Room With A View (Eventually)

Well, that was a (big) birthday mrsfb won't forget in a hurry.

It started and ended very well, but the middle bit left something to be desired.

We had a leisurely start to the day, she had some nice cards and a few presents to open. After breakfast we drove to Kingham to get the train to Paddington. There were loads of parking spaces at the station, we had great seats on the train and it was all bang on time until ...... about 10-15 minutes from Paddington we stopped, at Langley (isn't that where the CIA are based or is that somewhere else?). We were stuck there for two hours! The announcement was that a train had hit a passenger somewhere up ahead. We had treated ourselves to first class and found that as well as free drinks the other benefit is that the driver himself pops down and has a chat. It sounded like we were going to be held up for ages as he explained the procedures involved. There was much discussion about taxis and someone asked him what he would do but he replied nothing, I have to stay here because it's my train. Gradually though all the other first class passengers started disappearing to get Ubers, in the end we were the only ones left. When things started up again I noticed other trains were passing us by. We had another problem in that someone had been taken ill and there were paramedics on the train so we couldn't go until they had left.

We eventually arrived in Paddington exactly 2 hours late, so there will be some sizeable compensation coming our way. 

I'd paid for early check in at our hotel too, but in the end we didn't need it of course. We were (literally) up on the eleventh floor, no time for watching the cruisers below. We had to do a fairly quick turnaround to get out for the main event - Les Mis at the Sondheim Theatre.

I'd booked a table at Bella Italia next to the theatre for an easy pre show meal. We were late arriving but they had held it for us. Phew! Then on to the theatre (extra).

There we were joined by daughter#1 and SIL#1 for the show. I'd forgotten how busy London theatres are. There was a long queue to get in, and long queues everywhere inside at the break. We enjoyed it very much though. I'm not a musicals person really, but I could appreciate the spectacle. I got lost with the plot a few times, but read the Wikipedia synopsis later so that put me straight.

So, in the end a great day, and a great birthday celebration.

One year ago:
Upstairs Downstairs
Not creatures of habit this year, apart from the claiming compensation bit.