This is Part 4 of a sequel to the Vix's Licks series, picking up after the epic gig at the Magna Carta, and following Vix's band as they continue gigging and then embark on a European tour.
Best to read the Vix's Licks series, and Parts 1 through 3 of this one before this, to be familiar with the characters and background.
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Mads and Nena were very touchy-feely over breakfast, and I felt faintly... well, jealous I suppose. It was weird. I had Roo, so I had absolutely no reason to feel jealous of them. I mean, it wasn't like Mads had left me for Nena or something. In fact, it was me that had got them back together, wasn't it? Yet, I had an internal struggle going on, and I didn't understand the feeling at all.
Roo was eating cereal, and chatting away with them perfectly normally, showing no signs of the strange emotions that were afflicting me. She's so strong and unflappable. I decided I just had to wait and see if this disconcerting reaction would settle down over time.
My reverie was interrupted by the sound of a car on the driveway. Strange, I didn't think the other girls were coming today. I got up and went to look out, just in time to see Mum's little Mercedes sports car disappearing out of the gate. I couldn't tell if they were both in the car, or just Mum.
I returned to the breakfast table, and Roo said 'What's up babe? You seem a bit... distracted.'
'Oh nothin. Just a bit hungover I think.'
'Well you did drink a lot of my special wine last night.' She gave me fruity smirk, and Mads and Nena looked a little bemused. I smiled to myself. It's amazing how much fun you can have with a bottle of wine, a couple of glasses and two very wet pussies. God, Roo is so naughty. I love it.
After breakfast, we tidied up the cottage, leaving it in a suitable state for the cleaner, Bev, who was due that day, locked up and walked up to Mads' little red car. Hugs and kisses with her and Nena, then they headed off to Mads' place, and Roo and I went into the house.
Dad was in the kitchen, deep in a phone conversation with (judging by the content) the tour manager, Jens. We were into final preparations now. Departure was only 10 days away, and all the arrangements were falling into place. Organisation of a 23-date tour like this is a mammoth task, hence people like Jens get very well paid to sort it all out, exactly to Dad's liking.
I was very lucky in having my partner with me for the tour, but for most people it would mean almost three months away from their loved ones, though I did know that Mum was planning to fly out a few times during the tour to spend time with Dad. For others, like Jemma, Nikki, and Mads, it was going to be quite a wrench, being separated for so long. I think this is one of the main reasons that some musicians find touring so hard. Not everyone has the option of taking their partner along with them.
As for me, once again I was the lucky bitch, and I was looking forward to it immensely; spending the whole summer travelling through seventeen countries, playing in front of huge audiences, including four festivals. It was a dream trip. My face ached with all the smiling I was doing.
Those basic facts about the tour were exciting enough, but as more details of the arrangements emerged, my excitement reached fever pitch. We would be travelling from gig to gig in two luxury tour buses (no flying) and those buses were amazing. Dad took me out to Kent, where the company was based, to look at them and I was astonished.
They each had a lounge, a kitchen, eight bunks and a bunk above the cab for the driver. Plus (and this was the piรจce de resistance) a DOUBLE BEDROOM at the rear. They were extremely luxurious, with full air-con, sumptuous leather sofas, and big-screen TVs. The company called them Star Buses, and I really was starting to feel like a star. Keep yer 'ead, Vix, keep yer 'ead.
Thoughtfully, Dad had designated one The Boy Bus, and the other The Girl Bus. The second one even came with a female driver! We were introduced to both drivers; first Jim, who would drive the boy bus (I shook his hand but took little interest in him to be honest) and then Rhonda, a smiley, friendly Welsh woman, who would drive our bus. She was probably in her thirties, average height and build, with strawberry blonde hair, pulled back into a ponytail, and sparkly eyes. 'I'm looking forward to this one,' she said to me. 'It's not often I get to drive a bus full of just women.' I liked her immediately.
A jolt of excitement went through me like a lightning bolt when Dad mentioned that, as well as we five Zelmas and Rhonda, Lindi would also be travelling with us in The Girl Bus. YAY!
Actually, this was a masterstroke by Dad. A mixed bunch of men and women crammed together in a bus for weeks on end wasn't something I wanted to think about, so there was some relief in finding out about this arrangement. I wasn't sure what the culture in the testo-bus was going to be like but I didn't care. I was looking forward to some good times in ours.
I took a photo of the "Star Bedroom" for Roo, and captioned it 'Our love nest for this summer,' and she replied with a sniggering emoji. This tour was going to be fantastic!
When I got home, I embarked on a massive round of telephone calls to all the girls, telling them excitedly all about the arrangements, the buses etc. They seemed pleased, but obviously weren't quite as enthusiastic as I was. They obviously had misgivings about the separation, the length of time away, and the relentless demands of the itinerary. 23 consecutive gigs, an average of one every three days, was something we had absolutely zero experience of. Well, Roo had toured with The Ting Tings, but that was a much shorter tour. This one promised to be quite gruelling.
I thought about Lindi - and for once not in a sexual way. She had been on a number of tours, so she was a "veteran" in this respect. I decided to phone her to get her take on it.