Susan Stephens' Writing Diary

Hi everyone! Here I am back home again afer the most fabulous trip to the world's most photogenic city, Venice.

And yes, I survived intact and so did minimus in spite of the best attempts of the Italian male...Not interested in me, you understand- Hardly, when there's an almost-eighteen-year-old natural blonde walking round the place arm in arm with me!

Walking back into St Mark's Square for the first time in over twenty years, my eyes filled with tears... It is a completely overwhelming sight. The beauty, and the realisation that men have created these magnificent and truly wonderful buildings... Oh, wow, I am (for once), am completely speechless.

Had one amusing experience by the Rialto Bridge... the largest of the many bridges over the canals, and main thoroughfare for pedestrians to cross the Grand Canal... There are outdoor restaurants lined up alongside the Grand canal, and a young waiter catching sight of minimus ran out to promise us a free meal if only I would take her to eat there... a waiter at the next restaurant promised free ice cream, the next coffee... I made a hasty detour into a side street with minimus safely in tow before we got to the end of the row- where goodness knows what would have been on offer!

To celebrate the book I am writing at the moment, which is set in Venice, I took the opportunity to buy a lovely prize for my next competition... it's a tiny Murana glass heart, hand-made in Venice, which would sit beautifully on any chain you happen to have. I couldn't resist it, and while I was 'present buying' for friends and family I naturally thought about my readers and what they might like... And believe me, this is something I would like too, and I keep asking myself- why didn't I buy another one???
(great excuse to return to Venice!!!)
Anyway, keep watching out for my competition and I will gladly give this lovely memento to the winner... Just give me a day or so to work out the question!!!

Back soon with more news... love to all, and happy reading everyone!
Susan

Or Leavers' Ball, as it is known here in the UK.

What a fabulous event... All the school leavers went to inordinate amounts of trouble- the girls groomed to the max in beautiful gowns, and the boys in evening dress bearing gifts of flowers for the girls. Many of the boys wore tail suits- and minimus's date even sported, (for a joke, I hasten to add) a top hat.

They all looked so beautiful... remember when we used to worry about our noses being too long (I still do!!) or too short, or we were too fat or too thin? What we overlooked was the fact that we were young- and that in itself is a thing of beauty.

School had gone to a lot of trouble too... the dining hall was unrecognisable with archways of balloons overhead and flowers everywhere. The buffet was exceptional, the wine free-flowing, and the company fantastic. There was an exceptionally talented table magician, a top class jazz band (had to be good as one of the Dad's is a 'top of the charts' musician of some twenty years standing) and a pretty smooth DJ to fill in the gaps.

Dh was resting back home, but I found that several other mothers were without escorts- No matter, we boogied the night away- I even had one rather memorable moment on the dance floor with a young man complete with helium filled balloons tied to his rump. Interesting, shall we say... Anyhow, I danced the... well, I'm not quite sure really- but I was tossed about like a rag doll, and thrown over his arm 'a la the tango' until my head touched the floor etc etc. I was ever so glad the next day to discover that he didn't remember how he came to have two broken toes-
Dancer, I am not, dear friends!!!

All in all, it was a wonderful night, and when it came to an end the young people went up to 'top pitch' to test their tolerance to alcohol while the parents left to mull over the end of an era.
I walked back along cobbled pathways beneath a velvety moonlit sky to the local guesthouse (the local hostelry had double-booked my room).. where I was made most welcome in surroundings that hadn't changed for 50 years. Yes, my room was very quaint, but it was spotlessly clean and that's all I care about. And there was a tray bearing not just the usual tea and coffee, but Horlicks! Now, there's thoughtful for you...

There is always a prank after 'Leavers' Ball' of course- last year a dustbin was placed on top of the chapel tower... but that was a bit of a give-away because one of the boys was a well known mountaineer... this year it was 2 boats on the headmaster's lawn...

Back to earth, I have to tell you that I shall be away from you for a few days now as I'm taking minimus to Venice for her eighteenth birthday present... more of that when I return.

Meanwhile, love to all and happy reading everyone!
Susan

Happy to report that, after a day in hospital we're back home, and Dh is still very sore, but doing well.

Every test under the sun was run to determine the cause of his acute chest pain, and we were overjoyed to discover that inflammation of the cartilage around the sternum was to blame rather than a life-threatening condition.

