It's 6.30pm and we are walking out a pub in Tottenham Court Road. Just two hours ago we were in the posh surroundings of the millionaire playground of Park Lane, Grovensor House Hotel to be exact. This was where the 2004 Q Awards had just been held and where Sir Elton John made a few comments about Madonna. Although you didn't have to be there to hear about the outburst. Opposite the road from the pub the Evening Standard's billboard had already captured the headline. SKY News had the story over an hour ago and The Queen of Pop's spokeswoman had replied to the comment before Elton had finished his speech! News travels fast in the media industry. We had witnessed the whole afternoon activities from a table in the posh hotel and now it was time to attend the after show party at Rouge where free drinks flowed, Cornish pasties and cheese tosties were dished out and Gary Numan continued enjoying his return to the celebrity party cattlemarket whilst the rest of the famous faces either took a private jet to France for a CDUK interview (U2) or tried to walk in a straight line after another drunken Monday afternoon (Shane McGowan). The party was a chance for media whores like ourselves to mingle with each other sharing experiences from the afternoon before we retire back to our beds for a good nights kip before writing up their article and ABLE2UK was no exception, unless of course you add the fact that we were one of the very few reporters who spoke to Elton and Nancy Sinatra, oh and a certain Irish band and.. Tell you what, we will just get on with it shall we?

From what we could make out the song was about a helicopter, although it's always quite difficult to make out what a busker is going on about, especially in the echoing surroundings of a subway. The brown coins scantily littered in his guitar case showed that he wasn't much cop and there was little hope of this untalented musician ever joining the likes of the assembled who-who's of music legends which were arriving just five minutes walk away at the Govesnor House Hotel. The sudden change of cold weather from the warm summer 'day' England had just witnessed and the leaves covering Hyde Park told us that Winter was nearly here. Which meant that it was time for the annual Q Awards!

There were two champagne receptions before the awards. The first was for the main guests held in the reception area of the ballroom whist the VIPs such as Elton and Bono were tucked away downstairs to avoid any more media attention after posing in press area for the December issue of Q. The ballroom, at the time, was empty apart from the Goldie Looking Chain table. The cult rappers had already started on the free bottles of wine and didn't seem to care that they were the only people in the room. Ignoring the 15,10 and 5 minutes announcements before the awards, hosted by Jonathan Ross were due to take place guests took their time and wandered into the ballroom at their leisure.

We managed to meet Sir Elton John as soon as he arrived at his table so he could write a sentence in the ABLE2 book. Elton was with his press agent, Barbara who, incendently is the same agent to Madonna. She was smiling away and looked proud to be representing Mr. John - if only she knew what was around the corner! We then met Nancy Sinatra who was there just to soak up the atmosphere as she wasn't a host or nominated for any award. Maybe the fact that her album was about to be released 'could' have something to do with it. Looking like Yoko Ono on a good day (which isn't much of a compliment!) she also added her contribution to our book. The Able2 book was started back in 2001 when we met Bono in London. It was the U2 front man who actually helped us start the whole process of cornering celebrities off. The man himself had just arrived with his three buddies and made their way to table 22, centered right in the middle of the room allowing him to be the main star of the afternoon. Bono was greeted by almost everyone (including us), whilst Larry sat down, The Edge exchanged words with Mick Jones and Adam Clayton was telling us that the band are playing Twickenham Stadium next year. Another guest who could well be seeing the supergroup play in his back garden next June was Glastonbury organiser, Michael Eavis along with his daughter, Emily.

Nearer the stage and sat on the right hand side were pop legends, The Pet Shop Boys with Johnny Marr, another Johnny although this time a relatively new guy to the music scene was Johnny Borrell who was a few tables back with the rest of his band, Razorlight. After a short while when the noise had settled Jonathan Ross took to the stage puffing a large cigar to make his witty comments at the expense of the rock stars in the room. Comments such as 'We have to end by 3 so Bono can sort out some more world problems before bedtime' and ''Bono, can you please tell Edge to take that stupid fucking tea cosy of his head' were overshadowed by Elton's attack on madge.

