Hello there,
I am writing this email late to you on Sunday night as I am absolutely buzzing and have ringing ears from watching Beyoncé’s final Renaissance tour night in London.
Was it all a dream? Did that actually just happen? A few months ago, I tried to get neighbour tickets for the tour as I used to live quite near Spurs stadium. I didn’t get any and I had forgotten all about it.
Anyway, I have been staying up in London this week and looking after two of my sister’s kids with my mum, while my sister and her husband went away for a few nights on their own for the first time ever for their wedding anniversary. It’s not far from Tottenham and I kept getting stuck in traffic and everyone was blaming Beyoncé so it reminded me she was in town. Then I saw The Guardian reader submissions on the first few nights: “She hasn’t just raised the bar – she’s obliterated it”. I also went for a beauty appointment on Thursday and the woman who made my eyebrows look great had bought a last minute ticket and gone on her own on the Wednesday night. So I was wondering if I could do the same.
This morning, Sunday, after four days of stand-in parenting, I decided this auntie needed a treat away from the kids and should seize the day despite tiredness. I took a chance, managed to get a face value ticket from a stranger on Twitter and hours later, I was dancing and singing to Queen Bey with a great view. How lucky am I?
The show was exquisite. I can’t really put it into words right now but she is just pure class in every sense. Highlights included her incredible dancers, joyful band, a million outfit changes and her daughter Blue Ivy joining her on stage. I loved watching groups of friends singing and dancing together, arms wrapped around each other’s shoulders, I loved the camaraderie of the crowd, the sparkling, fabulous outfits, the excitement and buzz. It gave me goosebumps.
I also loved that I went on my own and had an amazing time completely sober. The lyrics of Cozy resonated: “Comfortable in my skin. Cozy with who I am” and that’s worth celebrating as it hasn’t always been that way. Being 35 and free from responsibility is great in so many ways. Thank you to people like Chez Specter for writing Alonement and Nicola Slawson for nurturing The Single Supplement community as both empower people to spend quality time alone.
Uplifting News Stories
Afrori Books in Brighton gets a sign in its new home | Twitter
Derbyshire care home flooded with cards for resident's 108th birthday | BBC News
Pictures of full Strawberry Moon rising across Sussex | The Argus
Features Worth Sharing
A British Reporter Had a Big #MeToo Scoop. Her Editor Killed It. | The New York Times
11 Hannah Waddingham Moments That Cemented Her Status As A Queen Of The Screen | HuffPost
Things That Have Brought Me Joy In The Past Week Or So
Thinking about how great volunteers are. They really are the backbone of so many charities. We’ve been celebrating them over on Catching Lives socials this Volunteers Week.
Discovering an amazing charity shop near my sister’s house called Philanthropy. I’ve also reignited my charity shop addiction despite giving away most of my belongings when I sold my flat moved in March. And somehow managing to not come home with absolutely everything.
Looking after two of my sister’s kids for four days (with my mum). A real insight into what parenting might actually be like. Busy, hilarious and joyful. Self care has included locking myself in the toilet, bouncing on the trampoline outside while they have screen time and going to bed at 8pm at the same time as them. I completely understand why parents use bribes and screen time now.
Cat cuddles.
Quality time with my 90-year-old ‘cousin’.
Binge watching ‘I Kissed A Boy’ on BBC iPlayer. How fabulous is Danni Minogue?
Catching up with Britain’s Got Talent auditions. So joyful. Can’t stand the live shows though.
Working out with my friend and PT Marios and feeling really strong and energised.
Right it’s past my bedtime, I really must sleep.
Hope you feel the sunshine on your face today if you want to and allow yourself to ride the ups and downs of life as they come.
With love,
BB X
Great piece. Just out of interest, are you the same "Becky with the good hair" Bey refers to on Lemonade?
Ah cool! Interesting no one knows anyone who got a neighbourhood ticket...