Roxan ~ In My Life with the Beatles

31

Bedlam

The layover in Sydney was over, we would now jump around the country and be back in Sydney the day of Pauls birthday.

As we climbed the steps to board the plane I'm going over and over in my head last night's events. John, Paul, George and Jimmy are all settled on board, the luggage and instruments reloaded and Mal is whistling some annoying tune as he bounds up the stairs behind me.

'I will be ok. I will be ok' I'm muttering a mantra to myself. Trying to calm myself for the short hop across the vast country to Adelaide, the city that petitioned the Beatles to include them on the tour.

Adelaide wasn't on the itinerary but after an enormous numbers of fans signed a petition which was presented to Brian- Adelaide got it's wish.

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"10 miles in a convertible, well that's different" George is first to step off the plane and seeing the convertible waiting for them, confirms his thoughts "I quite like the idea of that, I do"

"So, you lot in the open top, Mal, Neil and I in the next car along, ok......Don't go falling out George" George was already perched precariously on the back seat, sitting between John and Paul, James sat in the front with the driver.

What happened next was mind blowing for us all. It seemed like the whole of South Australia had come out to greet the lads. It was reported some 300,000 people lined the 10-mile route between Airport and the city all cheering and holding up signs, often younger ones would run alongside the cars.
But most surprisingly, it wasn't just teenagers which made the boys day it was nanas, granddads, mums, dads and babes in arms. As the cars tried to approach the Town Hall area the age group changed though. Older fans gave way to a crush of teens, not an inch of space could be seen in the street. The mayor then presented the lads with the key to the city from the balcony on the second floor. Their grins said it all.

"That was fucking unbelievable" John bound off the balcony grabbing a coke and downing it in record time. He spotted my ear to the telephone and apologises with a soft "Sorry Rox" and finger over his lips for a bit of shush.

I was on hold, so replied "Couldn't have said it better myself actually. They were so happy to see you all. You all bring a lot of people a whole lot of joy, never forget that"

I'm on the phone on hold to the South Australian Hotel they didn't think the place would be snowed under with people, they were totally under prepared for the Beatles mayhem so I needed to get the loading dock doors open and guarded with security before we even attempted to unload the group at the hotel.

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After the second show we attempted to get back to the hotel once again. The front of the building was still teeming with fans so we headed for the loading dock as previously organised. Passing through the storerooms, laundry and kitchens then using the stairwell once again. Being late there wasn't too many working in those areas but the staff that were left quickly used the opportunity to almost 'demand' autographs and photographs.

It seemed John and the boys could never 'switch off' everyone wanting something of them all of the time.

As we filed into the suite I caught onto some tell-tale fake yawns and other divisive tactics trying to make me 'think' that they were all so tired and going off to bed for the night.

"Awwwww. I'm knacked" John yawns, stretching more than necessary- over acting. Paul, George and even Jimmy follow suit with 'I'm tired' or 'I'm completely stuffed.' Etc.

"How about you love? Off to the land of nod for a kip, yea?" Paul is patting me on the shoulder in a rather fatherly fashion.

" I am a tad exhausted.... I was just thinking the same thing!"