Twenty four hours of considerable contrast. Last night we went out clubbing for the first time since we got here. We didn't really know where to go, since we'd forgotten to look at any of our magazines before leaving Neil's apartment, but we happened across somebody handing out passes for a place called The Factory, so we gave it a try. It was a nice, intimate space - a dance floor that wove in between several columns and around two bars. We stayed until around one a.m., I guess, but neither of us were particularly into it, I think. To my mind, the English aren't a particularly attractive race (guys in tight tshirts with skinny arms), and since I didn't care too much for the music, I didn't see the point in hanging around too long. There was one cute guy with a rippled stomach who kept eyeing Brett. The pair of them danced right next to each other for ages, but neither broke the ice. So much for that.

We got up late, and I felt a bit out of sorts. Whether it was the late night, or the valium (my first ever) that Brett had prescribed for me so that I could sleep better, I felt a little testy, though I succeeded in not letting it showing to anybody. We took the train up to St Albans to spend the day with my family.

The spectacular new British Library, with St Pancras in the background.

On the way to see my folks

I was pleased that Brett didn't mind spending time with my family - I'm not sure I'd have agreed so easily if the situation was reversed. He was, of course, a big hit with my family. He's so natural and charming - one of the things I like best about Brett is that he speaks to everyone in exactly the same way - never any pretense, airs or graces. My Dad said to me "I like your mate."

The inevitable tour of St Michaels Village, a quaint old spot near St Albans Cathedral

My mother was in much better form today, despite our fears that introducing a stranger to her would confuse her. If anybody was out of it today, it was me. I even had a couple of little spats with each of my sisters, as we temporarily reverted to our childhood personas.

Brett shows off his undies while photographing the Roman remains.

An international organ festival was concluding this weekend in St Albans Cathedral, and we sat and listened to the choir and orchestra practice. I loved it, since it was a fairly modern Mass, and it filled the cathedral with what, to me, was a wonderful noise. As I sat there, still feeling, at first, tired and grouchy, I started to feel more relaxed. I imagined that Brett and my family must have felt that moment similarly, but when I surreptitiously photographed them, I saw they were all laughing. Nobody liked the music but me, it turns out. Too modern for them. My family are such philistines :)

Listening to the orchestra in the cathedral.

After more trudging around (this was our first day with no rain!), and more coffee and tea-cakes, we said our goodbyes, and returned back to London, tired out. But the late afternoon light was beautiful, and I went up on the roof to take some photos amidst the many differently shaped brick chimneys, a la Mary Poppins.

A Mary Poppins moment.

Brett and I always go to the movies back home on Saturdays, and tonight was no different. We'd bought tickets for "Jurrassic Park III" at my favorite cinema in the whole wide world, the Empire Leicester Square. It was quite a scene down there in the dusk - crowds and crowds of people milling about in search of entertainment. We ate dinner outside at a pasta restaurant right in the midst of it, and people-watched as we gulped down our food so that we wouldn't be late for our movie.

After the movie (which was a lot more scary than previous installments), we came out to a Leicester Square that was even more alive than before. If you haven't seen London's West End in recent years on a Saturday night, you don't know what party energy is! It honestly makes New York look like Cleveland, Ohio in comparison. The streets were hopping, the restaurants were jammed, the sidewalk cafes full - and all this despite pub closing hours still remaining at 11.00 p.m. We walked around for a while, taking it all in, and then finally walked home to our quiet flat in Bloomsbury.