Clare Teal: Some sound advice on getting to Monaco the hard way

It's been a busy old week. Tuesday saw us up at 5am heading for Bristol Airport for a wonderful few days in France. Richard marked his half century in style by flying out 12 of his friends to celebrate at his beautiful house 30 minutes drive from Limoges. He treated us all to a fabulous meal at a fabulous château, but even I was flagging by the seventh course.

Muddy and I had planned to fly on to Nice as we had a gig in Monaco the following day, but as we discovered, you can't fly from Limoges to Nice, nor can you go by train without going back to Paris. Neither of us fancied the 12-hour drive, so reluctantly we flew back to Bristol, repacked and drove to London for a flight early the next morning.

London City is the airport time forgot – not unlike Grace Brothers department store. "This is nice, everything's going to plan" – cue call from sound engineer Jimmy. "I've got a puncture – I'm going to miss the flight don't worry I'll sort it and get the next one".

Irony is sitting on the runway having been delayed for three-quarters-of-an-hour watching your irate soundman pleading with an uncaring, unwavering "am I bovvered" airport official. Had a large gin and tonic and odd but strangely-tasty zapped full English.

Jimmy arrived halfway through the soundcheck – he'd aged! "How was your day fella?" I quipped. Poor thing, he'd immediately rung BA to tell them he was going to miss his flight and please could they help him get another one? "Of course sir, but your return flight will also have to be cancelled." As there were no more flights from London City, Jimmy had to hare across town to Heathrow where he managed to get the last remaining seat… in first class.

He then had to buy back his original return ticket. "That'll be 942 please!" plus a 100 taxi fare to Monaco. On the way back, two of the boys weren't allowed to fly as there were two broken seats on the aeroplane, they were later flown to Heathrow. By the time they'd got back to London City to pick up their cars the airport had closed, as you would expect at 2pm on a Saturday afternoon! More Monaco mayhem next week.