I can’t quite grasp the fact that we are now in the middle of July already. The month of June seemed to whizz past as it was so packed full of events and people. I was thrown well and truly out of my comfort zone several times, had a couple of panic attacks and I cried in Sainsburys. However, it was spent with the best people, old and new.
June twentysixteen.
June, week one.
It was my sister, Florence’s nineteenth birthday this month. However, I knew I would be away for the actual day so I made her an Oreo cheese cake before hand to celebrate. My mum always used to make our cakes, so now Floss and I take turns making each others birthday cakes. We continued the early birthday celebrations with her boyfriend Sam and Christopher; going for lunch and then to the pier. My sister has always had an affinity with 2p machines, throwing hideous tantrums as a child once she ran out of coins. So, we thought we should go and play on the machines and get sugary pier food. I am now the proud owner of three plastic dinosaur key rings, and I got a slush puppy, of which I couldn’t finish because it was pure sugar. The Snapchat puppy filter is one of my favourites.
June, week two.
My very first festival, Download. This consisted of getting up and leaving the house before half-five in the morning. Ouch. Christopher drove us up to the midlands, where we pitched our tent and almost melted in the heat. We had a wander around, I had a panic attack. Friday was the first day of music at Download and we made our way up to the main arena. The heavens opened shortly after we got there and I have never seen rain quite like it. The rain drops were huge and the force it came down at actually took my breath away and washed the entirety of my makeup off. Throughout the weekend the rain didn’t stop, and by Sunday evening we were waiting to see Iron Maiden in a good six inches of slop. I think my first festival experience threw me in at the deep end weather wise. However, I had a great time, not enough sleep and found an appreciation for walking boots I never thought I would have.
June, week three.
A train selfie, on my way to Christopher’s for his brother’s wedding. This meant that I had to wear a dress and I hadn’t worn one of those in almost twenty years. The wedding ceremony was beautiful, China looked stunning and the bridesmaids were ethereal in their dresses. The groom and groomsmen all looked handsome and smart in their suits, but they may have been a little upstaged by Bella the dog. The reception marquee was delightfully rustic with wild flowers, exposed wood and such tastefully decorated table settings. I met so many lovely people, had many compliments on the colour of my hair and survived an entire day in my dress. Congratulations Richard and China. On the Sunday Christopher and I headed to play some pirate adventure golf and get ice creams (I had an orange sorbet and oh my goodness it was exquisite) before I had to come back home.
June, week four.
Another selfie, the lighting was good and my makeup was fresh, deal with it. The weekend sunshine took Christopher and I to the marina to meet Kit for a couple of drinks. Looking at boats and blue skies is one of my favourite things, its so calming (although it’s a completely different story if you’re the one on the boat and terrible at mooring. But that’s an anxiety filled story for another day). After a few drinks we headed to the new UV Jurassic mini golf place, I lost out to first place by two points. It was fun but I definitely think they need to expand and make the twelve holes into eighteen as it was over fairly quickly.
June was busy, pushed me more than I usually allow myself to be and exciting. I slept in a tent again after vowing to never do so years ago, had a shower in a space age port-a-shower and didn’t own one piece of clothing that didn’t have mud on. I met some wonderful people and was moved to tears by love. A month in my life I won’t be forgetting in a hurry.
Belle of the Bluegrass 