On Sunday Kate and her theatre going friend Andrea conspired together and took me, and Tilly and Tallulah (her first Shakespeare), and Andrea’s Mum to the National in London to see ‘A Comedy of Errors’.

I loved it, every farcical, bawdy minute of it, I even loved Lenny Henry (a comedian that I can’t normally relate to) who was fantastic in it.

I loved the theatre itself, a maze with a bookshop, free lunchtime concerts, a restaurant, and actually, three theatres, and as much as all of that I loved being in the middle of London, on the banks of the Thames.

I was born and lived in London for 6 years of my childhood and the minute I get off the train(or out of the car) it feels, smells and even tastes right, just like putting on a pair of old comfy shoes.

And then Kate lived in Hendon when she first married, and Tilly was born there, and with that excuse my Other Half and I were up and down the motor way all the while and often house sat for her indulging in sightseeing and pottering about.

Unfettered by time constraints it is a joy to just wander about, and gave us time to visit places that tourists on a fixed timetable often don’t get to see.

It is easy to forget how huge London is, especially looking at a small tourist map, which condenses everything into a neat small space.  To get into the middle from Hendon takes about an hour in itself and then of course not every thing is in the centre.

Sunday was just right, Kate drove, thank you daughter, she marshalled us about and we had time for a wander around Foyles bookshop, lunch at Wagamamas and coffee in the National and a stroll along the embankment.  Perfect.

And we loved the play.  Tilly (age 12) is an old Shakespeare hand now, but Tallulah’s (age 8) debut was good, she loved the bawdy, farcical bits even if she didn’t quite get the story line and had no idea who Lenny Henry was!

Between scenes a Mariachi Band (I think that is the right word) came on played, apparently appropriate recent songs that either took the mickey out of the players and/or moved the scenes on, but Andrea’s Mum and I didn’t get that bit.  If it’s not 60′s pop it is too modern for us, but it didn’t detract it was great. 

Thanks Kate and Andrea, loved it!