The joys of visiting London

Well.... 'Twas fun. Despite the less than satisfying and highly overpriced hotel, if you go to London, don't bother spending the night there. Their website description of "ensuite rooms are fully equipped with what any world traveller would require" is positively misleading. I mean, first of all you'd expect the room to be sufficiently sized to not feel utterly crowded. One would also expect a shower curtain, so that after one has taken a shower, one can continue to use such facilities as toilet, or mirror, or sink, without getting completely soaked in the process. As a "world traveller", I would also expect tea and coffee making facilities inside the room, this hotel did not even offer such outside the room. The "continental breakfast" came in the form of very weak coffee through which one could read a newspaper had it been served in a glass rather than chipped cup, the toast slices consisted of 4(!) halves of end slices (which we returned and demanded proper toast), the butter was served frozen and the jam comprised excessively high amounts of sugar. £60 for two aduls and one child *sigh*. We could have done better for that amount, no doubt. But by the time we got to London, I already felt cranky and tired after Little One spent the entire coach trip chatting without taking a single breath, giving plenty of boredom distracting entertainment to the other passengers. Then we had barely arrived when it started to rain. Now there's a surprise. It's raining in England *snicker*.
We discovered some nice places, too. There was "Capucetto", on James Street, just off Oxford Street, two streets down (heading east) from Selfridges, where we had a second, or rather, a proper first *snicker* breakfast. Not only was the service absolutely excellent, their coffee was the best I've had in a while. They beat Starbucks hands down. And it seems privately owned, rather than being in the hands of one of the big, greedy corporations.
The day got even better as the weather was positively Spring like if not summery. Temperatures were in the mid-sixties and, as is typical English custom, everyone was wearing Summer clothing, showing off their too-white skin after a long Winter. Whilst I positively cannot say in all truth that the walk along Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road was enjoyable, the crowds were way too highly numbered for that, it was a bearable stroll. We took the bus to Shepherd's Bush, just because there is an Arabic restaurant that hubby likes. I like it too now, that I've tried it out. The couscous with vegetables was very tasty, as was their chilli sauce. And the Arabic coffee was simply out of this world. It contained cardamom, what a heavenly taste! I could go back there right now for a few more cups. The rest of the trip went uneventful, some strolls through markets, some visits to shops to stock up on spices, followed by an uneventful drive back home. I need a break, woke up this morning feeling as if I've run the marathon.

Of different Phantoms

I've been going through my collection of CDs, to reduce the volume and only put on the Mac what I really like. I've found a few different versions of various Phantom of the Opera songs. Yeah, I know I'm sad. I like Opera and Musicals. Anyways, listening to all the different versions gave me a seriously good idea of what's the best. The best, in my not_at_all_humble_opinion, would be a recording of the current cast: Earl Carpenter as the Phantom, Rachel Barrell as Christine, Oliver Thornton as Raoul, and Heather Jackson as Mme Giry. Go on, Andrew Lloyd-Webber, pretty please humour me *flatters_eyelashes_while_hubby_isn't_looking* and have that cast's performance recorded. please? with icing on top?
Anyways, to go by what's out there, available on CD, I'll grumble and admit that Sarah Brightman's recording as Christine is, indeed, the best available on CD *frown*. I haven't managed yet to get ahold of the Broadway performance, but quite frankly, it cannot possibly be better than the current London Cast. But when I go visit my family in MS, I'll go via NYC either on the way there or on the way back or between in, just to see the show there. Boy, it's gonna be one busy year in terms of traveling! Can't wait to start, really. Some of the generic versions of other ALW musicals are quite nice, though. But then, they are not half the quality as Phantom.
In the meantime, well, Lady_Joyous, I am missing our regular get-togethers, ya know! and Little One misses his two best friends! He's so bored that he reads every billboard and every notice on buses and coaches... Not that I complain about that! He's reading, after all. Not books, he's still largely refusing those. But going by my own experience and Sara's, that'll come soon enough. I started off by deciphering billboards, Sara started off by reading a German comics magazine. And nowadays, if we don't read it's only because we're busy writing.
Haven't spoken to the Lady_Becca lately either. This week has been far too busy for my taste, and I'm very grateful that the weekend has arrived. Not that I expect to be not busy *snicker*. Being not busy equals dead, or thereabouts, I guess. Not that I socialize, or anything like that. The attempts of socializing me soon enough ended up in quicksand *big_relieved_smile*. The goddess of sewing is busy working and when we're together we talk sewing. The Hattwitch is having a pregnancy brain these days. The Lady Joyous is in Malaysia. The Lady Becca is unsure of herself. Lady June, Great Mother of The Dolphin Girl is busy with Dolphin Girl. And Moors Valley is entirely over-run with unruly school kids. Yep. Our kids might refuse to form a queue (line), but they sure know how to be courteous and considerate of others. Most school kids in this country do not. Although they know how to stand in a queue.
I better stop here. Yeah, I know, I still haven't posted hubby's "Ode", but he's written it down, so it won't run away. I hope. I'll try find the time tomorrow to do that, without getting side-tracked... :-)