No Time

I don't have enough time to elaborate, nor money to buy more internet, so all I can say is: I went to bed at 8, but couldn't get to sleep until 11. Crazy old woman. Hugh Grant. Bank Manager.

11:23PM, Dayton...

Arrivederci, Londra :'(

I spent the majority of the day with Michelle, my Australian roommate. We went to the National Gallery (go figure...she hadn't been there, yet, though) and took the most touristy pictures possible in phonebooths and at Trafalgar Square. While we were eating lunch (I had a chicken, bacon, and mayo jacket potato), her friend, Ned, also from Australia, met up with us. Strangely, Ned bears a great resemblance to fellow Aussie, Hugh Jackman. When he asked me where I was from, he asked if it was near any big cities. He has actually heard of Toledo. How? The John Denver song, which probably will give him zero desire to visit when he comes to the states in February. After all, Saturday nights in Toledo, Ohio are like being nowhere at all.

The pictures turned out wonderfully, which is good. I had forgotten that the first couple of days are no longer on my camera. I will have to burn them to a CD or order them online when I get back.

I went back to Tea for the third and final time a bit ago. The same 3 people were working every time I stopped in. Every time you have tea and scones with cream and jam it tastes better. This means I will miss that place, a LOT. Panera will not cut it. Panera is also as close to EAT as I will get back home. Too bad.

I don't understand: everything seems to fit in my suitcase better now that it did on the way here. I'm afraid to pick it up, though...Not looking forward to the 45ish minute tube ride all the way over to Heathrow.

It is only a bit past 5, but I am exhausted from all of this walking. It would probably be a good idea for me to go to bed early, anyhow. Maybe if I get up early enough, I can go to St. Paul's again or walk down to the Tower. Whatever, I will have to use my debit card. The only money I have left are the £10 Scottish note I want to keep, money for the tube, and a couple coins to keep. Oh, and 7P. That's it. I guess I did a pretty decent job guessing how much to convert, huh (although I did go out and buy some candy this afternoon. those curly-whirly squirrelies are amazing)?

Again, not sure if I will post tomorrow morning. I will write something a few days after I get back, though- the remaining pictures, etc.

Next trip? Well, Sir Colin will be in Boston on MLKJr weekend...

Last Full Day Here

I may or may not post something tomorrow morning. As I won't have much time and would have to buy more internet time, I most likely won't. I will later tonight, though.

It's 10:45 and I haven't left yet. I can't pick up my pictures until 11:35. I lost my confirmation slip, so this will be interesting...hopefully the same woman is working.

The only thing I can think of that I haven't done yet, aside from the Tower (which I won't be doing, as it costs £22) and the British Museum, is hunting down Paul, Hugh Laurie, Alan Rickman, and Gary Oldman. I'll probably just end up back at the V&A or National Gallery...again. Yes, I've spent a lot of time there, but I still don't believe I've seen half of either.

Skipping Down the Sidewalk

I would have, but I thought the people behind me might start talking about me behind my back.

You guessed it: I was able to talk to him again...and THIS time, my camera actually worked!!! I started shaking with happiness when I saw that the video works and is audible upon leaving the conductor's green room. Is it possible to have two best days ever? There was no problem getting backstage, which was nice, as the man who gave me trouble last week was the one at the door I was told to use. Also, I realized tonight that the violinist who claimed me last week is the principal 2nd. He introduced the composer of the suprise piece that started off tonight's concert- a brand new piece composed especially for the LSO by Scottish Martin Suckling, who was seated at the opposite end of the row I occupied for the 15th and 16th concerts. I was jealous, for I had to crane my neck for 3 hours to see over the balcony ledge.

At a particularly exciting point of A Child of Our Time I was intently watching Sir Colin, when a quick sequence of events took place: There was a click, Sir Colin's hands were magically empty, the first violin made a quick leap to the floor, and, in one fell swoop, the baton was handed off, and the race continued without a single bump! This ordeal answered a question that had been floating around in my head: yes, it is has been known for the baton to be dropped. That was far too many commas.

Thanks to the Australian girl in my room who I had been talking with for a couple hours before the concert, I had a nice black bag that was large enough to house my camera and the 4" x 6" I printed of the picture of Sir Colin and me (he signed it). We might be doing the Jack the Ripper walk tomorrow. I'm glad she wanted to do it, too, for I would be much too freaked out to go alone, I'm sure.

*inhale*

I Don't Understand...

There is a man walking around St. Paul's with his face and shoes painted I-don't-know-how, draped in a flag from I-don't-know-where, and posing for pictures while shouting, "Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite." I don't know why.

