Yesterday we went to London with a friend and that friend's brother-in-law. I managed very well with the help of my iPod. The three men talked on the train and I listened to an audiobook. We went to Carluccio's at Waterloo station and had a cup of coffee together while we planned what to do before going to the concert at the Royal Albert Hall. I found Jim's brother-in-law a very pleasant person and got to know him a little.
We looked at my pocket-sized maps and guide books and decided to go to the Victoria and Albert and then to the Science Museum. The tube journey was not too bad; there was the usual argument about which side of the underground we needed to be. I even got a seat without too long a wait. Mindful of the unfortunate Mark Pearson I tried not to brush up against anyone and was a little timid at the barriers but I found that young people were very pleasant and polite and stood aside so that I could go and present my Oyster card to the machine.
The V & A is a wonderful place, even better than expected. The Art Deco exhibition that I had expected was not running but there was a great deal to see. I have always loved jewellery and feasted my eyes on the collection there. Jim jokingly asked if I was going to steal any but I reassured him that I sell or give away jewellery now; I have more than I need and the insurance premiums are prohibitive. It was an easy walk to the Science Museum but we did not see very much, just the space travel section. We shall return one day and see this place properly.
We had an expensive snack in the Royal Albert Hall. I stuck to fruit juice, partly because alcohol does not really agree with me nowadays and partly because I refuse to pay £14 for a glass of champagne. We went to our box and found that the ladies from Dan's bridge club had brought a cornucopia of food. We nibbled and I drank a glass or two of Prosecco. The security men had allowed the ladies to bring this in after a little pleading.
The concert was wonderful; an exceptionally good tenor, an excellent soprano and a superlative choir. The organ was everything an organ should be. The band and the orchestra fulfilled our expectations. One had to queue for the loo rather a long time, but one cannot have everything.
I thought of my daughter all day. I do think of her every day and blame myself for failing her. The four of us talked of my son when we were dining at the Union Jack club. I found I could bear it; I even managed to speak of his cruelty when his sister died. He could not blame me for her death more than I blame myself. I still love him and would take him back into my life but I do not think that his father will ever be able to forgive him.
We caught the 9 pm train home and met the bridge club ladies in the same carriage. They were had obviously enjoyed their evening and were laughing and joking among themselves. I listened to my iPod again; a Robert Bryndza novel from the Erika Foster series. We said good-bye to the two Jims at the station and walked home to our flat. The iPod accompanied me to bed as it always does. I have two of these excellent devices, one for fiction and one for non-fiction. I can no longer manage print books and even my e-reader has had to be put in a drawer.
Dan is going to the gun club today. I have some chores to do and this afternoon we shall visit the sick, purblind and demented old man for whose welfare I am responsible. I must buy some custard tarts as he might enjoy one. There is still chocolate left to feed him with if he does not want the cake. Poor old man; none of it is his fault.
I must go to bed early as I have a follow-up visit to the eye surgeon tomorrow. It means I shall not be at the charity shop where I help out until Wednesday.
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