Geology and Theatre

This morning James and I did some shopping in the morning in the Burlington Arcade and Fortnum and Masons, and fulfilled a long held ambition by visiting a very important map at the Geological Society. A few years ago James and I both read and enjoyed a book that Bob lent us about the geologist William Smith, and the book mentioned that the map which was the culmination of Smith’s life’s work is behind a curtain on the stairs wall of the Geological Society. So I phoned first to confirm that we could visit, and then we turned up and were given a warm welcome by the lovely receptionist, who drew back the big curtain so that we could look at the map. It felt quite moving to see it, and James perused it for a long time. We also popped up to the library upstairs which has every geological book and magazine imaginable. Unlike the pleasant receptionist downstairs, the two people who were in the library watched us suspiciously while we looked around and only spoke to us to tell me off for touching one of the rarer books that was lying on a table. 

For dinner Cat had kindly booked a Spanish restaurant which was very near the Donmar Warehouse. Ally was working late so he met us at the theatre. The play was Henry V and it was tremendous. I have neither read nor watched it before and I was amazed, as I often am by Shakespeare, at just how relevant it feels to our lives now. Its theme of ordinary soldiers questioning what the war was for is very topical regarding Russian soldiers in Ukraine, and I was fascinated with what seemed to me Henry V’s evolution from a young irresponsible man, to earnest King, to brave soldier and finally to triumphant and smiling monster. The star, Kit Harrington of Game of Thrones fame, was a brilliant actor and so were the rest of the cast.