In praise of the National Health Service, I can only say that we were treated with the utmost respect and speedy efficiency from the moment I approached the reception desk inside the Emergency department.

Steve managed to walk in before he collapsed, but an alert nurse was ready with a wheelchair, and caught him before he hit the floor.

From the youngest doctor to the consultant, and most senior nurse to the lady who ensured we both had that most British of palliatives, 'a cup of tea', we couldn't have been better cared for... and yes, every ward and treatment bay we visited was spotlessly clean.

So, thank you to all our hard-working health professionals, many of whom I know read this blog... (and are going to have to cut some slack for the heroine I'm working on at the moment, who had one bad experience inside a hospital, which has tainted her opinion of medical professionals- rather unfortunate when her path crosses that of a hunky Italian doctor...)

Will our gorgeous doctor, Luca, stand up for his colleagues, or agree with the feisty Nell? What do you think, girls??

Thank you all for your messages of support... they mean so much to me... and to Tess in Singapore- thrilled to know this blog is on your daily list of favourites!!!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!
Susan

Now I know we have to move house. How easy it is to be flip about our lives until a problem strikes to remind us that actually, we're not as invulnerable as we believe.

When you have been ultra-sporty all your life- and you'll have guessed by now that I am not referring to myself- it is hard to accept that the passage of time brings new challenges, not all of them welcome. My darling husband has just rung to tell me he has chest pains- indigestion, naturally... or hayfever, perhaps... Naturally, he had to laugh it off as all men do, but I haven't seen the funny side. My son is driving him home and I'm taking him straight to our medical centre where he's booked in for a full check-up, and like it or not, I'm going to be right there by his side to make sure everything is out in the open. Let him call me a nag, or a fuss-pot. If you don't have your health you have nothing.

How strange, and yet completely normal in this day and age that I should be reaching out to people I have never met and yet feel you are out there always ready to offer support. Thank you for being there, whoever you are. Man may be an island, but it's so much better when there's a causeway to the next patch of sand.

Love to you all from Susan, who will not be in the writing cave today... and tomorrow is my youngest's Leaver's Ball... let's hope we don't have to disappoint her by sending deputies in our place...

Happy reading everyone!
Susan

Now some of you will know that my beautiful country cottage has been on the market for some time.

How strange it hasn't sold yet, people say to me, knowing that anything in our village goes before a 'for sale' sign has time to go up.

Well, here's the secret girls... 'How not to sell your house' by Susan Stephens... You dash people round as fast as possible, pointing out the black peppercorns you carelessly dropped on the floor whilst murmuring, 'Are those mouse droppings, I wonder?' Don't put down any ant powder for twenty-four hours before potential purchasers arrive, and do spill a nice trail of orange juice through the kitchen for the ants to follow...

Something tells me you're getting the idea!

No, I do not want to move... I love the house, and my neighbours, and my garden is exquisite. But in fairness to my long-suffering other half, the distance he travels each day to work is quite ridiculous. So, yes, I have cleaned up the orange juice and hoovered up the peppercorns... and we have had four offers on the house this week.
I only hope we find something half as lovely when we move...

I'll keep you in the loop. Meanwhile, back to the writing cave and my absolute brute of an Italian doctor.

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!
Susan

The day began badly for Mother Duck...

No, you have not strayed into Peter Rabbit's woodland dell, this is me... And when you have a stream flowing rapidly outside your kitchen door, the temptation is to fling any 'ant attracting' fruit waste into the fast flowing water is overwhelming.

Now, you would expect the local wildlife to know my casual approach to fruit preparation by now- though I have to admit that the top of a pineapple is a little heavier than most fruit debris... Anyway, I flung, the duck protested,and out I dashed- conscience, guilt, anguish streaking through me. I was followed by the rest of the family, cursing me as they ran.

Fortuately, all was well. Mother Duck sat on top of the weir, viewing me sternly with her small squad of ducklings- only 3 this time, lined up behind her.
We all breathed a sigh of relief and retired inside where a black plastic sack was quickly found to prevent further injury to the local wildlife.

