Went to see a performance of "HMS Pinafore" yesterday, at the open air theatre in Regent's Park. This was the first time I'd watched a Gilbert & Sullivan show from start to finish, and though I was a bit dubious in advance, I thoroughly enjoyed it!!! The songs are great, and though the story is complete tosh, it's played for laughs, so it doesn't really matter. The cast were all strong, and the lovely setting added to the atmosphere. (We were lucky -- there were dark clouds overhead, but the rain held off!) This was my first time in Regent's Park -- it's a lovely spot. I definitely hope to get back there for some more theatre next summer ...

I got broadband for the laptop I use while in London -- it makes a HUGE difference!! Unfortunately, at my main PC in Ireland, I can't get a broadband connection, because Eircom are a bunch of Dark Age buffoons!!!! Oh well, one day it will come ... probably in 20 years or so, when there's something even newer and faster that the rest of the world are enjoying!!!!

Went up to Manchester today to see some art pieces by Willard Wigan. He's an amazing sculptor, who creates incredibly small works -- and I mean TINY!!!! You have to use a microscope to see them in detail! I'm hoping to buy a few pieces by him -- I'm impressed as much by the process involved in creating them as I am by the sculptures themselves -- he has to slow his heartbeat down in order to keep his hand steady!!!!! You can learn more about him, and see a few of his pieces (though they're nowhere near as impressive as they are in the diminutive flesh) at