Carpe Diem

Outside British Museum

Matilda

The stage

Happy Birthday Lesley

Today is our last day of tripping around the fantastic places in London. First stop the temple of universe, the British Museum. Jane has booked months in advance and we have tickets to the Pompeii exhibition.  It’s the first major exhibition in 20 years on Pompeii and I think it is quite nice of them to think ahead and have it just after we have been to the actual Pompeii site.

With stacks of other people we enjoy the site, the exhibition is laid out like a house and we see first hand living rooms, kitchens and gardens from 79AD a fascinating snapshot in the rich and poor of Pompeii.

Then after a quick lunch we have a change of pace and go to Argo. I had no idea what this place was, you order what you want – cameras, gardening tools, curtains anything from the catalogues at the front of the story and then go to the counter and they go “out the back” into some kind of Tardis warehouse and get it for you. Another first time experience.

Now its London and there is still more to do so off we travel to the Cambridge Theatre to meet Lesley (Jane’s friend) to celebrate her birthday and see Matilda the Musical. It’s a matinee so lots of little girls dressed in cute dresses everyone is excited. We have wonderful seats and the stage is right in front of us decorated with all manner of boxes and letters a bit of a school theme. From the moment the play starts right up until the end the actors have us entertained, enthralled and at one stage most of the kids where really scared and holding onto their Mums. (I was ok, just). Most of the actors are kids they are so talented, can sing, dance and remember their lines and complicated moves and do it all with such precision. Often the acting moves into the seating area and it is like you are in the middle of the play. A truly wonderful experience we all enjoy.

Time to party now, off we go to a bar for a free bottle of Prosseco and a few more drinks, then onto a pizza dinner and one final desert. It’s so nice to meet the Lesley that I have been hearing so much about, she is fun and interesting I look forward to seeing her again.

Now its the walk to Charing Cross station for my final use of the public transport system. We are both tired and emotional and ready to go home. Jane asked me if I want to see one more invader? And I leap into life, yes please. A slight back track and we finish on a high. Then with the traditional wave goodbye to Nelson in Trafalgar Square we leave.