Today is all about…October 2022

October sees the shitshow that is the UK government still being a shitshow. This time with another new leader!

Liz Truss should take pride in the fact that she was so bad at the job, she has earned the title of the shortest-serving Prime Minister.

Now Rishi Sunak has the power, and while I am not a fan of I do think he will bring more stability to the UK market. Hopefully!

I just find it hilarious that the Tory members didn’t want him to lead the country because of the way he betrayed their Poundland Trump. The fact they’d rather fuck up the country than support Sunak just shows how fucked up the UK is.

Yet, here we are. And they didn’t even vote for Sunak. He just walked into the job!

Another comedy move that we saw in October is Elon Musk being forced to buy Twitter. But that’s for another time.

The monthly thought: Beryl

As confirmed in my previous “Today is all about” blog, my mother-in-law Beryl died on 4th October.

Think of my “Monthly Thought” as a wee dedication to her.

This month’s talking points

Blackpool

What happens when you’re in a relationship without someone who likes rollercoasters and the other hates them?

You find another couple with the same set-up and ask if they want to come to Blackpool Pleasure Beach. And that is what exactly Will did with us!

The last time we went to Blackpool was pre-Covid, so it was definitely an overdue return.

Cost

Now the Pleasure Beach entry system has changed throughout the years. It went from tokens/tickets to wristbands.

Pre-covid they introduced an entry price system, which seems like a good/standard approach. The price of said entry is questionable.

As it was an impromptu visit we didn’t pre-book, so we got no discount. Instead, we had to fork out £46 each!

I’m not being funny, but this is Blackpool Pleasure Beach is definitely not worth that. Compare with much larger theme parks such as Alton Towers, Blackpool is just the Pontins of theme parks.

Taking into account that when we were buying the ticket, they reeled off a number of rides that weren’t open (Big One) and may open depending on the weather!

Look I understand that due to the weather the Big One couldn’t open, but it’s a piss take that the company expects people to pay the full price when the majority of the big rides weren’t open and may not open.

They could at least offer a little discount if they can’t offer the full services.

But the gullible fucktards that we are, paid to enter. Taking! into account we travelled all the way there excited (well two of us) to get on the rides, it would be rude not to. Although, a lesson has been learnt to pre-book in the future!

The rides

One of the rides that I really wanted to get my ass on, was Valhalla. On our last visit, it was closed for a refurb and after covid caused a few delays, it was scheduled to re-open in the Summer of 2022. Guess what, we are no longer in the summer, and it still hasn’t opened and no clarification of when it will!

However, the one thing about going to the pleasure beach at this time of year, compared to other theme parks such as Alton Towers or Disneyland, is that it’s quiet.

So, we definitely made sure that we got our money’s worth, by getting on some of the rides multiple times. Sam and I went on Icon FOUR times!

We even spent an extra £15 to sit in the ENSŌ seats! Look, I don’t mind paying extra for something extra that is a limited thing. But after riding it, I don’t think it was worth £15 extra. If the price was reduced (£5), then maybe more people will purchase a ticket and you wouldn’t have empty seats the majority of the time.

Generally, I had a good time at the park, but I’d definitely pre-book tickets in the future!

Fireworks

October is also that time of the year were Blackpool have its fireworks competition. While we were there, we got the privilege to watch the Bahamas’ entry, where they promised us warmth.

Let’s be honest, that is one mean feat to achieve since it’s October and we’re in fucking Blackpool!

And true to form the weather was causing issues. Due to the wind, the firework display was delayed as they had to wait for the sea to go further out.

So when it started, so did the torrential rain. And torrential is an understatement. We were being hit by it sideways!

I’ve never had so many people get personally acquainted in such a short period of time, as we all ducked for cover.

Luckily the rain didn’t last too long, so we didn’t miss much of the display.

Now, I am no expert on fireworks displays. To me, they just look pretty. So I actually have no idea how you judge a competition like this.

However, there were two things that stuck out for me:

1. There were a lot of low/ground fireworks, so not everyone was getting the same experience as they couldn’t see them
2. I never got the warmth that I was promised

Overall, this was a great day and while we ended up wet it didn’t affect what we needed…a well-needed break.

Calum Scott

The beginning of October saw me on a mate’s date with one of my besties Bill, seeing Calum Scott.

Our common admiration for Calum has seen us both having many-a-conversation in the early ours. Plus our attempts of “singing” his songs should be kept behind closed doors, and left to the professional.

Back in the day when I watched Britain’s Got Talent, I remember a shy Calum Scott coming on stage and blowing me (I wish), the audience and the judges away singing Robyn’s “Dancing on my own”.

7 years later, he’s back on the same stage doing his very own gig.

While he is not as shy now, the emotion he has is still there. Both through his music and as a person. He’s still relatable…and gorgeous as ever.

Thanks, Bill for a great evening. Until the next mate’s date.

Natalie Imbruglia

Can you believe that it was 25 years ago sing Natalie Imbruglia hit the album charts with the “Left of the Middle”?

When it was announced that another Neighbours alumni were working on releasing a record, it could be felt that this could be a one-hit wonder, like the majority that tries to follow that path.

However, the release of Torn put Natalie on the music map for years to come.

October saw Natalie’s anniversary tour come to Manchester, making it the 3rd of her gigs that I have been to.

I went to Natalie’s first tour, which was at the O2 Apollo. It was also my first proper gig, and I loved it.

I missed out on one tour, but I was able to get tickets to the one that was in line with the release of her “Male” album.

The “Male” album was great, and it was a good gig which was at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM). But sitting down to watch her perform lost a bit of the magic.

However, this gig was at the O2 Ritz and it did feel a lot more “giggy”.

When I heard about the tour, I booked tickets for the husby and I. However, there was a gaggle of gays that we knew who were also there, so we all hung out together.

Now let’s be honest, there is a certain age demographic for Natalie. And while there were youngsters there, they were outnumbered by us oldies.

This gig, compared to the last one I attended, felt much better. Granted, now I am older, maybe I do need those seats cause I was feeling it at the end of the show.

As always, Natalie was epic. And hearing the songs live from her latest album, “Firebird” was fantastic.

Natalie is back, and I can’t wait to see what comes next from her!

‘Today is all about…’ photos