LILY'S BLOG - ANNUAL 2022

We started the year by preparing for the next. Firstly by ripping out and replacing the old shower.

Lily and some school friends formed a garage band. A proper garage band with an actual garage.

She went along to legendary Southend venue Chinnery's, to see a local band called Trip Hazard. By the end of the year, the roles would be reversed... (As an aside, this is when Mummy and Daddy started watching Peaky Blinders, sitting in the car outside...)

Lily took her artistic ability to the next level.

We had a fantastic night out at Love Lights in Norwich.

She's part of the Norwich scenery. Prophetic, hopefully.

No one ever wins the good stuff out of the grabber machines right?

Our home version of Great British Menu, with dishes we all created based on TV programmes.

Sh*t, sh*t, sh*t, sh*t, sh*t. Lily takes the helm of a motor boat on the river.

As part of our 16th anniversary celebrations, we enjoyed a screening of Lost In Translation.

A trip to the British Museum.

And a Heartstopper of a birthday present.

There were quite a few memorable gigs this year. First up, Billie Eilish at the O2.

Stranger Things returned (Eddie Munson was right about Piece of Mind, just sayin').

Megapalooza (Green Day, Fallout Boy and Weezer) became a prime example of what if it all goes right, with Mummy joining us last minute in the only free seat in the stadium.

Home Glasto in the shed.

Lily's final summer art piece. An incredible multimedia painting using modelling clay on an old shed door.

Congratulations from Bev.

And then in July, Kryptonics played their first ever gig at the Twenty One. And utterly smashed it.

As soon as school broke up, Lily was allowed to dye her hair.

Another fabulous visit to Norwich.

Then we had a short, amazing holiday staying on a houseboat on the Suffolk broads (which came with its own row boat).

Lily participated in Yayoi Kusama's Obliteration Room at the Tate Modern.

And we visited Trevor and Garth in their lovely home in Southsea.

Ohhh The Monkeys, in the garden shed.

Think there might be a couple of uniform violations for the first day of her final year.

Whether we needed to or not, we stayed up past midnight to try and get Lily's sixth form application in.

Lily made this outstanding cake for Mummy's birthday.

We went to the UEA to see Beabadoobee. A brilliant experience for Lily (and quite an impactful one for Mummy and Daddy who hadn't been there in thirty years...)

Speaking of history repeating itself, Lily spent a Taster Day at Paston College in North Walsham. 

Spotify Wrapped pegged Lily in the top 0.05% of Billie Eilish listeners.

Then the year came full circle. From standing in the audience to performing onstage at Chinnery's herself (with at least one member of Trip Hazard now watching her).

One final gig for the year. Not quite so well organised. Not quite so much enthusiasm.

We got ready for (what we believe to be) our final Christmas in Essex.

But the year ended tragically with the sudden, cruel loss of Papa Jack. We were all devastated, but rallied round to try and make Christmas the best it could be. We will miss Papa so very much - especially as we work towards relocating to Norfolk in 2023.