Gwyneth Paltrow, Eel Pie, and I

Bill writes: Today I had my London class, which was in Greenwich this week. Got into town an hour before lunch so I went here for lunch.



I think I know why each of the dishes is served with liquor. I mean it would take that, wouldn't it? A lot. Well, as it turned out, they were out of eel, as they only serve it Thursdays through Sundays and today was Tuesday. Just my luck.

For class, we went into the Painted Hall. However, we had to sneak round quietly, as they were filming. I was suprised they let us in at all, but as we were mostly a well-behaved bunch (this is Britain, after all), they let us stay while they lit and shot a few scenes. Here they're getting ready.



And here they're filming (NAME DROP WARNING! NAME DROP WARNING!) Gwyneth Paltrow (who is that blurry brownhaired person in the center at the back).



I almost ended up in the scene as they were rounding up several extras to come in as we were leaving, but it would have been rude to ditch my class for a pathetic grasp at fame. (Though I was ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille. Plus, all the extras got free food at the catering truck after. Probably eel.)

After class, I also almost managed to walk through a take as I was crossing through between buildings. Luckily I saw them and stopped in time, and as the security guard was thankful I didn't mess things up for her, she and I struck up a conversation and she let me stay around and watch them filming (NAME DROP WARNING!) Martin Freeman from "The Office" as he rode off in a Ferrari with a bunch of guys in the back. Mr. Freeman is the one on the right.