London The Garden Of Words
- falcons 319
- Aug 11, 2023
- 5 min read
Well yesterday has been a mixed bag!!
Started off as usual at Victoria then it was on to the underground to Green Park, found a statue I want to find.
Then a quick visit to Berkley Square found another statue. Then it was time to get lost, I was trying to do everything from memory....and no map!!!! Found some interesting bits like London’s narrowest pub, and some interesting doors and iron work on the way to the halcyon gallery. It was after the pub that I should of turned left.... Yep I turned right!!!! But it was okay as I found Churchill and Roosevelt bench again and the man on a horse and some other interesting bits.
Now thoroughly confused, I gave in and got Google maps out!!!!
Finally found the halcyon gallery and looked at the amazing interactive art insulation. It was brilliant the butterflies were my favourite they are all sitting in there place you run your hands over them and they fly around and eventually come back to their place!!! Fantastic fun!!!
Next stop was across the road at Sotheby’s, I’m looking for the Sotheby’s sign, but no, there is a huge Freddie Mercury sign out front and the entrance has a moustache!!!
I admit I wasn’t sure I would like this, seeing a man’s private possessions for sale and on display. For all Freddie’s flamboyance he was a very private man. On the other hand as a queen fan, since I was very very young the opportunity to see the hand written words of my favourite songs..... I had to go see.
It was strange to begin with seeing everything on display and photos of Freddie and his cats, such personal items. There was so much art work!! Unfortunately the lighting made it almost impossible to take pics of most of it.
I loved the room with all the gold and silver disc’s on and the robe and crown from the magic tour!!!
I may of accidentally touched the robe!!!!!!
I may never wash my hand again!!!!!
There were so many rooms, the room with the had written words to the queen songs was another favourite I’m reading the words singing along!!! Absolutely mind boggling that Freddie Mercury wrote the words and had no idea how big the song would become.
The next room was the costumes. My favourite was all the kimonos, they were stunning.
The last room was for me the most emotional, I cried.
On the wall were the shirts and waist coats Freddie wore in his last queen video, these are the days of our lives. I still see, to this day Freddie saying “I still love you” and smiling at the camera. His goodbye to the fans. Seeing the cat waist coat just made it so real again, and I didn’t even know him!!!!
I have to admit it was a strange exhibition....sales room... Garage sale!!!!! It was free, though personal I think they should of had at least a £1 charge, all going to the mercury phoenix trust. There were a lot of people there, more than I expected.
After that I had no plan, so headed to the nearest McDonald’s for dinner via Cavendish Gardens, a couple of status, I liked the silver one.
Ate the usual dinner at McDonald’s, spicy bean wrap for £1.99 and a black coffee £1.25 yes coffee has gone up 25p!!!!!!!!
At this point I was at a loss as too what to do. Then I spied John Lewis and decided to try my luck on the roof terrace. Nope fully booked as expected but the canteen restaurant does have a balcony, but the views are not great. Mind I don’t think there are any views from the willows aka roof top terrace it’s more about the ambience???? I then realised the apple shop wasn’t too far from Oxford Street Station so headed there to see the mosaic around the doors, something that has been on my to see list for a very very long time!!!
After the apple shop I make my way to Finsbury Park, got off the train and as its a new station to me, started looking for the labyrinth and found some hot air balloon mosaics on the Piccadilly Northbound platform 1. Absolutely no clue why they are there and there are none on the other two platforms I used!!! I did find the Finsbury Park labyrinth another one crossed off the list!!
Eventually got out of the underground and proceed to walk in the wrong direction, yep got Google maps out again!!! I hate using a map, but sometimes it is necessary!!! Eventually found lidl and grabbed a gin in a tin £1.29 and went to the park, Finsbury Park!!! To sit and relax. Of cause there were no benches free, so after much though of dog piss I sat under a tree in the shade, I even took my cardigan off!!! It was 80 degrees at 4pm!!!! I sat enjoyed my gin and of cause a big Alsatian came over and wanted to take a piss!!! Thankfully the owner had him on a lead and apologised. Rather glad I sat on my rain coat which will be going in the wash!!!
Eventually, I moved, found a beautiful Finsbury mosaic, some interesting flags a unicorn and some people?? And the theatre.
The Garden Of Words seat B4 paid £25 reduced from £39.50 it is the first night and a preview. I fully admit I only went to see it because it’s based on an anime cartoon. Sorry I didn’t like it. It was very confusing (probably not if you have seen the film, I have not) the story is set in a garden, a young man meets an older women and they like/live each other, turns out the older women is the boys teacher. That’s as far as I got, decided to head home in the interval. For a few reasons.
1, I have a telephone interview with the mortgage person at 10.30am yep the kids are buying a house with me on the mortgage.
2, I have a gp appointment at 11.45am yep a week of antibiotics has not got rid of the infected cyst on my chest so face to face appointment. It was 11.45 or nothing!!!
3, I was not enjoying the play, the music was fantastic but the play just didn’t grab me.
So popped to lidl got wine and food in the interval and headed to the underground... Yep it was a mad dash, again!!!!!
Made the 21.30 to Brighton and yep it all went wrong!!!! Long story short, delayed, missed the connection and ended up on the 22.15 Victoria to Worthing train at hove!!!!! Could of spent an extra 40mins in London doing something!!! Other than standing at Brighton station and Hove station!!!!
Anyway made it home by 00.03, instead of 22.58!!!!! But I’m home.
Walked over 8 miles. A mixed day, but a good day






















































































































































































































































































































































































Recent Posts
See AllSorry that it's been so long since the last update, but I've been unable to add anymore picture to the blog because I've reached my...
Where to find reduced theatre tickets? Have a read here. https://falcons319.wixsite.com/anitaslondontrips/post/where-to-find-reduced-thea...






A New Perspective





Comments