2pm: The stage viewed from the Schonbrunn gates.

At around 5pm the band appeared for the soundcheck. We cornered bass player Keith, who promised to see us after the show. Maybe we could meet Dido, maybe not. Once some music started rumbling from the stage a few people turned from their summer stroll around the palace gardens and, shading their eyes from the sun's glare, looked towards the stage. Apart from the few us pressed up to the front, and knowing exactly what we were waiting for, most people had no idea what the concert was all about. My sister got chatting to one couple who had never heard of Dido (?) and were there for the classical concert the same evening. I say all of this to try and illustrate how weird an experience it was for us when Dido appeared, casually sauntering onto the stage in a pair of flip-flops, chatting to Vini and running through a few songs. Exciting for us, but probably quite a boring routine for Dido, she looked a little like the comfort of the bus would be infinitely preferable to this. I think we only got the first verse of Life For Rent before it was cut short with a "will that do"? Ruth managed to get into a conversation with her about which version of 'Do You Have A Little Time' was to be performed later that evening. The little gathering of bystanders seemed to slowly start realising who it was in front of them. Cameras and phones had started appearing from pockets and picnic bags.

Describing the concert itself is a difficult task. I've been excited about this since booking the tickets in March, I was excited on the plane over, and I was certainly too excited to notice much of the stunning architecture that sprouts from every single street corner in this most beautiful of cities. The five of us had been chatting about all things Dido all afternoon but as support band Phoenix left the stage we all seemed to be staring at the stage, the excitement mounting even more. The opening thunk thunk 4/4 of 'Stoned' heralded Dido's appearance, swooshing into the spotlights of the stage. A far cry from the laid-back jam of the No Angel era introduction, this concert picks you up and knocks you backwards with a fierce energy. On Mark's tour diary, he describes Dido's gruelling fitness regime (and her dislike of it), but the results are hard to miss, her energy sparking off into the audience in her every movement as she stalks the stage.

The tone of other songs, whether it be the wide-eyed, open-hearted simplicity of 'Thank You' or the wistful carefree lilt of 'Sand In My Shoes' were all affected in some way by this dramatic emotion, and always for the good. These songs aren't for thinking about but for smiling and dancing to and Dido's honesty comes pouring out in songs such as these, raising the spirits of everyone present.

Her passion invigorates the band too, Vini's guitar playing was lovely tonight, whether it be providing subtle power-chord menace or underpinning Dido's own guitar playing with some delicate picking. Jody's percussion playing is as amazing as Mark describes in his tour-diary, a whirlwind of strange shapes and even stranger sounds while John's keyboards add that lush edge that keeps the sound recognisably anchored to the studio recordings. Alex, of course, gets his moment of glory drumming up front every night and Keith, the ultimate in NY bass-playing cool, provides the backbone of the whole sound with deceptively spartan effect.

The songs of friendship were, at least for me, the most touching and emotive of the evening. 'Isobel' saw the show enter a wonderfully paced chill-out section, the palpable sadness of this song casting a spell over the audience early in the set. This is Dido's world, and if we listen and love we can share in it too. 'White Flag' was of course present in all its anthemic glory. A song that only Dido could have written given a new burst of life each night as so many thousands of fans sing happily along.

But 'See The Sun'... Writing this now, those three words seem so simple. 'See The Sun'. I honestly cannot properly describe my feelings during this song. Such a monumental song about love and friendship as I have ever heard, a bona-fide epic and surely a concert closer for years to come. Hearing Dido sing this, her unselfish heart open yet full of tender common sense, could only be bettered by timing the concert so the song could be heard at sunrise.

It is nearly a week later. Writing all this down is the only way to make sense of it all. I know Iva, Hana, Ruth and Jerney were as happy as me. Bass player Keith kept his promise and met up with us after the show, and much signing silliness ensued. FCUK is not a well-known brand in NY it would seem.

Thank you Dido, for being my inspiration in one of the best adventures I've ever had.

Charliex

Keith's response to Ruth's NO FCUKING ANGEL t-shirt.