Oh my aching feet

Just back from a weekend in London with Peter.  Oh how we have walked, and walked, talked, laughed and had a great time.  Eric Clapton at the Albert Hall, 5 star hotel with views of Kensington Palace Gardens.  The weather could have been better but it didn't rain and the sun finally came out by mid morning Sunday.

We started our day on Saturday at Bar Italia Soho, coffee and portuguese custard tarts.  Bit of shopping in Oxford Street then lunch at the Lido Cafe in Hyde Park - we sat with the other hardy souls braving the wind and grey clouds.  Then on to our hotel Royal Garden Hotel Kensington

Kensington Palace Gardens -view from our room

Early doors at the Goat Tavern across from the hotel. Dinner in Wagamamas then on to the Albert Hall. The concert was amazing, I had a perfect view, just 9 rows from the front, but as there was no one sitting in the 3 rows directly in front of me, it was an unobstructed view.  Reason for the empty seats? Ticketmaster decided that it would issue the Fan Club tickets on the day and you had to have your booking form, ID and credit card to get your tickets, so there were lots of angry people who couldn't get in due to the fact they had purchased tickets on Ebay and the like.  They are trying to put a stop to people selling on their tickets.  Surely if you were a true fan you would want to see the show.  Back to the Goat for a quick one before heading back to the hotel, night cap I think its called.

Sunday (today)  Slightly brighter and not so cold to start.  Walked through Kensington Gardens into Hyde Park

Anyone know what this tree is? I thought it may have been a Dogwood but on checking out images online I can't see anything like it.  It was growing on its own in Hyde Park.

Edited to let you know what it is, thanks Liniecat, its a Handkerchief Tree

I always love to see the Horse Guards - not the best photos as I only had my small Sony with me.

We reckon we walked about 15 miles this weekend.  So the coffee and almond croissant, salt beef beigel (from Brick Lane) and pint today have been well walked off.  It was a good weekend, made a change.

Hope you had a good one

Mick, Eric & the Albert Hall

I went off to see Mick Hucknall at the Royal Albert Hall last night with Peter and Rachel.  It was his American Soul show; an enjoyable evening, good seats, row 9 on the arena floor, it was cold though.

Not sure on his soul selection, though he did a passable rendition of "I only have eyes for you" - which is "our song", 4 tracks from the Bobby Bland album, which were good. "I'd rather go blind" by Etta James - prefer Beth Harts version.  "Its Impossible" by Perry Como, which was ok but prefer the original.  He did drop in a couple of Simply Red numbers which certainly upped the tempo in the room.  I don't think he was feeling too well though as during the early part of the evening he kept wiping his eyes and using a nasal spray, he looked rough, too much stage makeup!  He did seem to liven up a bit more towards the end.  But as I say a good evening, but a late night 12:30 before we got home.

Then on to Eric - I have just got tickets for his show at the RAH for 18 May, also row 9 on the arena floor but on the other side of the room.  Luckily this was a fan club pre-sale otherwise the seating allocation wouldn't be as good.  The tickets weren't cheap but what makes me cross is the booking fee of £8.50 each plus £5.50 secure postage on top of the ticket price.  Oh well.

We are still eagerly awaiting the annoucement of the Crossroads Concert in 2013 which is rumoured to be at Madison Square Gardens in April.  Its a long way to go for a concert but so worth it!!  We will build a holiday around it though.

Enough .......please

Rain that is.  Today we were supposed to have sunny intervals, 18C temperature, 90% humidity.  We had some sun, we have the temperature, but we have rain so I guess that is 100% humidity.  I am just sick and tired of the dreary skies, and the constant rain.  Its been over 5 weeks since we had a totally dry day.

 

I went and bought my summer bedding plants this afternoon but can't see me getting them in anytime soon.  Because its been so cold everything in the greenhouse is behind, my beans, squash and courgette plants are doing ok, but my tomatoes are pathetic, I've had to bring into the kitchen and I have other seeds that have rotted or just not germinated.  And to cap it all I think my Wisteria hasn't survived the winter, others locally are in flower,but not a sign on mine apart from about four leaves on the end of one branch!

The only bright spot in my day is that I managed to get some tickets to go and see Mick Hucknall at the Albert Hall in September.......Exciting, though shame its a Tuesday night, oh well, guess I will be bleary eyed at work, unless we take a day off.



Right, as its still raining, I'm going to make another cup of tea, and get my knitting out.  Which will it be the ten stitch or the baby cardi?