I hung out at the National Gallery for 4 hours today and sketched. I was very disappointed that the painting I stood in front of most of the time didn't have a postcard for sale in the shop although it informed me one was available. Monsieur de Norvins by Ingres. Luckily the cashier man who looked at my sketch so as to look around for the picture was impressed, making me content enough with that, I guess.

I went to Boots and discovered that you can get digital prints for 6p/each if you order at least 150 and wait for 24 hours. I can pick them up tomorrow at noon. I believe they're 19 cents/each at Walgreens (maybe 15, but still...), so I decided to just do it now. This way I'll be mostly all set for Xmas eve, as well. What would be nice is if I could get them all into a scrapbook before then so I don't have to explain each picture to everyone. Unfortunately I don't have an empty scrapbook. Perhaps they will be on sale at Hobby Lobby on the 23rd.

Concert tonight. I am armed and ready for the fight to get backstage.

Angel of Music

He's haunting me...while absentmindedly whistlingish down the stairs to Charing Cross Station, I paused to fish my ticket out of my bag. What was playing on the PA system besides The Ball from Symphonie Fantastique? And what was I whistling? Yup, you guessed it; and I started well before I was within earshot of the speakers, mind you.

I sat in the complete and total back row of Her Majesty's Theatre, but it was worth it. I don't have a guess as to how much one individual performance of Phantom costs to put on. So much fire...It was interesting from my perspective, though: I could see the 136 trapdoors. I am very happy I have the entire show memorized word-for-word (minus the parts that are only in the actual production and not on the complete cast recording), for it was difficult to hear a couple of characters.

The man who was sitting next to me and I started talking. It's funny, what with starting small talk out with the topic of bottled water (he was from Fiji. He started it.). He was here for a conference at Cambridge. We were both in Edinburgh at the same time, as well. This was his first live stage production. Fun, fun.

On the way up the escalator I must have looked terribly depressed, for a very happy Andy-Haines-looking stylish British man descending on the escalator next to me said, "SMILE!!!" and continued on his merry way.

I wish I would have kept track of how many stairs I ascended and descended today. It's definitely well over 1000 1-way.

Whatever I do tomorrow will involve NOT spending money. Back to the National Gallery or V&A to sketch, I believe. I would have tonight, except I left my sketchbook here. Then concert...then no more Sir Colin for me :(

Besides Delicious,

I'm not entirely sure what "clotted cream" is. I decided to stop at a restaurant named, "Tea," after going through St. Paul's for a scone with jam and clotted cream. Wonderful.

As for St. Paul's, I ascended all 600ish stairs to the very tip top (you feel my pain if you have done this, as well). I'm not afraid of heights, but walking around the Whispering Gallery takes one's breath away. Perhaps that is why it is the "Whispering Gallery." I have pictures of the scary see-through iron spiral staircases to the Golden Gallery or whatever it's called. Scary. Scary, scary scary. I think the wooden stairs on the way down are worse, though, as they creak and are who knows how old...

I am not entirely sure why, but I have the urge to go see Les Miz tonight. I should try Phantom first, though. I could always see the other Wednesday night. I do have an idea why I want to see it: As St. Paul's was Hector's favo(u)rite building here, I believe he has gotten to me. Oh well, both of the musicals are Frenchish, so I should be perfectly content no matter which I see. Honestly, why Les Miz? I should be dying to see Phantom. Maybe if MC or Hugh Panaro were playing right now...

Yes, back to Hector- my eyes teared up while staring in awe at the ceiling of the cathedral. You have never lived until you have stood beneath the Dome. Hector, I agree: it is nearly enough to make me want to move here.

If you were wondering, I have a new favorite big city. NYC has been bumped to numero 2. But then again, I've never really been able to explore there as much as I have here. Someday. What is there to compare with St. Paul's in New York?

Also, I have just been informed that I can try to see Sir Colin again after tomorrow's concert and that I should have yesterday, instead. Darn it... I had a feeling I should have...I was in such a perfect seat and could have easily asked the violinist who took me back with him on Wednesday...I have been told that he will be very tired and might leave early to go home for Christmas, but does anyone have an idea of a question to ask? I have two more (favorite Berlioz piece to conduct and any advice for an aspiring conductor), but don't want to fight to get backstage again for 2 seconds of talking with him.

5:15 and no comments?

What is this, USA?

