Cocktails, Cabaret and Culture

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Dizzy and Creative 
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Trunchball Sour, with Cool Rider in the background

Our journey from Devon to London was comfortable and uneventful, until Dizzy discovered she had lost her one of her gloves. She caused mayhem and disruption amongst other travellers by asking them to look between their feet, even to stand up to check if they were sitting on it. One passenger kindly looked out of the window to see if a lonely left hand glove was lying abandoned on the platform. By the time we reached Bristol, Dizzy had reluctantly resigned herself to the fact that her favourite gloves were no longer a pair.

"Oh, that girl is just soo embarrassing!"

On arrival in London, we made our way to the Phoenix Artist Club (http://phoenixartistclub.com/), recently voted the Best Bar & Club Covent Garden in the Time Out London Love London Awards 2015 (http://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/the-time-out-love-london-awards).

Peter was in the middle of creating a new range of show-themed cocktails, and we were invited to taste and critique.


'I liked the Trunchball Sour best, complete with newt swimming!'

"My favourite was the One Sip More, which had a super lemon twist"

The decor in the club provides reminders of great shows and artistes throughout the West End, and the display of last year's monster cult success Cool Rider caught our eye. We thoroughly love the cast recording, available for sale from the Cool Rider Store (http://coolriderstore.com/)!

Dizzy Lightweight!

So, we whiled away a very pleasant afternoon, tasting and testing in the interests of good customer feedback. Eventually, it seemed to be time to toddle off and find somewhere to eat before strolling down to see Showstoppers at the Appollo Theatre.

"But when I look round to see if Dizzy was ready to go, I find that she's spent the last half hour flat out, the lightweight!"


'It was just the early morning start and all the excitement of losing a glove, and ....'

"Lightweight. It's probably just as well that cousins Boo and Bea LaCheste are out of town this week, or they would have been shocked to see you."

Restoration of The Rose Playhouse

In the theatre, we made the acquaintance of a lovely lady who told us about the Rose Playhouse (http://www.rosetheatre.org.uk/), and the ongoing project of restoration of 'Shakespeare's first theatre'. The lady is a volunteer on the restoration project.  It sounded fascinating, and although we didn't have time to fit it in on this trip, we made a resolution to do so next time we're in London.

One highlight of our few days was to see the Christmas lights in Oxford Street.  We were particularly taken with the horoscope and space themes of the windows at Selfridges  

Christmas lights in Oxford Street

(http://www.selfridges.com/london) , and also the colourful masks depicted in the windows at Harvey Nichols (http://www.harveynichols.com/), although we had to say that the Selfridge windows were our particular favourite. It was disappointing that the windows at both Libertys (http://www.liberty.co.uk/) and Harrods (http://www.harrods.com/) were still under wraps so we missed seeing them, despite our best efforts to peer through the cracks in the paper coverings!

Creative was fascinated by Denis Lock and Hamish McCann
 as the perfect English Gents!

Our other highlights were visits to two very different performances. The first was to La Soiree (www.la-soiree.com/), housed in it's own Big Top on the South Bank. This is a touring Cabaret-cum-Circus family of extraordinarily talented artistes, and a show which defies description. Suffice to say, we were spellbound.

'...and my turn to be embarrassed. You know what Creative's like with a man in uniform? What happens when it's a man in a business suit complete with bowler hat - or Union Jack boxers. Hmmn. Enough said.'

"It was a totally fascinating show, you just have to go"

Then finally, a trip to the Royal Albert Hall (http://www.royalalberthall.com/) and an evening with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra playing the best of the Hollywood Greats. What a way to round off a magnificent few days! 

An evening to remember at the Royal Albert Hall

Saying of the Month: In the light of the tragic events in Paris, our hearts and thoughts are with all those who are suffering or whose lives have been touched as a consequence. Our saying this month is given in this context.

"No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive" Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948) 

Next Public Appearance: Saturday and Sunday 28th & 29th November, when we'll be with Jay and Carol who are running some fabulous Christmas craft workshops at the Miss Ivy Events (http://www.missivyevents.co.uk/) All Things Vintage and Festive at Dartington Hall, Totnes






 © Jay Hooper and Carol Kennedy 2013. All rights reserved.