*WE* *WILL*, *WE* *WILL* *ROCK* *YOU*

So, this has to be my favourite musical of all time...so what better way to celebrate turning the grand old age of 22 than by spending a weekend with my dear friends Sarah and Tom and seeing the best musical of all time: We Will Rock You, based of course, on the music of the awesome Queen.

I took the train to London, it was seriously touch-and-go though. I missed work because of the weather the previous 2 days but did finally manage to get to the train station. Lots of trains were cancelled, but eventually I reached Clapham Junction where I met up with Tom and we journeyed together to New Malden (Sarah very kindly put Tom and I up!).

The first thing we did was Christmas!! Yes, I know, Christmas in January!! So we passed around pressies. After Christmas, we did my birthday - and all of the pressies were coming my way that time! So, I recieved 2 tops from Tom (one evening-y and one summery) and from Sarah I got a personalised mug that she had decorated with a picture of the 3 Muskateers and which was a very unique present indeed! I also got an umbrella that lights with LED lights that change colour - and that's so cool! I did have a bit of a job taking it home with me though!!

Around 4pm, we went to change in to our theatrical attire. I gave a little advice/persuasion to Sarah over clothes so she was wearing a little jewellery and a cute pink jumper. I think it was nice to dress up and Sarah - especially - looked lovely.

We ate ouut on The Strand, at an Italian-run restaurant called Salieri. We opted ultimately for all 3 courses and that must speak volumes as to the quality of the food! I certainly enjoyed each course from the starter which was a salmon roulade, my main which was a lovely steak in red wine sauce and the tiramisu dessert. I was stuffed by the end, but would definately recommend the restaurant - not only for the food; but for the atmosphere, the staff, the location and the value-for-money.

Ultimately though, we bid the Salieri goodbye, hopped on the tube to Tottenham Court Eoad and emerged right outside of the Dominion Theatre, which has been home to We Will Rock You for a good many years, and where I had seen it once before. I was really, really, really excited! Just to be back in a London theatre, seeing a musical, with my friends, for my birthday was amazing. To see my favourite musical of all-time was the total icing on the cake!!

So, from start to finish, I was hooked. I sung along to every song, anticipated some of my favourite bits, was amazingly suprised by bits I'd forgotten and had a thoroughly grrrreat time, clapping, cheering, singing and laughing. Gosh it was a very happy day indeed. I'd wanted to see it again for years after I first saw it, and then I had. Awesome.

Naturally, we all had a little lie-in the following morning, but then we drove over to Richmond Park around lunchtime and took Archie for a walk. The park was as much a winter wonderland as you could ever expect and we had a substantial walk, seeing the deer (and keeping Archie away from them!) and playing in the snow. It was lovely just to walk, talk, have fun and be together. The afternoon, saw us comsume a large amount of my birthday cake (a giant pink French fancy!!!), make a chocolate puzzle, make a start on the puzzle ball Tom had given Sarah and play some games.

Tom departed that night as he had to work on the Sunday. I overnighted again with Sarah, and then departed on Sunday. Since central London is on my journey route home, I had made plans to do a little shopping at some shops that we don't have down here in rural Hastings: Primark, Disney store, Jane Norman etc. So after my little jaunt I headed over to Waterloo East to catch my train home.

I'm still rankled by the fact that the man at the info desk who laughed at me when I asked for trains to Hastings. Eventually it transpired that everyone had to pop on the train to Cannon Street (no explanation offered!) and get the train from there, which ran fine, if a little late due to us being stuck behind the stopping service in front of us. Nonetheless, I was home by around 3.30pm and had plenty of time on the way to listen to my new iPod (which I had done all weekend) on the way.


So all-in-all, a fantabulous weekend all round, and the best way I could have celebrated my birthday by far, since I'm not in to partying, and do lurve a bit of Queen. Not to mention the characters in the musical: Scarramoushe, Galilleo Figaro, Killer Queen and the GaGa girls/boys!

So, I leave you with some words from them:
"All we hear is radio Ga Ga
Video Goo Goo
Internet Ga Ga
All we hear is cyberspace Ga Ga
Marketing Blah Blah

Always something new
Globalsoft, all your world loves you"!