In which Helen has an adventure with Stacey

[Regent's College -- former school]

Have had an uncharacteristic last few days, spent with Stacey, an American friend of mine who I went to school with at Regent's.

Here are some photos, and maybe a bit of descriptions in-between.




A lot of ducks and pigeons in Regent's Park, where Stacey and I went to after walking around The Wallace Collection near the park. The WC is (not a bathroom) but a home -- a mansion really -- that has a collection of paintings, including one of my favourites (shown first) and one that is very popular:


The Swing


Portrait of Madame De Pompadour (not here shown entirely). She was the mistress of King XV of France in the 1700's.








So Stacey and I decided, spies that we are, that we would try to break into our previous college in order to have dinner there and perhaps see our favourite (security guard? -- I can't even remember now what he did -- he just sat at a desk in the dorm hall & chatted with students all day -- our very own google -- he knows where everything is in London, the nearest Tesco, etc...e) -- ah, yeah, so we were going to try to find William too. Alas, the way we used to sneak into the school was blocked off and so instead we decided to be sensible and just go to the front desk and ask. At first this seemed very unlikely that the guard there would allow us in. How were we to prove that we didn't want to blow the place up? But in the end, after two hours of walking around the park before dinner would begin to be served in the halls, thinking of just how we would phrase it so the guard saw us for the innocent, slightly kookie girls we are (ie: harmless), we went in, walked up to the guard, and told her that we were former students and wanted to have dinner there, to which the guard replied, without a moment of hesitation -- "Yeah, okay, sign this book, I'll buzz you in."

Yeah.

So not even asking for i.d., references, or collateral for our eventual return, we signed our names in the guest book and were allowed to enter.

It was very sad for both of us that the place has changed so dramatically since we were last there. The front hall itself has had a complete make-over. Now very corporate looking. When once two cats would roam the foyer that had couches against the walls (where the black cat would often lie) now there are flat screen tv's on either side of massive stone desk that one can hardly see over, replacing the small one that used to be on the side where two men sat day in, day out, listening to music on a hand-held radio. The refectory underwent a complete rejuvenation as well, and even the food was much different. I told Stacey that I think it is a new food company supplying the food. Stacey was particularly upset that the round booths (another homely object relinquished) were replaced by a deli area. The food is also very pricey, especially for us as we discovered that as no longer students of the college, we are called "delegates" and have to pay nearly double. Across from the refectory is now a very fancy bar/eating area where you are served at your table. This is geared naturally toward the "sponsors" of the college, as it was evident by the people we saw in the two roomed area.

We snuck into the dorms twice -- waiting for students to swipe their cards in and out of the halls -- but were unable to find our fun loving gay scottish man (otherwise known as "glitterboy") William. Twas very sad.



Me: sad.

We took a double-decker from the college afteward, stopping at Trafalgar Square to walk down Whitehall (past no. 10) and across Westminster Bridge. Went down to the South Bank intending to walk home but came across a christmas festival, with vendors selling chocolate crepes -- of which stacey and I got one each -- and ornaments, gifts, and even a merry-go-round. Very fun. We ran into the Royal Festival Hall so I could use the loo and came across some people warming up for a jazz performance that night -- also the jazz festival going on here -- and decided to come back at 10:30 to see them perform. Got there late so only saw about 10 minutes, but went to see them again the next morning at the Natural History Museum.

Crappy photos but didn't want to put on flash b/c I was so near them. They are really really good. The Nick Crowley Trio. The pianist is like the guy in Life is Beautiful. Not italian; English, but very upbeat. Ran to kiss his little son and his wife who were there before beginning. Jumped up and down many times, talking to the other guys in the middle of performing, continually moving his legs up and down to the beat. Very fast piano playing.





Stacey left this morning at 9:00 for America, something which I will be doing very soon, in less than a month, on the 15th of December. Surreal.