Wednesday 10 August 2016

Adult entertainment

The joy of Grandparents is that they want to spend time with their Grandchildren!  And the Grandchildren want to spend time with them!  We took full advantage of this unnatural situation by dumping Pete in Frome and running away to London for my real 40th birthday celebration.

In the capital, Hannah had booked us a night in a swanky hotel (chocolates on your pillow and everything!) and lunch out at a very nice restaurant called The Greenhouse.  The meal was really the main event; after taking our seats we waved away the Champagne trolley before canapes involving gels and miniature sesame and spiced plum choux pastries came along.  The meal continued in this vein for the next couple of hours before we left with significantly heavier stomachs and lighter wallets.

Meanwhile, in Somerset, Grandma had arranged something very special for Pete.  His favourite book - in the we've-read-it-10,000-times sense - is Maisie The Palace Cat, given to us by family-friend Janet, which details in story and song the life of frolicsome feline Maisie, who lives in the Bishop's Palace by Wells Cathedral.  Through a circuitous connection, which involves knowing someone who sings in a choir with the Bishop's wife, etc. etc. Mum managed to get a private audience with said cat!  Pete, as you can imagine, was overcome, the way I was recently when meeting a cat from my youth.

Back in London we met up with little sister Rachel, in town on business, and enjoyed cocktails before retiring to our suite.  The next morning we wandered down to The British Museum to see all the priceless artifacts we've...er...borrowed from the rest of the world for safe keeping.  I'd heard they were on the lookout for more well-preserved antiques and wanted to make sure my cabinet was in a nice sunny position.


Hannah's sweet smile got us a suite upgrade.


The most exclusive address in London.


Back in Frome the Petes take in The Clangers.


It's Maisie!  The real one!


All Pete's favourite people in one place.


Cheers!  We finally got rid of the parents!


Beautiful Wells.


How Grandma sees her Grandson.


Back in London.  When Pete's not around we have no idea how to spend our time.


Next morning, waiting for breakfast to arrive.  Tsk.


At the British Museum.  Any room?