Last Thursday saw me fill up my car with a large suitcase. several large reusable shopping bags of food and drink, and my wheelchair.
I was off to join some of the Bali Babes for an exciting weekend in London, catching up, having a laugh and making memories. Rachel and Daiane were coming in from Germany, Lisa, Boo and I were travelling from various parts of England.
The Eurobitches
What could possibly go wrong?
Well to start with Daiane’s flight got cancelled the morning she was leaving. Panic did NOT ensue, the ever organised Daiane got a number of trains across Europe until she eventually arrived at the house we had rented for the duration.
Set not far from Westfield shopping centre, it was ideally placed to get in and out of the City for our adventures.
AirBnB
However for the first evening we decided to chill, chat and eat huge burgers!
The amazing Lisa had made a most wonderful cake with our group name ‘Eurobitches’ on the top. Biscoff, condensed milk and lots of other good stuff made a three tier cake of specialness that we enjoyed over the whole weekend. There was even a little left over to take back for my Uncles when I returned home on Sunday.
Biscoff Beauty
So, our first day of adventure was Friday.
Originally we were going to visit Spitalfields and Brick Lane in the morning, however as we had a late night chatting, we decided to spend a lazy morning having breakfast and getting ready to eventually go out.
After a relaxed few hours we decided to head to Westfields to do a little shopping and get ready for our big adventure that night, seeing the musical “Unfortunate” at Southwark Playhouse.
AirBnB Eurobitch Home
Hitting various shops including Primark, Lush, M&S and Sephora we came away with bags of bits and bobs.
Daiane booked in to have her makeup done professionally for the evening performance so we wandered about doing some more shopping before meeting her and returning back to the house.
If you are not aware, “Unfortunate” is the untold story of Ursula the Sea Witch (The Little Mermaid) and is a hilarious, naughty and funny parody of the original film.
Ursula Shoes
We had decided to get all dressed up with various Ursula/Ariel themes and I had decided to wear my Purple Pin Up Girl ‘Monica’ dress, along with some amazing Irregular Choice ‘Ursula’ Shoes. I had an Ursula tote bag and a little ‘Sebastian’ clutch bag by Danielle Nicole
A Bag for my Bits
I decided to try and make my hair stick up like Ursula, and spent a bit of time fretting and getting anxious as my hair just didn’t want to work. Eventually I got it to go as well as I could and started on the make up.
Horatio Felonius Ignacius Crustaceous Sebastian
Glittery purple shades and a bright red lipstick finished off the look and I was ready to go!
Boo (the Shoe Bitch) helped me put on the ridiculous shoes and took some photographs of my outfit for this blog. The Eurobitches had gone with a combination of Gothy grunge, purple lusciousness and Ursula accessories.
Monica, Ursula and Me
Lisa had lent me an amazing gold seashell necklace that sang the musical notes that Ariel gives to Vanessa (Ursula in disguise) and some seashell earrings.
Everyone was ready so we grabbed an Uber to take us to Southwark.
Purple Reign
Arriving at the theatre we all received a lot of looks from the other people waiting to see the show. One gentleman even came up and just clapped us all, with a big smile on his face.
All of a sudden I heard someone shout “Tan” rather loudly. It wasn’t any of the group so who was that?
Lovely Leanda
Only the amazing Leanda, a lovely lady I have known for several years through both the plus size community and the Twinwood vintage goers. By some fluke, she was seeing the same show and so we had a few photographs together before getting our drinks and heading to the seats.
Mwaaah
The show started and it was absolutely out of this world. Funny, risque, sweary and a little silly, all of the performers were simply brilliant. Each actor took on multiple roles apart from Ursula and one of the parts that showed of this difficulty was when the French chef was searching for Sebastian the crab, both played by the same person!
Eurobitches at Large
Eventually it got to half time and three of the group went upstairs to get more drinks. I was sitting chatting with Boo when an usher from the theatre came up and extended a card out to me.
Boo and T
I thought I was in trouble at first!
Digging out my reading glasses I was thrilled and shocked to read the most lovely words from Ursula herself.
Such A Suprise!
The postcard went on to say that she would love to take some photographs after the show if I was up for it.
Up for it?
Hell yeah!!!
Watching the second half of the show was difficult as I was so excited to meet the star of the show, Shawna Hamic herself. However the show was such good fun that I was soon absorbed in the storyline and the fantastic songs within it.
The ‘Other’ Ursula
I have to say I was completely gutted when it was all over, but the encore made it worth it; Ursula on a disco ball style swing that rose high into the air whilst she sang.
Eurobitched Do Theatre
The audience were clapping and whooping along and it finished off the show in great style.
As everyone started to clear out, the usher came over again and advised that Shawna would be coming out soon to meet us. I was so excited, literally fangirling and on total tenterhooks.
Awaiting Ursula
Shawna came out in full Ursula mode and I was ecstatic.
Super Shawna
She asked if I wanted to come up on to the stage to get photos with the backdrop of the stage behind us.
This is when it became really ‘Unfortunate’.
Fangirl!
The stage was quite deep and I put my foot onto the stage to push myself up. My knee completely gave way, buckled and I hit the stage face first!
Utter mortification hit me as I lay on my back like a turtle and I was struggling to get up. Now, in theory I was now on the stage so that should be a good start.
Plus Size Pin-Up
However the knee was not going to play that game at all.
I tried to stand up, only to fall back down again.
Honorary Eurobitch
Third time lucky…?
No, that didn’t work either and I was back on my bottom, on the stage. All of the girls and Shawna were trying to help me get up and the knee just wouldn’t all me to do so.
Strike a Pose
I had a brainwave though.
Lying down on my tummy, I wiggled to the edge of the stage until my feet hit the floor, my legs were straight and I could push myself up with my arms.
Now that I was back standing up, red faced and mortified, I had to meet the wonderful star properly, Shawna.
Babes on Show
She was an absolute darling and was just concerned that I was okay. My body was fine, but my anxiety and embarrassment were pretty heightened. Shawna told me not to worry and that it was no problem and we then proceeded to take photographs together with the stage background behind us.
Then the Eurobitches got into the shoot, with some of them standing on the stage whilst I stayed on terra firma. After a dozen or so photographs, we made our goodbyes and exited the theatre to head to the foyer.
Julian/Vanessa
This is when when met (and accosted) Julian Capolei who had several roles in the show, including the wicked Vanessa, alter ego of Ursula. We asked if he would take some pictures with us and he was a complete hoot and took several with us all.
We headed up to the bar area and were lucky to see most of the cast come up to have drinks before they left for the night.
Unfortunate….
What a completely amazing adventure we had all experienced!
Anyway, we had a couple more days to spend together so I will be sharing all of that, including The Queen Charlotte Afternoon Tea.
So, watch this space!
Till next time,
SPSG xxx