Explaining . . .

. . . how a sundial works. Yet, as there was little in the way of sun, I’m not sure how successful she was.

We have had a day with the grandchildren in Kent. We took them to gymnastics class, which is impressively professionally run and they all three thoroughly enjoy. Home for a sandwich and then, as the weather was a bit iffy, we took them to Down House, Home of Charles Darwin, which is very close to where they live and where we went with the eldest a few weeks ago. They all successfully completed the trail, we explored the rest of the house and then we wandered the gardens.
 
Returned via a playground and met Mum at a local pub, where we were booked in for a very late Sunday lunch. Excellent it was too. A lovely day. (I love the extra photo - the girls 'posing' for Grandma! And yes, that is a Christmas jumper - the outfits these three come up with!)

   
Last night we were at the Barbican to see the RSC production of 'The Tempest', which has transferred from Stratford. It was astonishing. A kaleidoscopic, hi-tech, visual spectacle that totally transported and amazed the audience, but which never lost sight of the moral gravity of the play. Simon Russell Beale was superb as he faced the implications of his actions in relation to his daughter and of his acts of revenge. Ariel was given a digitally realised ethereal shape that mesmerised, but he never lost his human aspect. The comedy was fabulously acted. It was what one could describe as an experience never to be forgotten. It was interesting that at the end, after the applause had finished and the cast had left the stage, there was a few moments pause as we all pondered about what we had just seen.

Tomorrow we cross the Channel.