Catching up - ran out of time last night and we wanted to get up early this morning so will write tonight about both Day 3 - High End Shopping, Three Days of Rain & Day 4 - Tower of London, Afternoon Tea and Hyde Park.

Can't promise to write every evening, but do want to keep a record for ourselves also before we forget everything!!

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Day 3

Started the day off later than expected - the night before it was all of a sudden past 1am and we weren't even tired yet (I guess this was the first sign of some form of jet lag?). So we ended up sleeping in until 9am and the say was off to a slow start. Went downstairs to the Hoxton Grill, split a 9 pound breakfast and then we were off for some high end shopping (more like browsing) on Regent, Oxford and Bond Streets.

The word Busy is not strong enough to explain what it was like on the underground, Oxford & Piccadilly Circus'. Chaotic! would be more like it. There were sooo many people we were pulling each other through crowds and stores. Being overtired and having to fight so many people was.. well... we were a bit grumpy! But we still ran into some real gems. Our favourites were the pedestrian shopping areas around Argyle street and Canarby. Liberty store was such an amazing, OLD building with intriquite wood carvings (see pictures).

Stopped by the Apollo Theatre stage door to see if we could meet James McAvoy on his way into the afternoon show. Turns out he got there early and we missed him. One girl was upset, as she had been waiting alone for quite awhile. Then, a lady told us he was having a smoke outside a window around the corner. The girl and I headed over there, she spoke with James directly ("I love you James!! I was waiting for you" etc etc) and I just stood there, watched and waved. He didn't really look at me though. Oh well! We'll see the show later.

Came across a HUGE protest on Piccadilly street in support of Sri Lanka and against the war that's going on there. The Police officer was spoke with said it was about 100,000 people. So we watched them walk by and it was very moving. The police had shut down this enormous, luxury shopping district as the group moved out of Trafalger square.

Then quickly off to Covenant Garden to check it out. Also CHAOTIC. We didn't spend much time there, but found a cute pub called Youngs so Manaen could have a pint and fish & chips.

Back to the hotel to change for the theatre. Then on the tube to Piccadilly again and to the Apollo Theatre. Grabbed our tickets and headed to the stage door. Waited until 7:15, but he must have already been inside again or slipped in a different door. No biggy! We could meet him afterwards. Manaen was a HUGE sport and was such a big help.

7:30 and the show starts - guess who sat in the front row centre all alone? The girl who waited outside in the afternoon and who we now refer to as "crazy girl" or "the stalker". The whole time she was staring directly at James even if his character wansn't talking or was in the background of the scene! haha she didn't even flinch when James spit in the first half from screaming/talking so lound (eww! haha Manaen and I were laughing so hard to each other - quiver killer it is, your fav actor spitting all over the stage!!!) During intermission she was making notes on a pad of paper - Manaen and I both noticed and tried to figure out what she was working on...

The first half of the show was a bit hard to watch in parts - didn't like Jame's character Walker cause he talked so much and was always feeling sorry for himself, but LOVED the part of Pip - great character, well played. Second half was MUCH better thank GOD and we loved James' character Ned (they play the grown children in the first half and then their parents as young adults in the second half) The stage was really cool - James lit a notebook on fire and there was actual rain falling in the front first foot of the stage (which Manaen noted was raised to allow a drain in that area) so when the actors went outside of the New York apartment, they stood at the front of the stage and actually got wet! Super cool.

Anyway, enjoyed the show. We made our way out back for the signing. There were quite a number of people but we didn't rush and I was still in the front row. Manaen was awesome so he took the camera to try to get a photo of James and me when he was signing the program. (A bodyguard time guy said we were not allowed to ask for pictures WITH him - DAMN! I wanted that more than an autograph). Crazy girl was number 1 in line right by the door. I asked another fan if she had a pen I could borrow -

Other Girl: "He has his own"

Kate: "Oh! I guess you've done your research eh?"

Other Girl: "Well... yeah, I have been here 4 times"

Kate: In shock.. "Oh!! okay great thanks" (snorts under her breath)

So James comes out, signs a few, is very kind. Gets to Crazy Girl. Signs her Program then she notes that he spelt her name wrong (he knew her name without her saying it??" He apologizes. She spells it, he fixes it, then she says "Say it"

Huh? Kate Thinks? She is asking him to say her name.. okay... lol

James: "Thanks so much for coming.. again! You've been to the show alot"

Crazy girl asks him to sign 3 more programs for her "friends" and then hands him - can you guess? - the note she was working on during the show!!! He says thank you and moves on.

The girl who knew about the pen also hands him a note.

He gets to me and signs my program, I say "Enjoyed the show!" but he didn't even look at me and moved right on. Maybe I didn't say it loud enough?? Maybe he has a thing for crazy girls and only talks to them from fear that if he ignores them they'll try to kill him in his sleep or something? Manaen and I were theorizing all night.

Okay, so can't say I wasn't a bit disappointed because THEN - as I stepped back to let others get their autographs, crazy girl asks him for a photo together - and he says yes!! WAIT A MINUTE? We were told not to ask for photos with him? Manaen pushes me back in and is like "Ask him!!". But he obliged a few ppl in the front, said thank you and went back inside.

Bummer - can't say I didn't walk away a bit disappointed. Wanted a photo with him more than an autograph, and it pissed us off that ppl who don't listen to instructions (oh yeah and are psycho) get what they want... but OH WELL! Getting over it =) and Manaen was more than wonderful about everything.

Had an amazing day today, best so far in London and will get to it on a second post!

xoxo Kate & Manaen