Meeting Stephen and Eloy in Amsterdam:

Thursday, the 5th of July 2001

Thanks to DIANE for sharing this!

It was 17 pass 7 in the morning, when I was sitting in the train to Eindhoven. After 3 hours we, Tineke and I arrived in Amsterdam, with lots of delay... Because of that we had the choice to walk 5 km...or waiting 2 hours for the next bus...we decide to walk the 5km...After 2 hours, we were in front of their house. We saw their car, it looked that they were just leaving. Fortunately, they came home! Eloy get out the car and after him there was another person...it was the one and only STEPHEN GATELY!! I've never thought that he was home, because I heard somewhere that he was in Ireland with Mark, to celebrate his birthday.

Eloy came to us. He waved at us and said "Guten Tag".... we told Eloy that we were Dutch. "Oh ok, but here are so many different nationalities!" "Did you write us a letter, by the way?" asked Eloy. "No, we didn't". I think that the letter makes an impression, because also Steve asks us if we've wrote them a letter.

We have noticed immediately that Stephen got a new tattoo. It was a blue Celtic sign on his left shoulder.

Tineke asked Steve&Eloy to write something on a birthday card for her friend, Nelleke. She dropped out of her bed; as a result, that she broke her collarbone. She told the whole story to Steve&Eloy but she doesn't know sleutelbeen (collarbone) in English so she ask Eloy but he doesn't know either. Then Steve tried to say "sleutelbeen", that was so sweet!! Because it was Nelleke's birthday she ask the boyz to write something for her. Of course, was the answer! Steve wrote, 'Nelleke, happy birthday. Lots of love Stephen' and Eloy wrote 'Nelleke, don't drop of out your bed anymore! Lots of love, Eloy'. Isn't that sweet?!?

After writing something on the card, it was time for the presents. We had to plan to give them towels with their names on it, but the sewing machine was broken. Therefore, there were no names on it. In addition, that story Tineke told to the guys. It was so funny.... wait I'll tell you something from the conversation! Here we go: Tineke: "Well I wanna sew you on a towel....' Stephen: Do you wanna screw me???....."no, your names...." It was so funny. The look in his eyes....soooooooo sweet!! We'll use them!! Eloy said.

Ok, now it was time for the fanbook. We gave it to Steve and ask him to unwrap it. He did and Eloy's first reaction was: "Oh, that's nice!!". "Thank you!"

After that, Steve would go inside, because he must put the vegetable in the fridge... I ask him immediately for his autograph. "Oh sure, sure!". I gave him my diary and my ballpoint. Also Eloy gave me his autograph. Oh, I'm soooooooo happy about that!! I still can't believe it! But when I look in my diary in knew it's true! After this amazing moment, Eloy and Steve thanked us. Not just thanking, no...Eloy kissed me!! WOW!! Not only Eloy did that....Steve did that too!!! aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggg...........ohh my goodness..........it was so amazing!! Steve also said 'Dankjewel' (thank you, in Dutch!!) After 7 years, my dream came true!! I still can't believe it, I was so in shock!!

They walked away, and waved to us.....oops..........we forgot something.....Eloy!!! "We forgot something!!" Eloy came back to us. "We were totally forgot the presents for the pets..."

"That's sweet! I'm sure they are very pleased! By the way, we have a new kitten. We called her Charlotte, from 'Sex in the City' one of our favourite TV program."

What a day, what a wonderful day!! After this great meeting, we walked back to the station. Totally in shock!! *lol*