One of the downsides of living in Bulgaria is missing out on important cultural events back at home. Imagine my horror this week when I discovered (three days later than everyone else it seems) that Steps are going on a reunion tour. And I’m going to miss it.

This is sad news indeed. And there is not a trace of sarcasm in that sentence – or the ones that follow. It’s a bit of a dirty secret but, in my late teens, I was a huge Steps fan. Surprising of course since I am usually a beacon of such excellent taste. I’ve been hit by a wave of nostalgia and some great memories of a young Auntie Bulgaria, circa 1998. (Come to think of it, I probably didn’t know Bulgaria existed back then. I’d never been abroad, except for a couple of school trips to France. And the only flight I’d ever been on was to Belfast. Once.)

I can still remember playing the Step One album in my ancient orange fiesta (with the speedometer that never worked and the rear-view mirror that fell down in hot weather). Eagerly flipping the cassette over at the end of each side…

…that one roadtrip with an ex-boyfriend where I insisted on playing the album over and over and over again. In his car. And singing along. And occasionally doing a few dance moves from the passenger seat. Strangely that romance didn’t last…

… me enthusiastically throwing those ‘Tragedy’ shapes in my platform trainers (a la Baby Spice) at Route 66 on a Thursday night – a tequila and Red Bull in one hand, cigar in the other….

(Probably a bit of a fire hazard now I come to think of it)

….the bar staff would get up on the bar and do the moves every time the DJ played it…

…my aunties line dancing to 5-6-7-8 at family discos…

…coveting Faye’s mini-dreadlocks and wishing I could get away with dreadlocks in the office…

Good times.

Fast forward 13 years and somehow they all look the bloody same (except one got a bit chunky) and I’m 31. 31! Jeez-hous. Anyway, as I’ll miss the reunion tour, I guess I shall have to console myself with the CD and DVD. And maybe a new pair of platform trainers.