Greenwich, London, UK

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Not Greenwich at all - Central London again, but it all fits (ish)
Had my special day out with Mum yesterday.
We came into town for 10.30 and went on a London Walk (darkest Victorian London.) Sad to say it's the one I've enjoyed least so far - there was less architectural evidence and more story-based information. Still fascinating, but we slipped out before the end. Mum and I were starving and figured there could only be five more minutes left anyway, so we nipped into Borough Tube station rather than walk back along to Monument with them. I was still laughing when we sat down to eat. Mum loved it because it was around the area where her Mum grew up, so I chose something important to her in virtual ignorance.

First pic is The Monument, after which the station is named. It's a monument to the Great Fire of London, although it's generally recognised just as The Monument. Like the Doctor.

Second pic is me on London Bridge. Mum couldn't work my camera. Then she worked it out at the exact time I was trying to take it off her. Terrible arms, but at least you know I'm keeping it real and not airbrushing. Mum told me off for being impatient, "I was just making sure I got Tower Bridge in the background!" Which made me laugh so hard I thought I was going to have to sit down - check out the size and position of Tower Bridge, it would be harder NOT tro get it in the background!

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We had moules et frites in Belgo Centraal.
Nowhere near as good as I remember
I didn't say so to Mum, who was totally charmed by it.
It's an underground Belgian restaurant just off Covent Garden. Literally underground as in a basement location, not a pocket of Resistance fighters who haven't realised Germany lost.

Express Lunch is £7.50 and includes a wine, beer or soft drink.
I found the mussels flabby and the frites woody. Still, like I said, Mum found it all very new and exciting and wants to take Dad there.

After lunch, off to my cut-price-hairdresser for both of us. Again, Mum loved it. It#'s a no-frills service, but she was very happy with the cut, and with the number of different cutting tools used. Her home hairdresser - the one who butchered my locks - seems to have a single pair of scissors. The lady who did it yesterday used about 5.

Pic - Mum at Belgo (they'd already taken away our mussel shells, I was too slow) and then after her haircut - see next post. No, there isn't much difference, but then Mum says I'm flamboyant enough for both of us. Just as an aside - I had three people come up to compliment me on my hair - one being our train driver, who stepped out of his cab to tell me so. And one of the ladies on the London Tour loved my false eyelashes. She was American. One man walked backwards along Haymarket just to get a good look at me. I am fabulous, it's true.

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Now, first pic above and subsequent until I tell you otherwise are taken in Harvey Nichols Department Store - 5th floor bar.

Mum has always wanted to go there, and even me printing off the list of cocktails, and allowing her to see the prices did not dissuade her. I bought her one and she bought me one - Grandad gave her some money to do this as a treat (he used to be a cocktail waiter - he won prizes for keeping Americans liquored up during the war )

We were not exactly blown away by the setting. It was dark and a bit 70s, and garish pleather. We decided we were too provincial to appreciate very expensive taste, because to us it had a whiff of porn! Still, much laughter and pleasure and sillyness, which was what the day was all about. She'll be in pre-op in about an hour, and if thinking about red and cream seats puts a smile on her face it is well worth it.

Mum had 2 Blonde Bombshells - champagne cocktails. A bit too sharp for me. I had a Lynchberg Lemonade which was glorious, and some frothy mandarin thing which was a cross between a cocktail and death by foam. All good fun.

Second pic is in the Ladies. I'm amusing myself with the idea of showing the photo to people i nyears to come and saying, "Look! That's me just having had a poo in Harvey Nicks!" I hadn't, but you can see my opinion of my own humour on myself. Two cocktails and I think I'm Phyllis Diller.

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The foamy one.
Mum tried to stop me eating the pansy. I had to sing "Edible Flowers" to her to convince her it was okay. Well, it didn't convince her, but it was a face-off. I'm happier sitting singing than she is listening. Once again I win the game!

And then off for dinner.
We didn't go to Yo! Sushi in Harvey Nicks, because they don't offer the special Blue Monday deal (every plate is a blue plate, £2.20.) We went over to the Haymarket instead, as it was between us and the theatre.

Mum has never been to Yo! Sushi before -she has never eaten sushi at all. I steered her towards the chicken dishes, and lucked out with a couple of good choices from the off. We did have some fish, but I waited to see if she wanted to experiment with sashimi and she chose not to. Fair enough.

