Next stop is the National Theatre, to pick up their current brochure - and receive excellent advice. The NT reserves several seats for each performance until the day of the performance, at a price of £15. Hard for us not to remember that a few years ago it was £10, but still one of the best theatre deals in London. The box office opens at 9:30 and, according to the lovely young man on duty the earliest queues have started as early as 4:00 AM. That'll unusual, though, and one of the many bits of good advice he gives us is to call the evening before we are thinking of attending to ask what time that morning's queue formed.
We tend to forget how tidal the Thames is, but it's low tide now and there's a fair beach down below the walkway. There's a man playing the sax - with a blanket to catch coins thrown in appreciation, and sand artists. There are also quite a few children digging happily. Last stop is the Tate Modern. We're hoping for a new installation in the great hall, and there will be, but not yet. Dozens of workers in hi-vis jackets are busy with some enterprise, which we hope will be finished before we leave London. There is a consolation exhibit though. Outside an installation creates a "fog sculpture" - a mist that adults as well as children are enjoying playing in.
It's Thursday - kleftiko day at our favourite Kilburn café - so we take a Jubilee line train to Kilburn and find we're in time. They haven't run out. Good as ever. We always say we could split a portion and be satisfied - but we never do. Chat with the owner, who remembers us now. Yes, there are quite a few regulars. Six of them died during the last year. I'm curious about the man I photographed here a couple of years back, asleep over his tea mug, but am reluctant to admit to photographing the customers without permission. No, most of the regulars don't live in the area, but they keep coming back.
