The goldfish strikes again - Festival of Tina

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It’s hard to imagine better results from zero planning but what can I say? It’s a gift. We all know I’m like a goldfish – I think I’ll go over here now. Last week was no different.

The day started out with a tiny bit of a hangover but I reckon only two hangovers from 6 nights out is not a bad ratio.

The previous night I’d been to band practice with Billy then dragged him and his partner along to my favourite bar. I said it was research. And it was – we have at least 5 new songs on the set list and Billy is going straight out to buy one of those drum pedals. Yay.

Anyway, they left at 11pm and I should have but I didn’t. The tradies turned up after night shift and we had a few more drinks and laughs till my favourite bouncer shut the doors on us.

Eventually I had to get out my PJs the next day at about 2pm because I needed new shoes to play Ultimate Frisbee.

Did I tell you I got picked in the team? We play on Mondays. It is so, so much fun. On Tuesdays I can never, ever walk. I love it.

Anyway, I digress.

I went and bought the new shoes and arrived home just in time to let Sunshine in. She’d come up from Geelong for the night.

It would have been churlish of me not to show her around, so I took her to the Alps. I love this place and it’s so close to my house.

Then we had to go to Lygon Street because Sunshine is Italian and Lygon Street is the Little Italy of Melbourne. We filled up on pasta and beef cheeks which meant we could safely drink the night away with no consequences.

We went for a dance at the Clocks on Flinders, as is my wont, then back to the Duke of Wellington.

And this is where it all fell into place. Sunshine is an excellent wingwoman. The band was made up of two blokes, both singing and playing guitar. Sunshine bails them up and says my friend Tina is a singer. You should let her sing.

I was stunned when they did. I sang Brown Eyed Girl and everyone seemed to like it, especially the kids. Then they chanted for more Tina. So I gave them Valerie. And then it was on.

I ended up closing out the show with Dancing Queen, to rousing applause. Honestly, I’m still shocked those guys let me sing with them – most musos would hate that. I’ll never forget it as long as I live. Thanks lads.

And it made me realise this band with Billy (currently called BAT. Come on, you can work it out) might actually have legs.