On a night like this

I was planning one of my usual Sunday afternoons/evenings, which usually consist of gym, television, counting my blessings, collecting my thoughts, then maybe a few drinks up at Stonewall (to undo all the time I spent at the gym) to watch Polly’s Follies. Slipping into my television-watching outfit I received a frantic phone call from Western Sydney legend Beverly Buttercup. Maxi, are you free tonight? I have a spare ticket to Kylie if you want to take it. Every bastard who planned to attend had pulled out at the last minute.

I hadn’t originally wanted to go to any of her concerts, last year’s or this year’s. I had seen the DVD and thought that was enough so I spent my money on Bette tickets instead, but I thought this opportunity was too good to pass up.

Now the tickets are the originals from last year so the seats may not be the best, the old girl told me. I brushed that off, too excited to really think about what Beverly was saying. I’ll pick you up at 6pm so we can find a park and get something to eat. Within minutes I was ironing a clean blouse, slacks and into the shower.

I have to be honest: I like Kylie, but I’m not really one of those people who are fanatical about her. I don’t have every CD, T-shirt, movie or poster she has ever been in or on. But I raced around the house like a dizzy schoolgirl getting ready for her concert.

Soon Bev was barking down the phone, We are outside, hurry up!

Within moments we were at the Entertainment Centre with what looked like a meeting of every gay man and teenage girl in Sydney. We could have had a Mardi Gras meeting right there in the forecourt with the number of giggly and girly poofs waiting. It was heaven!

Once again I was reminded that our tickets might not be the best seats, but we were there to have fun. This is when the red warning lights started to go off. What was worse was that I had briefly spoken to Courtney Act and she mentioned she had guest list tickets and could be sitting on stage with our very own singing budgie. Bitch!

Our party proceeded up a million steps to the last row of the Entertainment Centre. We had to walk so far up that I had to take a quick break for a mouthful of water. Terrified I was going to get a nose bleed or deep vein thrombosis, I settled into my seat. You know your seats are shithouse when you have to look at the big screens the majority of the concert. But as soon as Kylie came out, our shitty seats were forgotten. Absolutely brilliant! This little woman who has fought back from the ugly cancer monster was truly fabulous. And when Bono joined her onstage for the Kids duet, I almost slid off my seat.

What a great night and an amazing woman!