Have not been keeping up with the posting, so...

... a kaleidescope of vaguely dated impressions, working backwards. Yesterday (Sunday June 6), mad dash to see Dove Cottage in morning (well worth the effort), caught bus in Grasmere to train in Windermere, home (!) to London. Late walk on the Heath, stunning day, from Parliament Hill to Kenwood House. Called Tony and Tricia on the way and they met us at the Spaniard's Inn for dinner. Tony drove us home. Saturday(June 5), Wendy and Disa hiked up to Helm Crag in Grasmere and along Far Easedale (which may or may not refer to the actual ridge we walked along). 7 hours of bliss (and a terror time-out: "Disa, I really can't go on!"). Another 5 course meal at Oak Bank B&B.

Friday, June 4: train to Windermere, while the boys went to Liverpool.
Thursday, June 3: Began with 2 posh men's shirts at the Oxfam Shop--on sale--brilliant! St James Park in morning, Mrs. Dalloway's walk, Knightsbridge and Picadilly shopping arcades. Took a stroll through Brown's Hotel. Don bought dead sexy jacket.
Wednesday, June 2: Estorick Museum in Islington, charming outdoor cafe. Lackluster show (and their one Modgliani was missing), but a charming small museum, with a very good giftshop if one is interested in Futurism.
Tuesday, June 1: Took Leo to Tower of London. Rain, rain, rain. Pretty miserable and lots of tourists. Loads of lines. But a smashing lunch in the refectory: roasted fennel with fava beans and peas and a charming chicken pie. Fantastic Beefeater who told of 1500 bodies buried in floor of chapel. St Peter ad Vincula, including 2 queens, Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard. Asked for Americans in aud; when we raised our hands, he said, "All this could have been yours, if you'd just paid your taxes!" Huge roar from crowd.
Monday, May 31 (bank holiday): Funfair unfair to Don! Arts and Crafts sale at the Burgh House in morning. Really wonderful work in every booth. Bought a pin for Barbara, a book for Susan, and earrings for Disa. Fabulous party at Barbara's at 3pm. What a gathering and what a gorgeous apartment. Met Matt Wolf, the theatre critic for the International Herald Tribune. "London Assurance" that night; a thin play played to the hilt, candy floss woven into something almost substantial between the warp and weft action of Fiona Shaw and Simon Russell Beale. As Leo said, "it was funny because everyone was laughing at it."
Sunday, May 30: St. Martin's in the Fields for lunch--marvelous refectory despite "mousse" incident. National Gallery rush through and stunning weather at Trafalgar Square: everyone out celebrating Nelson, the fourth plinth, the utter gorgeousness of the day. Dinner at Busaba Eathai, madly busy Thai restaurant. Good food, but short on ingredients (lots of sauce), insanely loud. Much better was the bakery/coffeehouse across the street Princi. Chic, like a club, filled with pretty young Euro-trash listening to house music and drinking coffee and eating the best Italian pastries ever. Ricotta pie to die for with a cherry in each slice.
Saturday, May 29: Portobello Road. So much bad silver and naked commerce. Once we passed the lackluster early shops which all the amateurs mob, we found a stand with fantastic scarves, made of organic cotton in sumptuous colors. I was especially charmed by the severe Asian saleswoman who was much more concerned that I care properly for the scarf than that she make a profit. She said that she was giving me a discount "because it was raining," which made me fear for her livelihood, given that she's located in England. Wish I'd bought more of her beautiful scarves. Also found a Lush, where I was introduced to their fantastic Dream Cream, which not only cleared up my Brash Rash, but mitigated the scarring. As for their Jungle body gel, let me suggest that the bar (of soap) is a time-honored delivery system for a reason.

Ran into the Blonde Woman (again!) but pretended I didn't see her. But she literally passed within inches of me on Portobello Road. WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

On the way home, stopped in at Whittard's (finally open) and bought lots of tea and some very disciplinary Indian coffee, Monsoon Malabar. Unsubtle and serious, roasted to get you through 8 hours of work at the call center.

Saw "Twelfth Night" a the Tricycle Theater in Kilburn, where the audience was invited to join Toby Belch's party with pizza handed throughout the audience, shots of tequila onstage, balls thrown back and forth between audience and actors. Brilliant conceit that Malvolio's fantasy is to be a rock star. When the actor began playing air guitar, the moment was nirvana. Also did some double casting that worked quite well, especially the idea that the Orsino and Andrew Aguecheek are the same men (or at least the same sort of men).
Friday, May 28: Disa, Tom, and Leo returned from Stratford.