Personal

September was an usually exciting month, as I actually left the country. I’m very much an indoor pet, so my partner has to do a lot of coaxing for me to go on holiday. We agreed on Amsterdam, a city we both love and one reachable from London by train in just 4 hours. Byway Travel, who specialise in journeys by rail and sea, handled all the bookings and found us an eco-conscious hotel a short tram ride from the station. Eurostar was very smooth, quiet, and comfortable. Unlike Thameslink, their designers actually have the human bottom in mind. Astonishingly, Thameslink delivered us to St Pancras with plenty of time to spare. We had a backup plan, though. You can buy a special Euro High Saver Return ticket at your local station that entitles you to travel on the next available Eurostar if your train is delayed. ...

Music 🎵 It was a quiet month music-wise. Partly because there are fewer concerts, but mostly because it was too hot to be beetling about in the afternoons. I gave up on Pride: too hot, too busy, too commercial. I did enjoy the concert from the comfort of my armchair, though. Thanks to their mighty sound system, I could hear most of the Saturday line up, including Raye and Holly Johnson. I was amused by the irony that Self-Esteem appeared third on the billing. ...

Well, it was hotter than Hades during July, so some of my plans were scuppered. Nothing is that much fun when it feels as though you’re being cooked in your own juices. When I looked back, though, I realised I didn’t spend the entire month complaining about the heat. Concerts 🎵 Many of my local churches host lunchtime and evening concerts. It’s the perfect place to hide when the temperature soars. ...