Second coat: Monday, 12th September, 2016.

3:00pm-ish.

Up the ladder again to finish off the top half of the wall after Vicky's done the bottom half.

Nearly finished the kitchen now.

Just got the skirting board along this wall to do tomorrow afternoon.

We started with the second bedroom back in April and we've been emulsioning off-and-on ever since.

This horrible sticky humid summer has made it a proper chore.

We'll be glad when it's all over.

We're gonna do the living room next year but that seems a long way off, thank goodness.

4:00pm-ish.

That's it for today.

At least the second coat goes on much quicker than the first.

Just the brush cleaning to do and then a welcome veg-out in front of the telly.

Concert of Legends: Worcs CCC, New Road, Saturday, 10th September, 2016.

3:00pm-ish.

We're off to the cricket ground today for The Concert of Legends. 

A pleasant walk along the river in a light drizzle is a good way to begin.

The BBC predicted it would stop raining by lunchtime, by the way.

Narrow boat passes under the Bridge Street Bridge under leaden skies and steady drizzle.

3:20-ish.

We're in. Doesn't seem to be a lot of folk here and, worse still, Alexander O'Neal is already on stage.

That means we've missed The Real Thing.

B*gg*r!

Note matting protecting the wickets.

It's still drizzling.

Alexander O'Neal doesn't have a backing band so he's kinda 

doing a superior karaoke version of his hits.

Anyway, he's singing great.

All together now: 'I'm fed up 'cos all you ever do is criticise'.

All this takes us back to 1987 when we had only been married for a year and Vicky was busy persuading David that there was more to music than Rock, Prog, & Metal.

We didn't see him live back in the day. Don't know why. 

We should have done but, hey, we've seen him now.

3:45-ish.

Support band on 'The Diglis Stage'.

They're a Ska band who've just flown in from Cheltenham according to the compere. 

Good one (the joke, not the Ska band).

4:15-ish.

We've had a cuppa tea and a sit down and, thus rested, we take up a position towards the front in anticipation of Tunde (The Voice of the Lighthouse Family).

It's still drizzling.

Whilst we wait for Tunde, Vicky spots a 'nice juxtaposition'.

4:30-ish.

Tunde is on stage (note inappropriately dressed cameraman) and we are immediately transported back to the late '90's when we saw The Lighthouse Family at The Wolverhampton Civic.

Some members of the audience sat in the balconies that night were so taken
with Tunde that they threw items of underwear onto the stage.

Thankfully, there's none of that malarky today.

He is a great singer when all said and done and when he starts to sing that one about The Sun's Gonna Shine On You Everyday (or words to that effect)…………………….

……………….the clouds begin to part and the sun comes out!

Now that's what we call 'a moment'.

The power of music, right there.

5:50-ish.

Realising that there is at least an hour between the acts on the Main Stage, we have nipped into town and are now sat in The Gourmet Burger Company waiting for our gourmet burgers to arrive.

These gourmet burgers are good, Vic.

We must come here again.

It'll be back to the fish, fruit and veg tomorrow.

6:30-ish.

View of The Cathedral as we make our way back to the cricket ground.

6:45-ish.

Back inside and Heather Small (The Voice Of M People) is on stage.

We are not fans of M People. Never bought anything by them and always 

thought her voice was a bit 'stylised' (not to mention the stylised hair), shall we say.

But, thankfully, that was then and this is now.

She has lost that 'stylised' voice (and the hair) and sings much more soulfully now.

We are pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoy her gig.

8:00-ish.

Sunset over New Road.

Time for two more teas.

9:00pm-ish.

After another long wait between Main Stage acts whilst a support act, yet another Mod/Ska Band 'entertain' the crowd, we get the chance to get close to the front to watch Lulu.

David's first memory of Lulu is watching her singing 'Shout' on TOTP 

when the world was still in black and white.

Vicky's first memory is of her singing 'Boom Bang-a-bang' in The Eurovision Song Contest.

She sings the former but, thankfully, not the latter.

Lulu is really good. If Rod Stewart could still sing as well as her he'd be a happy man.

10:00pm arrives and we are knackered and so decide to leave and walk home.

UB40 are the headliners but gawd knows what time they'll be on and, in any case, 

we've seen 'em live before back in their 'heyday'.

10:10-ish.

Walking back over The Bridge Street Bridge past one of its many arachnoid residents.

10:15-ish.

Bridge Street Bridge all lit up.

We are home by 10:45-ish.

Fit Bit stats:

19,308 steps.

9.31 miles.

8 flights of stairs.

Blimey, that'll be David getting cramp in one of his calfs then.

How to wear yerself out: Tuesday, 6th September, 2016.

1:45-ish:

There's no sun today but it is really cowin' humid. Horrible.

We've walked along the river in to town and had some lunch before doing a quick food shop at M&S (where we linger to enjoy the cold air around it's fridges) and now we're on the way home.

We did consider getting a taxi but, hey, we wanted to do 10,000+ steps today so we've trudged along at a pretty slow pace to get here (Gheluvelt Park).

There's only one pick-me-up that can work on a day like this - a Magnum ice-lol!

As we arrive home the Fit Bit buzzes and confirms 10,000 steps. Can't say we're elated.

3:15-ish:

David has had a rest. Vicky hasn't and has made good progress with a first coat of emulsion.

David makes a cuppa tea and takes a photo.

4:00-ish:

Get up the step ladder Dave and get taping and filling-in.

OK Vic.

5:00-ish:

Highly skilled painter gets right into the edges.

The humidity is diabolical - even with all windows open there is absolutely no air let alone fresh air.

We finally finish at 5:40.

We'll do the second coat next week.

Again, whose idea was it to decorate?

