Docklands, USk and Totoro

Started the day at the London Museum Docklands to check out their new exhibit about mudlarking, the Thames version of beachcombing. Not too far from the Poplar neighborhood of Call the Midwife fame, this is the working East End. Lots of cool stuff, including Iron Age tools, knives & daggers, shoes (people were smaller then!), false teeth and even a glass eye (!!!) from the past centuries.

Joe spent the whole day exploring the rest of the museum, and I split off to check out an Urban Sketchers event with the London chapter.

I was blown away by this group: they meet once a month, plan outings for the whole year in advance, AND meet from 11am -3:30pm with not one but TWO throwdowns, AND THEN head off to a pub together. They just published this HUGE book celebrating their 10 years together AND had an exhibition of their work in March!!

I couldn't stay for the pub as we had theatre tickets (again!!!) for tonight, but I did get to ride the train home with Dean, and admin for the chapter. Would love to come again sometime.

Met up with Joe at the Gillian Lynne Theatre near Leicester Square. ALL the noisy young folks were out in birthday, bridal, and other assorted parties. We snagged a table at a Vietnamese place (vermicelli salad bowl for me, classic pho for Joe) and still made it in time to our 7pm performance across the street.

The London play of My Neighbour Totoro was so imaginative, as you can imagine. They used kazego puppeteers, just like in traditional Japanese bunraku puppetry, and lots of theatre magic to reimagine this story. Joe Hisashi, prime composer of all music Ghibli, was a producer, and so much of the music was so familiar, even though it wasn't in the original film.

Dropped by Sainsbury for a last few breakfast items for tomorrow and then came back and rehydrated at the BnB. Doing one last load of laundry and will hang it up to dry overnight (oh, the wonders of slimewear!), then off to 😴😴😴

21.5k👣 154min 💛
8+ miles-ishRead more