Wendy's first ever meeting with Westlife (13 and 14 December 2004)

Yesterday (Monday December 13th 2004) morning I left my house at 7.30am, then I’d arrive at the airport 9.11am, 6 minutes after the plane with (what I was hoping for) Westlife in it. I wasn’t sure about that, but it was the first plane arriving from Dublin, so I just wanted to be there when it arrived. Knowing that the lads wouldn’t be out in 6 minutes, I knew I’d be on time, and I was. The plane was delayed, so it landed at 9.19am. By that time of a friend of mine called, so I was just talking to her, and all of sudden Nicky walked out! I just ended the call, almost threw my phone away. I was waiting there for the guys, but at the same time not really expecting them, with my luck I always missed them, and now here they were. So I tried to take pics, but my f*cking camera wasn’t working! I heard Nicky say they’d go outside, and then take pics, so he walked on, followed by Kian. Then I tried to take a pic of Shane, and he was posing for me, but still the f*cking camera wasn’t working. So I said "It ain’t working.” And Shane actually was glad "I’m glad too, I’m not working yet either.” He said. The poor thing was sooo tired, he’d left Sligo at 1.30am! So I said "It’s too early ain’t it?” And he was like "Way too early!” By the time he’d started walking, so I just walked with him, asking him if he wanted to sign my DVD, which of course he wanted to do. Then I was thinking I hadn’t seen Mark yet, so I look around, and I didn’t see him, but he was walking a bit behind, with Dave, he was wearing a black hat and sunglasses, walking all relaxed, like he was a tourist, no one was with him, so I went over and asked if he could sign my DVD too, and Dave said he had to go to the car, but he stopped anyway, and signed it for me, then I asked for a picture but he was like "We’ll do it outside, at the cars…" So I just followed him. Outside there were a few more girls already taking pics with them, Nicky already was in the car, I took a pic of him and a girl, and then he shove back to the other side of the car again, so I asked him if I could have one too, so he shove back again, and that was when I got my first picture with a lifer ever! Then Dave came, angry telling me I had to get out of the car! I wasn’t even in it, but didn’t care about it, I had my pic! Shane and Mark were already in the car, Kian was standing outside, taking pic with loads of girls, complaining it was cold, and it was, and he was ill, so wasn’t very smart, but he did take a lot of pics, then he went in the car too.

After the airport we went to the hotel. We waited there for a while, it was freezing cold, but after a while they came out in their black suits… Looking all hot and sexy, but jumping into the car immediately. Nicky was saying it was cold, before he even was outside, and Shane was singing "It’s so cold outside”. So cute.

After they left the hotel we decided to get something to drink, something hot to warm ourselves up. We had no idea what their schedule was, so we decided to go to the panama club, the place of the showcase. They had to do a sound check at some point that day, so we decided to go and wait for that. We inspected the whole building, finding out how many ways of getting in the builing the guys would have,and lucky there were only two. One was through the door were we were sitting, the other one was through the door around the corner, but we'd still see them arrive then and be there before they'd get out of the car. In the afternoon, the car suddenly arrived, but instead of stopping at the building, they drove further, so all of us followed them, well, another way, which would be quicker, but we lost them. Part of the group thought they went into the garage, going to the television station that was above that. But the other part walked further, and there they were. They didn't tell us though, but (don't think they liked it) we found them before the lads had left again. They were in another hotel, having an interview with our popstars boyband, weird guys, if you ask me. We saw Kian first, he walked down, to go to the toilet and used the ladies room. Don't think he even noticed it. A little while later Nicky was about to make the same mistake, but he came out immediately, then waved at us and walked into the men’s room. Then they all walked upstairs, had that interview and after a while they were back downstairs, part of the group was inside at that time, but we were standing in front of the window, watching them call (all four of them) and have a drink. Then we wrote a note saying it was so cold, and Nicky read it and smiled. It wasn’t so funny though. But Nicky smiling is always nice right? After that they left the building, I took some pics then, but they immediately jumped in the car, and it’s no miracle Nicky was feeling cold, his blouse was half open. Not that I mind, but still.

