Afternoon tea

After the Cyrano Dress Rehearsal I went to join Faye at the Stage Door; she had been joined by Canterbella, and it was lovely to meet her for the first time.

We hung around the Stage Door for a while but then a security chap told us that Mr Domingo would not be coming out of the Stage Door: he had private guests, and he was tired, and would be leaving by another door. Of course we were disappointed but that's totally his right, and I am absolutely not complaining.

There was some joking amongst a few people, myself included, that between us we could cover all doors, and with mobile phones we could let others know. But I would not contemplate actually doing such a thing.

So, instead Faye and I went to lunch, and then shopping in the Royal Opera House shop : I bought a book that is newly published Plácido Domingo and The Royal Opera:

Plácido Domingo, one of the legendary opera singers of our time, is the subject of the first opera book in the "Royal Opera House Heritage" series. Plácido Domingo and The Royal Opera focuses on the special relationship he has enjoyed with the Company and with the Royal Opera House since his debut in 1971.

This book illustrates all aspects of Domingo's work with The Royal Opera: in rehearsal, in performance, on the Big Screen and backstage after galas. It also includes a selection of family photographs lent by the Domingos.

We also perused the delightful display of photos of Plácido in the corridor outside the shop and ticket office.

After lunch, we realised what we really needed was a good cup of tea. I know it sounds stupid but where in central London can you get a nice cup o' tea and a sit down? So we thought we would head for the Tube and see if we passed anything on the way. (At this point, I become mysteriously vague about our precise location in the Greater London area for reasons that will become apparent)

Then, one or other of us had a blinding flash of inspiration, and the other duly egged on: the best place to get a nice cup of tea and sit down in comfort is a hotel. This flash of inspiration happened as we were passing a nice hotel, and we went in, but realised that the lounge was full of people having full afternoon tea, which we didn't want, considering we had just eaten. In my case a Fiorentina Pizza and a chocolate fudge cake...

However, tables in the hotel lobby had bar menus on them, so we sat there. We sort of expected the waiter to come over to us, but when he didn't we didn't have the energy to attract his attention. And we were so busy having a nice sit down and a chat, that the need for a cup of tea disappeared.

I decided it was time that I checked out the reshuffle latest via WAP on my phone (I am far more of a political junkie than is apparent on this blog). I was busy faffing with my phone, when Faye said "Look who's just walked in...!" "Who?" I said. "Plácido!" she said. At which point I dropped my phone and she ordered me to put out my cigarette. I waved to him...I was so cool and nonchalant, you wouldn't believe! And he said "Hi there!" causing my heart to go boom-boom-boom-boom. And he smiled and waved at us both!

He is just so unbelievably cool, just strolling around. You know you get these pop stars that no one's ever heard of who have all these minders, which only serve to draw attention to themselves anyway, and he's so completely different, even though he knows full well he could be followed or approached by crazy fan women at any time.

We very quickly agreed that we would not go rushing over to him or anything silly like that - we wouldn't want him to think we were stalking him, now, would we. I'd be lying if I said it didn't even cross my mind, that I wasn't tempted. But it would have been extreme bad manners, and an intrusion of his privacy, and I wouldn't do that.

It was the perfect ending to a rather fantastic twenty four hours.

And, you know, I adore Plácido now even more than I did before. He is unbelievably wonderful in every possible way.