22,708 performances - how surreal

I took Mum and Dad to the Victoria & Albert Museum today to see the Surrealism and Design exhibition. The current exhibition tracks the influence of Surrealism artists like Dali on fashion, design and the arts. Three halls at the V&A are filled with all manner of surrealist-influenced objects. Dad was particularly keen on seeing his first genuine Salvador Dali painting.

I was thrilled to see several famous items I've heard about for some time. Highlights for me included Dali's 'Lobster Telephone', the Mae West inspired pink lip sofa and Meret Oppenheim's 'Table with Bird's Legs'. Dad also got to see several Dali works including 'A Couple With Their Heads Full of Clouds' and one enormous series of wall panels - sadly their title escapes me.

Mum and I particularly enjoyed the enormous Joan Miró tapestry, originally commissioned to revitalize the ailing Gobelins factory in France. It hung next to the original canvas Miro painted as a template. It took me several minutes to realise one was canvas and the other fabric. Amazing.

Following our surreal experience, the three of us ventured into Covent Garden for a late lunch. We then stopped off at St Martins Theatre to collect Mum and Dad's tickets for this evening's performance of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap. Now, into its 55th year, tonight's performance was number 22, 708. Now that's surreal!