Hello Everyone,

 

It’s been less than a week since the house lights came on and the last piece of heart shaped confetti drifted to the floor and we are already looking forward to 2025. What an amazing weekend.

 

I don’t know if it’s because it’s been 4 years since the last time but this felt like the best weekend ever. From the journey over by car (my first time driving to PZ) with lunch in Bruges to the Rockaoke in the Adventure Factory on Sunday night it was all magical.

 

The stars must have been in alignment because the forecast was for a complete washout but thankfully it never materialised and the sun was shining some of the time and my "fun run" was positively balmy compared to previous years.

 

We went into the weekend as well rehearsed as I can remember. There was no last minute panic about songs unlearned and the soundchecks didn’t turn into 4 hour revision sessions like previous weekends. That relaxed atmosphere coupled with the fairly light extracurricular duties we had to perform meant we had enough free time to really enjoy the weekend without feeling like we were taking part in a musical version of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh awards.

 

I even had enough energy on Sunday night to attend the Rockaoke and meet lots of you for a chat and a selfie or two. I wasn’t the only one as, across the room I could see h on stage performing a heroic version of Heroes with the house band. 

 

I don’t think I will ever get used to the warmth and kindness of so many people together enjoying themselves and appreciating our music for a whole weekend. I know many of you have been to multiple weekends and formed new and lasting friendships at PZ, myself included. My son, Kai and his friends have been to every PZ and the 3 weekends in the UK prior to that starting in Pontins in 2002 when he was only 17. I’m sure he’s not the only one.

 

Thank you for being the best friends, family and fans a band could wish for.

 

Mark (and h, Ian, Pete & Steve)