Names: Caroline Parker & Brian Green
When and where: Saturday, April 16th, 2016 at The World Bar, Resorts World, Birmingham
Beverage: beer
Last time we met in person: Caz in May 2014, Bri in April 2015
Friends on Facebook: since September 2007 for both
Friends in real life: Caz since 1996, Bri since 1993

I think I first met Bri through my friend Rachel, and it was probably at the Xposure Rock Cafe’s Sunday night music quiz, which I used to win with almost monotonous regularity. The prize for each round was always four free drinks, there were three rounds per night, and so as I wasn’t really drinking at the time, I found people were quite keen to be on my team. Thus I was popular for only the second time in my life, the first being when I was in charge of backstage passes at Donington. Like myself, Bri enjoys an adventure so we would often go off on expeditions together to strange places, such as the Lake District, Ironbridge, and the truck stop on the M54. We would frequently go down to Newquay for holiday weekends, such as the one where we first met Martin. After I moved down there permanently, we would still get together from time to time, either down there or back up in the Midlands. When he began going out with Caz, I became friends with her too and she, together with Jules, was a bridesmaid at my wedding.

I missed Caz last time I was over (she was at a Simple Minds gig the night I met up with Brian and his sister Lynda) so I was particularly looking forward to seeing her this time. It turned out we were all going to the ELO show at the Genting Arena (which will always just be the NEC to me) on Saturday, so we made arrangements to meet up before the show. I used to know the complex like the back of my hand but it must have been over 20 years since I was last there, and it has changed almost beyond recognition. Amazingly I was able to find our meeting point without getting too lost, and from there we walked over to the brand new Resorts World complex which is just across from the arena. We found a bar which wasn’t too fancy, but which was very busy and very loud. Shouting above the din, we caught up on our recent adventures. Before long, Dave and Jules joined us, and we all made our way over to the arena for the concert, which was amazing. We all met up in the intermission, and again at the end. We weren’t ready to say goodbye but couldn’t find a suitable bar which was still open after the show, so we all went back to the hotel where Dave, Jules and I were staying and rounded the night off in the bar there. I think we could have talked all night but I had to be up early for my flight home, so after a long-awaited cheese pizza and a few more drinks, we bid each other farewell.