My Trip To London to See Chorus Line and Meet with London Friends 16 August 2013

Trip To London to see Chorus Line the Musical and meet Ex Saga friends 16 August 2013

I had been planning this trip since I had heard that chorus line the musical was returning to London, my plan was to go sometime in September or October when things had gone quiet, but suddenly out of the blue I read that the show was due to close in August, I already had a holiday booked with Brian my travelling companion and Andy another friend for one week, so I agonised whether to go not, fortunately many friends suggested it was something to do, because who knew what was round the corner and maybe I would never get to see it again if I did not go now.

My thought was I did not want to travel on my own, so I asked various friends and acquaintances and even asked on the websites that I visit, the were people who would have liked to go to see the show but were busy at the time I was planning, I also couldn’t decide whether I was just going for the day much as I had done with Proms in the Park last year or whether to stay overnight. I then started looking for coach trips, but no success there, so next decided to sort out trains and a hotel, when I started adding up all the cost without even buying the theatre ticket this was going to be a very expensive trip.

Eventually I decided that I would go and stay overnight, I went in travel agents to ask about packages and they could do one going on the Friday and returning on the Saturday by train for £40 plus believe it or not a hotel near to Euston at only £32, I quickly went and had a look at trip advisor, it had mixed reviews but it was suitable for my needs for one night, so I went ahead and booked, I then started trying to work out about the theatre ticket, Friday night seem the best time to go, but I didn’t seem able to find a ticket at the right price in the right place, eventually I found an agency that was selling discounted tickets that suited my needs, how Ward that they could charge less than the actual theatre was doing.

I had mentioned on Facebook to some of my friends who live in London but I was coming down for a visit and how I would look forward to meeting up with them if any were available, fortunately the two Janes Maris and Pauline said they were able to meet me and will take me for a trip down the Thames, I wasn’t quite sure if they were going to throw me in LOL, one or two others said they would have loved to have met again unfortunately it clashed with other arrangements they’d already made, so now I was really looking forward to the trip.

On the day I drove into town because I realised it was going to be late evening when I returned on the train so it was better to have the car at the station, the trip down was uneventful, I always struggle to understand why when it says quiet no mobiles on the train, there are always those that ignore it, why don’t they go instead into one of the other compartments instead, otherwise it was pleasant trip. The hotel was only a short walk away, not the most attractive, when I got to reception it was 1:45 PM, I said was it possible to obtain no sorry you cannot do until 2 o’clock, not sure the reasoning behind this, went to room it was basic but okay, even had to your coffee making facilities if you wanted them, so I unpacked had a wash and change, I forgot to say that it was shared toilets and bathroom, but they were not far away and were clean, so I then went out, originally I decided I was going to have a look at the London Eye before returning to get ready for the show, then realised it may take too long, so I consulted my guidebook and set off for the British Museum.

There were no problems finding my way there, it was a little bit busy on the roads, but what a surprise when I got there, it shows how long it is since I must visited a museum because there were hundreds of people outside, undeterred I went inside I could not believe the number of people and the noise, I always thought these were peaceful quiet places, because I was time-limited I only looked at certain exhibits, I don’t know if it is because I am getting old, but some people were quite rude, pushing in front of you to make sure they missed nothing or standing blocking the way taking photographs, I wandered back downstairs, I went to have a look at the drinks and snacks, those that know me well are aware that I love carrot cake, that I paid 5 pounds when in Norway, well readers believe it or not, a slice at the British Museum which was not that appetizing or big, cost £4.50 so I decided to wait. I wandered back towards the hotel and found a pleasant garden with an empty bench to sit and watch what was going on in the peace quiet and tranquillity, an elderly gentleman approached and sat down, oh no he got out his mobile phone started chatting, so back to the hotel I went, had a rest before getting ready to go out.

