EB. Judy and Freddie

My only picture of the a very happy day! I will update later! Having practised a quick drive yesterday I was all set for the drive to Malvern to go to the theatre. We were avoiding the run through Bristol on the M4 so turned off to go through Monmouth on the A449. A lovely drive on good roads apart from a small diversion at the end and Judy had asked the satnav to take us to a long stay car park. Whole day parking was just £4 which surprised us both! There was a gentle walk to find the theatre and a place to have lunch. One place with a lovely courtyard garden was fully booked and the one we ate at had just the one table left. It was very modern with clean lines and good service. Jude was disappointed in the asparagus tart as there was very little of the main ingredient and masses of peas and very little egg to bind it! I had decided on a fruit pancake stack with crème fraiche which was delicious!

The play was By Royal Appointment with Anne Reid , already in her 90s, and Caroline Quentin. Given that QEII was not particularly interested in clothes she was very aware of the power to say something through them! The play was really a four handed which involved the Queen, her dresser, her dress designer, Norman Hartnell and her milliner, Freddie Fox, both of the latter two being gay in a period where it would have meant instant dismissal from palace service. The theme that kept the play going was looking at what clothes the queen wore in which situations and each section was introduced by referring to events happening in the world or the nation at that time! It sounds dry put like that but it was very funny!

I was shocked to realise my age demographic! Practically everyone in the audience was over the age of 70 or so it appeared! The drive back was delightful after we got past the cows that were on the road. They were lovely and the cars were being respectful but there was no one with them so I think someone was phoning the farmer! The journey slowed when we came into Cardiff as there was a show at the arena but all in all it went very well and Freddie had the meal ready when we got home! He almost always does the cooking very well!