But sadly, this was only the start of MD's troubles. Later her quacking became more agitated than ever. We dashed outside to see the brown rats had laid an ambush and were devouring the ducklings... and if you have ever seen the speed with which a rat can move through water you would know that those tiny balls of fluff didn't stand a chance.

Their mother, refusing to believe she had lost her whole brood, spent the rest of that day patrolling the river bank, fruitlessly searching. She woke me at dawn the next day- and anyone who thinks animals and birds can't think or feel, or grieve as we do, should have heard the weary, plaintive, muted sounds she was making; then they would believe.

Wiggy was all for mailing the RSPCA to find out how to get rid of our thriving river rat population- but as I pointed out, the heron gets hungry too... and all our wildlife has to eat. Cruel though it is, the food chain exists for a purpose... I just wish sometimes it didn't have to play out its dreadful drama in front of my cosy kitchen window...
But that's life, isn't it? We can't escape it, or ignore it. But that didn't stop me putting food out for the duck...
(It's an old and trusted tradition amongst us human's when someone loses a friend or relative...we take them food. Sometimes it's all we can do.)

Love to all, and I'll be back tomorrow with some smiley news, I promise!
Happy reading everyone!
Susan

One week away equals one month sorting through posts and papers- and where the heck is my memory stick??!!

Thank you sprogs for pointing out that there's not much point investing good money in a 'memory stick' if you can't remember where you've put it!

(For those of you who don't possess one of these little charmers, let me tell you that I have the whole of my work output published and unpublished- nay, the whole of my life, tied up in one tiny memory chip) Why aren't they bigger [yes, I know that defeats the object]- with flashing lights and bells that ring??!!

Just to cheer me up the lady who is struggling to organise my office (shall I inform her that it's a hopeless task, or will you?) tells me that lovely readers from the United States, Great Britain, Malta, Netherlands, Australia, China,Canada, Thailand, Germany, Japan, Austria, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden, Namibia, Greece, Spain, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Finland have contacted me today- yes, that's just today- and will I be replying by return, or would I like a little longer...

Now, I hope all of you know how much it means to me when you take the trouble to mail me- and please please please keep those mails coming - it's so lonely in the writing cave.
And however my new 'organiser' might stare dubiously at my ever mounting pile of paperwork I shall get through it, and I will answer every one of you personally, and that's a promise. So, thank you again for thinking of me!

Love to all, and back to the writing cave where I'm visiting the canals and hidden calles of Venice.

Oooh, and before I go- just got the title of my latest book, which should be with you some time in 2006...
The Greek's Bridal Purchase
And for those of you who have waited far longer than you should have done for the sequel to Emily's story in The Italian Prince's Proposal, big cyber hugs!!
Yes, finally! This is the story of Emily's identical twin sister, Miranda, and her confrontation with Theo, the baddest man in town... So, if you like your men hard as hell, look out for The Greek's Bridal Purchase around this time next year!

That's it for tonight, girls!

My love to you all, and happy reading everyone!
Susan

Royal Corner

Promised you info' about our British royals and so am thrilled to tell you that I came home to the news that Prince William is to take a deeper interest in one of his mother's favourite charities, 'Centrepoint'.
Centrepoint provides a range of accommodation based services for vulnerable young people, ex offenders, and single parents. These services include night-shelters as well as short stay hostels. Take a look at the good work they do at www.centrepoint.org

Prince William's late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, took William and his younger brother, Harry, to a night-shelter when they were still quite young. This made a lasting impression on both boys.
Of course, we mustn't forget that the Prince of Wales is responsible for instigating some wonderful work with disadvantaged young people through his Prince's Trust.
All in all, I'd say this is a facet of our royal family we have every reason to applaud.

There is also news that, subject to passing the entrance requirements, William will follow his brother Harry into the army. He will enter the prestigious military college, Sandhurst, following a family tradition of service in our armed forces.

Back next time with some juicy info on fashions and gossip surrounding that most intriguing and, apparently, likeable of women, the Duchess of Cornwall...

Enjoy what's left of your weekend!
Happy reading everyone!
Susan

Imagine my suprise to arrive home in rainy old England, only to find it hotter here than in Sardinia!!

