OK, grab a cuppa girls, this may be long
I will set a photo tral with pix later.
We had a fab time, though poor ds was so tired, I didn't send him into school today
The room was fabulous, with a bath big enough to swim in! DS, who is not known for his personal hygiene, had 3 showers and 2 baths in 24 hours, so taken wa he with it all. And a child's Dressing gown, so cute!
Madame Tussauds is crap btw. I didn't see Gordon ramsey
The staff were utterly charming and lovely. I got rather freaked out by the ladies cloakroom, as a small elderly woman appeared from nowhere and filled my washbasin and insisted on pressing the soap dispenser for me. I just find that a little too subservient. If I had waited long enough, she would have wiped by bum for me...
The awards started out promisingly enough. The childrenwere all given little white lab coats to denote 'expertness' and there was a fanfare as each child entered th room. But then it transpired they were not allowed to touch or playw ith the toys. More they had to stand and watch while 2 Hamleys employees demonstrated the toys. The children were then asked ''what do you think?'' while some smary compere made 'amusing' comments.
After 20 minutes of this, ds was close to tears as we had been led to beliee the children would be testing the toys (ie playing) They sked ds what he thought of a toy and he stood up and declared very fiercely and passionately, as only a disappointed 9 year old can :
''How should I know what to think of the toys if I'm not allowed to touch or play with them, It's not fair!'' And then he sat down. there was a sharp intake of breaths and some nervous laughter. Then the compere said ''let's have a break'' and miraculously afterwards, they let the children play with most of the stuff....
And then they had a blast! And ds was so proud because the toy he was chosen to test was voted Toy Of The Year. (but you won't all be rushing to but one as it is expensive and impracticle unless you have a large concretey garden to use it (was like a cross beween a low-down trike and a go-kart.)
The a ridiculously dainty lunch of teeny sandwishes and garnish and fruit salad and petit fours was served but nne of the childrenw ould eat any because they wanted to carry on playing with the toys!
And Monopoly has been redesigned with - shock, horros! A chip and pin reading smart card machine instead of money!!! Chizz Chizz!
And then we had an absolute ball in Hamleys with £200 to spend. We bough nothing owrthwhile or eucational - just obscene amounts of lego, and a remote controlled UFO and a light dabre and bionicles and a bubble machine, and a monkey! And everything.
And ds said it was the best 3 days of his life. And I was so proud of him as he was gorgeous to be away with just the 2 of us. He was polite to the staff and tried to carry my bags when I was tired, and bought sweets to share with the other children, and told his life story to a hunky young blade who gave us a ride back to the hotel on a bicycle rickshaw and the guy said my son made him want a son
And the prices at Claridges were hysterical! (I took my own half bottle of champagne in with me . eg rooom service - £5.50 for a cup of tea plus £4 delivery charge. An omelette £15. A plate of fruit salad £12....