Magic Moments At Twilight Time Standing about in clothes in Paris, right! I remember your visit well. I haven't listened to this track for a while, sounds better than I remember. Exactly what did you think when you found out we'd written a song for you?
Julie Howell Then it was September and I started at 6th Form to do my A-levels (Collingwood School). On the first day, our form tutor asked us to write something about what we'd done over the summer and I wrote about writing to a rock musician and then meeting him. In that form I sat next to Samantha Taylor, who was a friend I'd got to know in 5th form. More about her later, I'm sure! Sam and I and our mutual friend Helen soon became thick as thieves. And by bizarre coincidence, Helen was dating Shawn Parlour, the drummer with The Charles, whom she'd met which she was working in Presto and he was a customer and she'd commented on his cool jacket!!!
Julie Howell At that time, some of The Charles and their friends were living in a squat on King's Ride, just round the corner from where I lived so me, Sam and Helen would go there after school. .
Magic Moments At Twilight Time Oi, don't start doing a Marc Bell on me and making up your own questions! I said; "I haven't listened to this track for a while, sounds better than I remember. Exactly what did you think when you found out we'd written a song for you?" :)
Julie Howell Later in Sept, you asked me to see your band (MMATT) play in the White Hart in Frimley and this is where you debuted the song you had written about my letter "Us weirdos gotta stick together".
Magic Moments At Twilight Time The White Hart gig...

Magic Moments At Twilight Time Funny you should mention that... um... Exactly what did you think when you found out we'd written a song for you?
Julie Howell What did I think about you writing 'Us Weirdos'... I was pleased about it, chuffed. Remember I was very young and when you're 16 you're only just finding out what the world is about so you don't know what is amazing and different and what is normal. But yeah, I felt special, noticed. It's a difficult question to answer as a lot was changing in my life at that time. I'd hated school, but when I moved into Sixth Form it became 100% better. I went from being one of the sad kids to one of the cool kids. It was an amazing time. The happiest time.
Julie Howell Me and Sam Taylor in Sixth Form.
Julie Howell Notice 'White Hawk' on my folder in Tipp-Ex. I was proud of what we were creating together, even if I didn't know what it was!
Magic Moments At Twilight Time Thank you, that's more gratifying than you can imagine, though you did kind of pay me back. The song wasn't the only thing we did for you, and the other one had much longer lasting effects. I remember making you a promise that whatever happened, we would play your 18th birthday bash, still a couple of years away at the time, but we did, and there was a certain friend of yours in the audience who seemed to have a strange yellow arrow above her head!

Julie Howell I need to get you out of hot water. That montage makes it look like you were interested in another woman while kissing your wife! >
Julie Howell That was much later though. The Grain Aid festival happened before that.
Julie Howell You took me the Grain Aid festival in Sept 1987, still my painfully shy phase. That was an amazing day. Unknown to you my best mate Sam was also there. You know her today as your wife. We were only 16 then though and you were still married to Shona, so let's keep things nice. >
Julie Howell A few things you have to understand. At 16, you seemed VERY OLD to me (you were 29 when I met you). I got to know you and Shona as a married couple. It was very sad when you split up. It was difficult to accept for a while as I'd only known you two together. I don't know if you quite understood that at the time. So when you saw my friend Sam at my 18th party and expressed interest in her it was weird as to me you'd only just split with Shona AND YOU WERE VERY OLD. I didn't think Sam would give you the time of day... one of the very few occasions where I've been wrong about something. ;-)
Julie Howell Going back to the party on 18th Feb 1987, it was EPIC. I haven't been to a better party before or since. And it was right at the very end of it that you clapped eyes on Sam (when the lights were turned back on, basically!). I remember the moment well. She told you her name was Samantha and you asked her if she could twitch her nose.
Magic Moments At Twilight Time Actually, Shona and I had been separated for about 8 months by the time of your 18th party, even though we were still working together, so I wasn't being bad. Well, apart from chasing 18 year olds when I was pushing 30, as you so rightly pointed out! Her parents were thrilled too. So anyway, courtesy of yourself, Sam and I got together soon after and the whole thing inspired the "Zoen Nostalgia" album, and soon a new song would trigger your memory far more effectively than the first one, though I still think you're a weirdo... ;)

Julie Howell There was a period in 1988 when I didn't see you much. Then one night after school I was in the Rock Box and you were in there. I think you were going through the process of splitting up with Shona and you were a bit sad. This was the start of us seeing more of each other and becoming good friends. I was a bit more gothy by this time.
Julie Howell You weren't chasing 18 year olds when you were pushing 30. When we were 18 you were 31, you dirty bertie.

Magic Moments At Twilight Time Ooh, you're right, I was already 30 in February 1989. You got me, I WAS being bad. Well, shit, your hour is nearly up and we're still stuck in 1989! Do you want to wind it up now or are you happy to carry on (though maybe in less detail) till 2018?

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