Memorial to Oscar Wilde just near St Martins in the Field across from the National Gallery and Trafalgar Square.

I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying.

Oscar Wilde  http://www.brainyquote.com/

I think that God in creating Man somewhat overestimated his ability.

   If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they’ll kill you.

          It is always a silly thing to give advice, but to give good advice is fatal.

http://ownquotes.com/blog/funny-oscar-wilde-quotes-only-few-witty-ones-chosen/

“There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book.

Books are well written, or badly written. That is all.”

― Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

“There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”

― Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1858012-the-picture-of-dorian-gray source of the quotes

“ Oscar Wilde was one of the greatest playwrights in the English language and, on the anniversary of his death, London sees its first public monument to his memory unveiled on the edge of theatreland.

     The story behind this historic monument began in the 1980s and early 90s when some his fans remarked that there was no public memorial to him in the very city where he lived and his plays were most performed. One of those fans, the film-maker, painter and author Derek Jarman therefore suggested a statue.

     After Derek died in 1994, a group of us from public life got together to form A Statue for Oscar Wilde committee to bring that about, and the unveiling of the memorial sees the successful end to our efforts.

     Sir Jeremy Isaacs: "This is a great day for London, theatreland, for Ireland and for Wilde’s family"

Working with me on the committee were celebrated actors Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellan and poet Seamus Heaney.

     We invited 12 artists to submit sketches and from those submissions, we chose the six we liked most. They went away and made models of their ideas and the one which impressed us the most was the portraitist Maggi Hambling.  http://www.maggihambling.com/

     Maggi has had a life-long fascination with Wilde and had often painted him before. For the memorial, she has created a witty and amusing sculpture and called it A Conversation with Oscar Wilde.

     On a green granite sarcophagus, which serves as a bench on which the public sit, Oscar’s head in bronze is seen rising from the tomb chatting away. He is smoking a cigarette. On the granite is inscribed this quotation from his play Lady Windermere’s Fan: "We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars".

     The funds for the statue were raised by public subscription. In fact, hundreds of people contributed small amounts and various foundations generously put up five figure sums.

     I believe that the unveiling of this statue sees a great day for the theatre, for London, for Ireland, for Oscar Wilde’s family and for all those people who admire both the man and his work.

By Sir Jeremy Isaacs, the Oscar Wilde statue project leader “

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/224663.stm

After leaving Shoreditch we had a snack and then walked along Fleet St. and the Strand to Trafalgar Square but wanted to be at Covent Garden : You Are Here maps are great.

After we wandered about Covent Gardens a bit we went off to look for “the fish and chips place in Covent Gardens.”   I had read somewhere that “the best” and “very busy” fish and chips place was in Covent Gardens; best to arrive after 2 pm to avoid lines.  I, however, had failed to write down the name or address.  Luckily one “shop girl” knew exactly where I meant and we were just down the street.  “Walk to the huge ice cream cones, turn left and follow your nose.”  We did just that and found The Rock and Sole Plaice.  She had also told us to order takeaway and find someplace nice to sit.  I assumed that was because often it was too crowded to find a seat.

     As it was almost 2 pm we were able to find a seat; Andrew opted for indoors.

http://www.rockandsoleplaice.com/

“The Ziyaeddin family bought the business and are still running it 35 years later. It was in the heady days of Covent Garden in the 1980s that the first tourists began to visit the area. They would ask local people ‘What is good British food and where can we get some?’ and they would usually be sent in our direction.”

Andrew had fish and chips and I had fried calamari, the “starter” portion. 

I was amazed at how quickly it came.  My calamari were quite good and tender and hot, just like I like it. 

Andrew liked his fish and chips though I wasn’t as enamored with the fish as he: we traded bits so we could each taste both.  As I’ve eaten calamari many places around the world, I am qualified to judge and think this quite good.    I also ordered a dish of mushy peas.  Always good but too much food…even after all that walking!

The friendly helpful cheerful owners/staff. 

Some reviews complained about the service, price and taste.  We had great service, enjoyed the food, didn’t feel rushed as we were there late and seats were available.  We did realize that food was about 1/3^rd cheaper as takeaway rather than eat in; perhaps that’s why the “shop girl” had suggested takeaway and not for the crowds.    A reminder for next time.

I thought the restaurant’s  WW 2 history interesting

A testimonial to the Fenner sisters who  lived upstairs and taught the current owners how to “fry fish.”

You might need a magnifying glass but it’s worth it to read how the present owners were taught to cook fish by the daughters of the previous owner.  The Fenner sisters, Anna and Rachel, taught the new owners how it was done.  You can see the lines on the building that was used as a guide for whoever did the lettering. 

Andrew and Randal relaxing on the boat.