The Grace and Courage Weekend- part 3.
Went to sleep at midnight talking to a man. (less said the better but it was a fun, simple conversation and we’ll talk about my dating life in another post)
Then woke up at 5, when to Basingstoke by 7am, had to pick up my white dress for the photoshoot, and then met a rude guard (he gets his own post) Came home, tried printing my booklets. (I’d had problems with my laptop which didn’t allow me to.) then gave up and focused on getting ready. It was fun. I played Luther Vandross “Love the one you’re with” on loop and had a wonderful time perfecting myself. Then I walked slowly up the hill, carrying my skirt because I needed to make sure the day. Met friend 1. At the station, that’s when the fun really began for me. She loved my outfit, then we could begin to enjoy the day. We’d both been looking forward to it so so much. So we got to Waterloo. Waited for my friends (who we all knew would be late but I’d packed contingency time and also planned the venues around a tight geographical area. So got a taxi to the Oscar Wilde lounge at Hotel Café Royal (I am a queen after all, you can see my crown in the pictures) they only brought out chocolates and candles for me, I saw them doing it to someone else, and said aloud
“I wonder whose birthday it is?” Its mine. I’d forgotten I’d put its my 30th birthday on the booking. Which made the day even better, because I then wasn’t expecting it. Also, it was air conditioned and in a mirrored room(we were in the middle of a heatwave). The photos and videos of the place are stunning. Loved it.
Then we got a taxi to the Lyceum. I’d fretted about time so we got there bang on 2:30pm and I was relieved. The Lion King never disappoints me, it’s a visual majestic spectacle and can be a bit silly for the kids as it’s the holidays (they change it literally every time I go, so I’m always happy) the adult Simba, who I thought was too young for me, looks much more muscular in person so may be alright. (I thought he looked like 19 in the pictures which would have made fancying him a “Burn in hell” offence for a woman who is almost 31. Cradle-robbing is a genderless crime.
We took a taxi to the London eye, where we were one of the last ones. Which was great because I was so worried we wouldn’t make it. You could technically walk to the London eye from the Lyceum, but not in heels for a woman who wears heels once a month tops. Also not on my “Birthday” hell no.
The London Eye was magnificent and majestic, exactly the vibe I was going for. But it got stuck. We got stuck at the top and were delayed 20 minutes. Otherwise, we’d have made our train to Whitchurch easily. We missed it by seconds. So we had to take the next train to Basingstoke which was 15 minutes later and a taxi home. We waited at Basingstoke for 20+ minutes before getting a taxi home But we did it. Everyone had a great time. I’m glad, and I have memories I will treasure forever.
Grace and Courage
Annetta Mother Smith