if you need a place to park coming down the M1, try Stanmore tube station. I've never done it, but loads of people I went to school with used to do that (live in herts) and my brother did that in January coming down from Northants... said loads of parking at the station and cheap, can't remember exact cost but much cheaper than trains.

I'm seeing the show on Sat, so I hope its good for both of us!

So how was TPOTO?

It was the single BEST show I've ever seen in my entire life! It was absolutely amazing. I was knackered afterwards, it was so emotionally engaging. Bearing in mind that I've waited twenty years to see that show, as soon as the music started (you know - THAT music) I had tears in my eyes (don't laugh lol) and my daughter and I looked at each other, and said "YES!". It kicked Joseph's butt, I have to say!!!!!!! It's better than the film - we understood more from the stage show than from the film, things we had missed or that weren't made clear in the film. It's SOOOOO much better than the film! When Christine sang "Wishing you were here again" ... made me cry. I can still feel the emotion of the whole show now. I've never felt that emotionally involved before - Joseph's a laugh, Cats and Starlight Express are clever and technical etc, but POTO was entrancing!

I can't believe the Phantom and Christine hit those notes twice a day ... We asked the Phantom if he doesn't get bored singing the same things every day and he said "No, it's different every day." Interesting. On the other hand, we spoke to two guys in the orchestra (because I have a trumpeter and an oboist) and they said it WAS really boring playing repeatedly, but that it was a good job and good money - plus they do other things during the day.

My eldest daughter has a new job and is planning how long it will take to save up for tickets to go again ... and to be in London ... my home! After so many years! It was like a shot of energy into my heart, without wanting to sound melodramatic ... my daughter said she understood me better after spending the day there.

And look who we bumped into while we were wandering around Pall Mall (although the berk has his eyes shut in this photo)!

http://www.servimg.com/image_preview...=39&u=11835458

Out of the seven (?) million people in London, we bumped into Lee! And not only that, when we were talking to the Phantom after the show, he said "Lee's my buddy ... he was my guest today" - so I think that means that we technically watched the show with Lee Mead .. doesn't it? Hehehe. Leah said I acted like a groupie after we met Lee 'cos I yelled "LEE EFFING MEAD! OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!". He's so incredibly buff. However, I said "I'm involved in Keith's website", and he was like "Oh great" (translation: woteva hehehe) and ran off 'cos he was late!

I'm so glad you enjoyed the show. I saw it in 1987 and then again about 5 years ago, when I took my son. I have to say that 5 years ago it was just as good as when I first saw it with Michael Crawford as the Phantom. The production values were still very high.

As for the Phantom, is that Ramin Karimloo? He had the part of Chris in Miss Saigon when I saw it 2 years ago. Except it wasn't him I saw. It was his 'buddy' and understudy, some bloke called Lee Mead!!! Lee was fab. I believe Lee also understudied Ramin when he played Raoul in POTO.

I like the show better than the film. It's pacier and I love the dressing room scene where Raoul struggels to get in Christine's dressing room while she goes through the mirror. My son loved the mirror changing from showing Christine's reflection to the phantom's on the other side.

Your photo is great and your children look lovely. I hope you get to see the show again soon.