So, after they left the building, we run back to the panama club, guessing they would do the sound check now. And we were right! The cars had to take a longer way, so we were all set when they arrived there. Nicky stepped out of the car right in front of me, he wanted to walk in right away, so instead of a picture I pushed my DVD in his hand, so he’d sign it. It was the picture of them in their opening outfits, and he was going over it, like he was searching where he was. It was so cute. Then Kian followed him, so I asked him to sign it too. And he was doing the same thing, but I guess he couldn’t find himself, because the pic is a bit dark, and it was dark outside, so he signed Shane. Bless him. Then Marita asked me to take a picture of her and Mark, so I did, while the security was almost pulling him inside. But I wanted one too, so I asked him, and before the security could get him in, he wrapped his arm around me. So the security guy (a Dutch one) just said that this was the last one. Didn’t get a pic with Shane at that time, but I was soooo happy with my second pic with a lifer!

After that I had to pick up my sis from the station. I was hoping the lads wouldn’t leave while I was away, but unfortunately for me, they did. But I had 4 autographs, 2 pics with the guys I love the most, this already was the best day ever!

So, when I came back with my sis, we had to a line to get in. Then we still had to wait quiet some time, and it only got colder and colder. But eventually we got it.
First there was this presentation about a new download site from Sony. Kind of boring, but that’s where most of the guests, and press came for, so they were allowed to sit in the middle, and we had to sit at the sides. The presentation was pretty boring, but whenever Westlife was on the screen we’d yell. And I was sitting close to where the lads were backstage, and they were bored to I guess. They were making loads of noise, and whenever the security would open the door to check them. We would look at them too. And Nicky was singing "You Make Me Feel” like he’s doing on one of the DVD’s too… I guess it’s the coast to coast DVD, but I’m not sure. After these journalists finished their stupid questions (even we could answer them) it was time for Westlife!
We were told the press at the front would leave now, so we walked over there, to take their seats, but they weren’t leaving after all. So we weren’t allowed to sit their either, not even on the ground. During the show I found myself a chair 2nd row, in the middle of the stage, so I did have a good seat after all…

Now, the show itself, forgive me if not everything is in the right order, I’m trying my best! They started with Ain’t that a kick in the head. And it’s soo great to see how much they’re enjoying themselves while performing the rat pack! It’s soo amazing! After that they did That’s Life, my fave song of the album, so I was happy to hear it. In the middle of that song Nicky suddenly asked for 4 glasses of champagne on the stage, and well, he got them. After the song, so he made a toast, wishing everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year. Ahw… Bless him! Then they did smile, while having some champagne during the song. After Smile Kian got this Christmas Hat he wore, and he was pretending to be Santa. So funny, and so cute! And Nicky got a Christmas Card he started reading out load. Then he threw it away and Kian was like, ‘Now don’t throw it on the ground’ or something like this. Then Shane started talking about a guest who would sing with them. It was Do, a Dutch singer, she performed Heaven with them at the TMF awards two years ago, and now she was doing the way you look tonight with them. After the song they gave her some kind of award, for selling 40000 albums. Then Do was off and the did the last song. Mack The Knife. They had another glass of Champagne during the song, at one point Nicky was standing with three glasses in his hands. Oh, before their last song they were thanking people. Shane was thanking his people, and Kian was telling him to hurry up. Then it was Kian’s turn and he was like "I wanted to thank BMG, but Shane already did that.” So he thanked other people… Like our popstars band… And I was like why would you do that? We they finished I thought they’d leave immediately, so I told my sis to get our coats and ran outside, but the cars weren’t even started, so I knew they weren’t, and I was freezing immediately, outside without a coat wasn’t smart… I wanted to wait till they would get out, but in the end I didn’t…
But the showcase was absolutely brilliant! Maybe a bit short, but sooooooo cool! I’m glad I was there! And I love the way the guys enjoy themselves while their on stage! It’s soo cute!

Next morning I had to go to school for two hours first, I had to go again late in that afternoon, but it wasn’t a must, so I decided not to go. I would enjoy Westlife more. So, after school I went back to the hotel again, I didn’t miss anything before that, cause the lads were still there. A few girls stayed there that night, and they came back around 4am, being totally drunk, so we were expecting some bad moods, cause of hangovers, but we couldn’t have been more wrong.

