But yet again I was delayed by the train services of British rail. Eventually after a 45-minute delay, I reached London Liverpool Street from Ipswich. I was just glad to get off the train to be honest.

I had a few things to do though. I had to get in touch with Muema and Sonia, and tell them that due to BR's rail delays, I couldn't meet up with them as planned.

My calls to Muema and Sonia, were unsuccessful as both of them were out. "Drat", I thought. But time was getting on, and I had to make my way across to the West End of London, within around 45 minutes, to the Club known as Garage City.

I looked at my watch, which read 9.45pm. It was going to be tight. I was supposed to meet the crowd for at least 10. 30pm and it seemed like this journey was taking for ever, I eventually got off at Tottenham Court Road, and made my way towards Shaftesbury Avenue, London. After being stuck in the tube train and Station, for at least 30 minutes it was a different sight that caught my eyes as I left it. It seemed as if a circus had come to town. Everybody was moving this way and that. The various neon lights which many of the big department stores had installed made me think that I was in New York, rather than in London. I lost count of the many "Excuse me's and "Sorry", that I got , or gave out myself as I made my way to Garage City by foot.

Eventually after having my foot trampled on by it seems like a thousand elephants I made my way to the opening of the Garage City.

2 bouncers (minders, or whatever you call them!!!) greeted me. Outside the club I had just noticed a smallish queue had formed. I felt bold enough to go to the front of the queue and say that I was on the guest list.

To which the answer came, "Could you stand to the right, while we ask about you. What's your name again?"

I gave it to him and he disappeared around the corner to a small paying in booth. I was ushered to the booth. He left me to deal with one girl, who looked in her middle 20's, and whose job it was to receive club payment, or guest list queries like mine.

"Your name?".
I gave it to her, once again, getting a bit impatient about all this now.
She looked down at her list, not very enthusiastically.

"I'm sorry, you.re not down here".
I think there's a mistake. I'm down there under a DJ called.. DJ Roo?
DJ Roo, who's he?

After a few minutes of explanation, and soul searching. The mistake was found, and I was eventually let in. Apparently, the DJ in question was booked down at the wrong date. Someone in the office had booked him for next week, not this evening!!!

"Oh no, what about the others on the guest list", I thought!!!
"Ah, well. As soon as Roo, comes in I will try and see if he can sort this out", I consoled myself.

Marching down the steep steps of Garage City. I noticed that the club was half closed. However, I knew that this was a going to change at 12:00am at night, when they removed the barriers and opened up the club fully. The half that was already accessible was getting towards a heavy capacity already.

Curtis and Moore, yes those up and coming stars, were dropping some lovely Deep House numbers already that had the crowd nodding their heads in unison. No body movements yet but the tunes were spot on.

The crowd were getting ready it seemed for the onslaught that lay ahead for the rest of the evening. A couple of coloured gentlemen didn't care if they were being watched, as they were already "dropping foot" to the Deep House grooves of Curtis and Moore. I decided to make my way to a nearby front stool, at the front part of this side of the club. This was so that I could watch the boys in action. Curtis and Moore that is!

For around 30 minutes, they went Deep, deep and deeper still. Wow. I tried to go near the DJ stand where I could see at least the labels that they were playing but it was to no avail white labels But one label brought a smile to my face. This was the Guidance Label, from the USA.

Occasionally, they dropped in a few Vocal Garage numbers as well, which broke up the monotony of Deep House tunes that they were playing.

Out of the Blue I got a nudge on the shoulder from this bloke who couldn't be over 5ft 2in tall.

"Hi, you're Carl aren't you?"
Yeah, how did you..I mean your Rusty aren't you?
Yeah, I thought it was you, or nears about, but I wasn't too sure. How are you?

Anyway for the next 10 minutes we introduced ourselves to each other, and gave accounts of how difficult it was to get to London that Evening, etc, etc. Both Rusty andd his friend were visiting the club for the first time.

They couldn't believe the set up. They thought that it was going to be much bigger than this. I explained to them that this would change at 12.00am, as it would enlarge.

The tunes continued to spell bind us as the punters were finding difficulty in standing in freedom as more and more were swilling into the club.

I kept looking out to see if I could see Roo, Ash or Sonia in the crowd. But so far to no avail. Rusty and his companion had decided to make their way to the crowded bar, and get themselves some much needed liquid refreshment. Though it was cold outside, because of the numbers that were entering at such a rate, you could feel the heat rising.

Eventually I saw Roo make his way down the steps with a number of other people by his side. Then I lost him. My attention for some unknown reason was diverted away from him. By the time that I tried to refocus on where he had originally been he was gone.

A few minutes a later I felt this tap on the shoulder and all was well. He explained what I already knew; that he was now booked to appear on another night, next week. There had been a mix up of the DJ's to appear at Garage City that night. Office Staff he was told at the paying booth upstairs.

He looked dejected, and pissed off, to say the least. I told him that this might now affect other people that were coming down through his guest list. He explained to me that he would go and sort this out so that anybody that was down on his guest list would get in.

So, after about 10 minutes I saw him upstairs again presumably sorting out the guest list for late arrivals. 12:OO am was reached and as if by magic, the club as we know it opened up. Bar Staff were removing the partition that makes it into the Garage City that we now love and enjoy today.

Curtis and Moore left to a small ripple of applause, but now the main event was appearing in front of our very eyes. Chrissy T and Rude Boy Rupert started the night off, in fine style.

"Happy Song" by Marti St. Michael's and C-dock was being dropped. I 'm sure of it", I thought to myself.

Chrissy T, had now taken the helm, and led us on the vocal tip; but he did throw in some funky Garage Dub numbers as well. Tracks aimed for the Dance floor more than for easy listening I would say. I noticed that at least at this part of the evening there was room to dance. By 1pm, it would be every man for himself.

I was wrong though. By 12:30, the club was getting nearly there!!!.

Another Song, that haunted me, that inspired me to the dance floors was "Contagious Love" by Charles Dockins featuring Lawrence D'doir. It really did get people moving.

It got the first whistles of the night as well. Hands went up to the air, and girls were getting down..

Ash Patel, who I have kept in contact for the most part of a year via e-mail suddenly appeared. It was become a struggle to hear yourself think. Those bass lines were deep and Heavy. Not in the Drum and Bass Variety, but in the House variety.....

He tried to explain that he had trouble getting in the centre of London that evening. He mentioned something else but I just couldn't hear him. He gestured if anybody else had turned up, and I pointed towards Rusty and Roo who were near by.

But still no Muema or Sonia. I thought Strange that. I left messages on their answering and voice mail phones.They said that they were coming.

As the night progressed, the club got busier and busier. I rooted myself near a bar, so I could have easy access to a beer when it got too hot.

Ragga's to the Office Party types, Sloane Rangers to Beer boys.

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