Proud Papa

Today we are off to Symphony Hall in Birmingham for the national finals of the Music Festival for Youth. Arden's orchestra, the West Wiltshire Junior Strings, has got through. It's the first time in fifteen years that the orchestra has managed it. They'll be competing against 17 other orchestras who have been whittled down from the hundreds who entered. And the winner from today will then perform at the Royal Albert Hall. We won't be joining Arden and the other parents on the coach: I can't get on. But Lilly has invited Arden to sit next to her and I'm sure we would only get in the way. To be honest, it's handy having the access issue as an excuse sometimes. After an intense and tear-filled week, I really don't want to have to make the effort of chatting to relative strangers. I don't know any of the other parents very well. A dozy journey with Annika driving is just what I need. Fingers crossed for the Finals.