Quidam

Trip Start Jun 12, 2007

129

Trip End Ongoing

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Flag of United Kingdom London, England, United Kingdom
Monday, February 2, 2009

Back in October for my 40th birthday, my sister planned something for me, that wasn't happening until today. As it happens, it couldn't have come at a better time - I haven't really had much spare time recently for one reason or another and it was perfect timing to get out and have some fun.

Hazel had arranged tickets to go and see Cirque de Soleil at the Royal Albert Hall - it's something I've been meaning to see for a while, but just didn't get round to organising. We decided that we'd make a day of it and John kindly said that he would drive us down there, so we arrived at Hazel's at 9am and set off in the direction of London. John dropped us near Hyde Park and then went off to meet up with Caroline.

We had all sorts of ideas of things we could do today before the show and we decided to start off in a coffee shop, thinking we'd move on to one of the nearby museums - we didn't, we ended up staying in there. Yep, we started with a hot chocolate and a pain au chocolate each, got chatting and began to relax. It was an absolute luxury sitting in there, it was freezing cold outside and it was snowing. We decided to have a latte after that and - as usual when we get together - the time absolutely flew by as we nattered about anything and everything. When we became aware of the time it was lunchtime and they seemed to have - some nice things on the menu, so we decided to stay there to eat - lamb kofta for me, Moroccan chicken for Hazel - and that led on to further coffees and smoothies. We eventually left in time to walk up the road to the theatre and take our seats.

The show was brilliant, maybe it was my frame of mind, I don't know, but it totally sucked me in - the artists were extremely talented, the costumes were fantastic, the stage setting and mechanics were awesome. There was a story running through it and I have to confess that for large parts of it, I really couldn't understand what it was, but it didn't matter it was thoroughly enjoyable despite that.

Aside from anything else, it was just wonderful spending time alone with my sister today and catching up on everything. On the way home in the car I made a random comment which started Hazel laughing, she couldn't stop, it was contagious and I started laughing too, then neither of us could stop. We ended up absolutely howling with laughter, tears running down our faces - completely uncontrollable - brilliant!! Haven't laughed so much in ages.