London and Oliver

Yesterday spent the day in London. Got down there about 11.30. My friends had already booked tickets for Madam Tussauds. I did go and see how long the queue was to pay on the door (one to one and half hours) so decided against that. Instead I visited the Sherlock Holmes Museum. http://www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk/ It was interesting but I'd wandered around it in just over half an hour! As I had a bit of time to kill before meeting back up with my friends who had gone to Madam Tussauds I headed off to look around Regents Park which I can't remember if I've ever been to before. Had a wander along the boating lake and into the inner circle (sounds like something from the Freemasons!). It was nice and quiet but as most flowers and trees were out of season there was not a lot to see.

I met back up with my friends and we headed off down Baker Street (or as Jerry Rafferty would say ... Windin your way down on Baker Street) in search of the Wallace Collection. http://www.wallacecollection.org/thecollection I'd purchased myself a map from the Sherlock Holmes Museum for a couple of pounds as we'd not taken one with us. We eventually found the Museum (not well signed off Baker Street!). Oh it's a bit posh! A very nice gentleman (and I mean gentlemen) greeted us at the door. We had a shufty around the armoury and around the porcelian and furniture. We headed up to the art galleries. I admit myself I'm pretty ignorant of art .... I can't spot an "artist". However I did spot the Laughing Cavalier and I must say that's not "laughing" that's "smiling". I mean a laugh is what the Laughing Policeman does on Blackpool pleasure beach! I don't suppose the Smiling Cavalier has quite the same ring!

From the Wallace Collection we headed off down to Oxford Street pausing briefly at the side door of Selfridges as we had spotted a couple of paparazzi hanging around the door. We got the map out to "kill a bit of time" so we could lurk around without looking to obvious but soon got bored. We decided to wander through Selfridges but as we had no idea who we were looking for we decided, after a squirt or two of posh perfumes, to carry on down Oxford Street. Stopped off for a coffee and to rest our weary feet and then continued down Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road, gazing briefly into the bookshop windows. We had a quick wander around Covent Garden and to watch the Street Entertainers before heading off to find Cafe Rouge. Meet up with one of my cousins who I'd not seen in over 18 years so that was lovely to catch up on what's been going on.

Oliver was fab. Well worth going if you get the chance. The show is great, scenery fabulous, Rowan Atkinson is excellent as Fagin. I did have my reservations about Jody playing Nancy but she did a great job as did Oliver and the Artful Dodger. Burn Gorman also did a good as Bill Sykes and well Bullseye was Bullseye!

All in all a great day ... even if a very long and tiring day. I've clocked it up on Google Pedometre and we walked 5 miles and that wasn't counting what we did round the museums! No wonder my feet ached!

Will post a few photos when I get five.