So it was, that after a very slow start to the morning we headed in to the city to visit Harrods. Letting the kids lead us through the store meant that we took more than a few wrong turns – into high end jewelry, furniture worth more than our car and the sporting wear section staffed by olympian look-alikes. We did manage to check out the food halls, toy section and Harry Potter area before heading to the gift store.
Leaving Harrods we went to Soho to find the Palace Theatre – home to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. This was planned as a highlight of our trip. All being Harry Potter fans, we were excited about seeing this theatrical production in London.
Picking up our tickets at the box office, we set of to search for a quick and close-by lunch. Security for the show was high and the theatre asked patrons to arrive an hour before the show to avoid delays.
We found a “Shake Shack”, a cheap and quick burger chain from the US. Simple fare of burgers and chips saw us ready to battle the security lines. This battle never came though as we barely had to queue before having our bags and my daypack checked.
Entering the theatre, we pre-ordered snacks for interval before waiting near the bar for the doors to open. The bar emptied so quickly once the doors opened that Anthony commented that it was like pulling the plug on a full bath.
It needs to be said that Megan had definitely spoiled us with incredible seats. We were in the 3rd row back from the stage with incredible views. We were separated by two seats so we paired off into girl and boy seats. The boys decided they could not wait for interval and purchased some Fruit Pastilles – yum.
The anticipation grew with a palpable energy in the theatre, clearly packed with many a Harry Potter fan. The show soon began and did not disappoint. Good acting was supported by incredible staging and more than enough “magic” to keep us wondering how they were doing it.
Interval arrived and the girls headed out, returning quickly with our pre-ordered interval snacks, before lining up for the toilet. On the way back to the seats Amelia mentioned to Megan that she had a sore tummy. We did not appreciate how this was a portent for the future.
Instead of having girl and boy seats, after interval we decided to let the kids sit together in the more central seats while Megan and I sat in the seats to one side. We were enjoying the post-interval show when it was interrupted by the unmistakable sound of explosive, projectile vomiting. Looking in the direction of the sound, Megan and I quickly realised that the sound, and the vomit, was emanating from Amelia.
Despite a valiant attempt to contain her vomit in a water bottle she was holding, Amelia managed to target herself, a neighbouring American tourist, the seats in front of her, Hamish and my backpack. springing into action, we quickly exited Amelia from the seats (having to interrupt all the patrons to her right). Meeting in the hallway outside Amelia continued to wretch as Anthony guided her towards the toilet. Leaving Amelia in the loos, Anthony then found a female staff member to clear the toilets so that Anthony could go in to help clean up Amelia (who was covered from her hair to her boots) and to clean her Harry Potter Gryffindor scarf.
In the meanwhile, Megan tried her best to get Hamish and everyone else in our row settled and back into their seats. Seeing another patron leave, Megan followed her out to find out that her jacket (her ONLY winter jacket for her holiday in London) was no longer suitable for wearing. Megan and the amazing theatre staff tried their best to help the American lady to get cleaned up.
By this stage, Amelia and Anthony had come out of the toilets having cleaned up as best as they could, but without eliminating the awful stench of the vomit. Making a decision to get Amelia back to our apartment to clean up, Megan went back into the theatre to retrieve Hamish while Amelia and Anthony exited the theatre to wait without making any more patrons sick.
At this point it is worth noting that the Harry Potter play was in two parts. We were scheduled back in the theatre later that night for Part 2. Making the decision that Megan and Hamish would stay in town, Amelia and Anthony caught an Uber home, apologising all the way to the driver about the smell and freezing with all the windows down. London traffic being what it is, the journey seemed to take forever with Anthony worrying about getting back in time, despite Amelia now seeming quite upbeat and listing off the landmarks (including Buckingham Palace) that we passed along the way. Arriving home, Amelia headed for the shower, while Anthony set about getting her clothes into the wash and cleaning Amelia’s handbag and his backpack. Anthony has always been the one in our family who cleans up the vomit – but oh my god, the smell!
Just as Anthony was on the phone to Megan to say that we might have a chance of getting back to the theatre again, Amelia vomited again (without a mess this time). Amelia and Anthony’s Harry Potter night was done. They spent the rest of the night snuggled up on the couch.
In the meantime, Megan and Hamish headed out for dinner, interrupted with a couple of toilet visits by Hamish that had Megan wondering if he was going to be sick also. Despite these rumblings though, they were both able to see Part 2 without incident, although Megan was quite mortified at seeing the new patrons impacted by damp (but clean) seats and the ever-present smell.
It has to be said here that the staff at the Palace Theatre were incredibly supportive and helpful. Kudos to them for the way they handled this.
Amelia would go on to be sick 7 times in total lasting in to the next day – leading to us all having an at home day. Thankfully, she came good and no one else got sick. We don’t know why this happened but hopefully this will be our only hiccup for the trip.