Mei in Colchester

Friends in Colchester and Even London:
Yesterday, I found myself trailing after my elder daughter Mei—the actress, the star—in a maternal supporting role all the way to Colchester. She’s in The 39 Steps, currently on at the Mercury Theatre, and very much enjoying her time on and off stage.
Mei is staying with the wonderfully generous Nelleke, a school friend of my dear friend Helen Wing (who herself hails from Colchester). The kindness! Nelleke kindly opened her home to someone she’d never met. I had the pleasure of taking Nelleke and her husband both out for a meal and a long, meandering chat, the kind that leaves your cheeks sore from smiling.
If you’re in London and fancy a dash of theatre and history, hop on a train—Colchester is less than an hour away. The city is rich with stories: Roman walls, the largest Norman keep in Europe (Colchester Castle Museum), and streets that wind past glorious Tudor houses, looking like they’ve stepped straight out of a costume drama. Tickets here:
https://www.mercurytheatre.co.uk/