For The Love of Travel

Hopped onto the no.88 bus, for a 50 minute journey, to Clapham Common. There was an annoucement mid route that the bus was terminating at Stockwell ….and passengers patiently waited there for another no.88 to come along. Arrived at friend Diana’s home and we had a lovely catch up and lunch in the local Abbeville village.

I booked a ticket to see ‘Inter Alia’ @ the Wyndham Theatre last night. The play has been written by Susie Miller (who previously wrote Prima Facie) ….and looks at what happens when a top criminal court judge’s own son is accused of rape. Miller’s writing uncovers the hypocrisies and horrors at the heart of our courts — how the issue of consent in sexual crimes is used by defence lawyers to tear down victims, and an unpoliced internet hellscape is poisoning the beliefs of young men.

Rosamund Pike does an incredible job with the role – she is Jessica Parks, a judge trying to be everything to everyone: a mother, a feminist, a staunch supporter of women in the courtroom, and an accommodating wife to her lawyer husband. A good friend, a kind neighbour, a fun dinner party host – the juggle and balance that successful women attempt in a world not designed for them. As an audience, you get to hear what’s going on ‘inside her head’, a remarkable feat crafted by Miller’s prose and Justin Martin’s smart directing. A searing examination of motherhood and masculinity.

My last play on this visit is Fran Kranz’s stage adaptation of “Mass” @ the Donmar Warehouse. The play is an unflinching, emotionally devastating, and essential look at grief, accountability, and restorative justice. Centred on two sets of parents, Linda (Monica Dulan) and Richard (Paul Hilton) versus Jay (Adeel Akhtar) and Gail (Lyndsey Marshal), meeting years after a shared tragedy involving a mass shooting, the play unfolds almost entirely around a table; one that slowly rotates, subtly shifting our perspective as the emotional ground beneath the characters moves far more violently. Aktar’s restrained fury and Dolan’s haunting grief were, in particular, extraordinary to watch. Despite the weighty conversations surrounding an all-too-real kind of tragedy, I left the theatre light on my feet, believing in the power of conversation and restorative justice, and what a beautiful message for a story to have.

Stepping out into the sunshine I walked past Seven Dials Market and monument…jeez, there was a lot of activity!

I decided I needed a gelato….I thought of Amorino on Charing Cross Rd. Oh yes, can highly recommend! Delish and beautifully presented in the form of a rose…a work of art.

I have my last fancy schmancy restaurant booking tonight @ Elystan St. Caught the Picadilly line to South Kensington and walked to the Chelsea area. The Petrossian caught my eye on route and I wandered in…goodness me, lots of different flavoured caviar, smoked salmon and lots of different vodka…had to try a small flute of spicy vodka…which was very acceptable.

Elystan St offered seasonal, gimmick free dishes which are full of vitality and flavour. I had a double-baked cheddar cheese souffle, with a trifle emulsion, leeks, mushrooms and a small green salad. Yummy!

Last night in London! Its been great and I’ll hopefully be back in December.

Walked to Leicester Square and then past the Hippodrome to Leicester Station tube – easy to purchase a ticket, just a £1.75 flat rate for each trip by tap at gate entrance.

Love Magic Mike and great its fun that’s it’s still happening…the Hippodrome has incredible statues on its roof. Took the Picadillly line to Kensington and had a look at Harrods. Its the same labyrinth of a store I remember from decades ago. Cafe Erol in Kensington High St is new though – catering for anyone who loves middle eastern savoury and sweet flavours.

I booked to go to one of my fave (Polish) restaurants in previously experienced London 5 decades ago at least….’Ognisko’. It was like old home week…with a menu that had been jazzed up for international expectations. I ordered a delicious pierogi starter…..

and a pork schnitzel ‘main’, and spicy pear cocktail. Yumm!

I got notice that there’s an EID festival happening on Saturday @ Trafalgar Square, so to take a pic before the event management crew came in…… here it is…(note to self, must find a venue out of this area!).

You have to line up to see plays in London…this wasn’t a terribly long one, thank goodness. And I loved this 15thC chappy at St Martin-in-the-Fields wall.

‘Oh Mary’ @ the Trafalgar Theatre has rave reviews, billed as an uproarious black comedy about the life of Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of Abraham Lincoln, in the lead up to the time of Lincoln’s assassination. It’s panto, it’s big, it’s loud. And it’s won BAFTA awards. So I got a ticket. OMG, you can “see the jokes coming around the corner before the punchlines drop. The camp comedy contains less subversion, more American-pie level of puerile humour'”(thank you Guardian review). I endured 1.5 hrs of this and was grateful to leave. Despite Catherine Tate being one of the lead characters.

I discovered a lovely ‘hidden’ bar called Larry’s, (part of the National Portrait Gallery) just around the corner from my hotel. Loved the 1985 portrait of Michael Caine and Bob Hoskins…and 1983 of Annie Lennox!