Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Today the kids got to cash in their Christmas present. We decided to give them theatre tickets for Christmas this year, instead of more 'stuff'. Charlie was the only West End show Will was old enough for, but as I had heard good things about it we took the plunge.

First we had a violin lesson though which was interesting as W couldn't stand still for excitement.

Train to London, lunch at the kids new favourite, Wagamama, a mooch round Covent Garden, including a good while listening to the musicians in the basement level. W was looking for bunnies because apparently that is how you hold your bow! We also had to wander through the Opera House with the obligatory wander through the shop and stop to watch the dvd they are playing.

The seats we had were fantastic, dead centre of the grand circle, three rows back and with two booster seats it was a perfect view. First half was good. I had to field all sorts of questions in the interval because it isn't exactly the same as the book. If the first half was good the second was fantastic. How they did the scenes in the factory was very clever. The end differed from the book and managed to make my girl cry. But not for long.

Will thought it was great (he had been transfixed for nearly the whole thing), Carys said it was good but not as good as The Lion King. I have to concur and was made to promise Will that I will still take him to see Lion King from his seventh birthday (without Carys).

I am thinking that we will continue the 'experience' Christmas presents as a bit of a tradition. They are lucky enough to have enough family and friends to still have presents to open on the day.