Earls Court adventure

Our 4 days in London was been great. Managed to work out the mobile phone usage with a couple of great guys in a phone company down the road. We felt like they are out personal tech support as we have gone in to see them a few times and now have two working mobiles. BTW you can't get a mobile service that covers England and Europe but we have sims that we will use when we go to Antibes more to speak to each other and for emergencies.
Cliff and I have mastered the underground tube and walked miles across London, yesterday I had to rest up a few times as I am not that use to walking (thank god we found those gym shoes before I left Michelle) for so long.
Finally got to see Wicked the musical which was great but it was a matinee with lots of school children giving a different sort of experience. I have a deepening respect for teachers taking kids on excursions. We brought chaps tickets from one of the stand dotted around the west end.

We visited St Paul's cathedral where the Ash Wednesday service was being held. It's a beautiful church and the one used for the Queens Jubilee last year. The Minister gave a very warm and personal sermon which was surprising and more expected in a small village church. We only went there to see the art work on the ceilings so good to see it being used for more than an attraction.
We had a beautiful meal for Valentines day at a local restaurant called The Little French Restaurant which was offering a 3 course meal for £17 each. They normally do 3 course for £9.95 ea. The floor show consisted of a guy who verbally abused a waitress and stood up and asked for her to say sorry over and over again. The rest of us eating were stunned and one of the waiters stood between them and eventually got him outside with his poor wife where he continued to abuse the staff. It seemed he felt that the waitress thought he was lying about what he ordered for his wife. The guy was nuts and staff visibly upset. I felt for the wife who had to go home with him. Anyway it didn't stop us enjoying ourselves but needed to take a walk afterwards to settle the stomach after so much food (by the way Michelle I had the duck).
We visited Portobello Road which is a market and the setting for the movie Notting Hill. We stumbled across the book shop used in the movie, see picture. No markets on Thursday when we were there but apparently the weekend is very busy. There were a number of shops open though with antiques, vintage clothing and souvenirs.

We are heading off to Brighton for 4 days today via bus from Victoria station. Don't think we will be swimming there as its going to get to 8c.