weekend whirlwind

The Divine Suetekh, AKA pvcdiva, was in town this weekend: astoundingly, London is still standing (just barely.)

On Saturday, we got up horribly early to get to the ENO costume sale out at their warehouse in Limehouse. The estimable fracture242 joined us in the queue, which seemed to be composed entirely of Goths who hadn't been to bed after the previous night's opening of new club Tarantula. It was fun (if a shade frantic), and we all came away with some lovely pieces: Suetekh with a blue-and-white Victorian dress, some sparkly beads, several pairs of spats and some frilly bloomers; Fracture with a gorgeous Edwardian red satin ensemble; and I with an ivory-and-gold vaguely Klimtian-looking overdress. I also came out with a simple black dress (£5), a drapey black skirt with gold embellishment (£5), and the hugest hoop crinoline known to science (£20).

After trying to carry the crinoline over one shoulder while schlepping the Diva's bags and my own, it became obvious that the easiest way to transport the damn thing was to wear it. Cue me swearing my way down the King's Road clutching several bin bags full of costumes with my lower half in full sail. I trust I was able to make everyone's day that little bit more surreal.

After depositing our various purchases at our various homes, the three of us reconvened that evening for Love's Labours Lost at the Globe. ( Come with us, won't you? )

And we polished up the handle of the big front door

On Sunday last, pvcdiva, midnightxpress and I went up to Stanmore: the Diva needed to collect Stanmore station for her tubewhore project, and she suggested we investigate Grim's Dyke.

Grim's Dyke is an Arts and Crafts folly of a house, formerly owned by a succession of eminent Victorians with more money than sense. The best-known of these was WS Gilbert of Gilbert and Sullivan fame, who died there while "rescuing a young lady from drowning" (yeah, riiiight) in the ornamental lake. The house is now a hotel with a resident company of G&S singers, and La Diva had booked us in for one of their regular musical afternoon teas. ( Are you terrified yet? )