Complete With a Water Slide

So I no longer have a paid-account, first time in two years that I see this really annoying ads. I don't love LJ enough to buy another year, but damn, it is annoying. How serious are people about dreamwidth? Like... could I change journal and not really miss anything? Give me the honest truth?

I spent the weekend in London! And it was marvellous! It was my birthday slash Christmas gift from my parents, and my mum and I took a plane early Friday morning. We spent all of Friday shopping. I think I've never spent so much money on clothes at once before, but I'm so pleased with everything I bought. Because before I left I made a list over what I needed and wanted and then I simply followed it.

Friday evening we saw Les Miserables. I booked the tickets because I wanted to see Ramin Karimloo and Hadley Fraser, so I was a bit disappointed when they announced that Hadley's understudy was on as Javert. But not much can really ruin Les Mis for me, and Shaun Dalton was magnificent! Ramin was really, truly good as well. He has such a wonderful stage presence. Helen Owen was on as Eponine, which I was thrilled about! She was on as Eponine last time I saw it as well, and she's so good. Scott Garnham was on as Enjolras, and since the things I heard of Liam Tamne wasn't all that good, I was happy to see Scott instead.

On Saturday I woke up feeling not all that good, and the morning was spent eating and going to Russell Square to buy books at my favorite bookstore in the world! The prices there are magnificent for a girl who has to pay a 100 kr for every paperback at home. Then we went to the Phantom of the Opera matinee. I already knew that I wouldn't get any of the performers I wanted when I booked the tickets. Earl was off, and Killian was on holiday, so we got the standby Phantom Scott Davies and the understudy Christine Claire Doyle and understudy Raoul Nadim Naaman. Claire and Nadim was fabulous together. I loved their dynamic, they were both so young and sweet together and I totally believed in their love. The Phantom had a glorious voice! But I'm not much of a Phantom girl, so he didn't really grab me all that much. The true star of the show, though, is the sets and the costumes! I've never seen Phantom live before and the sets and the lighting truly blew me away.

I didn't enjoy the show as much as I should, because I sat there with a fever, and the rest of the day wasn't too fun. Sunday was really not fun. And I've been sick all of this week too.

Other news that I've neglected to share with you: I have a job! I now work 80% at a kindergarten. I love it. It's hard work, but a lot of fun. When I willingly go to work with a fever that's a good sign that I'm enjoying what I do.

Fandom:

My Cabaret fic! I'm in love with it and I really want to share it. But not until I get someone to look it over. Because it's been like six months since I last wrote something, and I'd really like for someone to check my grammar. Anyone up for looking over 2000ish word fic? Please?

Christmas was wonderful. So much better than last year. Of course, seeing as I had a fever and coughing everywhere last year, it wasn't really hard to beat it. But this years was truly great, because we had my uncle and aunt with their three children over, plus my granddad and grandma and my grandmother over. So we were many and it was lovely.

One of my cousins is just eight, and I'd totally forgotten how much of an awesome day Christmas Eve is for a eight year old. Being twenty-one now, I'm very used to all the "fake threats" of "Oh now we have to do the dishes, and then we have to rest and let the food sink, and then we have to brew the coffee, and THEN we can unwrap the presents!" So I know that of course as soon as we've cleared the table and unwound a bit, we'll start on the gifts, but him, being eight, did not. I think my dad really enjoyed having a kid around to react to all his tomfoolery.

My favorite present this year is definitely the London trip. Me and my Mum are going to London in February! We've booked everything. We're actually flying with a decent airline (NOT Ryanair for once) and actually landing in Heathrow, something that I find more exciting than I probably should. We've also gotten a really nice hotel in the West End. We have booked tickets to see The Phantom of the Opera.

Which is a bit of a funny story, because we booked these tickets in October. The reason why the trip is booked in February is because I really wanted to see John Owen Jones as the Phantom and in October it was said that his last show would be in March so we booked tickets for February. Then! No, JOJ is going to be the touring Phantom and had his last show in December. Earl Carpenter took over for him then, and I thought, "Hey, Earl! That's not so bad!" But then, I find out that the day we're seeing Phantom is the one day in February Earl isn't on! So, I'm understandingly a bit mad about that, but think, hey! I still got Killian Donnelly as Raoul. And then, NO! KILLIAN IS OFF ON HOLIDAY THEN!

-- So I'm a bit pissed about the whole PotO thing. Bad luck all around really. Not that I think it will be a bad experience or anything. I'm sure the actors we'll get will be fabulous.

But I am going to book tickets for Les Miz too, because I just can't miss the Ramin Karimloo/Hadley Fraser double act. I need to see them both play Jean Valjean and Javert!