A lie-in, a funeral, a tour and a Phantom.

This morning, I had every intent on getting up at my normal time at 8:00 and get started, but I suppose it was not happening today.  I stayed in bed until 10:00am, I suppose I needed that.

I headed out and wanted to get some pictures in my neighborhood before I hopped on the Underground and headed back to Picadilly Circus to catch my walking tour.  I wanted to check out the church that was near my hotel.  St. Mary Abbots, and so I went in and there was a funeral happening, but I was handed a program and so I took a seat.  I was there to hear the Eulogy for a gentleman by the named of Niles Fawcett.  I then heard the choir sing "How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place" by Brahms, and then I took off.  I've never crashed a funeral before  - especially one in an Episcopal church and of someone I didn't know - in a foreign country!

I took the Underground back to Picadilly Circus to meet my walking tour.  I bought the Walking Tour on Expedia before I came to London.  It included a walking tour of the sights of London and then Afternoon Tea at a local hotel.  Well, it turns out I was the only one that signed up for this particular tour on this particular day - so it was just me and my tour guide, Amber, who is actually from Texas.  

So, away we went.  We walked, she talked, I took pictures.  She had some great knowledge to share, not only about what we were seeing, but about some adages like "Break a Leg", "Mind your P's and Q's", "One for the Road" and "Off/On the Wagon". Lots of history of the kings and queens of England and how much the people didn't like Margaret Thatcher.  One of the highlights was that we got to go into the Westminster Methodist Community Hall where the first production of "Jospeh and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" was performed.  That was really cool.  It was neat to share some info with her that she can use on her tour.  We then went to a hotel for Afternoon Tea.   I was taught how to pour tea, add the milk, and gently fold the milk in and not to stir and finally not let your saucer stray more than 12 inches from your cup.   We had tea sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam and learned that there are two ways of putting cream and jam on your scone - either cream first and then jam - the Devon way, OR jam then cream - the Cornwall way.  I preferred that Devon way as the Cornwall way is more difficult to put cream on top of jam.  Amber and I talked for a long time about Downton Abbey, theatre, the USA etc... and promised to look up each other on Facebook!!   It was just the best afternoon ever!

I then walked back up to the West End and took some pictures of some theatres I hadn't taken pictures of yet and then made it to Her Majesty's Theatre for The Phantom of the Opera.   My seat was G9, almost in the center.  It was a great production.  The only thing I found strange was that Christine had blonde hair.  Not sure why that happened, but it was just different. It was sung very well, played very well, and it's always great to see the original set design.  

I took the Underground back to my hotel and fought with the WIFI.

Tomorrow is the big day.  Sunset Blvd. with Glenn Close!!!   But before that, a trip back up to Oxford street to check out the London Palladium.  I should have done that yesterday, but I didn't realize I was in the vicinity.  Tomorrow night I have one more show slot available.... Trying to decide to see something I've never seen before, or something else like Mamma Mia!