Battered dahlietta

The London trip was marvellous.

"The Sleeping Beauty" ballet rehearsal at Covent Garden was terrific. They had a couple of technical hitches at the beginning but it all went smoothly after that. We were sitting in row V of the Amphitheatre (as far back as is humanly possible) but it was perfect to watch the magic and the patterns - and only £4.10 a ticket !

Dmitri Hvorostovsky and his recital at The Barbican was even more magnificent than I had expected. We were right in the centre on the front row - could almost have touched him. (but I was well behaved and restrained !)

He has such a rich voice and amazing charisma - a seriously attractive man. But the look he gave when a mobile phone went off ! - not a Russian to trifle with........

After a lovely train journey home (we bought some Krispy Kreme donuts for the trip) I found the garden in glorious sunlight. One battered pink dahlietta soaking up the last bit of chilly summer.