TWENTY TWO HOURS AND COUNTING ..........

Twenty two hours and counting ..........

I have to say that I have Olympic fever and am getting very excited !! The Opening Ceremony is supposed to be amazing and spine tingling !!

images via the BBC

STRICTLY GERSHWIN AT THE LONDON COLISEUM ..... THE ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET .....

The London Coliseum is an opera house on St. Martin's Lane in central London and is one of London's largest and best equipped theatres. It opened in 1904 and was designed by theatrical architect Frank Matcham, who also designed the famous London Palladium.

The other night, we went to see The English National Ballet's interpretation of Strictly Gershwin. It's a dazzling celebration of the sparkling age of Hollywood music and dance.

There is always so much to look at in London, even as you walk from the station to the theatre ..... I always remember someone telling me years ago that, when walking in any city, town or village, anywhere in the world, to always look UP as well as DOWN ..........

..... there are so many wonderful architectural details to be seen .....

.....even in the pub !!

..... in the shop windows .....

..... even before the performance, the theatre has some beautiful details to look at .....

The interiors of London theatres are so beautiful ..... yes, I am that woman taking loads of photos of the theatre right up until the lights dim ..... anyway, curtain up and strike up the band .....

Combine Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and An American in Paris ( amongst many more of Gershwin's compositions ) with sensational choreography and you conjure up the Silver Screen genius of Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers and Gene Kelly. It's a glittering journey in dance from ballet to tap, ballroom to jazz, climaxing in a breathtaking finale.

I'm off now to practice my arabesque and pas de deux .....

I just can't seem to get them quite right !!!!

image 1: via Grant Smith, image 2: via Travel Stay, images 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14: via ME, image 4: via Gerrod, image 5: via brown dress with white dots, image 15: via tickets inventory, images 16 & 17:  via The London Coliseum, image 18: via Northampton Chronicle, image 19: via Southwark Carers, image 20: via Stop Traffic Clothing, image 21: via Pear Tree, image 22: via Zsa Zsa Bellagio

A NEW YEAR'S EVE FAMILY WEDDING, THE LONDON FIREWORKS & GUEST POSTING ..........

We are off to a family New Year's Eve Wedding today. I am so looking forward to it, as it will be lovely to be with all of our family on New Year's Eve. Must try to pace myself with the alcohol.....don't want to embarrass myself in front of everyone !!

..... and, don't forget to watch the London Fireworks that will bring in 2012 ..... for the second year running, our son, Daniel, has mixed all of the music that accompanies them. Last year the fireworks and the music were spectacular.

.... and, finally, please go over to Lou, Boo's and Shoes on New Year's Day. Her beautiful, honest and thought-provoking blog is two years old , and I am guest posting on that day, so please go over and comment and also peruse her lovely blog.... you won't be disappointed.

That just leaves me one more thing to do and that is to wish all of my supportive followers and commenter's a very Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year. May 2012 be filled with everything that you wish for.

HAPPY NEW YEAR !! 

image 1: via brown dress with white dots, image 2: via The Gaurdian, image 3: via Reuters, image 4: via Lou, Boo's and Shoes.

LONDON ..... AUGUST 2011 ..........

Looting, violence, buildings blazing..... this is London, August 2011 .

image: Reuters