American Invasion

Last Wednesday while Emma was at school with Alice, getting the full rockstar "OMG you're an American!" treatment. Kathi and I drove out to Blickling Hall to take in their Hellebore display.

Even though the day was rainy and cold and only a few brave souls were out,
two managed to get in this picture, atop my head no less

An impressive espalier magnolia covers the front of the house.

At least the plant looks like a magnolia. And is that quince in the near left corner?

We toured the inside, nothing of note to report except one docent describing the sexual orientation of a previous occupant as "being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

The gardens, however, are stunning, even in early spring and on an inclement day.  We hiked to the back to the hellebore display.

A hint of what will be.

Here dogwoods are grown as shrubs,  Both the red-twig (also called Midwinter Fire) and yellow-twig varieties were on display.

Dogwoods are also grown as shrubs in the Pacific NW, USA

The English primrose makes an especially beautiful Hellebore companion plant.

These primroses are in need of dividing. Garden work is never done. 

Kathi is an excellent traveller.  Her extensive touring with her parents and children have given her a both worldly and practical perspective across time and space.  She could plan a killer English garden tour for her club in Durham.  Just sayin' Kathi...

Best hat ever!

In case you don't understand the charm of the Lenten Rose...

A dramatic center-piece.  The roses are floating IN water.

The next day we snuck Alice out of school and headed to London.  In 30 hours we managed to do close to everything.

Emma and Kathi outside the British Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum had some cool stuff (sadly though the ball gowns were not on display until May.)

Large twirly Chihuly glass sculpture hanging in the main hallway.

Their jewelry collection is impressive...

" I was the coiffee [sic] before dinner..." punned Queen Victoria to her diary
describing her tiara designed by her beloved Albert.
25 April 1845

...and funny.

 A Broach of Jack Russells

The display was in a large, two story vault.  Upstairs access was well lit. Do you think they called Steve Jobs before installing this?

Right about NOW a guard is yelling at me.  No pictures.

OK then, onto the garden and a much needed sugar and caffeine hit. 

You'll be relieved to know that we kept our clothes on...

...though not everyone did.

The V&A has modern pieces as well.

Just might need a mountain house to go with this table.

Best display note ever.

Well now that you mention it,
the table DOES seem like a simple bundle of logs.

After museums, shopping, tappas, taxis, walking, looking left-- no right! we ended up at the Prince of Wales Theatre for Mama Mia.   

Same blue theater light that Meryl Streep was photographed in
whilst accepting her 3rd Oscar for Best Actress.
Why blue you theater people? 

Now I am not a theater expert. Alice will tell you she has been raised on classical music concerts and opera, often leading to an expensive nap.  Our lone family foray to the DPAC received a luke-warm review.  NYC trips are for food and baguettes, not frolic on Broadway (struggled for some reasonable parallel construction here.  Forgive me.)  

Kathi said LET'S GO.  LONDON WILL BE DIFFERENT.

Oh was she right!  This London West End production I just loved. What's not to like about buff young men dancing around in wet suits, unzipped to the navel, wearing flippers and snorkels? (Yes, it worked).  And there is something to be said for taking catchy music and writing a play with it.  Can work far better than the other way around.  Say what you want about ABBA, they could write a tune.  

After Kathi and I (and all 200 other women of a certain age in the audience) boogied to ABBA for the last 15 minutes of the show, we hugged good-bye in the street 

Heading out into the post-theater crowd. 

and dashed off our separate ways: Kathi and Emma to their hotel to pack for their flight back in the morning, Alice and I to the Liverpool station to catch the 2100 back to Norwich.

THANK YOU  for coming to see us Easons!!

Waiting for the Norwich train to come up on the board.

Alice and I realize that we know this place now:  where the Starbucks is (far back right corner, no sign until you are upon it), what food to take home on the train (Wasabi take-out boxes), which bathroom is the cleanest (the one you pay 20p for), how to rush for the track the moment your train is posted in order to get a unreserved table seat.   We can even now take a decent selfie.

Photo by Alice, Longer arms. 

Onwards!