You know what they say...

...about you should always leave on a high? I should leave now, really.

The last two weeks have been incredible. The odd door closed, many new ones opened. We've all gone from despair, tired of waiting for the red tape to be sorted, tired of waiting for cheques to arrive for work rendered many weeks ago, tired of being in London, to having a smashingly good time, making new friends, discovering new interests fueling creativity all around.

Last Tuesday, meeting wartcap and sharing the incredible experience of seeing Phantom of the Opera in the Westend, was simply divine. My posting about it enthusiastically closed a door, no, slammed a door right into my face. :-) Not that I minded *snorts*

So, Warty and I've been plotting another date throughout the week, and I went to town on Monday and actually secured affordable tickets for Les Misérables for today's Matinée. We met again at Waterloo, this time blue_paris came along as well, then we did the beautiful walk across the river, up Charing Cross and up St Martin's Lane to Leicester Square (damn, Warty, we should've taken some pics there! The Thames looked ever so tranquil this morning, didn't it?).

Warty cast a spell calling for a bit of gale-strength wind in order to ensure we'd find an outdoor table at Starbucks. It was a full success, we had a choice of about four different tables. When we all had coffee and, in Warty's case, some unidentifiable creamy looking liquid, in front of us, the creator of Vanity treated us to a short, unique author reading, which we tremendously enjoyed.




After finishing our coffees, we decided it would be a good idea to have some lunch before the show, seeing that Warty had secured miniatures of gin, which we were planning to add to the tonic at the interval, and miniatures seem to hold double doses. We went to Wong Kei, once famed for its rude service and excellent Chinese fare, nowadays polite with still excellent food. We enjoyed ourselves, blue_paris delighted to have found a like-minded movie maniac, me delighted to be able to simply adore my One True Love without feeling the need to talk about which I know nothing.

Then it was time to proceed to the theatre three doors up and across the road.




We posed for the papparazzi who had been informed of our presence by some unknown source.






Then, we parted company with blue_paris who went off in search of some photography-worthy scenery, and we went into the theatre.

The show was absolutely incredible. I cannot possibly compare it to Phantom because it is entirely different. First of all, the music is far more classical, having been composed by Schoenberg, inspired by the masters of the classical periods and quite a few years earlier than Phantom. The cast was an all-star cast, every single performer is worth remembering. The fact that children played a role only added to the emotion-charged plot, and the children were absolutely brilliant. I can easily see all of them as prima donnas and their male counterparts when they're grown up.

Every time I wanted to cry because the story is just so sad and my emotions were kind of running a bit rampant, this being my last day in London, the bartender and barmaid came onto the scene, making me giggle. My, their voices are the stuff memories are made with. Good memories.

We spent the interval procuring tonic water in plastic cups to take back into the upper circle, where Warty spiked it unseen by anyone while frantically searching for her hat, which seemed to have gone on a journey all on its own. Naughty hat, but thankfully it returned at the end of the show. I was happy for her because she looks ever so dashing with it.

Towards the last scene, I gave up curbing my tears because, well, I think the story, the cast, the composer and the orchestra simply deserved it. When we were finally done clapping, we looked at each other, both teary-eyed.

We walked back to Leicester Square Station, telling each other how enjoyable our two dates had been and what a shame that we'd discovered each other just before I leave.

And after many hugs and some more tears on the South-bound platform of the Northern Line, we finally parted.

I could not possibly wish for a better last day. My memories of the time before we left England will always stay with me, and I'll remember them fondly, fondest of all today.

I love you, Warty, and will see you next week in NYC for Phantom. :-)