When the film showing the nominees for The Best Live Act ended there was a picture of Madonna dangling upside down from a pole, taken from her most recent tour. Elton, who was on stage at the time, remarked 'Madonna, Best Live Act? - Fuck off!', he then continued his outburst by saying..

"Since when has lip-synching been live? I'm sorry, but anyone who lip-synchs in public on stage when you pay £75 to see them should be shot.That's me her off her Christmas card list, but do I give a toss? No."

Someone who did give a 'toss' however was Barbara, the smile had been wiped off her face and Barbara herself wasn't seen after the incident occurred. Maybe she was phoning Madonna's manager in America? or having a mild heart attack - one of the two anyway!

Another controversial moment at the awards was when Roxy Music's Brian Ferry dedicated his lifetime achievement award to his 'brave' son Otis after he invaded the House Of Commons protesting about the hunting band. The room booed when he gave his speech.

A three course meal followed the cermony which included a chicken dish and fruit pie crumble with ice cream followed (we've got no idea what the starter was other than it was mushroom shaped and white!) - you can always rely on ABLE2 to bring you accurate reports!

So here's a run down to who now has a Q Award on their mantelpiece..

BEST NEW ACT
Sponsored by Island Records, voted by the readers of Q

Keane
Franz Ferdinand
Razorlight
Maroon 5
The Killers
The Zutons
Kasabian
Snow Patrol

Winner: RAZORLIGHT

BEST PRODUCER
Voted by the users of Q4music.com

The Neptunes, Various - Kelis, Tasty
Costey, Cornfield, Reeve, Muse - Muse, Absolution
Jones - The Libertines, The Libertines
Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters, Scissor Sisters
Finn - Morrissey, You Are The Quarry
Dupri/Jam/Lewis/Destro/Thicke Pro J/Cox - Usher, Confessions

Winner: MICK JONES FOR THE LIBERTINES

BEST LIVE ACT
Sponsored by Clear Channel Entertainment
Voted for by the readers of Q

Red Hot Chili Peppers
Muse
David Bowie
The Darkness
The Pixies
Madonna

Winner: MUSE

BEST VIDEO
Sponsored by At It Productions,
voted by the viewers of QTV

Scissor Sisters - Laura
Outkast - Roses
Kelis - Milkshake
Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
The Streets - Fit But You Know It

Winner: FRANZ FERDINAND - TAKE ME OUT

THE Q MERIT AWARD
Sponsored by Greenpeace
Chosen by Q Magazine

Winner: SHANE MCGOWAN

BEST SINGLE
Voted by the readers of Q

Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
Morrissey - Irish Blood, English Heart
The Streets - Dry Your Eyes
Goldie Lookin Chain - Guns Don't Kill People, Rappers Do
Maroon 5 - This Love
Jamelia - See It In A Boys Eyes

Winner: JAMELIA - SEE IT IN A BOY'S EYES

THE Q INNOVATION IN SOUND AWARD
Chosen by Q Magazine

Winner: THE HUMAN LEAGUE

THE Q INSPIRATION AWARD
Sponsored by Aloud.com
Chosen by Q Magazine

Winner: PET SHOP BOYS

BEST ALBUM
Sponsored by Virgin Megastores
Voted by the readers of Q

Keane - Hopes And Fears
Dizzee Rascal - Showtime
The Libertines - The Libertines
The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free
Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters

Winner: KEANE - HOPES AND FEARS

BEST ACT IN THE WORLD TODAY
Sponsored by MSN Music
voted by the readers of Q

Red Hot Chili Peppers
Muse
Radiohead
U2
Coldplay
Outkast

Winner: RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

THE Q CLASSIC SONGWRITER AWARD
Chosen by Q Magazine

Winner: ELTON JOHN

THE Q ICON AWARD
Sponsored by Lucasarts
Chosen by Q Magazine

Winner: U2

THE Q LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Chosen by Q Magazine

Winner: ROXY MUSIC

It's 10pm, the party at Rouge is still going strong, Madonna has one less Christmas card to write out and we are making a Rock 'n' Roll exit from this years music event of the year. As for the busker and his helicopter song? Well he's probably still singing in the vain attempt to scrape the pockets from passer-bys.

U2 had to leave

straight after

the awards

leaving a full

table of food

which we 'helped'

clear!