Dead Parrot

Last year, the Monty Python team announced that they would be doing a live farewell gig at the o2 Arena in London this July.  Predictably, tickets sold out in seconds.   I had been really keen to get tickets for Andy - as the show was to take place on his birthday.   Because demand was so high, five more shows were rolled out and, again, tickets went too quickly for me to get any.   Big disappointment, but tempered with the knowledge that the last show would be broadcast (mostly) live on TV and in selected cinemas around the country, so we would get to see it.

Fast forward to July this year and we had a fab surprise while sitting outside the Anchor in Stanwell Moor on a sunny Sunday afternoon.   UK Gold, the TV channel showing the gig, had commissioned three designer/ sculptors to build the Norwegian Blue dead parrot which would be used in all trailers for the gig, before heading around the UK on tour.   Those three sculptors had built the parrot in the barn of a local farmer - in Stanwell Moor!   Not only that, but those three sculptors were sitting outside the pub with us waiting for the transporter to turn up to take their precious cargo to the South Bank - and we got to see it all and have a beer with them.   What a privilege!

The builders then dashed off to their respective cars to follow the truck and set up the installation at the South Bank.  Just an excellent afternoon and caused hours of merriment and mirth and dodgy old Monty Python reenactments all evening!