On Saturday I went to the Cultural Highlight of 2011 - or - The Idea That Wouldn't Go Away.
Curiously it was The Cat's Mother's Brother's birthday. Henceforth he will be known as Up. Now the strange thing is, he was in the same class as me at school but neither of us remember each other. The stranger thing is that this was his 50th birthday. So you would assume that this year is also my 50th birthday year. But by some curious mathematical quirk, although I was born in 1961, I will be 37. I am currently 37 and quite content to stay there.
Now back to Up. He is musically talented, as indeed are the rest of his family...in fact in becoming an accountant he missed his vocation. But to make up for it, for his birthday he hired a theatre and invited friends and family to put on little performances. For many people, that would be a horrifying, embarrassing experience. But his is surrounded by extrovert, talented people and they rose to the challenge. From 12.30 through to 6.30, there was a continuous stream of performances ranging from Sondheim to choral music; from music hall to Elton John; there were readings there was slapstick. The Boy played guitar and The Cat sang...together they did an excellent rendition of Your Song...and with the backing of professional musicians from the ENO, they did Is this the way to Amarillo. Up conducted the proceedings as well as performing a few pieces including Neil Hammonds 'Bankers'. Participants ranged in age from 5 to 90. I blew a whistle.
It was an amazing, life enhancing experience. And I can't think of a better way for anyone to celebrate their half century.
