A Grand Night Out

I was very lucky this year to be invited to the Royal Variety Performance in Blackpool. Now for all the millions of times I've been to Blackie, I've never once been 'out for the evening' there. I've always been in a tee-shirt and a duffle coat (come on, it is the North!) So getting the long frock and diamante out was a real treat. And what a lovely night it was. Lights in the sky, opera booming out into the night on the approach, all the illuminations on for the Queen, red carpet, pink champers, filing into my seat in front of Chubby Brown. I didn't feel that far off royalty myself. Kids were in their suits and looking very dapper (until the 'Cream of Cornish' at half time!) It was honestly the treat of the year for me. Why the heck Variety died in this country I'll never know. TVs used to be full of it and I loved the bite sized pieces of entertainment, although I could have listened to Kathryn Jenkins for another 5 years...and ogled at Michael Buble for even longer. Any way, you're in for a treat next Wednesday when it's aired. The sets were amazing. I don't get to see many 'live' shows, but it's made me realise I need to see more. If only the woman in front of me hadn't had a head like a metronome. I wished I'd been a monarch a few times that evening as she fidgeted. Henry VIII!