London Update – 9 September 2022

Throughout the afternoon in London on Thursday, we heard updates about the Queen’s declining health. When her family rapidly gathered at her bedside in Scotland, we knew it was serious and then we heard she had died in the early evening news.  It was a shock to hear reference to “the King” but of course, “The Queen is Dead, Long Live the King”. Yet somehow it seemed strange and brought the reality home. An incredible woman, the most travelled monarch on earth and an extraordinarily astute woman with quiet dignity and great strength. While I think it is high time Australia became a republic, it does not diminish my respect for this woman nor the global role she has played. What a life of service she has given – from someone who never thought she would be in line for the throne. Yet she made it her own. And this photo is how I choose to remember her, as a wise and older woman rather than the young woman who came to the throne. There are some things which only age and experience bring. Let’s honour her age and wisdom, her service and her legacy.

I had a marvellous evening yesterday, with a new friend, another travel writer (whom I had met online when she was researching a story on Australian cuisine) who also does theatre reviews. Lucky me. She took me to Musicals by Candlelight in the Actors’ Church in Covent Garden. The venue is special to me as there was a memorial service for my actor son Blair after he died so prematurely. He had worked in the UK as well as Australia so very appropriate. This Inigo Jones designed church (1631-1633) gained its moniker after the opening of the nearby Theatre Royal Drury Lane and the Royal Opera House. The church now has its own in-house professional theatre company, Iris Theatre and puts on over 400 events per year. It looked wonderful candlelit.

Icon Strings, a group of four, beautifully dressed musicians comprising two violins, a viola and a cello performed a repertoire of songs from shows like Les Misérables, West Side Story, My Fair Lady (George Bernard Shaw set the opening scene of Pygmalion – the play that formed the basis for My Fair Lady – under the Portico) and many more, even Frozen and The Greatest Showman. Icon Strings is a collective of some of the top chamber musicians in London, all prize-winning graduates of the top London and International Conservatories. They combine fabulous musicianship and a touch of glamour with themed programmes to convey the beauty of classical music through energetic and heartfelt performances. Certainly, they were sensational and seemed to really enjoy themselves too. These concerts are sporadic but will go through until December. I’ll go back. You can watch a snippet of another performance here. Just scroll down.

Before the performance, we met up at Barrafina in Adelaide Street, Covent Garden. I have been to Dean Street which is walk-in only but good to be able to book here. Each restaurant has an open kitchen, with a marble-topped bar where guests sit and watch the chefs at work. The a la carte menus comprise authentic regional dishes from around Spain and there is also a daily changing specials menu unique to each restaurant, based partly on the fresh seafood display. The concise wine list features the finest Spanish sherries, Cavas and wines. We began with fried pimientos de padron (which are in season as I saw them at the market). True to form a couple were hot, hot, hot and most were not. Also a stuffed zucchini flower. The stars of the show were the prawns with sliced garlic and a sensational Arroz de Marisco (seafood rice). Washed down with a glass of rose and then rioja. Such fun being back in Europe! I’m off to Quo Vadis tonight.