Brief journeys - of plans and detours, food and friends, exciting treats and unexpected pleasures

En route

Good thing my favourite bag always has space for a book.

The British rail system and I have a close and long-standing relationship and like any such relationship it has its ups and downs - this weekend started with an up and ended with a down. Detours and delays. I was not happy with her. Not happy at all. But I'm confident we'll make up again soon.

Chelsea rooftops

Such a recognisably London vista - across those Mary Poppins' chimney pots, towards the Victoria & Albert and Natural History Museums, with the dome of the Royal Albert Hall in the background...

Tea, cake and chat

Three of my favourite things - Carrot and Walnut cake, English Afternoon Blend and catching up with a dear friend.

A glittering surprise

Attending a stage-show in London's West End - incomparable!

I love going to the theatre. There's something magical about being drawn into a live performance that I don't quite understand but that I always delight in. I clearly remember going to my very first professional ballet performance - an 8th Birthday treat, with my mother - and I've been hooked ever since. Drama, comedy, dance, musical... the staging, the costumes, the acting... I love it all! This one was also a treat, at the beautiful Palace Theatre, the same place I saw my very first West End musical, Les Miserables, over 20 years ago. A beautiful, marbled, chandeliered and be-cherubed auditorium, and a show starring an Australian ex-soap-opera-actor-singing-minor-celeb, a host of fabulous costumes and sing-along-tunes, and an audience willing to get involved - infectious fun, fun, fun!

The scene is set

Anticipation and excitement run high...

No photographs during the performance, of course, and no flash in the auditorium mean, sadly, pictures are few. So sorry!

Passing the Ritz

On the way home, I was reminded that it's been a while since we took tea there.

And that I love pictures of blur.

Crossing the Thames

The Albert Bridge - of the central bridges spanning the river, one of my favourites. So pretty, especially when it's lit up at night. The river is a constant presence in the city - a navigational marker and a source of interest and beauty.

I never tire of it.

Postcards

Fragments from the heart, for friends, near and far.

Heaven and Earth

Err, no.

Instead of this, this was as close as we came to original artwork this weekend - the creation of 4 year old R. Adorable. We met up with R, his twin brother, D, and their sweet parents, chatted, ate lunch, chatted, drank coffee, chatted, played games, chatted, went for a walk, chatted... and missed the admission slot I'd booked at the Tate. We were having fun, it would have been churlish to interrupt the flow or to cut it short with the suggestion that we go. Besides, I like to accommodate unexpected pleasures and this was one of those times when the perhaps-plan was replaced by a lovely unplanned better-alternative.

I admit I was - momentarily and just a smidgeon - disappointed. I've been so looking forward to seeing the exhibition and have missed it on two trips into London now. But it runs for a while yet and my heart is still set on seeing it, so it remains on my list. I might have make another trip down especially... soon. I'll be sure to let you know when I do.

A favourite spot for elevenses

in The Kings Road.

Pink Peonies, rustic charm, good company, recent news and exciting plans shared, along with...

Tea and fresh raspberry tartlets

...a perfect combination.

Sleek and speedy

Don't be fooled. In this particular case looks can be, and were, deceptive. But hey, what's a few hours wasted between long-time friends? And this train and I have a loooooooong history. We're friends.

I've almost forgiven her... Almost.

and I had so many other lovely memories to soothe me

I love London

♥