The start of our journey to Florida

From Home via Alicante and British Airways to London Gatwick.
Airports are very often tedious places to be in. We were delayed by two hours yesterday morning at Alicante because our incoming British Airways flight had a technical problem at Gatwick. So be it! If you want to travel then these really are very minor events that have to be dealt with. It is simple to deal with, just a question of 'mind over matter' and get on with it.

Our over night stop at Gatwick's Sofitel Hotel allowed time for the evening showing of Agatha Christie's, The Mousetrap, now running continuously for sixty-three years and over twenty-five thousand performances. It is showing at St Martin's Theatre which is just off Shaftsbury Avenue in the midst of theatre land. It is small, but it makes a good attempt at using every square inch, but it is showing its age. We sat in the front row of the Dress Circle in seats designed for narrower hips and with all four sets of knees aching from the lack of leg room. Those Victorians must have been of smaller stature or was the design intended to get as many customers as possible in the venue?

If you love the theatre and all that goes on in 'theatre land' as we do then some discomfort has to be tolerated! The story and the plot is an old fashioned one, but we knew that. Yes, it is dated but so am I after sixty odd years! I enjoyed the feel of it, the way it was contrived to increase uncertainty of 'who-dun it'. It is a simple plot making use of only one set with many exits and entrances through as many doors as could be fitted into the stage. It was well acted and so credit to the actors. The culprit is not revealed until the last but the whole story gives adequate time to consider who it could be. I could say I did so. As always it was demanded that you did not reveal the murderer. If you hear it was the butler that's okay, but you can discard that because there is not one in the play. I saw it many years ago and I am very pleased to have done it again.
We had a great time with two good friends and a very friendly cabbie who picked us up in a cold Victoria Street. It is good to meet and talk.