17 July 2001 - Hotdogs, Ice Cream and Lion King

More meetings the whole day, but this time I was in a fresh set of clothes.

Outside, I saw the sky turn from sunny to a cloudy gray. I think I know what they mean about experiencing all four seasons in 30 minutes here in London, seeing how quickly the weather changes.

That night, Eddy got us tickets to the musical “Lion King.” I was so excited about this because I went to New York twice, and both times I couldn’t get tickets because they were fully booked for the rest of the year. So getting to watch it here in London was a fantastic treat and I was ready to dish out whatever amount it cost (£37, which wasn’t so bad.)

However, it was starting to pour by the time we got out.

The show was playing at the Lyceum. We were a bit early so we had time to pick up James’ nephew and niece who were waiting at the nearby McDonald’s. While at it, Eddy suggested we try the hotdogs that the golden arches sell here. I must say, this hotdog was delicious! Just an ordinary beef dog on a tasty bun with a lot of roasted onion. Yummy.

The kids were one 5-year old boy and a 3-year old girl. The boy was making admiral hats out of the paper mat on the tray, while the girl had golden locks and a shiny tiara. James wasn’t biased when he said they were adorable.

When we got out, however, it was pouring and we only had two small umbrellas between us. The kids’ mom had raincoats for them so they were pretty much ok, for as long as we shelter them with the umbrella. But the rest of us were drenched. So drenched that when we got to the theatre without a word we all just split up and went to dry off at the toilets.

Without launching into a full review, suffice it so say that Lion King was truly amazing, all the reviews about how ingenious the production design was is true. There is still room for improvement with the cast though. For which reason, I couldn’t compel myself to give a standing ovation. Maybe it’s been running for so long that they’re tired?

What I do remember most that night was intermission. Angela was on the phone and James and Eddy went to the toilet while the kids’ mom went off to buy the kids ice cream, I was the only adult left. So I decided to chat a bit with the 3-year old lady beside me and she told me that she saw all those animals for real when they lived in South Africa (they really did). Then all of a sudden the boy suddenly called me…by name.

“Perci, Perci…,” he called with a very posh British accent, “would you like some ice cream?”

I said no, but thank you. But before I could finish, he was already shouting to his mom. “Mummy, Mummy, Perci wants some ice cream too!” I couldn’t contain my amusement as I signaled “no” to his mom. This boy was only 5 years old too.

They were the sweetest kids.


We sort of scattered by the show’s end, and I wasn’t able to say goodbye to the kids nor to their mom and uncle. We all wanted to go out but because of the crummy weather, we decided to call it a night. Angela and I started walking toward our hotel – and again, we got lost. We found ourselves walking around in circles.

But in the process I saw Covent Garden – which is supposedly yet another of London’s shopping meccas. And along the way we passed a small alley where there was a small hotel called Fielding Hotel, which would figure later in my stay.

Back at the hotel by 11:30 p.m. and I was restless. I wanted to go out, even alone (I really didn’t mind), but the weather was just so crap. Instead I proceeded to pack my stuff while watching this old Australian movie where a young Russell Crowe played a gay guy who is close to his dad, forgot the title.