One of Charles’ dreams was to fly in a Spitfire and when he reached his special 80th birthday, that was my present to him. And I decided to plan a trip around this adventure that took place in a town called Duxford in the UK. But I am getting ahead of myself because I want to tell you about the opening of the Stratford Festival here in Ontario, but more specifically the opening of Annie. Before I do that I want to explain that it has been a summer of many Menieres attacks. I have written about this distressing disease before, but this year I was particularly plagued by it. However, I am in good hands now with Dr. John Rutka and hope for a much better future. Now back to my story. Before we left for England we went to the opening of Stratford, particularly to see the show that we were co -sponsoring, Annie. It was fabulous. Best of all it is filled with joy and in these days of political turmoil, joy is really appreciated. I have told you before that we would support anything that Donna Feore directs because the quality of the show, with superb dance numbers, great acting, and terrific theatre is guaranteed. You start out with a big smile and then it just continues to grow. The song and dance numbers led by Harper Rae Asch, our Annie, are infectious. The ensemble of young girls is incredible and on opening night the audience broke into spontaneous applause after their first number. The show is running until December 13, so if you are in the vicinity it is definitely worth the visit.

Now, I want to tell you all about our super trip, but I am just getting ready to head out west to see our kids for ten days, and I won’t get a chance to write more until September. Forgive me.

I am back from a glorious trip to Tofino with our kids and grand kids…well almost all of them. But now to the Spitfire. I think it best to describe the highlights of our journey rather than a day by day diary. We began in London and stayed at our favourite hotel, One Ayldwich. I just love the location in Covent Garden where you can walk for hours and not see everything. The lobby bar is exquisite and little meals can be taken there. Our room/ suite was charming and a a chocolate cake awaited us because I had mentioned it was a special occasion. There was also a bottle of bubbly. And best of all the room was ready when we arrived in the morning. We booked a guide through the hotel as they offered some interesting excursions off the beaten track. The guide chosen was a man by the name of Matthew Green. He was a medieval expert on London, and we learned all about how people lived in the walls in some quarters. We learned about the making of coffee and how it began as a choice from gruel. It was an incredible tour with a great deal of information and he sent us his book. He has written quite a few books, but one of them is called London a travel guide through time by Dr. Matthew Green. Worth a look.

Our guide, Matthew; learning the history of London

We went to a play that was suggested by my dear friend Richard Ouzounian who always knows whats happening in the theatre world. It was Mrs. Warren’s Profession by G.B. Shaw, and starred Imelda Staunton of Crown fame. I booked tickets way in advance and they were pricey in the west end. Sadly, the play was done on the cheap with crummy sets, and average acting. The evening was disappointing. You got the feeling this was a let’s make money off of Imelda’s fame’ kind of performance. In fact every show we see at the Stratford Festival has much better stage qualities and just as good acting. We are spoiled. We ate at our fave restaurant J. Sheeky after the performance, and had a splendid seafood tower. It is a fun place with so much energy and very close to the theatre.

seafood tower

Hakkasan was a wonderful Chinese restaurant that we visited our last night, however I overdid it. Instead of the usual four pieces of Peking duck we were given 8 plus all kinds of other mixed dishes with duck in them and I was sick. Although I was thinking it was a beautiful hotel to be sick in, and it didn’t last very long. In the morning we had to get up and go to Cambridge by train.

I had planned that we would spend a few days in Cambridge because it was only about a 20 minute drive from Cambridge to Duxord where Charles was going to have his big flight. We stayed in a hotel called the University Arms which on the surface was fascinating. It was an old hotel that had been redone, but in fact, there were some blind spots for example, in the bathroom, you had to turn the shower on to get hot water in the bathtub but the view from the bathroom window was terrific of the quadrangle at Cambridge.The food was fine. The hotel also treated us to a chocolate cake for Charles‘s birthday however they omitted to send plates or a knife to cut the cake or forks to eat it.

special day

The big thing about flying is weather, and we were watching the weather all the time to see what it would be like for the Spitfire flight. The weather did not look good for the day that Charles was booked. When we got there for some magical moments, it rained, and then the skies opened up with sunshine. The people that we were dealing with predicted that it would be good and that he would get his hour flight which he did. Charles was prepped for the flight and given a flight suit that he wore, a one piece jumpsuit and he met the pilot who was captaining the plane. There was a young woman and a young man who were assisting. It was all extremely professional.

I have never seen a bigger smile on his face. I watched as he soared across the sky. As well when he alighted from the plane it was pretty fantastic. The flight was exciting and wonderful and historical of course and the pilot whose nickname is Rats was terrific. Everybody was terrific. He will cherish that hour forever. We both will. At Duxford, we also visited the Imperial War Museum and it was great to go through the Concorde and to remember that Charles‘ parents Niels and Betty had flown in the Concorde, the narrow plane that was so beautifully constructed.

We walked around Cambridge. We also went punting on the river Cam, which was peaceful. We ate some pretty good meals there and we immersed ourselves in the history of the town. We then went to Cliveden House for our anniversary weekend.

the mistress

pictures of the amazing hotel, tea, a trip on the river and some art.

This hotel was very special.It was built in the 1600s for the mistress of the owner and her picture was on the wall. We couldn’t understand what her charm was, but at any rate he built this phenomenal property for her and we spent a few really enjoyable days there with beautiful weather.  We had a formal tea one day in the dining room. We had excellent meals, and went for a lovely boat ride on the  river. Our final dinner was at a three star Michelin restaurant called The Waterside Inn, in a nearby town , on the day of our anniversary. It was splendid.

Dover sole and Happy Anniversary 38 years.

We ate and drank way too much and I suffered on the flight home. I was in the bathroom of the airplane and I wondered why the pilot was taking the plane on such a slant, why we were being pulled, and then I realized I was having a Ménière’s attack. I got myself to my seat , took an anti nausea pill, alerted the flight attendant and closed my eyes for about an hour and managed to avoid the usual vomiting, etc. that attends this absolutely awful vertigo. It was good that we were in business class because I was right at the front of the plane and I was very comfortable in my little bed and managed when we got off the plane to be over the attack and able to make it through the airport. I was looking forward to seeing my doctor when we got back and to see if there was any stronger medication to take and it turns out there is, but I’m still struggling here and there, and I’m managing, and being positive. And preparing to head off to Portugal tomorrow.

I look forward to telling you about that adventure.

Cheers,

Riki