Spending Time with Shakespeare....

Following a morning tour of the Globe Theatre, on the south bank of the Thames, Alex and I attended a matinee performance of Shakespeare's, 'Taming of the Shrew' - a unique experience, in that the Globe is a replica of the Globe Theatre of Shakespeare's day, where audience participation is encouraged, particularly if you happen to be a 'groundling' in the (court)yard, standing for the entire performance of the play! Although we did have seats, way up high, Alex opted to watch the second half of 'Taming of the Shrew' as a 'groundling' - and I even had that experience too, but just for the last ten minutes! Of course, the production was excellent, and being a part of the crowd through which actors entered and exited, really made you feel as though you were part of the action!

Another unique Shakespearian experience was to see an all-black production of 'Julius Caesar', by the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford. It was certainly very different from the traditional Roman account of the story... For Alex, the highlight was being in the right place at the right time to meet with 'Julius Caesar' himself - an autograph from him and a picture with the actor just completed the experience!

Many thanks to Liz (Beech) and her husband, Tim, who came to the rescue, when our connecting train to Stratford , from Oxford, was suddenly cancelled, leaving us high and dry (wet?) wondering whether we'd even make it to Stratford, in time for the show!

Familiar Sights Around Reading & Caversham and From the Thames Towpath

The old Abbey Gateway (under renovation)

The Forbury Lion

Caversham Bridge

Canada geese, out in force to greet us!

Isomer

The Shack's replacement...

First 'Abbey Pilgrimage'.....

Flanked by 'Austentation' at the front door of The Abbey School

'Austentation'.....Plus!

The recently unveiled 'Head Girl Board' - you won't find MY name!

Rousing singing from the Hardcastle Hall balcony...

Second 'Abbey Pilgrimage'...

Abbey Road

Outside Abbey Road Studios

Alex....

....and Granny do the 'zebra walk'!

Alex signs the wall outside Abbey Road Studios

TWO 'Abbey Pilgrimages'!!

The first of these two Abbey 'pilgrimages' occurred on Saturday, June 30, and we combined it with our sightseeing tour to Windsor - where, incidentally, the Queen WAS in residence that day! After a most enjoyable and interesting tour around St. George's Chapel and Windsor Castle - and timing it just right for a front row spot to watch the changing of the guard - we continued on our way to Reading, by train, then caught the bus from the station to The Abbey School.

As we arrived, at the school, we were serenaded by a duo (the female component, Gillian Froom, having  attended The Abbey, just a few years after me) calling themselves, 'Austentation' - and you can probably guess, from the name, their style of music! It was most appropriate, as Jane Austen attended the original Abbey School - the current Abbey School is celebrating its 125th anniversary, this year. Alex and I arrived in time to meet others  from my schooldays, also there for the reunion, look around some of the old parts of the school, then to enjoy an afternoon (cream) tea outside in the courtyard. That was a first for Alex, but he thoroughly enjoyed it. Fortunately, the sandwiches weren't too dainty in size, so he was able to tuck in with gusto! 'Austentation' continued to serenade us, as we enjoyed all those goodies, in the sunshine. Next on the agenda was a visit to the school archive; there, I was able to show Alex some pictures and papers pertaining to my schooldays - quite an eye-opener for him!

Those of us of a 'certain age', who lived through the era of the Beatles, may well remember their 'Abbey Road' album, on the cover of which the 'Fab Four' are depicted, striding across the zebra crossing close to the world-famous Abbey Road Studios. As an aspiring musician himself, Alex was very keen to do likewise, so our second Abbey 'pilgrimage', on Thursday last week, was to north London, not far from Maida Vale, to fullfill this wish of his.. Alex and I certainly weren't the only ones wanting to do the 'zebra walk', so traffic was constantly having to grind to a halt, for us tourists to take our pictures - rather annoying for motorists, I'm sure, but there were certainly some very happy Beatles' fans!

Date Difference....

Just to clarify - the date on which I wrote my latest post was in fact TODAY: Thursday, July 5. (Of course, my netbook is still on BC time, so my post was dated for yesterday.)

Time Flies When You're Having (SO Much) Fun!!

Where have the last few days gone?? I can hardly believe that it is already July 5 and week one of 'Adventures with Alex, 2012' is almost over.... Probably the best I can do is to try to share some of the highlights of the week - but then we have decided that just about everything is a highlight!

As well as visiting some of the 'must see' sights of London, such as the Tower of London (yesterday) Westminster Abbey (Friday) St. Paul's Cathedral (Monday) Windsor Castle (Saturday) we have also enjoyed several different musical and drama experiences, all of which have been unique. For example, standing in the drizzle in the courtyard of Shakespeare's Globe theatre for part of the performance of 'Taming of the Shrew' gave an entirely different perspective of the play - but I was certainly glad to be seated undercover, most of the time! Having taken a tour of the Globe, in the morning, and viewed the exhibition as well, we felt quite immersed in the culture of Shakespeare's day.... (Our Globe experience was then followed by a tour behind scenes at the National Theatre - another 'to do' high on Alex's list!)

Canada Day celebrations in Trafalgar Square was an experience unlike any other, as a sea of red and white filled the square, enthusiastic cheers from transplanted Canadians - and wannabe Canadians - with the evening culminating in a rock concert (my first!) among the famous lions and fountains; I wonder what Lord Nelson thought of it all, perched atop his column??

This music was in stark contrast with the music we had enjoyed earlier in the day, while attending the service of Sung Eucharist, at St. Paul's Cathedral. Despite the fact that it sounded from the website as though there would be no choir, we were agreeably surprised to find the choristers still in attendance - and accompanied by the London Symphonia! Of course, the acoustics, in that massive building, were the best, so a real feast for the ears.....

Last Friday we enjoyed two other musical treats - back-to-back! - Mozart and Handel, by candlelight, in the church of St. Martin in-the-Fields, preceded by a short concert at the National Gallery. At other intervals in our meanderings around London, we have enjoyed other musical treats - from Alex! As part of the London summer festival, a number of 'funky' pianos have been left in various locations, for anyone to play, for their own enjoyment as well as for the enjoyment of those nearby. One such piano is located at St. Pancras' Station, where we had lunched with my cousins, Ann and Gill, plus  Gill's sons, James and Edward and later on Matthew - it was great to see you all! Thanks for coming!