At The Audley in Mayfair with Maurizio, Cristina, Floyd, Francesca, and Federica.
Saturday, 22.
We walked out of the hotel prepared for a cold evening out but not for rain. So back in we went to the amusement of the doorman.
Welcome back, he called out laughing.
Out again, this time dressed appropriately for London’s version of summer weather.
“Cabaret”, our musical no. 4, is a definite winner. Playhouse Theatre, transformed into the “Kit Kat Club” is theatre at its best.
Clattering down a series of narrow staircases, walking through dimly lit narrow corridors, then having the camera of Stuart’s phone summarily pasted over with a sticker (to remind you not to take photos, she said) got us started on a highly theatrical evening.
Friday, 21.
At The Lowlander on Drury Lane, no.6 on our pub list, for pre-theatre dinner.
“Crazy For You” is vintage musical variety show. All good natured wholesome fun, tap dancing, and slapstick comedy set to a Gershwin musical soundtrack.
Thursday, 20.
Our second foray into musicals- we prefer old and tested ones- was infinitely more successful. Last night’s “Jersey Boys” was great fun! Never mind that we’d seen it early on in its long stage life back in the day in NY.
Tonight we’re going to “Crazy For You” at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on Drury Lane. Much much older but hey, it’s Gershwin! And it’s got “Someone To Watch Over Me” so I’m looking forward to this one.
On this visit, we’re doing London properly. Art galleries, West End, and most importantly, pubs!
We’ve been doing a kind of pub crawl all week, not for the ales, but for the grub. Bull & Bear at the Conrad St James, The Old Shades, and Silver Cross on Whitehall Road, and Tattershall Castle on the Victoria Embankment.
Last night’s was The Clarence, next door to our hotel, across from the theatre for the evening’s “Jersey Boys”.
Ploughman’s Lunch. Excellent.
Wednesday, 20.
Our return to West End musicals after a very long absence was a total flop.
Last night’s “Aspects of Love” was a blind stab at what we hoped would be entertaining at the very least.
It was bad.
At intermission, I tried to salvage the evening and my ill-advised recommendation, with a lame “It’s not really that bad, right?”
To which Stuart responded with a resolute “It IS really that bad.”
We decided to walk away.
There is one bright spot though: we only paid half price.
Tuesday, 19.
Nice lunch at Tattershall Castle, a former passenger ferry now a pub moored on the Thames at the Victoria Embankment.
Monday, 18.
Stuart went to see Uncle John in Buckhurst Hill while I spent most of the day with ex-Citi friend Ofel Gonzalez.
Sunday, 17.
At the newly refurbished National Portrait Gallery.
One of the highlights for me was a four-panel mural entitled “Work In Progress”.
From the gallery’s description:
“Guided by the artists Jann Haworth and Liberty Blake, each participant produced a stencilled portrait on paper with acrylic paints, based on an existing depiction of a woman of their choice who has contributed significantly to British life. An additional 14 artists from the UK and US created the larger portraits for the mural's front row. The finished portraits were collaged together by Blake to create this vibrant, visual celebration of women's history.”
Saturday, 16.
We’re now right smack centre of the city. And the crowds. The place is teeming with bodies and traffic and noise. Trafalgar Square is packed solid. And as it’s Wimbledon season, so are the pubs.
We’ve escaped into the relative quiet and sanity of the art galleries.
Stuart’s cousin Mari, the family’s eminent art historian, took us on a wonderful private history of art swing around the Courtauld Gallery forthe Pre and Post Impressionists.
After which we caught up on seven years of family goings on at a long chatty dinner. And can you believe it? We have no photos to mark the happy occasion.
Friday, July 14.
We arrived Thursday from Vienna, booked for a week at our one-time favourite Conrad Hotel. Sadly, the hotel has lost its charm. It’s just not the same hotel we used to love. So we moved out the next day and checked in at the Great Scotland Yard Hotel.
I always knew this hedonistic life will one day land us in jail. 😀
London’s Metropolitan Police used to be headquartered here. It’s said Jack the Ripper was interviewed at this station.
It’s really not so bad in jail. Food is good and everyone here is nice.
In fact it’s great! There’s jazz in the Whisky Bar!
