...to London this weekend that is. I went with my top work-buddy, M. M and I are also going to Singapore together in October for work and this was kind of to see if she could really cope with that without wanting to kill me, if anyone can put up with me I suspect she can - she is truly the best. I have lived in the UK for over 18 years and I guess I am hestitant about making really, really close friends - I have a few really special people, but how do you make
really close friends when you are all grown up and have no shared childhood experiences? Well, M is one of those people where our lives seem to have trundled along almost in tandem, she in Canada, and me in New Zealand, but our likes/dislikes, habits, interests, silly stories, odd relatives - all strangely mesh. Even better, our taste in musicals mesh - we went to see Priscilla (ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh genius, it was beyone brilliant). Even our differences seem to just add to the mix, she is more than happy to accept I am a church junkie, and I am thrilled and fascinated by her need to source decent literature in french - it's all good. She totally gets I don't have any interest in kings and queens and royalty stuff but love people-history as she feels the same way, and she likes the quirky and less frequented stuff too, she is also incredibly happy for me to shutter-bug away while she potters along doing her thing, this was right next to our hotel (that's the gateway to St Olavs) which was a Pepys stamping ground (very much M's kind of thing) where-as I am shallow enough to get all over-excited by such a fabulous entrance.
I can also say M is a genius for finding hotels that are central and reasonably priced (Apex near the Tower), she on the other hand seemed to think I am a good navigator (Gravel-Guy would say I am rubbish), M has an ability to suggest absolutely the right thing to do next, such as cocktails before beddy-byes (Gravel-Guy would have a fit particularly if one combines cocktails with hot chips - heaven!), where-as M seemed think I have a talent for finding random acts of great entertainment (we chanced upon a recital of West Gallery music at All Hallows near the Tower, and somehow even ended up joining in and singing along with great gusto and made some buddies). M has exquisite taste in museums (such as the V & A) and we even had the same interest in making a bee-line for the islamic and the asian halls (Gravel Guy would have sulked), and I was able to indulge in serious church/cathedral tripping (and even experience a service on Friday afternoon)...
(isn't that just the most brilliant glass sculpture, I totally love it), and isn't the facade of Westminster Cathedral just fab in late afternoon sunshine...
M also doesn't mind one bit that I have a sheaf of print-outs of possible places to wander past on the off-chance if-we-are-down-that-way (where-as Gravel-Guy would have had a major flakey if I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do and and in what order and for how long), and this is what we saw near the hotel on the Sunday before we headed back up to Glasgow, the Skyride, M and I both thought it was wonderful - can you see how just about everone is smiling from ear to ear, we were both beaming with delight ...
Finally and most importantly, M also has the inate understanding of pace - pace is very important, in fact M understands the need to take tea in Liberty (Gravel-Guy would insist on a bottle of water on the hoof) and most amazingly for a non-knitter - M oohed and aaahed and made all the right noises at the yarn and trimmings up in the handcrafts department. I tell you, M is a true genius.
Singapore is going to brilliant.
Fantastic photos - the glass sculpture is beyond stunning! I can only imagine what it must have been like to be up close with it. I am very jealous. M and you together sound devine - hang onto the special people when you find them :)
Deb
Posted by: Deb | September 22, 2009 at 10:05 AM
Sounds fantastic - only wish I could have been around to join in and show you "My" London. Still you can always plot another visit....
Posted by: Yvonne | September 22, 2009 at 05:40 PM
How lovely! It is wonderful to find such a sympathetic travelling companion. And I love those photos -- that entrance is particularly fabulous, and the glass sculpture is great fun!
Posted by: Jocelyn | September 25, 2009 at 05:15 PM
Lovely! So nice to hear about your trip! And Singapore in Oct? Wow!
Posted by: Jeanne | September 30, 2009 at 05:45 AM
You are fortunate to have found such a traveling companion! It makes all the difference. Did you get to wear either of your lovely finished projects? BTW, the glass sculpture is by Dale Chihuly.
Posted by: ellen | October 01, 2009 at 09:42 PM
Sounds like a great trip!
Posted by: Daisy | October 17, 2009 at 06:31 PM
Oh, wow. Looks wonderful! And I would totally travel with you! Churches? Yes! Cocktails before bed? Yes! Travel? Yes! Love the pictures!
Posted by: Jeanne | November 16, 2009 at 02:51 AM
I'm not sure if you're blogging any more or are just taking a break...but could you please send me the source for the little grey sweater you posted on September 12? It has short sleeves and a lacy pattern on the yoke.
Thanks very much...happy knitting!
Posted by: Maureen Areglado | December 08, 2009 at 12:32 AM