We waited at the hotel entrance, until we found out they were having an interview with two young girls in the hotel. We waited a bit longer, to see them come down, but when we thought it could take a while for them to get down, we decided to go to the Mac. Have a drink, something to eat, and most of all get warm. Then we walked back, and got a bit shocked when we saw the recordings already finished. So we started running, and the car was still there! The security guy looked a bit annoyed, like ‘Oh no, they’re back.’ But the lads weren’t. Got my second pic with Nicky there! He came out, looking f*cking sexy! And not in a bad mood at all, so I asked for a pic, and he wrapped his arm around me, so I got my second pic! I haven’t got it yet, but I might get it tonight. I have seen it already, and it’s soo cute! Better then the first one! Then Shane came out, so I asked him for a picture too. And he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close. My head was resting on his chest (he was standing on the chair), could had stayed like that forever! It’s such a brilliant pic! I sooo love it! Even I look nice on it! Shane told us Mark wouldn’t come, cause he had an eye problem, and Kian already was in the car. The poor thing was ill, so I guess that when he saw no fans outside, he went in immediately. We already though someone was in the car, so a few girls were looking but couldn’t see it, he must have seen them though… Mark and Kian both missed the interview with the young girls too, but apparently Kian was able to go with the lads the rest of the day…

So, the lads left the hotel and we went back to the station to go to the skyradio studio, where they’d have a chat. We took a taxi from the station to the studio, and that taxi driver was soo cool! We were with 8 girls, so he drove 2 times, and of course all of us were very excited about everything. When he came back to pick us up, he told us, the lads weren’t there yet, so we told him to hurry up, afraid they would arrive when we weren’t there yet. So he wanted to know who Westlife were, so we showed him the album, and he was like ‘They look like stars from the 60’s.” So we explained the rat pack thing, and he said "So they make good music?”
What a question to ask fans… Then he wanted to find skyradio on his radio, to listen to the lads, but as it only was a chat he couldn’t. Well, he dropped us off, and luckily for us the lads weren’t there yet.
After a while they did arrive, but they went in quick. Marita got a pick with Kian, and I wanted one too, so I asked him, but he said they’d do it on the way out. So we just waited till they came out again. During the chat I wrote my Christmas Card for Nicky. Thanking him for being so sweet while my dream was coming true. Something like that. So when they came out again, I immediately gave it to him. Hope he read it! I took another pic with Shane at the skyradio studio. Another one I soooo love! He was soo cute, they were running late already, so he had to get in the car, but this girl asked him to write a card for her friend who had a baby, so he did. And then he took time for piccies with us. Bless him!
Kian came out too but he was looking tired and sick, he did take time for piccie’s though, so I got one too! But he’s not looking so well on it. Poor thing! Hope he’s better now! Now I feel kind a stupid for not leaving him alone, when he obviously wasn’t feeling well. He was just standing there in the freezing cold, letting people take pictures. It was sweet of him, but now I’m like maybe we should have left him alone and just let him get in the car… But on the other hand I had my picture with all the lads now!!!
They left for another radio station where they’d do an interview, and we went back to the airport, cause they’d leave after that and we couldn’t go to both. So we could the taxi again, and the same guy came to pick us up. So he asked if we saw them and everything, and he promised us to listen to the radio interview. He was soo nice!

So, last time… Back at the airport. We thought they’d take the flight to Dublin, which would leave at 7.15pm, but it turned out we were wrong. My cousin told me they left the radio around 5.50pm. And around that time it’s busy on the road, so we weren’t expecting them that soon, but I guess it was only 25 minutes later or something when we saw a familiar van. Few girls were still inside, but we just walked over to the van, and it was their van! Shane and Kian came out. Nicky wasn’t leaving, and Mark was already at the airport, we thought he wasn’t allowed to fly, cause of his eyes, but he was, and Nicky stayed to watch some football game in a bar. But anyway, Kian looked soo sick now! I felt soo sorry for him! I wanted to ask him for another pic but when I saw him I was like no, leave the poor guy alone. Shane did take some pics with fans, until they found out they’d missed their flight. Shane looked like he could cry, and I felt soo sorry for Kian, the poor thing couldn’t wait for a plane! He had to go home! I think that they managed to get on the flight they wanted after all, but I’m not sure about that. When they left the three of them were on the phone, and we were afraid they’d just walk away, but Shane turned around to wave at us, and thank us.
So, that was the end of my days with Westlife The best days of my life! I’ll never ever forget these days!

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