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I had a lovely self-indulgence day yesterday. Off to Town, and a nice potter round some of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The stained glass was very splendid and beautiful, the silver also splendid although less to my taste, and there were some very interesting rooms full of 'designed objects' which I enjoyed a lot.
There's much yet to see at the V&A, but I find there is only so much museuming I can manage in a day, so after lunch I pootled off to Covent Garden. Well, I tried to find Forbidden Planet, but it wasn't where I expected it to be - does it in fact still exist at all, has it moved, or was I just looking in the wrong place? So, Covent Garden, which I always enjoy pottering around. And, hmm, I discovered that the shop where I got my beautiful yellow flowered earrings was having a *sale*... Went into Lush, for a few necessities and some treats (I don't often have baths, but when I do, I like to have a Proper Bath), and ended up chatting to one of the sales assistants about fanfic. (!)
Then, meet up with my Best Friend and several of her friends of more recent vintage, for a glass of something and a very agreeable meal. One of them quite startled me when I explained that I'd been to NYC to see Lance Bass on stage, and she correctly placed him as a member of Nsync. She's probably (tho' this kind of guessing is dangerous) older than I am, besides being just as British, so. I was impressed. [If you've found your way here - welcome! But, really, enter with caution. Yike.]
After that we went off to see 'Avenue Q'. I'd seen it before, but it was fun the first time so I was more than happy to go again - besides, an excuse for a day in London. Mysteriously, and much to my dismay, the fabulous Dream Sequence Of Gay Sex *did not happen*. Huh. The performance actually started twenty minutes late - with apologies but no explanation - and I suspect that perhaps the show was cut in order to make sure the musicians finished by 10.30pm, as I understand that overtime payments are prohibitive. Frankly, though, it seems a bit much to cheat the paying customers out of a totally hilarious and wonderful part of the show.
This morning, I booked the minibus for Camp Sparkle. Thereby hangs an interesting tale. Well, for certain values of 'interesting'.
A week or so ago, I rang up car rental place B(udget), and obtained a quote for a minibus for the week (we'll be needing transport to do whatever Tourist Stuff we decide on, and there won't be a lot of cars around).
So. £X to hire - not a bad rate, I thought, having random memories of quotes for renting minibuses from airport rentals places. But, I thought I should probably check a few others.
On Monday, I obtained a quote from car rental place C for £X - 10%. Good-oh, I thought. Then came car rental place D, a staggering £X-50% with some provisos about insurance. Well. I consulted Beast about this, and resolved to call place D and get some further details out of them, but was unable to get through that afternoon. Yesterday, of course, I was out all day.
I phoned place D this morning, and was told that the rental for a minibus for a week would in fact be £X = 30%. Okay, so, no. Phoned place C, was quoted £X + 13%. Hmm. Also, it turned out that place C was not in Snorbins at all (I'd dialled a Snorbins number, but apparently that branch had been closed for a year), but in Luton, so blow that for a lark.
Back to place B, and this time they quoted me £X - 20%. Baffled, but guardedly happy, I made the booking. It'll be interesting to see what they *actually* charge me when I show up to collect the thing...
But - OMG! Do they make these things up on the spot, or what?
There's much yet to see at the V&A, but I find there is only so much museuming I can manage in a day, so after lunch I pootled off to Covent Garden. Well, I tried to find Forbidden Planet, but it wasn't where I expected it to be - does it in fact still exist at all, has it moved, or was I just looking in the wrong place? So, Covent Garden, which I always enjoy pottering around. And, hmm, I discovered that the shop where I got my beautiful yellow flowered earrings was having a *sale*... Went into Lush, for a few necessities and some treats (I don't often have baths, but when I do, I like to have a Proper Bath), and ended up chatting to one of the sales assistants about fanfic. (!)
Then, meet up with my Best Friend and several of her friends of more recent vintage, for a glass of something and a very agreeable meal. One of them quite startled me when I explained that I'd been to NYC to see Lance Bass on stage, and she correctly placed him as a member of Nsync. She's probably (tho' this kind of guessing is dangerous) older than I am, besides being just as British, so. I was impressed. [If you've found your way here - welcome! But, really, enter with caution. Yike.]
After that we went off to see 'Avenue Q'. I'd seen it before, but it was fun the first time so I was more than happy to go again - besides, an excuse for a day in London. Mysteriously, and much to my dismay, the fabulous Dream Sequence Of Gay Sex *did not happen*. Huh. The performance actually started twenty minutes late - with apologies but no explanation - and I suspect that perhaps the show was cut in order to make sure the musicians finished by 10.30pm, as I understand that overtime payments are prohibitive. Frankly, though, it seems a bit much to cheat the paying customers out of a totally hilarious and wonderful part of the show.
This morning, I booked the minibus for Camp Sparkle. Thereby hangs an interesting tale. Well, for certain values of 'interesting'.
A week or so ago, I rang up car rental place B(udget), and obtained a quote for a minibus for the week (we'll be needing transport to do whatever Tourist Stuff we decide on, and there won't be a lot of cars around).
So. £X to hire - not a bad rate, I thought, having random memories of quotes for renting minibuses from airport rentals places. But, I thought I should probably check a few others.
On Monday, I obtained a quote from car rental place C for £X - 10%. Good-oh, I thought. Then came car rental place D, a staggering £X-50% with some provisos about insurance. Well. I consulted Beast about this, and resolved to call place D and get some further details out of them, but was unable to get through that afternoon. Yesterday, of course, I was out all day.
I phoned place D this morning, and was told that the rental for a minibus for a week would in fact be £X = 30%. Okay, so, no. Phoned place C, was quoted £X + 13%. Hmm. Also, it turned out that place C was not in Snorbins at all (I'd dialled a Snorbins number, but apparently that branch had been closed for a year), but in Luton, so blow that for a lark.
Back to place B, and this time they quoted me £X - 20%. Baffled, but guardedly happy, I made the booking. It'll be interesting to see what they *actually* charge me when I show up to collect the thing...
But - OMG! Do they make these things up on the spot, or what?