Tonight was the Tippett concert: piano concerto, A Child of Our Time. No complaints that I get to hear the latter again on Tuesday. What's more: one of the two performances of it will be released on an LSO Live CD. If it was tonight's you'll be able to hear Sir Colin cough and hear him hit his heels on the podium quite noisily after an exceptionally energetic entrance after a short moment of silence. Yet another exciting thing: during the concerto, I was in the very last seat on the right, second row. After the interval, I had my choice of 13 nearby empty seats. Thus, I moved one row up and sat in the middle of 5 empties. I was directly to his left. Perfect seat. I lie. Wednesday was perfect. Even more excitingness: as my things were still in my actual seat, I moved back during the clapping at the end. This meant that all the performers walked about 6 feet in front of me. Sir Colin just happened to look directly at me the last time he walked past. Like the loser I am, I waved, which caused him to do a double-take. I was mouthed, "hello!" Yay!!!! My evening was complete.

I must describe the pianist, though. Lang Lang: 25-year-old Chinese man, first public recital when he was 5, last minute sub for a world-premier piece with the Chicago Symphony when he was 17. Anyhow...when he was doing his curtain calls, Sir Colin attempted to let Lang Lang up on stage first, obviously. Each time he did this, Lang would try to grab his hand and pull him up. Much of Sir-Colin-doing-arm-circles ensued. When someone took Lang a rose, he gave it to the back row violin woman as he walked off of the stage. I found this amusing.

Yes. So I definitely have a cold, and it is very annoying, especially since I don't have any decent tissues. At least there isn't a blizzard here. Speaking of which, Aunt Wendy, what is the weather like/going to be like on Thursday?

Tomorrow: St. Paul's, maybe Tower...V&A yet again...something. I'd go see another musical if Gavin would be there to help me find a tube station (it's confusing in the West End in the dark, as I've never really walked through in the daytime to figure out my way around).

What to do, what to do.

It's only 3:15, but it's too cold to want to do anything. The concert is in 4 hours. I don't think I'm going to want to get dinner before, as I had a large lunch (fish and chips...again. Slightly less good this time, though). I believe I've only taken 6 pictures today.

I allowed myself to sleep past breakfast this morning. I planned on going straight over to V&A, but stopped at St. Paul's on the way to sit in on part of a service. I definitely see how that cathedral almost persuaded Berlioz to stay here. I walked in in the middle of the choir singing, too...wow. I will have to go back, pay the however-too-much it is to walk through, and actually look around (as today was Sunday, you couldn't wander around). Also, Anglican pretty much = Catholic.

Afterwards, I did go back to V&A for a little bit, then lunch, then Buckingham Palace (not worth the walk at all), then back here. I want to take a nap.

I could walk to Millenium Bridge, but as I said before, it's cold. I might wait until tomorrow and just hit the Tower and all, as well. Oh, how I wish I could go see Phantom tomorrow. I'd like to go for tea, still, but don't want to pay that much. Le Sigh.

Why I Want to be a Conductor

1) My standards are too high. Why is that? Tonight was the BBC SO under the baton of Alexander Vedernikov. He made the same "Oh! You're supposed to come in now, violins: I almost forgot to cue you!!!" facial expression as Hirokami. There were several points that made me wonder where the video camera was. You shouldn't look like you're acting. Yes, I know I have only seen 3 professional orchestras, but it pains me to watch anyone other than Sir Colin Davis conduct. When he gives the cellos an approving smile, he MEANS it. I wish I could have talked to him more. And that my camera would have worked. It would be very reassuring to be able to hear him encourage me over and over (I will eventually post a transcription of our brief conversation). Thus, my standards are too high. Either that, or I know what's good.

2) I would get to have my back to the audience. The man a few seats down from me was conducting along (off beat) quite ferociously. After the first piece, his friend took him out (sure, he was a bit mental, but then why would you even let him in if you knew he was going to or if there was the slightest chance of him doing that?)

3) The obvious reasons.

Not exactly a reason, but the woman next to me said to her friend, "We must have pretty good seats, huh?" She apparently didn't see the "restricted view" at the botton of her £8 ticket. She thought the piano was staying in the back corner for the piano concert. Whatever. At least she wasn't chattering on in French through the entire concert like the people behind me. Also, the LSO is better looking. Their audience is about 50 times better, as well. "Due to unforseen circumstances," BBC did not provide programs. We were given 1-page computer print-outs instead.

In short, I was not impressed. Oh, well. I get to see Sir Colin 2 more times. Hopefully 4 seats down from where I was today doesn't block my view.

P.S. Don't die, Findlay!