I went downstairs to have a meal in the hotel, it seems they no longer do this, so went to Euston station, to somewhere I’d use previously, unfortunately they were full, and I just hope Brian is not reading this, because I ended up going to Burger King, must say their burgers are much bigger than McDonald’s, then on the bus to the theatre, I had definite instructions on where to get off, informed the driver of my destination, I could not make out what he was saying, actually he was telling me that it shows on the board and is announced.

I reached my destination and walked to the theatre, it was already filling up inside but for some reason they did not open the doors to the seats for some time, as it was a special occasion I paid for a full programme, the photos were good, but where was all the information about the cast. Fortunately I had been given good advice about where to sit in the theatre so had a very good view, the show started and I just sat and enjoyed the full two hours, the stage is a very simple one for the show, the only thing that is different at certain times is a range of mirrors behind the actors, their acting singing and dancing was really good apart from, gosh I can’t remember her name now, but the character couldn’t sing, there was humour in the show, sadness and lots of fun, one of the problems is I now struggle because some of the songs will not stop going round my head, I had forgotten how the show ended, but found the last little bit before the final song a little odd, other than that a fantastic show I would go and see again maybe when it is touring. I then returned to the hotel.

One of the things I forgot to mention, was how noisy London is, with the basic traffic but even more so with the constant sirens of emergency vehicles, I had made a mistake and my room was on the front of the hotel, if I closed the window it cut the noise down, but because there was no other ventilation and it was quite warm it then got too hot, something to remember for another time, I did not sleep well but I normally don’t anyway.

The next morning I got up had a shower went down for breakfast, which for the price of the room was quite good, then got ready to go out, remembered to take everything as I would not be returning, then went over to the underground, with my next set of instructions, to meet my friends at the embankment. First shock trying to work out how to use the ticket machine, eventually acquired ticket, I could hear constant announcements being made bought was not quite sure what the relevance was, went looking for the Northern line, that was the relevance it was closed, at least for the part that I needed, so now we had hundreds or thousands of people lost trying to work out how to get to their destination, after about quarter of an hour I finally sorted it out, it took an extra change at Victoria before I reached my destination and finally met my friends at the barrier.

They had decided with my consent that they would take me down the Thames on one of the clipper boats to Greenwich and then we would plan from there, on board the boat we sat in the rear as the weather was quite good at that time, and they showed me various points of interest, I took a few photographs but it was difficult because of the speed and ever-changing view to get that many good ones, we eventually reached Greenwich we had a walk around, went from meal then carried on as I had mentioned wanting to go on the cable car across the Thames, we bravely did that, one of the Janes initially struggled but later on see more relaxed, from our viewpoint we could see across London, including people walking across the top of the O2 stadium, don’t think I’m that brave, eventually we set off back to the embankment on the boat again. This time I knew the route I was taking, Pauline had by now left us, the others saw me safely onto the tube before leaving me at the next stop, the timing was perfect there was a train to Manchester within quarter of an hour, the trip back was uneventful, the only shock was the car parking charge of £21, it seems weekend starts on Saturday not Friday, that’s when I would have got the cheap rate.

This trip was a good reminder that we should do the things that we want to while we can, because if we’ve enjoyed them we can always do again, so thanks to everyone who encouraged me and the fantastic company

My Last day the trip Home 4 July 2013

Woke up early, had a shower finish packing bags, had a coffee then down to reception to give back key to room. Made my way to the North terminal, went on shuttle to South terminal, then when looking for the train to St Pancras, was just in time, the train was fairly packed but at least I got a seat, when reached the station then decided to walk to Euston, walking with two cases took much more effort than I had previously remembered, when I got there I had breakfast then waited for the train.

No problems with seat on train or the trip back to Manchester, when I got there I made my way down to the Metro, unfortunately there did not seem to be any going to my destination, but no announcements or staff to speak to. In the end I got one to the centre then walked across to the other line then was able to get the tram home, from there I got the local bus, finally I got to my flat at the door was a load of letters, which I ignored, now back to reality, unpacked case, set washer off, because it was so warm decided to run a bath whilst checking my mail, the end of my holiday.