The British Library is enormous and a stunning structure. Michael was directed to the registration to get his reader’s card. He was granted a three-year readers card and we sent him off to the rare books & manuscripts room for what must have felt like a research party. He spent hours identifying 23 documents that he wants to request a look-see in one of their reading rooms – he’ll definitely be heading back next week.
Grace & I explored all the floors and settled in the Sir John Ritblat Gallery to see the treasures exhibit with more than 250 historic documents. We strolled through sacred texts, historical, science, music and literature manuscripts, including the Magna Carta, Shakespeare’s First Folio and Beatles’ song lyrics written by hand. They have amazing computer programs that let you “turn the pages” of rare notebooks and journals. We looked through Mozart’s journal while listening to a few bars of music through the audio files. Next we turned the pages of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures Underground with his beautiful hand-drawn illustrations. We couldn’t wait to tell Michael about the poetry and manuscript pages from Virginia Wolfe, Dickens, Henry James and Bronte.
By the time we rendezvoused it was practically dinner time so we consulted the trusty tube map & our favorite “cheap eats” guide to identify a few places in Soho that sounded good. I really wanted to find Yming, a Chinese place around the Soho theatre district. After a few missed turns and a double-back we found it and despite no reservation, we were seated at a window table and treated very well.
As we sipped drinks, we heard the owner great someone at the door and welcome him back to London. Grace paled a little and her eyes were wide with excitement. She turned to me and said, “I swear that’s Tim Curry!” I assured her Tim Curry was much taller than the guy who just walked in. But she continued to look in the direction of his table and we asked Michael to discretely turn, look and give his opinion. He said, “I think that is Tim Curry.” It appeared he was eating alone but it wasn’t long before he stepped outside and I panicked thinking my chance to get a picture had just slipped away. As I was trying to shoot a photo from my seat the people seated next to us were realizing something was going on. The man looked toward the window and said “Oh, that’s what is happening.” He & his dining companion said we were actually sitting at Tim Curry’s preferred table and they had momentarily thought Michael was him when we sat down. Tim should be complimented!
Anyway, I grabbed a notebook and headed to the door as Tim smoked a cigarette and waved to a few people on the street. I asked for his autograph and he graciously agreed, asking for my name. I headed back to the table, triumphant and smiling. Still, we figured no one would believe it without photographic evidence. The restaurant’s owner came over and said he could take a photo after Mr. Curry finished his dinner. Michael figured this was the owner’s way of telling me to leave him alone to eat! So we ordered a pot of tea and Grace ordered dessert just to make sure we didn’t leave too soon. Mr. Curry stepped outside and the owner gave us the signal. I handed over the camera and turned back to make sure Grace & Michael were coming too. No, those ninnies decided they were too shy! Grace said it was “my moment.” So here’s the proof and what a night!
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