Here we go again: Monday, 5th September, 2016.

If it's Monday afternoon it must be yet more sugar-soaping.

Remind me, who's idea was it to re-decorate the kitchen?

British MotoGP, Silverstone, Saturday, 3rd August, 2016.

9:50am-ish:

Given the diabolical weather forecast we've left home early and arrived early to try to get a little bit of dry weather before the rain predicted for this afternoon sets in. It has rained a touch on the way - which wasn't predicted - but its nice and dry now and quite warm-ish.

Indicative of the times we now live in there's a bag search at the entrance.

Then we buy a programme and get walking purposefully to the top end of The Wellington Straight to get some shots of riders going from left to right.

10:15-ish:

The MotoGP 'bikes are on track for their final pre-qualifying practice session.

This is Yonny Hernandez (Ducati) amply illustrating that you don't have to ride a 'bike in a straight line to go in a straight line down a straight.

10:30-ish:

The canny Victoria had nipped off ten minutes before the practice session ends to beat the rush and get the teas in. It's not a moment too soon 'cos we haven't had a drink since we left home at 8:45.

Note Vicky's Cool Box: we've got some very welcome buttery cold granary toast in there: 

just the job to keep us going.

10:40-ish:

Riders gather at the end of the session for the ritual of The Practice Start.

Danilo Petrucci (Ducati), Tito Rabat (Honda), and Andrea Iannone (Ducati) 

are the chaps doing the honours.

Not one to show off.

Scott Redding (Ducati) arrives.

11:00-ish:

The Moto2's are now on track for their final practice session.

This is Sam Lowes, at Maggots, who we hope will finish up on Pole once 

qualification takes place this afternoon.

11:15-ish:

Hunger is setting in now and so we decide to walk up to Copse Corner 

where we know there will be food outlets.

Even better, it gives Vicky a chance to take loads of photos of her beloved trucks on the way.

We really must go to a Truck Race Meeting at some point. Maybe next year?

David is instructed to 'look manly, like a trucker'.

He fails.

11:35-ish:

Johann Zarco at Copse.

Best helmet design in any class? You betcha.

11:45-ish:

The Lunch Break is quite early today and very welcome.

As is the traditional Cheese Burger and Chips for Mr Gannet. It's all washed down with a cuppa tea.

Vicky manages a couple of small mouthfuls of burger and one or two chips. 

Given that she was in bed all day yesterday with a tummy virus, and ate nowt for the duration, 

this is a veritable feast. 

It's starting to drizzle now. You know, that rain that gets you really wet. 

12:20-ish:

It's raining harder now and we seek refuge in the nearest grandstand at Copse.

Unfortunately, it's a 'Rossi Fan Stand'.

Oh well, beggars can't be choosers.

Vicky is very pleased to be in 'The Rossi Fan Stand'.

12:40-ish:

The Moto3 Qualifying has started and riders are gingerly slithering through Copse.

Hmmm, this could be interesting.

12:50-ish:

Yep, it had to happen.

Adam Norrodin (KTM) is the fella doing the honours here.

1:10pm-ish:

No, I'll be alright, you carry on without me.

Khairul Idham Pawi (Honda) slides gracefully over the run-off.

1:15-ish:

The session ends and we all get a chance to gawp at Mr Adham Pawi's….ahem…..lightly damaged Honda awaiting collection.

1:35-ish:

We've taken a swift walk in the rain from Copse to the 'far side' of The Wellington Straight 

to watch the MotoGP Qualifying.

'I'll have a 'P' please Bob!'

Danny Pedrosa (Honda) and Danilo Petrucci (Ducati) exit Aintree and set their sights on Brooklands.

Note Ice Cream Van in background. Not much call for that today.

2:00pm-ish:

Man Of The Moment:

Having won at Brno, Cal Crutchlow (Honda) only goes and sticks it on Pole!

Blimey.

2:25pm-ish:

The MotoGP Qualifying Session lasts for an hour and twenty minutes. 

That's a long time when it's raining quite hard and we're out in the open. 

So we wander over to The Tented Village to a) get out of the rain and b) to gawp at the the 'bikes taking part in The Barry Sheene Parade later on.

Can't remember which of Bazza's 500cc WC-winning 'bikes this is 

but it's cowin' marvellous and that's the main thing.

A Dutch-fella has brought a display of his Barry Sheene memorabilia over to Silverstone.

We add our messages to the 'signing wall'. It's a truly emotional moment.

Sound of David's creaking knees not available, thankfully, on this blog.

2:45-ish:

Just 'cos I'm paranoid doesn't mean that folk aren't creeping up on me:

Tito Rabat (Honda) keeps a watchful eye out.

2:50-ish:

Not as fast as Cal.

Valentino Rossi (you may have heard of him) - Yamaha - has to settle for second on the grid.

We are gutted for him.

This could be painful.

Right at the end of the session Andrea Dovizioso parts company 

with his Ducati at the exit of Aintree………

……..and takes quite a while to get back to his feet with the help of the marshals.

With the MotoGP session over it's time to head for the exits via one last cuppa tea and a chicken and mushroom pasty at one of the infield food outlets.

3:15-ish:

Vicky spotted this abandoned bird's nest, complete with egg, under the bridge as we walked in this morning. But we were in too much of a rush to stop and take a photo then - 

so we take one now instead.

3:20-ish:

Back in the car park, loaded up and ready to go. 

We have done over 10,000 steps and walked just over 4 miles. 

That's below average for us when it comes to a day out at Silverstone. 

Rain tends to focus one, and so we've done less 'wandering'.

And yes, it's still raining.

We are home safe and sound by 4:45pm-ish, knackered and ready to wind down.

Roll on next year!