No Mirage

It was all real. After 45 years, I finally managed to see Camel live in concert.

And in Jerez de la Frontera. Who would have thought it?

The show was absolutely mesmerising, with Moonmadness played in its entirety to begin with and then lots of favourites after the short interval.

Andy Latimer is 69, has just recovered from pneumonia, and played with all the energy and skill of someone half his age.

After the show, David and I went for some tapas and a beer and as we were walking past the back of the Teatro Villamarte, we spotted the tour bus and some activity around it.

No more than five minutes later, the band emerged on to the street and signed some autographs for the dozen or so fans who had probably been waiting there for at least an hour and a half.

I positioned myself on the pavement so Andy would come past me to the bus and was able to have a short conversation with him. It went like this:

Me:      "That was fantastic, a real privilege to be able to experience Camel after 45 years."
Andy:  " So glad you could make it here. Where are you from?"
Me:     "I live on the Costa del Sol."
Andy:  "You do? It's bloody hot here, isn't it?"

I nearly said, Well if you will come to Jerez in August, what do you expect, but refrained.

What a fantastic night and such a memorable way to end it.