She gave us a shortlist, I gave my opinion, and we confirmed an itinerary - I left the details to her, although I did check transport routes, just in case. My basic task was to be in Waterloo for 11:40 - however, on the day, that was somewhat scuppered by the electricity meter needing topping up. I awoke to hear it beeping away at me - honestly, how annoying it is; although everything is included in the rent, we have to top up the meter manually, then deduct it from the rent. Which meant a trip to the post office. I'd been up late blogging the night before, so had woken late, and now wouldn't even have time to walk up there - I had to drive (to Asda, the post office has no parking). Mercifully, there was no queue, when I was finally ready for a train, I got one pretty much straight away, and I wasn't that late. No time for breakfast though, which ended up being a packet of Minstrels I got in the station while I was waiting for them.
And so to Bethnal Green, where the V&A Museum of Childhood is running a Clangers and Bagpuss exhibition. Part of their childhood, not mine - although I had heard of Bagpuss before - but fear not, there's a tv room, complete with comfy sofa, where the episodes are showing on a loop, so I could be educated. Excellent idea! which attracted some children - but we'd already bagged the sofa. ;-)
After that, we strolled through the exhibition, housed in a temporary construction to the side of the lobby, and which shows the various models, with a history of their development, and that of other characters. After which we strolled through the toy display on the upper level. Well, I have to say, what a fantastic place! Trust the V&A - this is great fun! Blasts from the past, with toys we used to play with.. beautiful examples of antique toys, or those presented to dignitaries, and obviously not intended to be actually played with:
..and some interactive ones - although none of us really wanted to start up this guy, as the sign encouraged us to do:
More photos of the whole day here.
Along the way, we ran into a school group - and, with so many interactive displays especially, what a great place to bring them! Beautiful building too, and we had lunch before we left. Terrific place: that exhibition runs until the 9th, but this is a venue always worth a visit, I think.
With all the time we spent there, we ended up not having much spare time before our chocolate afternoon tea, and decided to go straight there. Another trip across town, and we did have time for a stroll through Borough Market, which the restaurant backs onto. A stroll for the nose, it was - this is a food market, and we were assailed with smells of cheese, of fish.. This was rapidly becoming a foodie day. And thus we came to Rabot 1745, heading upstairs to the restaurant, where she checked our names off the list, and gave us the option of sitting inside, or on the balcony overlooking the market. Well, it was a pleasantly mild day, and apart from it not raining, and the market being covered anyway, the balcony is covered with umbrellas, giving it a nostalgic, colonial feel.
For afternoon tea, they were careful to ensure that we didn't have any allergies, and having had that confirmed, they duly threw the lot at us:
To be fair, that drink was an optional extra - included in the price, though, and despite all the other chocolate on offer, when I saw iced chocolate as a drink option, I had to have it. It's been years since I last had - and this was delicious, made with really good, dark chocolate. Well, I'd expect nothing less - this establishment is run by Hotel Chocolat. We were soon to regret our lunch, though - they've chucked chocolate into pretty much everything.
The sandwiches had chocolate in them - I didn't bother with them, and to be fair, my companions found them "rather strange". The scones went down best - a choice of cinnamon scones, scones with sultanas, and viennese slices with lemon buttercream, they were almost all polished off. Not to mention the three little jugs of things to spread on them - one of cream, one of jam, one of 70% chocolate ganache.. the top tier had tasting chocolates, and would you believe, although everything was delicious, we hardly made a dent in that layer, we were so stuffed! Helen filled a "doggy box" with them. We did make room for the sorbets, though - visible in the tall glasses on the top tier, they were absolutely delicious..
This is the place to go for chocolate afternoon tea, no mistake. And while we could barely move, we did manage to drag ourselves across town again - well, of course we did, we were off to Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium!
We were a bit early, and had a stroll down Brick Lane first, passing the Cereal Killer Cafe, about which I've heard so much. By the time we got back to Lady Dinah's, a small crowd had gathered, and they duly opened up for us. They have strict security here, and we were made to enter an anteroom first and wash our hands - and then we entered the Land of the Cat!
You can get different packages, depending on what you want to eat - we were stuffed, and glad just to have the "kitten" package, which just includes a drink. Of course, this is a colouring session, so we were also provided with colouring books (with a cat theme), and a large jar of colouring pencils and felt-tip pens.
But none of us would be here without the cats. Standard rules apply - as anyone with experience of cats will know, you don't disturb them when they're sleeping or eating. The cafe also has the rule that customers don't pick up the cats - they aren't used to you, and could get spooked. And how, in fact, did the cats behave? Typically - completely uninterested in us. It was funny, actually, to watch all the obedient customers - obviously dying to fuss over the cats, but acting nonchalant as the cats.. slept. Fortunately, the people at the cafe are used to their cats, and the "cat carers" know their personalities, and did finally manage to get them up and about, and playing:
Beautiful cats, obviously well cared for, and living in cat paradise. We had a terrific time.. and I seriously thought I'd never get my companions out of the shop afterwards, where you can buy cat jumpers, cat badges, cat pendants, cat pencils, cat cards.. not to mention all the patrons sentimentally showing each other cat photos. Cat fanciers be aware, you'll love this place.
Kudos to Helen, this was a great day! A great mix of events, and just nicely packed. Straight home then, but too late to blog, as I'm in Guildford today. Tonight is a leaving do at work - taking place at The White House, in Guildford. Tomorrow, I'm back to Ireland for the weekend, and a well-deserved rest..
Before next week! Monday sees the long-awaited return of the Crick Crack Storytelling Club, who are at Soho Theatre with The Girl who Married a Dog.
Tuesday, I'm back with Kensington Classical Music, for a concert at Asia House - part of the Talent Unlimited Music Futures Festival, for young performers, which runs all week.
Wednesday, the Man with the Hat is taking London for Less Than a Tenner to the Top Secret Comedy Club.
Thursday sees my second outing of the week, with Kensington Classical Music, to Asia House, for that Talent Unlimited Festival.
I've arranged with Mary (another regular of the Man with the Hat's) to go on the Emirates Cable Car that Friday. She's been, loved it, invited me. Gosh, d'you know, if it's not on the Meetup calendar, I can forget so easily.. well, now there's a record of it here. This was the first date I was free!
Finally, I start next month with LDAM again, who - for once - are off to see some Beckett! Hallelujah, he's my favourite playwright - and not theirs, which makes it fun. No's Knife, it is, at the Old Vic, on 1 October.. Hmm, I seem to remember looking forward to when the Meetup groups got busy again. Be careful what you wish for..
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