BTW, to all my lovely readers in Malta, another beautiful and fascinating island in the Mediterranean sea, while I was in Sardinia I thought of my many happy years in Malta the moment I slipped (alright, girls, stop sniggering... flopped into that clear blue water again!)
I'm sure you'd like to know that I swim like a porpoise...
(Unfortunately, unwieldy version, no flippers, no tail...), but even I couldn't resist the lure of that gently lapping water.
I think of my friends in Malta all the time, and miss them... it's easier to see peoples smiles when they have their heads up looking at sunny blue skies, rather than when their faces are huddled beneath scarves and winter coats, don't you agree?
But we mustn't judge people by their chilblains and red noses, because I have some wonderful friends right across the world!

ps the yummy 'Merto' drink on Sardinia is made from Myrtle berries- I should have said that... juicy and delicious, it's very, very moreish.

To all my friends in Australia and New Zealand, hello, and thank you all for sharing your excitement at the prospect of encountering Sheikh Kahlil of Abadan !
The Sheikh's Captive Bride is one of my favourite books, so I really hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it (Kahlil,the brute kept me up late for weeks on end wondering how I was ever going to melt his stony heart! Of course, I didn't- that job was ably done by Lucy Benson!)

To all my readers right across the world, Hi! it's great to be able to speak to you like this. Now I've got to go and tidy up the garden, which has run riot while I've been away.

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

And first I want to say thank you to all my wonderful readers and friends who have continued to mail while I've been away- researching on a sun bed in Sardinia.

And yes, I have some exciting ideas whirling round my head... I've spent a week on a fabulous Italian island where the people always seem to have a smile on their face and the food is so wonderful, that even the description , size woolly mammoth doesn't do me full justice now! How could I not come away with some exciting thoughts?!
(And if you'd had the young man serving you at dinner each night I had, you'd be steaming too, believe me!!)

In Sardinia they have an after dinner drink called Merto... which tastes something like a cross between chocolate and cherry, and is yummy scrum to the max... It's made from Myrtle, and the proper way to serve it is to freeze a myrtle leaf in a glass of water and float the 'Merto' on top. This, ladies is a totally historic beverage- and may require my return to Sardinia at some time in the near future to sample some more!!!

I can't wait to weave the food, the sunshine, and those sexy, dark-eyed Italian men into a new Presents story just for you... will keep you posted!

Love to all, and happy reading!
Susan

Yes, I sit down and cry... You must have guessed from my 'balancing act' post that things were getting pretty hairy around the Stephens writing cave- and I don't mean just my legs!

You see, I go away tomorrow, and the lovely lady who makes sure we all have clean knickers isn't well. Dashed over on mercy mission... meanwhile cottage slowly becoming a health risk, what with minimus home for 'A' levels, and Wiggy, having 'partner' angst, home too... Had to get book in sometime this side of heaven, so I couldn't stop-
Got up at 5 yesterday- yes, I mean morning, only to have husband arrive at 7pm, loudly demanding 'What't to eat?

Ever felt like strangling someone, ladies?

Brief moments of pleasure yesterday when I took out my almost 87 year old friend- Book, or Aunty Kay...?
Hmmm.
Yes, girls, I want to see that happy resolution for my frantic H and h, but sometimes the waiting makes it all the better?! And in this case, you'll excuse me because Aunty Kay bought not one, but two new outfits, proving, 'Once a gal' always a gal!' On the way home we chatted about the days when she used to go 'jitterbugging' in her glad rags... Good on ya! Aunty Kay... Love You XXX

To make matters worse back home, I bought a piece of high-tech gear while we were out... On the point of throwing it at the wall, I finally accepted help from minimus and Wiggy- but even they couldn't get the damn thing to work.
Over to son, who by this time had to 'talk down' a tearful, and furious mother... Oh, how time moves on! I was sobbing, he was calm and reasonable on the other end of the telephone line... And so the child becomes the parent...?

Well, that's it... thanks to getting up at half-past three this morning, book is about to wing its way to my ed', and now I'm ready to start writing lists: vet's number, neighbours number, friends' numbers etc etc etc Then I'll go shopping to stock them all up for the weekn with masses of food.. And yes, you'll be relieved to hear, I shaved my legs!

Ta Ta England, Buon Giorno Sardinia!

Love to all, and remember, I'll be back soon!
Happy reading everyone!
Susan

If anyone knows how to balance work, family, friends... keep a spotless home, cook fabulous meals, and remember to shave their legs- can they let me know!!??!!