We ended up having 7 plates, all of them shared so we got a taste of everything (I know she likes this aspect of tapas especially.) I backed off the ones I could see she was really blown away by and we finished with a fruit salad. We took advantage of the unlimited free water (still for her, sparkling for me) rather than have any more alcofrolics.

Mum adored it. Again, she wants to take Dad. I've told her that Blue Mondays are available in Oxford & Wycombe, so I do expect them to go at some point. She's in Wycombe on Thursday... but of course she'll have other priorities then. Think of her at 15.00 GMT if you would, please.

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And after that, there wasn't much more left to do but walk to the theatre!
We went via Leicester Square - hardly a detour - to get a Haagen Daazs ice cream each... technically greedy pigs, but one scoop only with no sprinkles and sauce...? Not bad.

Snapped off a pic on our way past Trafalgar Square.
We popped into The Sherlock Holmes on the way for Mum to have a wee. Turns out Dad took her therer one fog-bound November night when they were courting. It was so dense that Mum was worried about the safety of him driving, so they went for a few drinks, as was acceptable in the 60's

And here we are at our final destination.

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The show was magical. We laughed. We clapped, we sang along. I recognised John Barrowman's husband and agent - two separate people - in the row in front of us. Yes, Scott did have the best seat in the house - and he was sat in a good place too

Mum said disapprovingly, "He didn't bother dressing up, did he?!" to his burgundy polo shirt and jeans. I told her he was an artitect - true - and probably spent his whole life in suits - conjecture - and that mollified her.

A wonderful day. Wonderful company. Something to hold against the heart in the months to come. Easy for me to say, I'm not going to be the one suffering. But I'm glad it all workewd out so well. We left the threatre with out fabulousness turned up to 11.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Super, good job making mom happy, and keeping us informed.

[skysidhe]

aww sundae Great new update! Your mom is beautiful. Now I know where you get your great looks and the day you had together and they way you put it all together for us is wonderful!

What a magical day for you both

btw That Lynchberg Lemonade looked too pretty to drink.

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Okay.
Borough Market, London.
Serious-foodie-London.
This is where people like Nigella and Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall shop (when he's not grubbing about in ditches for his dinner.)

There are many photos.
Some won't even have my bon mots attached.
So abandon hope all ye who enter here. And all that.

Off to Borough Market.
Come into Marylebone, get on the Bakerloo Line ( you can walk if you can be arsed) and change to the Lovely-jubbly Line. Okay, the Jubilee Line. It's new and fresh and runs on time. Off at London Bridge.

The Mater at Baker Street. Thank you Mr Beck, for your sterling work on the Underground map. Really, he's one of my heroes.

A slightly blurry photo of the alleyway closest to the station. There are more salubrious entrances.

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French stall. Smelled gorge.
Round the other side I swear they were serving chestnuts (marron?) but surely the wrong time of year, even for marron glace? Live and learn.

Cakies!
Nowhere near as good as Amsterdam I am sad to say.

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These two just give you an idea of the market in general.
We arrived late (midday) and I think the real foodies come early.
Not complaining - the sounds and smells and variety were still amazeballs.

Second pic you can probably guess the produce from the colours - Jamaican.
Was tempted.
Love me some Levi Roots (Dragon's Den success story here - look it up if the terms don't translate.) Reggae Reggae Sauce, mon. This was not his stall, but I imagine the flavours are similar.

NB, so I don't have to say it for every photo - I was looking not buying.
Only one exception. I'll get to that.
Could've spent a fortune. But you know I don't have one

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Okay I lied. I made two purchases. Only remembered when I saw this pic.
Soft pretzel.
Well it did end up being breakfast, lunch AND dinner I guess.
I can't get them in Aylesbury.

Good job they didn't offer them with fillings.
Cheese and ham? YES PLEASE!
Offered some to Mum but she had a tiny bite and pulled the face of disgust. Fair enough, if you don't like you don't like. Mum's lunch is to come...

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Fish.
And pickled onions.

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Mum tasting freebies. Nom nom nom.

And look at those HUGE WHEELS OF CHEESE!!!!
Probably a very rich man contemplating buying a whole stack of them.

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Stacks of bread.
Bowls of olives.

Match me up with Rich-Cheese-Man and I'd be sorted for life.