Monday 26 June 2017

Glastonbury starts the summer.

Next year I'm going to book the weekend of Glastonbury Festival off.

Am I going to trudge through the mud?  Get bumped by the largest assortment of British people in colourful clothing?  Eat chips from a van?

Not at all.

This weekend I discovered that BBC had coverage of all the stages.  Via the Red Button I could navigate to all the bands I would love to see live (Warpaint, London Grammar, The XX) and stay clear of the ones that would have me asleep (and possibly angry).

The only music festival I've attended has been Download in 2015.  I had the advantage that my good friend Hester lives within driving distance and camping was not taken up.  I know there is the notion of trying to have the full experience.  But I'm too old for that.

All right.  I'm too ill prepared for that.

It would be quite nice to now have both Eurovision and Glastonbury as two musical events I can enjoy from my sofa.  And the BBC Proms and half my year is sorted.

I'm writing this on a Monday morning.  Already I've enjoyed listening to the nearby traffic whilst in bed at 6.30am.  There's something more calming about that sound that any Northern Irish radio station can provide.  Actually, if you know Northern Irish radio - morning time airwaves can strike up anger.  I'm surprised there aren't more accidents on our roads or feet stamping through car radio devices.  One only has to listen to Stephen Nolan's show once and either become addicted to its lively debate or turn off knowing that you disagree with the vast majority of people in the Province.

I may have looked to the stars this morning.  Well - someone else's interpretation of the stars.

Today's horoscope is about accepting others failures or their approaches to tasks that I would do differently.  Just because I'm a Virgo and probably have a more effective way of carrying out tasks, does not mean it's the only way.

So this is the last week before school is set off for summer holidays.  As someone who works in a cinema, this does affect me.  Despicable Me 3 is due out.  Stressed out parents with excited children will be bouncing around the building.  Soon higher rated film will be released.  Teenagers will be expecting us to assume they are older.  And I, being the old foggy that I am will deny them.

That is my power.

In all honesty, the summer period can be pretty quiet for us.  Especially in the first two weeks as the 12th July hovers.  Belfast has already experienced its scorching temperatures so I imagine we'll get a soaked summer (prove me wrong however).

And if that is the case, then the BBC will provide all my entertainment and information without me having to trudge through mud for it.  The Glastonbury coverage sentiment isn't just for June - it's for the entire year that I pay my TV licence fee.