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Fancy digs
Jan. 7th, 2013 09:51 pmAfter a couple of days in London, I am home, and my Mother is winging her way toward hers.
It was a fun time (though I missed my kids a ton.) and I showed her just a tiny portion of the city but she was properly floored by the place. We found a yarn shop just off of Carnaby street. She said that her 12/13 year old self was jumping up and down inside because that was the ultimate in cool. We had coffee, and looked at beautiful hats and then had an early dinner of fish and chips. I had found tickets for "Merrily We Roll Along" as my Mother has always wanted to see that show. It was a great production, a lovely cast, and if you are in London and like heart-breaking yet hopeful musicals that smash your emotions to bits (as Sondheim is fond of doing) I would suggest seeing it. (though the theater was a trifle hot. So dress lightly) (It's at the Menier Chocolate Factory theatre)
We wandered back to the hotel for sleep. My Mom was a good sport about all the walking and being dragged through-out the underground.
Sunday we ate bacon sandwiches and went to the British Museum. Several hours were spent looking at the span of humanity and all the stuff that the nation has ended up with through shifty means. It was the last day for an exhibit of Renaissance to Goya: Prints and drawings from Spain, so we had a look at those offerings. You could see what would influence other great painters, and some of the fantastic imagination of assorted artists.
Then there was lunch, and a look through the gift shop. We then found ourselves in a shop that sold Scottish-sourced woolen goods. In the window was a teeny tiny tweed jacket for a baby. It was ridiculous and adorable. I ended up with a lambswool scarf. So many scarves.
To complete this mini-tour of the city, we walked a bit near the Thames, The houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and all that Miroslav Sasek goodness come to life. (looking around St. Margaret's Church as well.) It was slowly turning to twilight as we walked through St. James's Park. We stopped to say hello to the greylag geese and spot some pelicans who were lounging about. There was more coffee, good long talks (which we've been having about all manner of things for the past few days) and spotting things of interest. "Oh look at that statue... who was Charles James Fox?" "Oh you know.... The Whig politician." "oh... of course. No... wait I don't know." "You know... from the movie Amazing Grace.
"OH. OF COURSE." Then I tell her all about his Mother and Father who were kind of infamous in their own right.
We have many conversations like this. My Mom watches a million movies, and I read a lot of history books and somewhere in the middle, our conversation meets.
We came back to the hotel to let our toes rest. I looked out for a near-by restaurant, and found that one of Jamie Oliver's pet projects (Fifteen) was a couple blocks away and made reservations. The brilliance of a smartphone & being in a large city. Touch touch touch and reservation is made. We ate lots of pasta and bread and slowly meandered back to the room. We were near an eye hospital that had this clock outside that was shaped like an eye. We also found this shop that sold mantles, chandeliers, and statue bits. (the stuff everyone needs for their homes.) It was closed but beautifully lit.
It was a bit of a quiet night. My Mom did her school work, and I watched "Mr. Selfridge" which was not very good at all. Maybe the script is good but Jeremy Piven was truly awful. Period pieces are not his forte. My Mom also discovered "Countryfile". She wishes she could see this in the United States. "A show all about horses, sheep, and dogs? Where has this been my entire life?"
This morning we dragged ourselves out for more bacon sandwiches, and made our way across the city, so we could take the train to the airport. (with a side trip to pick up the car.) We said our goodbyes, which is never fun. Made promises that we will see each other again soon.
Christmas and all of that is truly over. The drive back was quiet but fast. (fast for four hours.)
Back to laundry, school runs, and paperwork.
It was a fun time (though I missed my kids a ton.) and I showed her just a tiny portion of the city but she was properly floored by the place. We found a yarn shop just off of Carnaby street. She said that her 12/13 year old self was jumping up and down inside because that was the ultimate in cool. We had coffee, and looked at beautiful hats and then had an early dinner of fish and chips. I had found tickets for "Merrily We Roll Along" as my Mother has always wanted to see that show. It was a great production, a lovely cast, and if you are in London and like heart-breaking yet hopeful musicals that smash your emotions to bits (as Sondheim is fond of doing) I would suggest seeing it. (though the theater was a trifle hot. So dress lightly) (It's at the Menier Chocolate Factory theatre)
We wandered back to the hotel for sleep. My Mom was a good sport about all the walking and being dragged through-out the underground.
Sunday we ate bacon sandwiches and went to the British Museum. Several hours were spent looking at the span of humanity and all the stuff that the nation has ended up with through shifty means. It was the last day for an exhibit of Renaissance to Goya: Prints and drawings from Spain, so we had a look at those offerings. You could see what would influence other great painters, and some of the fantastic imagination of assorted artists.
Then there was lunch, and a look through the gift shop. We then found ourselves in a shop that sold Scottish-sourced woolen goods. In the window was a teeny tiny tweed jacket for a baby. It was ridiculous and adorable. I ended up with a lambswool scarf. So many scarves.
To complete this mini-tour of the city, we walked a bit near the Thames, The houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and all that Miroslav Sasek goodness come to life. (looking around St. Margaret's Church as well.) It was slowly turning to twilight as we walked through St. James's Park. We stopped to say hello to the greylag geese and spot some pelicans who were lounging about. There was more coffee, good long talks (which we've been having about all manner of things for the past few days) and spotting things of interest. "Oh look at that statue... who was Charles James Fox?" "Oh you know.... The Whig politician." "oh... of course. No... wait I don't know." "You know... from the movie Amazing Grace.
"OH. OF COURSE." Then I tell her all about his Mother and Father who were kind of infamous in their own right.
We have many conversations like this. My Mom watches a million movies, and I read a lot of history books and somewhere in the middle, our conversation meets.
We came back to the hotel to let our toes rest. I looked out for a near-by restaurant, and found that one of Jamie Oliver's pet projects (Fifteen) was a couple blocks away and made reservations. The brilliance of a smartphone & being in a large city. Touch touch touch and reservation is made. We ate lots of pasta and bread and slowly meandered back to the room. We were near an eye hospital that had this clock outside that was shaped like an eye. We also found this shop that sold mantles, chandeliers, and statue bits. (the stuff everyone needs for their homes.) It was closed but beautifully lit.
It was a bit of a quiet night. My Mom did her school work, and I watched "Mr. Selfridge" which was not very good at all. Maybe the script is good but Jeremy Piven was truly awful. Period pieces are not his forte. My Mom also discovered "Countryfile". She wishes she could see this in the United States. "A show all about horses, sheep, and dogs? Where has this been my entire life?"
This morning we dragged ourselves out for more bacon sandwiches, and made our way across the city, so we could take the train to the airport. (with a side trip to pick up the car.) We said our goodbyes, which is never fun. Made promises that we will see each other again soon.
Christmas and all of that is truly over. The drive back was quiet but fast. (fast for four hours.)
Back to laundry, school runs, and paperwork.
