I had been looking forward to last Saturday since Christmas, when my daughter gave me tickets to see 'Phantom of the Opera' in the West End of London ... it was such a special treat!
'Her Majesty's Theatre' built in 1897
We caught the train from Sevenoaks, then tumbled out on to the platform at Charing Cross station. Before I became a mum almost thirty years ago, I used to work as a secretary for an entertainments agency in 'The Strand', travelling to Charing Cross every day. Although I've visited London occasionally since those head spinning days, I haven't been back for quite a while, so as well as a wonderful day out and about in town with my daughter, it was also quite an unexpected trip along Memory Lane ... isn't it amazing how the sounds and smells of a place can instantly transport you back through several decades of bitter-sweet memories?
Fay in Trafalgar Square
Looking around, I quickly came to the conclusion that not much has changed, (unless I take into consideration the fact that nowadays no-one seems able to walk around without a mobile phone pressed firmly to their ear! Back in my day, mobile phones were the size of house bricks and no-one really wanted to lug them around; in fact, if I remember rightly, they were used mainly by business men and used to have a shoulder strap) but every sight and sound reminded me in bustling technicolour, just how much my own life has changed since the early eighties ... living proof of which was standing right by my side, in the form of my beautiful grown-up daughter!
Posing in Picadilly Circus
We had a little time to spare, so joined the hordes of tourists wandering through Picadilly Circus and along Regent Street ...
Window shopping in Regent Street
Like most upwardly mobile young women, Fay was very interested in window shopping - just as well we had somewhere to be, or no doubt we would have come home laden with designer shopping bags!
Back at 'Her Majesty's Theatre,' about to see the show!
We had such a lovely time chatting and sightseeing together, but before long it was time to return to 'Her Majesty's Theatre' in Haymarket to see the show and what a show it was!!!! It was absolute, top notch, Lloyd Webber magic, performed in a wonderful old theatre. We were both completely mesmerised from curtain up, until curtain down!
Saturday was a very special day, a lovely gift from my very special daughter.
Thank you so much Fay,
With all my love to you always,
Mum xxx
If you would like to read more about the history behind 'Her Majesty's Theatre' please visit: Her Majesty's Theatre
And to book tickets for the fabulous 'Phantom of the Opera' musical,
please visit: