…..and then what?? Well, following the Seville trip and a measly four or five hours sleep, a quick pack and we were on the train to London for a three night stay. Originally set up before we managed to squeeze in the Seville break, hence the short turnaround time between trips. As we were at the Albert Hall the first night, we decided to try the delights of the Gore at Kensington….
Tuesday 27 November –
- Met our friends for a meal at the Verdi restaurant, Royal Albert Hall, which was very pleasant. Lovely food, slightly marred by the inability to get two wheelchairs users into the building without a great deal of huffing and puffing (or shouting if you prefer). The Billy Ocean gig was perfectly fine, despite not being his biggest fan. What quickly became apparent was that the man who had his biggest successes in the 80s was still in very fine shape vocally; and as the set unfurled, it was a little disturbing just how many hits the man had produced and just how many we remembered and enjoyed. Evidently, not just ‘When the going gets tough‘ then. After the gig, goodbye to our friends (thanks very much for arranging by the way) and back to the Gore for drinks.
Wednesday 28 November –
- The next day saw Drinks at The om Cribb pub, (36 Panton Street), the superb “The Height of the Storm” at Wyndham’s theatre, Charing Cross Road, followed by a meal at the Duck & Waffle.
Thursday 29 November –
On the last full day Mrs. No Name got a ticket for the Klimt/Schiele exhibition at Royal Academy. I passed as I’d seen a fine Schiele exhibition at the Courtauld art gallery and could take or leave Klimt. Lovely lunch at the Royal Academy, drinks at the Two Brewers, Monmouth Street (second historic pub of the trip, very much still present and correct if you avoid the mainline tourist shopping streets) and then on to our second matinée, “Switzerland” at the Ambassadors theatre, West Street. We picked up the tickets on the morning and the Patricia Highsmith based two-hander was a revelation. It seems theatre is where the real drama is to be found these days. A finely written script, two outstanding performances (Phyllis Logan the surprise superlative performance of the trip) and fine but understated direction and we were gripped throughout. Given the paucity and shallowness of virtually every TV drama we’ve seen over the last two years, it seems we will have to get out more. Back to the hotel and evening meal at the hotel.
Friday 30 November –
Breakfast at the hotel (complimentary) and then the train home for a much needed rest. Mrs. No name jammed in the exit at Ipswich rail station was an uncharacteristic end to a fine rip, spoilt only by the lack of what was supposed to be the Gore Hotel’s raison d’etre. Crawling on the floor to use the UK sockets in the bedroom to switch kettle and hairdryer as there are none at table level (fine if you are European or US tourist of course); rudely told we were wrong – assertively replied we were, correctly, right. Rude service (how often have you seen waiting staff removing the buffet when at least three tables are still eating the cooked breakfast). Still, at least it made a change from all three serving staff singularly failing to acknowledge there was a service in operation: And apparently the Gore prides itself on that!! Bill adjusted accordingly. Could learn a lot from the Duck & Waffle, ironically enough.
Still a very enjoyable break, and reconfirmed that real drama and performance is to be found in the theatre and not on TV. Jonathan Pryce, Eileen Atkins, Phyllis Logan and Calum Finlay take a much deserved bow)!!