My Birthday

It was my birthday today and after opening my presents (a watch, perfume, PC game and a DVD) we set off to Kensington High Street.

We started by visiting Leighton House, the house of Fredrick Lord Leighton the famous Aesthetic/ Pre Raphaelite artist who had his own house built with a great big studio upstairs, his own art collection beautifully hung and an 'Arab room' which is styled like a Moroccan interior and then he has a tiny bedroom! It is such a beautiful place and at only £5 for year long entry (if you return the form filled in) a complete bargain.

We then went on to Kensington Palace where the Enchanted Palace exhibition is on while the Palace gets renovated (it reopens in March 2012). We arrived hoping to eat at the Palace but the restaurant was closed so I raided the shop for shortbread and Kensington Palace chocolate (which turned out to be the best chocolate ever tm). Also I think a special mention for the toilets at Kensington as although they were temporary they were very nice (better then most of the theatre loos).

The exhibition was amazing. You are given a dance card and you have to fill in the mystery princesses. It was beautiful and great fun. If you get the chance to go before the Palace reopens do. It is so worth it. I also went abit mad in the gift shop ( I brought Royal wedding tea, chocolate - of course and a book on the Georgians).

We then went to Waterloo and after watching the kids gather for their prom on the Southbank while eating the best duck stir fry ever at Giraffe (apparently big fat gypsy wedding is a fashion choice). We then headed to The Old Vic for Richard III with Kevin Spacey and directed by Sam Mendes. He was amazing, bring Richard rather sympathetically to life and the setting was great (loved his dictator costume). However the rest of cast were abit wooden and his performance highlighted that.

Facilities: You have just rebuilt your theatre so lets build a toilet with no room to queue! Must be built by men and idiot bar woman who tried to make us queue across the entrance blocking everyone and confusing the queue so people started pushing in! Cardinal sin especially with limited time in the interval. Luckily I did get out with enough time to get to the bar which was pricey (which was to be expected judging by the crowd) and had an OK selection.