Paul asked me to schedule him in for Tuesday just gone a couple of weeks ago, because he had a surprise! We both work shifts for the emergency services, and when you're not living together that means you make the most of the time of you do get together. So, I would have seen him anyway, but as it was I scheduled the day and evening to spend with him.
I barely slept Monday night - I have trouble sleeping a lot of the time. So was up about 0700, and probably with about an hours sleep. So by the time Paul got here at around 1100, I had done all sorts of laundry, and had started curling my hair with some hot tongs to pass the time. Of course I was only half done when he got here, which meant he had to watch me finishing it for another hour ... he says its 'cute' watching me do my hair though, so its all good! I ended up looking like Shirley Temple (corkscrew curls with my reddish hair...) but its a cute look for a day!
So we wandered down to the village train station and caught a lunch time train into London. First mistake was me forgetting that in the week trains go to Moorgate instead of Kings Cross, so we deviated a little from the plan, but managed to get on the tube and head for Embankment. We got Starbucks tea (me), coffee (Paul) and sandwiches, sitting in the sun at Embankment (as the lack of sleep and long tube journey had started to affect me by this time!). Then we strolled over the bridge, stopping to take some pictures of a gradually more and more grey London - then, my first surprise, Paul had booked tickets for the London Eye!
Its been there ten years now? And I hadn't been on it before. It was fabulous, even with the drizzle, the view was incredible. Sweetest thing ever to watch Paul force himself to stand by the window with me too (he's scared of heights!! Silly boy booking us on the Eye!).
After coming down (by which point Paul was looking cosiderably less grey) we headed down Southbank towards Wagamama, where I introduced Paul to the delights of Yaki Soba and iced tea. He loved it, and asked when we can go to St Albans to eat there again, so cute. (I did have to ask for a fork for him though, cos he kept nearly sticking his chopsticks up his nose and wasn't managing to actually eat any of his dinner... hehehe).
A trip to the South Bank used book stall/market was required after that, where we discovered a mutual love of the novel 'Fluke' by James Herbert - and of the film, which is quite frankly the saddest film ever made! Paul had to buy a copy, because neither of us has ever met another person who'd actually read/seen it before and it made him smile.
It was starting to drizzle again at this point so we made our way back up the river towards Embankment, and then Covent Garden (under my pretty pink parasol umbrella). We sat and watched a street comedian there (very funny) and got drinks at one of the cafes, then headed off towards Aldwich Road and the Novello theatre. At this point I had guessed what my surprise would be (because Paul was asking me directions!) but it was still incredible to walk up to the Novello and see the posters.
That's right, 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' by Tennessee Williams, and my second surprise! The 1958 film version with Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman is my absolute favourite film of all time, but I've never actually seen the play before. Suffice to say it was incredible. Jame Earl Jones has long been a favourite actor of mine so to see him playing the part of Big Daddy had me grinning in anticipation for the whole of the first act, before he even came on stage! The entire cast were amazing. Particular mention goes to Adrian Lester for looking almost as good in a pair of silk pyjamas as Paul Newman - though he wasn't nearly as brooding or sinister as Paul Newman played the part. Sanaa Latham was joyous as Maggie the Cat, capturing her bitter, manipulative character perfectly. She held her own in Act One. The woman barely drew breath, leaving Adrian Lester to create perfectly appropriate comic moments with his retorts. Fabulous. Paul was enthralled also, and deeply appreciated James Earl Jones playing Big Daddy (particularly the shouting, swearing and lewd behaviour - boys will be boys!).
Seriously, a really perfect day out with my perfect boy. The only drawback being utter exhaustion today when I had to get up early to look after Jessica (number two neice) for the morning whilst my sister worked. She ran rings around me and much as I love her company I was glad to hand her over to her teachers at nursery at lunch time! This afternoon Paul came over and helped me (basically did all the hard work) pick up the most beautiful solid oak table and eight (eight! Dinner party anyone?) matching chairs, with medieval style details. I love it. Love it love it love it. But it deserves its own post and pictures, so I will do that tomorrow! The best bit though? It was from my local Freecycle - so it was completely free, and it really is gorgeous!!!
Goodnight, adieu - to sleep I must go!
x
