She went to London to visit the queen

Not really. It was work-related, but still. I'd never been. Brought Cordelia the doll and had a fabulous time. Stayed at a hotel that was spitting distance from the London Eye (I thought it was a subway). The best? Visiting The National Gallery. You see the paintings in art history books, but it doesn't begin to convey how the colors FEEL ALIVE. The skin tones, the way the folds of fabric were painted with depth. It made me feel like crying to walk through the galleries. Da Vinci, Monet, Rousseau. Felt like one lucky girl.

Saw Wicked, and loved that as well. I'm not a big musical fan, they all have a Bye Bye Birdie feel to them, but this one was just outstanding. The story actually held together, the music and lyrics made sense, the performers were first-rate. Saw Billy Elliott (at the Victoria Palace Theatre) too, and I l-i-k-e-d it, but didn't l-o-v-e it. I couldn't understand the dialect very well and I wasn't crazy about the woman who played the ballet teacher. She was just too hard looking for me. But the kid was terrific, and my favorite favorite favorite was Billy's "puff" friend who liked to dress in his mum's clothes. (I also liked the girls in Billy's dance class - especially the dance teacher's daughter.) Bottomline, I guess Billy Elliott was too dark for someone who tends toward the dark side anyway. I need uplifting wherever I can get it.

Saw the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels. It took a few minutes to figure out the jewels behind the case were the same ones that were in the paintings from long ago. (Head swiveling back and forth from jewel to old religious painting...) The history, the Robin Hoodness of it all.

Finally, that's me on the job with a huge-o tanker in drydock at a shipyard in Brest, France. Lest you think I wasn't really working all the time I was there. It was rainy and dismal cold, and we stayed in a hotel that brought back scenes of Jack Nicholson in The Shining. "RED RUM, RED RUM" I swear I heard that little kid riding his Big-Wheel on my floor. Love the chin strap for added safety and Michelin Man-like coveralls.

p.s. In the coming days, Cordelia will have more about the trip on her site, http://www.cordelias-adventures.blogspot.com. She's a little behind.