Making a plan with my sister and nieces to see Hamilton at the Palace Theatre in Manchester – a Christmas treat for all of us.

Jenni had got the tickets, I’d booked our hotel rooms, and we’d all agreed on restaurant plan for pre-theatre dinner and drinks.

We had a WhatsApp group to make plans, build our excitement and confirm arrangements.

We’d agreed a meeting point and estimated arrival time.

And we’d all set off when we should.

But could 4 people coming from 4 different places on 4 different trains on a wet day in January all get to Manchester for showtime?

We all wanted to be in The Room Where it Happens!

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Spoilers – it almost went entirely to plan!

My journey from Stoke to Manchester was uneventful. The only tricky part was getting across the slippery platforms at Manchester Piccadilly without hitting the deck again – I think I had a flashback but fortunately stayed upright to make it in time for a quick connection to our meeting point at Oxford Road.

As I walked out of the station entrance, my sister was coming around the corner, so then we were two. Just two nieces to find now… trains slightly delayed but moving; they arrived within a few minutes of each other, so we went from two to three to four in a matter of minutes.

It almost never goes that well!

Excitement building, we checked in at our Premier Inn – when I’d remembered which one I’d booked. A quick turnaround and we were soon heading for food and drinks at Turtle Bay just around the corner – good snacks and 2 for 1 cocktails!

And then it was showtime…

Our seats were high up in the Upper Circle – we only just made it up the steps and into position before the lights went out and the show began.

I know I’m late to the Hamilton party – I’ve never even watched it on Disney+ (my subscription did only start in January though).

But I loved it. And loved being in the theatre for a musical – first time in a long time.

And I loved how much my nieces enjoyed it too – big smiles all round as we headed back to the Premier Inn, via Sainsbury’s Local for midnight snacks.

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Next morning, alarms went off very early and we all soon back on the trains heading back to work, university and college.

But for that one evening, it was great to meet up and all be in The Room Where It Happens!

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50 for 50 #25: 50 posts for my 50th birthday to be posted before I’m 51.