Birthday in London

I had booked tickets for The Little Match Girl at the Lillian Bayliss studio at Sadlers Wells ages ago. We were on the front row and the edge of the 'stage' was less than a metre from our feet. It was a slightly surreal retelling of the story. Set in Italy, mostly dance but some singing (in Italian) and the odd spoken word (in Italian). It was also slightly freaky/scary at times, the rich people were very unpleasant and Will was not happy for about 15mins in the middle. but overall they both declared they enjoyed it, although as Carys pointed out it wasn't 'real' ballet!

A long ride on a new Routemaster style bus across to Victoria passed some time as it was still raining when we came out of the theatre. Food was a necessity by this point, but happily we found the kids new favourite, Wagamama.

After lunch the rain had become mizzle and  we had spotted a bus trail bus on the way into the shopping area, so we headed out on a bus hunt. We walked from Victoria to Westminster, along Horse Guards, up to Long Acre and into Covent Garden. From there we headed along to St. Paul's then across the river and along to London Bridge via Borough Market (I was very tempted at this point by mulled wine, but kept going without.). We found a total of 12 buses I think. At least three I had seen previously were missing from where they should have been, but I guess they must be starting to take them down. We couldn't find the one opposite Horse Guard's, that we saw from a distance on Monday, the one in the middle of a traffic island at the top of Horse Guard's/ bottom of Trafalgar Square and the one that should have been outside the map shop on Long Acre.

Tired Monkies on the train home. Will was poured almost straight into bed and Carys is just finishing her story now. I am about to open a bottle of fizz and enjoy what is left of the day. It has been a good one.