Which reminds me... Did I ever tell you about the time when I went to a posh do in the winter wearing a fab, and very sophisticated outfit in black... opaque black tights with killer heels- you know the kind of thing.
Now own up, girls... who shaves their legs in the winter?
I'm a redhead- and as such have these yucky albino type white hairs on my leg (not a pretty sight- but OK under trousers!)
There I was, all dressed up, swinging one black clad leg over another to show off my shapely calves, when I noticed all these horrible white prickles sticking through my tights...

Style crisis? More like hairy-leg nightmare!
Off to find a razor!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!
Susan

Now, don't panic and think you've missed Majestic Moment 1... because, I lost it!

Yes, Girls... I sat here carefully crafting my latest message to you only to carelessly hit the wrong button and consign the whole blinkin' lot to the ether!

So, SORRY

What I was trying to say was this: Hurrah for princes William and Harry, because they're as normal as... well, my son.

By which, I mean they make their father's remaining hair stand on end with their various exploits! (much like my dear heart, here at the Stephens homestead!)

Harry is having trouble, it turns out, in 'cutting the mustard' at the training course for Marines- our elite fighting force. The reason? He smoked too many Senior Service behind the Ferrari sheds at Eton College!
He can now be found huffing and puffing (but not on a fag!) way behind his compatriots as 'they take to the hills' with their backpacks weighing as much as three of my heroines.

However, my money's on Harry for finishing the course, unlike his princely uncle, Edward, who flunked out- cos' the Marines are tough guys, and he ain't.

And now for William... Lengthy pause while you all swoon...........................
William has a gorgeous girlfriend (sorry girls, but someone had to tell you!) Kate Middleton was looking absolutely gorgeous (as you do when you're young and in love with a prince- check out my books, if you don't believe me!) in black and white at the society wedding of Hugh van Cutsem- toff, and Rose- daughter of landowner (which means filthy rich) David Astor.

Of course, the Prince of Wales couldn't attend, since his new, feisty, and very much Mills & Boon-in-the-prime-of-life (have you checked out the new series called 'Next'? If not, get on it!) new wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, has fallen out with the grooms's wife...!

There, didn't I tell you- if you want the skinny on the British royals, walk this way!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

Please imagine Jerry Springer type build up for......................................

Rosie Miller, from Canberra, the beautiful capital of Australia!

How do I know Canberra is beautiful?
Are my eyes that good?

Actually, I have a cousin, Betty Garbutt... Hiya, Betty! Who lives and works in beautfiful Canberra!

So, G'Day, Australia!... and here is Rosie's winning contest entry... which made us laugh. A priceless commodity, laughter, as I'm sure you'll all agree...

'Don't add tinned peas to chicken stew- unless you really want it to turn green!'

We all learn by our mistakes, Rosie! Thank you for coming out and sharing yours!!!

Look in tomorrow for 'A Majestic Moment'!!

Happy reading everyone!

Susan

And a BIG PS... Have you seen the Australian cover for The Sheikh's Captive Bride yet?
You know that moment when you blow on your fingers in an attempt to blow out the fire... Catch this one!!! I'm sending it to my web mistress right now. Keep tuning in until she gets it up on site for you to drool over!!!

From Linda Chaput in Ontario, Canada...

Thank you for sharing our fun, Linda! And also for the yummy recipe, which I show below.

Since cooking is so popular amongst my lovely readers, I'm thinking we'll have a 'Cookery Corner' once a week... This won't be part of a competition, but just something we can all look forward to.
I'm thinking recipes, cooking tips etc etc.
I'll post something each week- we'll settle on a regular day, and then if you would like to send in your recipes or tips, I'll post them here.

Another request I'm hoping to respond to with a weekly feature in my Blog is info'on our British Royalty'. So look out for that too!
How about we call it our 'Moment of Majesty' ?!
I shall look forward to that as much as you- I admire our queen tremendously. What makes her so human is the fact that her family is just as unpredictable as anyone else's- but she keeps on smiling, and always remembers the duties she took on and the vows she made at her coronation, from which she has never wavered.

But it won't hurt us to see that the younger royals- and some of the older ones too, make our own relatives seem positively saintly!

And now for Linda's fab' recipe...

