We’ve just returned from a short blogging break in the London Area. We spent Saturday evening celebrating the marriage of two old friends, Janice and Martyn who finally decided to plight their troth, after much nagging from their 15 year old daughter. The event was in Sutton at a Holiday Inn Hotel (Rack rate £225 during the week and a much more reasonable £70 ish including breakfast for the do). During the day, we went into Central London to see a show (Les Mis) and have a meal at a nice Italian Restaurant in Jermyn Street. Karen had Frog’s Legs and I tried a thigh but didn’t particularly find them appetising. I didn’t expect them to look like truncated frogs which put me off somewhat.

Les Mis is in the Queen’s Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue. It was severely damaged during the war and a new foyer was built opening in 1959. Whilst reasonably spacious, it is rather bland and the exterior is dull. However, there are plans to rebuild it in keeping with the Gielgud exterior which is the other theatre on the block. It belongs to the Delfont Mackintosh Theatres Group, the latter being Cameron Mackintosh, the original director of Les Mis. They intend to rebuild the auditorium on two levels (and one day put the boxes back, they have been removed for the current show) and introduce a new space above, to be known as the Sondheim Auditorium. It is old news, but I had forgotten about it until I saw the display panels & read the programme.

(You can get a Java 260 degree view of the Queens interior and Les Mis set here- note the lack of boxes).

The evening wheels of success were oiled by a free bar, cheers for that M & J. The ladies appeared to be trying to out-boob each other in posh frocks, although Karen was declared the winner on our table. (she has been watching how to look good naked and knows all about “banger enhancement”). David had a good time as well, but perhaps inhaled a bit too much helium.