London

I have been to London. Thursday my mum came down to look after Eva whilst mark and I went into Town. I was still feeling coldy but I had been looking forward to our escape to the city for so long I threw caution to the wind. Mark and I had bought tickets to see Bruce Cockburn last Oct and to be honest I hadn't twigged that the gig was on a Thurs night until a few weeks ago. So, I was having to bunk off college (not that I crept away - I did tell my tutors - after all I am training to be a vicar I think proper bunking off would be pretty poor - it's not just Jesus who is watching me now!). Anyway, we had booked a hotel near to the venue - the Borderline - and we just got there in time to get a bite to eat and settle down. We managed to wedge ourselves into a corner which gave us a reasonably good vantage point - and it meant that I had a wall to lean against. I was still feeling rubbish so leaning was a very good idea.

Now, I love Bruce Cockburn, I have done since the late 1980's and he is has been one of my guilty pleasures because people who are cool take the p*** out of me for liking him (in the same way as they are mean about my love of U2). But now I am getting old and there is no hope of ever being cool I am less afraid of my geeky passions. I like all sorts of things that are not fashionable: profiteroles, flat shoes, comfy lounge pants, Bruce Cockburn, socialism, ready salted crisps, Crime watch, saabs, etc. I wonder if the problem cool people have with Bruce Cockburn is that he sings about things that you are not supposed to sing about in public - revolution, social justice, God, the mystery of faith, being very bad at being in love, and Iraq. He is not very good looking, he is now middle aged and has too many guitars. He is a bit of a loner and I am imagining a little testy. But I love him. He doesn't know this (and I don't want anyone to tell him).

Anyway, I loved the gig. Bruce was fab. He played some of my favourites - Wondering where the Lions are, and Mystery were particularly good. When I was younger I wanted to play the guitar like Bruce. I have only managed to be an ok rhythm guitarist and that's ok, but I still dream I can finger pick quick. There were quite a few Greenbelt faces in the audience. Which was good to see. If only Bruce could come to Greenbelt again. Those were the days!

After the gig I was too tired to go out to a club so we went back to out hotel via a waffle shop! Friday we went down Oxford Street for a mosey about. Bought nothing (no money) but had a good walk. Then too a tube to the National Theatre because I wanted to see the exhibition of Joan Littlewood/The Arts of the Theatre Workshop. They don't make theatre like this anymore! Phil Christopher and I directed Oh What a Lovely War when I was pregnant with Eva. Blimey that seems such a long time ago. We then went to the Barbican to an exhibition - The Face of History: European Photographers in the 20th Century. It was an amazing collection of work, different styles and themes, various techniques and subjects. But, there was too much for one visit and we left feeling quite exhausted. If you go take a long time and go for a coffee at least once. You need to give your eyes/brain a rest.

So, it was a fun packed couple of days of culture. I really needed to have an injection of the real world. And I got it. The pushy, restless spin of London has taken what was left of my coldy body and wrung me out. I didn't got to Morris dancing. I didn't go to Andrew Hargreaves party. I went to bed and didn't wake up until 10am this morning. Eva and I have been watching DVD's and are just off to Tesco! Mark is working at Spappy Snaps, White Ladies Road. I feel like a wet lettuce. Hey Ho.