Katy Perry Fest

We've had a better week this week with Jamie's 12th birthday on Tuesday the highlight.

Being in lockdown and all of that, options for him were sadly limited.

His choice of activity was therefore to drag us all up a mountain to have a picture taken beside something called a triangulation pillar.  That'll be the tenth such lump of rock he's reached over the past few weeks which is good for his Scout badge collection.   

Happily, Vanessa brought a little cake along to mark the occasion (and replace the lost calories from a five-mile trek).

On our return, we threw a little barbecue in Jamie's honour with steak as the main course.  That's unless your name was Charlotte who requested a microwave pasta meal from M&S.  Anything to avoid my cooking.

And the birthday boy received another cake in time for dessert, a full size one this time.  

There isn't any left.

The week has been book-ended by Father's Day last Sunday (loved my card)...

...and the "Glasthomebury Festival."   

With the 50th anniversary of Glastonbury canned because of you know what, a wise social media person came up with the idea of everyone recreating the festival experience at home for the entire weekend. 

How far you're prepared to go is obviously a matter of personal choice. 

Jamie and I have camped in the garden for the past two nights.

Under a makeshift Pyramid Stage.  

Vanessa and Charlotte kind of joined us last night by sleeping on camp beds in our converted garage.

However, as someone once said, it's all about the music.   

And thanks to the BBC showing wall to wall highlights from previous years, there has been plenty to choose from.

Amongst those acts I have insisted we watch are Katy Perry, Coldplay, REM, Katy Perry, James, The Killers, Katy Perry,  Kenny Rogers, Neil Diamond, Katy Perry, Shakira, Status Quo, Katy Perry, Adele, U2, Katy Perry, Happy Mondays, The Verve, Katy Perry, Oasis, The Waterboys, Katy Perry, George Ezra, Katy Perry and Katy Perry.  

I was never a huge David Bowie fan, but we will watch him tonight although I hope there may also be some time for a burst of Katy Perry. 

One thing I've particularly enjoyed about watching scores of performances is the sight of large crowds of people enjoying themselves.   

And whilst I appreciate that a high percentage of Glasto-goers are off their faces, the images still serve as a timely reminder that we can all have festival fun again one day.

Beware of the cat

This has probably been our worst week of lockdown thus far.  

A combination of the kids not getting back to school - Boris Johnson is a liar, who knew?! - having to cancel our summer holiday and general lethargy have added up to a universal feeling of crapness. 

But this morning, we had a bit of drama to at least inject some life back into our household.  Unless you were the poor bird involved (and no, PC Police, I'm not talking disrespectfully about Vanessa).  

Jamie was up early, as per usual, and went downstairs for his brekkie - letting Cleocatra (pictured above) out first for her morning........whatever it is she does. 

But a few minutes later, he came running into our room whilst simultaneously waving his arms and making loud noises. (Most males can't do two things at once, never mind three, so I was initially very impressed). 

Jamie explained the scene in what we call the toy room and asked me to come down to survey it with him.

And this was what we found.        

Yup, the bird was still alive at this point - barely.

Jamie, a proud ornithophile himself (look it up, I had to) initially offered to take it outside, after donning personal protective equipment.

But by the time he'd got everything on, Cleo had finished what she may or may not have started (hopefully the bird was already injured when she put it in her mouth) and we had to move on to consideration of burial options. 

In the end, I bravely scooped the deceased into a dustpan before running screaming across the garden and throwing it over the wall.  At least it got to fly one last time.    

But I really must have a word with Cleo.  Call me mean if you feel you have to but, whilst I don't mind the kids bringing friends home for dinner (albeit not during lockdown), this is not a privilege I wish to extend to the cat.

In other news, we've erected a gazebo in our garden for socially-distanced chinwags.  I'm heading there shortly to drink beer because there's bugger all else to do.

You will note that the elaborate set-up includes a patio heater.  That's because we live in Yorkshire.

Enjoy your weekend.

Meet The Soul Band

I haven't updated this since my annual second rate April Fools Day post, mainly because there has been very little upbeat news to share.  But, henceforth, I intend to up my game and see what I can come up with.

To begin, I want to share a video with you that has really brightened up my day.  

It's been made by Guiseley School, which Jamie misses like a limb.

This is how the project is explained on the school's website: 

"Our young musicians should now be taking full advantage of our new building with a brand-new Music Department. Sadly, due to Covid-19, these plans are now on hold. But this hasn’t stopped Guiseley School’s Soul Band coming together, remotely, to rehearse and produce a performance.

"Lean on Me carries a touching message which we feel couldn’t be any more appropriate in these testing times of uncertainty. The Soul Band, with students across all three Key Stages, rehearsed this brand-new piece without any teacher input which is a testament to their devotion to music and their craft.

"The Music Department is incredibly proud of each of our young musicians and can’t wait to reunite and create music in our amazing new facilities." 

You can see what they achieved by clicking HERE.  

Jamie's face is the first one you'll see.  

He hopes you'll enjoy it.