So – when Mr H was meant to be away cycling the length of Britain, I said yes to Pam to come along to some Radio 2 gig in Hyde Park. Not a clue what it was, but at least it'd be a good day out chinwagging and boozing in the park with some chums.
It surpassed expectation! Not least because there was decent space, the beer queues weren't anything like as bad as when I went there last to see the Red Hot Chilli Peppers (2 hours for 2 pints, grr), the more you dran, the easier it got to hop round the 1000 people in your way en route to the loos and there was half and hour nattering time in between each band, which was a pretty good balance.
But little did I know that one of my all-time faves was topping the bill that night – and there was (what's left of) ELO, up on stage, all terribly self-effacing as if they were surprised anyone had stayed to see them – and they rocked the house.
Pam and Jude were jigging away – that cleared some space, pretty sharpish – and it was a cracking end to the night.
But the piece de resistance had to be their spot-on rendition of my totally top tune – Mr Blue Sky. and if you've ever wondered who creaks out the electronic voice version of the 'Misssssterrrr Bluuuuuue Skyyyyy' at the end – well it's this old boy. Looks like he'd come straight from the wurlitzer in Blackpool Ballroom – what a dude. Priceless!