05.21.07
Back
Had a great trip to London. I love London. I love the Tube, the architecture, the buzz. I hate sterling. uuugh.
Niall Quinn was following me for a bit. He and Mark Lawrenson were on the plane. They are both very tall. I knew Quinn was but was surprised at Lawrenson. Anyway, then Quinn showed up in the pub that night. I respected his space and he returned the favour and left me alone. 
We were going over to support the artists in this show, and then took in some other cultural events including the Anthony Gormley at the Hayward which was truly amazing. It starts before you get into the gallery. As you approach the South Bank you see the statues on top of nearby buildings. And the Barbican has two sides covered in grass. Then inside there is a series of installations which I found really exciting. Thoroughly recommend it for anyone visiting London.
After that over to the Tate Modern to see the Seagram Rothko’s. They’ve moved to a brighter smaller room and it was a bit crowded but even still they are breathtaking – portals to Hell, or the other side at least. I’ll go again on a quiet day.
That night we went to see Jessica Lange star in The Glass Menagerie. I thought the first half could’ve had more pace but a wonderful production all the same, and so sad. One top tip though: I booked the tickets from London Theatre Direct. I clicked on seating layout and was shown two levels – stalls and balcony. The stall tickets were £57 and the balcony £22.50. I thought, feck that, sure the balcony will be grand. On arrival we discovered there were two more levels – dress circle and upper circle which the website had neglected to display, so balcony meant “the attic”. I was raging. Fortunately the Gods were on our side and the balcony was closed that night and we got promoted to the Dress Circle. A woman from the Upper Circle stood beside me and argued with the usher that SHE should get promoted and not us grubby balcony people. I was right beside her as she tried to do me out of my upgrade! The nerve. Fortunately the proletarian young man was having nothing to do with her and we got great seats. AND the price on the tickets was only £19.50. So London Theatre Direct is London Trickery. Avoid.
We were cultured out at that stage and confined ourselves to long lunches and Harrods after that.
On the way home there were a LOT Of men on the flight – Cup Final people on the way home. They didn’t look too happy. ManU fans obviously. Personally I was glad Chelsea won. Jose need a break. The dog story was the last straw….
Stephen Neill said,
May 21, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Welcome back Sarah – sounds like you had a ball – envy envy – You’re just in time to give brave Enda a dig out, which I fear he is in dire need of! I downloaded a compilation of Nob Nation from itunes over the weekend and while his portrayl on that is hillarious it is not half as funny or tragic as the real thing! Did you by chance hear his appaling response to the suggestion that Bertie might woo Labour? Here I quote verbatim: “In your dreams – Baby” (Cringe factor 10+) I have just realised who he reminds me off – Ricky Gervaise in the Office who I love and who differs in one important respect – He knows he is agonising to watch!
Sarah said,
May 21, 2007 at 1:58 pm
I’d better avoid that then
My mantra hasn’t changed. A vote for FF is a vote for corruption and negligence. If people want that, FINE!!! But c’mon people, SURELY we can do better?
Stephen Neill said,
May 21, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Sarah I agree – see my posting ( http://tinyurl.com/2pjgme ) of a few days ago! But why can he just not be himself? I remember him from my days living in Mayo and he was himself then and thoroughably likeable and not cringe inducing – the Spindoctors have a lot to answer for!
Gerry said,
May 21, 2007 at 3:12 pm
you’ve reminded me I do f…all cultural and I live in London. I’m taking the k to the theatre this week that’s it decided. my problem with the balcony is that it’s so hot
last summer it reached something like 40 degrees during the Lion
king. madness
Gordon Davies said,
May 21, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Any loss for Bertie’s team is a good omen – Man U have lost two important matches recently, will Berties team lose another on Thursday.
Gordon
PS Big cities are always seductive places when you go for a few days with money to spend. Not always such nice places to live in though.
CG said,
May 21, 2007 at 9:01 pm
God I love the Tube. It’s like something out of the future. You just stand there and every two minutes a train comes roaring in, and you get on and before you know it you’re halfway across the city.
It’s a bitch in the summer though, I only had a 15 minute ride at 7 o’clock in the morning, and it would still be so hot I’d be dripping be sweat by the time I got off. Yuck.
omaniblog said,
May 21, 2007 at 11:23 pm
I love the John Shinners.
Red Parrot said,
June 17, 2007 at 2:25 am
OMG!! I just came across this while googling Nob Nation. Enda Kenny is hilllllarious on it. I dunno if I feel sympathy or respect for the dude but its soo funny. The Nobs rock. Dowload Not the Sunscreen Song if you haven’t heard it for a while. Nob nation is so bold i dunno how gerry ryan gets away with it….