert I joined Claudia with her mother Ruth at 
the restaurant and it was just the end of 'a perfect day'!

Yeah, that was it, my holiday. Sorry for becoming so long, but I hope 
you got an idea of how much I enjoyed it! 

Now I'm sitting here, replaying the impressions in my mind (still 
kind of 'intoxicated') and looking forward to next Wednesday, when 
Chris is going to play here in Zόrich – I hope the audience is as 
good as in Germany. In every case I wish everybody who is attending a 
concert that he is enjoying it as much as I did so far.

Have a great time,
Ursula



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File last modified on January 3rdth, 2008