Marking junior’s birthday used to be fairly easy. In the past I’ve shelled out for the usual laser quest/Trampolining/football skills/circus games parties. All have been pretty expensive – around £200 for the Trampolining or laser quest, I think. But now the game’s changed. Junior is 12 on Friday and as a world-weary year seven he has put away childish things (Corinthians 13, quote nerds). He doesn’t want a cake. His presents won’t be a surprise as he compiled a list on Amazon. And as for an event or party, that’s too childish, apparently...
But yet he still wants it marked. He’d probably be happy with a sleepover but 1. I have left it too late to invite his friends and 2. That was partly deliberate as I can’t handle the thought of the noise and mess. His next choice would be to go to see Chelsea play Crystal Palace on Saturday. Dream on: there are no ordinary tickets for sale and the cheapest hospitality package is £250 plus VAT for one person. I’ve offered the alternative of going to see Eastbourne Borough in its crunch match against Gloucester City – tickets only £13 for adults, £9 for kids, but a mid-table fixture in the National League South doesn’t hold a candle to the Premiership, sadly.
So how about some culture? The boy doesn’t even like yoghurt, but I think he’d enjoy a West End show. He’s only been once: to the Lion King with the school. And he loves the film of School of Rock. There’s a matinee performance on Saturday: perfect. Less perfect: the tickets go from £25 (but there are only two single ones miles apart at this price) up to £99.50. There aren’t many left at £50, so I would probably have to pay £75 each. Because it’s a Saturday matinee, I haven’t managed to find any deals – they seem to be confined to midweek shows. I have registered for the lottery which lets you buy two top price tickets for £15 each but I’m not hopeful. We could try queuing up at the booth in Leicester Square - which sells half price tickets on the day of the performance - but of course there’s no guarantee they’d have the show we want. Also, theatres often sell returns or unsold tickets on the day: no guarantees, again, and more queuing. There’s what looks like a good deal here but it’s for Monday to Thursday evening shows only: not much use if you live outside the capital.
I never thought I’d be nostalgic for the days when chicken nuggets and a couple of rounds of laser quest was enough...
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