Being a fan of going to the theatre, and lucky enough to live easy travel distance to London’s West End, I have an annual tradition of going to see pantomime at the London Palladium (some may argue this to be the Queen of Panto, or should that be ‘Dame’?). It all started seven years ago when a friend and I decided to take advantage of discounted tickets to see what all the fuss was about. We booked for the first week of 2017 so as to have something to look forward to after the joy and festivities of Christmas quickly fades and beat the January blues. We weren’t to be disappointed! I half expected to feel out of place not arriving with any children in tow but the audience was mostly adults of all ages. The theme was Cinderella and starred memorable performances from Julian “Dandini” Clary and Paul “Baroness Hardup” O’Grady (RIP). I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen a pantomime but it must have been as a young child at a local production no doubt. I’m pretty certain it wouldn’t have been quite as hilarious and contain half as much innuendo as the Palladium version. Mind you, fans of Mr Clary would probably expect nothing less. We had such a great time that we’ve been back every year since (Covid allowing). Each year, the costumes get bigger and better, the staging more impressive, and although some of the jokes become a bit familiar year in year out, it’s still one of the funniest nights out you’ll have … “oh no it isn’t” I hear you cry, “oh yes it is” (etc etc)!!
Why write a Christmas themed blog in February when Spring is fast approaching?? Well, it won’t be long before details emerge of the 2024 offering and I’m already signed up to the newsletter on updates when tickets go on sale ready for this year!
February opened the perfect window for travel, and I decided to tick the next destination off my must-visit list: Rome! In short, Rome stole my heart. The city is like walking through a living museum – every corner reveals ancient ruins and rich history. Walking 30,000 steps a day felt like nothing. The weather, though, wasn’t […]
I recently attended the final match of Carlo Ancelotti and Luka Modrić at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. An occasion that will remain etched in my memory. The stadium was at full capacity, with every supporter (opponents included) united in paying tribute to two remarkable individuals who have profoundly shaped the legacy of Real Madrid. From […]
I recently had the pleasure of holidaying in Faro and Albufeira, two gems of the Algarve in Portugal, and it was nothing short of amazing. A trip to the Algarve wouldn’t be complete without venturing out onto the water. One morning, we joined a boat tour that weaved through hidden sea caves and secluded beaches. […]