Are we in or out?

Like the worst game of the Hokey Pokey, we didn't know if we were going to be let in to Strictly or not.

 

I got an email to say that I had won tickets to watch Strictly Come Dancing, I was one in five million.  I knew straight away who to take with me and it wasn't GO it was the lovely, and strictly nut Mrs F. 

After much umming and ahing I decide to drive to Elstree.  I couldn't afford the train or the plane and the coach (plus tube) option would take over six hours.  The journey went without a hitch (although there was a momentary squeak from Astrid, that happened on the way there and back and hasn't been heard of since) I arrived in Borehamwood at half twelve, before Mrs F.

We excitedly walked around to the studio to be informed that all of the tickets were gone.  They had standby tickets if we wanted to chance it...  We got the last two standby tickets, and decided to return at 17.15 to see if we could get in.

At 16.30 we arrived back at the gates, to be informed that a hundred standby's had been let in and they weren't guaranteed a seat.  I was tempted to go,to find a lovely little restaurant and spend the evening putting the world to right.  Then I saw a magpie (well that settled it), oh wait, two, two magpies,  "one for sorrow, two for joy!"  I exclaimed.  We'd wait, just to see.

A little lady came rushing over, they could let three people in, as most were pairs that would mean someone would have to go alone.  I told Mrs F to go, I was getting tired and my shoulder was really starting to hurt.  She point blank refused.  

"There letting us in!"  Someone mummered,  and before I had time to think I was having my hand bag searched and was being told I couldn't eat my mints in the studio.  It wasn't as easy as that though.  We had to wait for the group dance to be filmed first, there were children in the dance and legally they weren't allowed to stay beyond a certain time and we would be given the seats the parents had.

"Who had the last two standby stickers?"  A voice called.  We raised our hands tentatively, we were being thrown out, I knew it....  Nope, we were being shown to two seats next to the cameras.  They had limited views, but there was a screen for us to watch, the judges were exactly opposite usabd best (for me at least) I was able to move and stand if my shoulder started hurting.

I still can't believe that we were there, it was filmed exactly as it is on TV, it was all so glamourous and sparkly. I have some photos, courtesy of the BBC and my television.