Oatmeal cookies

1 1/2 cups sifted, unbleached white flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup safflower oil

1/2 cup molasses

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups rolled oats

1 cup raisins

3/4 cup chopped almonds

In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and sugars. Add safflower oil, molasses, eggs and rolled oats; mix with a wooden spoon until blended. Sift in raisins and nuts. (Dough will be soft.) Drop batter by heaping teaspoons onto nonstick baking sheet or for giant-sized cookies, drop by 1/4 cup onto nonstick baking sheet. Bake at 350 F. 12-15 minutes. Remove from oven. Let stand ! minute. Remove from baking sheet. Cool on wire rack.

Thank you so much, Linda... even if I am already Size Elephant just in time to heave myself into a swimming costume on my hols- according to my girls, who have already sampled the cookies they made earlier this morning, Linda's Oatmeal Cookies are definitely worth increasing to Size Woolly Mammoth for

Off to eat my competition entry!
Boy, how I love these competitions!!!

Love to all, and happy reading!
Susan

OK girls, here's our first cookery contest winner with Maureen Emmons proving beyond all doubt you shouldn't believe everything you read!!!


This past weekend my teenage daughter wanted to make dinner for everyone. She had this recipe for fried rice which she had cut out of a magazine. I never really read it because we had been rushing around all day and all I was concerned about was making sure she had all the ingredients. She is 16 and has been cooking for some years so when she ordered me out of the kitchen I let her make everything. Then she's calling me and asking me to taste this "fried rice" which the recipe directed her to microwave. It was a sticky brown goo with vegetables in it. I declined to taste it and explained that fried rice was generally not microwaved. We substituted another side dish, which she made, and all was well. Next time I will definitely read the directions, even if she assures me they're easy.

Maureen Emmons

*But where would we be without them, Maureen!!! How great it is when they start to take over! It's like baby birds standing on the lip of the nest...

Thank you so much for taking part in the fun, Maureen...

I'm taking my youngest, 'minimus' out today to get her hair cut a few weeks in advance of the 'Leavers' Ball' at her school. I'm betting there are a few Mums/Moms out there who know what a crucial moment this is...
At least we're acting a month in advance in case we have to try, try again!!!
While I'm out and about on this mammoth task I'm going to be thinking up an idea for my new competition... so don't forget to watch the site for info'!

Love to you all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

Have just returned from day trip to London to visit the theatre- one of my favourite occupations, as many of you know.

The show- Billy Elliott, based on the hit film, and with music by Elton John had a remarkable cast. In particular the lead roles of Billy and his friend, Michael, were played by the most outstandingly talented teens.
The young girls who played the somewhat tongue in cheek role of ballet class attendees, were also fab!

It set me to thinking about the similarites between the two professions I have been privileged enough to enjoy... professional singer and author... What a joy it is to entertain...

And how I enjoyed being entertained today! The audience rose to their feet at the end of a show brimful with talent. Brilliant cast, brilliant show, my sincere thanks to all of you for lifting me out of the everyday for an hour or two!

Look out tomorrow for the first of the winning entries from my Spring Cookery Contest!!

Love to you all, and happy reading!

Susan

Take a look at the new logos down on the bottom of my home page- these signify a great marriage between two very unique and special contributors to my creative life...

Wendy Woo... the brilliant web designer who gave birth to the Susan Stephens site, and Access Romance the site for all lovers of romance- don't miss them on www.accessromance.com where you'll soon be finding lots more info' on Susan Stephens books, as well as my crazy life- go take a look!

Have just returned from loved up theatre trip to London with my husband of twenty-seven years, who still likes to drink champagne with me... maybe because like me, his sight is not what it used to be!!!?

Went to see Mama Mia! Remember those ABBA years, girls?!
Boy did that show bring back some memories!
And the newly refurbished Prince of Wales theatre is truly a sight to behold, though where have the velvet seats gone...? Maybe the fabric was high tech and guaranteed to last a hundred years, but I like me plush when I go to the theatre.
The safety curtain was gorgeous in rich blues and ivory with a fab Prince of Wales feather emblem at the top.

All in all it was a great trip, and tomorrow I'm off to see the stage version of Billy Elliott with minimus... more news of that on Friday!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!
Susan