This time last week we were just setting out for the final treat of our big holiday. January 4th was our 50th wedding anniversary and we were planning to spend it at Saddler’s Well Theatre enjoying Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake.
Wow – it was wonderful!!!!! What a way to end a holiday. John said it was the best ballet he’d ever seen and I agreed. It was passionate, musical, thought provoking, visually stunning and beautifully performed.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves ….
We started our trip on December 16th, taking the train to London for a few days. The 17th was my birthday so we took the tube out to Edgware to pay respects at Mum’s grave before taking the 113 bus all the way back into central London. Our American friends need to know that riding buses is free for UK pensioners. It took a long time to make the journey, but it was fun to ride on the top deck of the double decker and pass my old school, Swiss Cottage, Lord’s Cricket Ground, Regent’s Park and Sherlock Holmes’ place in Baker street<grin>.
As dusk fell on central London we found ourselves walking along Oxford Street to Oxford Circus and then down Regent’s Street to Piccadilly Circus, taking side trips into Carnaby Street and dining in an old Victorian Pie Pub. The Christmas lights were fun, the dinner was delicious and our playful visit to Hamleys famous toy shop topped off a busy but exciting day.
The rest of the week continued with museum visits, exhibitions, galleries and lots of food and wine. Here are a few pictures I took in the Burlington Arcade after a visit to the Royal Academy.
Tradition and Commerce in the Burlington Arcade 
Shoe Shine in the Burlington Arcade 
Burlington Arcade Decorated for Christmas
Then, on the 22nd we set off on Eurostar for the continental part of our holiday. But that’s a story that will have to wait for another day!