Crows, Magpies and The Southbank…
1st June 2026
Good morning my most beautiful and precious starshine,
How are you my lovely? I hope you’re feeling okay and you had a very restful night’s sleep {} xxx It’s 07:07 xx It did feel cooler overnight. I hope you didn’t get cold. I didn’t want to get up to get a warmer blanket.
I’ve just been abruptly woken up by an extremely loud group of crows and magpies. They’ve all dispersed now. Gangs of Chester Road comes to mind.
I wonder if Paul McCartney meant this Chester Road in Down South. I know it’s not, but it’s nice thought and made me smile. I wondered if it made you smile as well xx
A crow’s back again, along with a plane.
I’m so sorry you have to return. Weather’s feeling gloomy as well. I hope your mornings aren’t rushed. Thoroughly enjoy your delicious breakfast xx
Crow’s silent. I can hear the faint chirping of another bird amongst the rustling leaves and the sea of traffic.
That reminds me, have you been tuning into Spring Watch Live? I did last week and saw a Buzzard first. I needed to go to the bathroom. When I returned I heard a chorus of birds. I thought it was outside. Took a while to realise it was Spring Watch through my phone. It was so beautiful.
Just saw three large crows and two magpies. It’s silent again.
I’m struggling badly so it’s a rest day. Brain is tingling so it’s at its limit as well.
I’m keeping everything crossed the traffic’s not too bad. Get there quickly and safely my lovely. Coffee will give you the biggest warm hugs and kisses for me too {} xx
Take the greatest care of yourself my beautiful sweetheart {} xxx Enjoy seeing everyone again and have a wonderful day. I imagine it’s going to be full on now. I’m so sorry {} Rest well in the evenings.
I’m thinking of you, and sending you tons and tons of love, with the biggest and tightest of magical healing and protective bear hugs, bursting with kisses {} xxxx
It’s depressing to see public union members votes are equally split between Labour and Reform. Reform voted against the workers rights bill. It’s not looking good is it?!
It’s 08:05. Sun’s trying to come out just for you! They want to cheer you up and make sure you have a lovely journey in. How beautiful!! I hope your day zooms by xx
How many times have you listened to The Boys of Dungeon Lane? Three times for me. I have fallen in love with it. It’s getting easier to listen to music again. Little by little. L-arginine really is a life saver.
Here’s something to make you chuckle later. It’s Hugh Laurie on Graham Norton, talking about what he was told to do if a lion charged at him {} xxx
I just watched Southbank at 75: You Are Here on iPlayer. It’s a dance feast celebrating Southbank Centre’s history. It’s incredibly powerful. I really would recommend it. I never knew The Festival of Britain was created in response to the aftermath of the second world war, to lift people’s spirits and bring hope. It was a place for them to come together and dance, in the Southbank.
Unsurprisingly, when the Conservatives came to power in 1951, they removed The Festival, apart from the Royal Festival Hall.
The dances takes us through the history of the societal and cultural changes over the last seventy five years. Seeing the parallels of what’s happening now is frightening.
I was brought to tears during the last ten minutes. It started with the dancers dancing to Bronski Beat’s Small Time Boy. That song means so much to me. I really connected with the words when I was young, I still do. I think this is why I unconsciously connected with the gay community. Like them, I felt like an outsider, not belonging, not fitting in and not wanted. I was the Elephant Man. They gave words to my feelings.
There’s an absolutely stunning piece after Small Town Boy, What is Remembered Lives. I think you’d love it as well. A powerful poem about hope, is read to a violin being played. The lighting is immersive and absolutely breathtaking. I sadly can’t find the artists names on the credits. I would’ve loved to have been there. I wish I could’ve seen all of it live. I wish…
The final song was of course Bowie’s Let’s Dance. For me, you are synonymous with that song {} xxx
I went to the Southbank Centre so many times. It’s fantastic. I had a look on their website and they have Anish Kapoor’s exhibition from 16th June to 18th October 2026. I’d love to go. They later have Playing with Fire: Yuja Wang, which sounds amazing as well. I wish I could teleport there.
It’s 16:57. You must be on your way home my lovely, or almost. Brilliant!! I hope you’ve had a really good day, and you were able to ease into it. I imagine you are going to be in demand. I really hope you’re okay my lovely {}
The weather’s awful with the rain. I’m keeping everything crossed you don’t get too wet. I never asked what you have to drink when you get home, as an alternative to tea. I imagine it’s equally calming and like a great big hug. Enjoy snuggling up with them for me too {} xx
Take it gently and completely switch off my precious starshine. Enjoy the most beautiful, relaxing and restful evening chilling and doing as you please {} xxx
I also watched the first two episodes of Tip Toe on 4OD. I still call it 4OD in the same way I still say Twitter. Are you watching it? Again, it really hits home the climate that’s being fostered at the moment. There’s so much hate on Twitter.
You might already know this, but just in case, Mick Lynch said of Nigel Farage, “He will unleash a torrent of racism and division, which will put our society and our country into the dark ages, if he achieves power.” Chilling words, but I feel he’s right.
Watching Southbank at 75: You Are Here, made me realise that others have gone through these dark times before, and got through it. This gives hope, but I just wish we didn’t have to. I’m still desperately hoping it doesn’t come to this. Let’s hope. Let’s dance…
I love you so much, and I’m giving you the biggest and tightest comforting bear hug ever. Rest well my lovely, and give yourself lots of love and care for me too {} xxxx