Visit to London: 4th August 2009 - including Waterhouse exhibition and a film

Our little legs and feet were pretty much dead by this point so walking needed to be kept to a minimum today. After checking out - but leaving our bags at reception - we headed for breakfast (a busy morning so it was down to Bruno's basement for us!) before wandering towards the Royal Academy.

I was keen to see the JW Waterhouse exhibition: I've long loved The Lady of Shallot (Tate Gallery) and though easy on the eye I coulnd't pass up the chance to see the images up close.

Sadly, Andrew 'Bastard' Lloyd Webber didn't deign to lend my very favourite Ophelia (which I have sadly never seen in the flesh). I have to confess this did rather taint my enjoyment of the show, but nevertheless the pictures are beautiful.

We then mooched over the South Bank and grabbed a seat in the snazzy back bar of the NFT (sorry, I must remember that it is no longer the National Film Theatre, but instead BFI Southbank: shame on me).

We then people watched the ad and film execs in the bar before we then settled in for the 2:10pm screening of Once Upon a Time in the West. The Greatest Western Ever Made. Fact.



This is such a favourite film of ours, we could not pass up the chance to see it on a big screen with a proper sound system.

And yes, I sobbed lots of tears every time Jill's Theme was played - quite possibly one of the most heart-tugging pieces of music in film. In its original version (and please don't force me to listen to inferior later recorded versions), this is just magnificent - that swoop over the rooftops from the station vividly called to mind whenever I hear it. In fact, the music for this is near perfect. And a spectacular film to match.

After that we hopped the tubes back to Store Street to end our trip as we began with a fine meal at Ristorante Olivelli Paradiso. Then it was off to collect our bags and trudge to St Pancras for the train home. Just enough time to collect some gifts and then home, home home.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Confession - I have fallen for a totally cheesy tune

Oh Lordy help me. It must be listening to 6Music that did it. I have to blame someone.

I'm completely hooked on the track "Two Doors Down" by Mystery Jets. It's complete 80s pop reworked for 2008 cheese, with added saxophone cheese. It makes no sense (the first line says he's in love with "the girl next door"; the song then proceeds to go on about, as the title says, being in love with the girl "two doors down"). It is silliness of the highest order. And the video just reinforces this ridiculous 80s excess. It is bonkers.

But, there is something artlessly charming about the song's character being rather reticent and nervy about approaching this rather cool, drum playing girl. And the invocation of Television's "Marquee Moon" has to be worth something, right?

I know, trying too hard. It's nonsense but I'm hooked.

Save me!

PS Far too embarrassed to cross-post this to Music is Our Hot, Hot Sex!