Tonight was my first talk with Scarlet Ladies UK (!). Their stated aim is to abolish the stigma of talking about sex.. so they have a load of talks. This one was about the history of slut-shaming. I had a late meeting, so didn't have time to eat beforehand - just galloped off down the road, managing to get one of a number of direct buses that would take me there. No problems finding it - as I replied when the organiser asked me whether I had, "Not with Google Maps"!
23 Paul Street is, in fact, on 23 Paul Street, and has a big, purple flag over the door to announce its location. And a doorman. And a very forbidding, large wooden door. Definitely a private members' club, I guessed. There was a woman too, who checked my name off a list and told me to go "straight up the stairs until you reach the bookcase". Very dark stairs, dark carpet as well - the woman who came in behind me assured me that I wasn't there yet, but I explained that I was actually trying not to stumble, as the lighting was very poor! She assured me that the lights brightened as the evening went on. (?)
Got to the bookcase - as I suspected, there is a secret doorway in it, which was open, and in I went - the woman behind me carried on up, saying, "That's you!". Guess she was on other business. A woman was standing inside, ready to greet me - she explained that they have a bar (just over there) where you can pay for alcohol - soft drinks are free. I had a wine. She introduced me to those already there, and once I had my drink, I took a place on one of the sofas. The speaker was already there, and shortly engaged in a fascinating conversation with the other woman on my sofa, about the perils of sex blogging and trolls. I can imagine - and after a while, with all the details I heard, I didn't have to!! (The speaker runs the Whores of Yore blog site.)
Well, the talk was delayed because apparently the talk had originally been scheduled for later, and only half the people who were supposed to come had arrived so far, and the organiser was worried that people hadn't heard. This does turn out to be a club that you can pay membership of, and then all the events are free - and I daresay she didn't want to have her regulars miss out. They did seem a lovely group of women, actually - and quite a varied one, of sundry different nationalities, as it transpired.
The talk was supposed to last from 7 to 8:30 - in the event, it started at 7:20, finished at 8:25, and in between we got maybe 15 minutes of actual history. The speaker, Kate Lister, has a PhD in feminism - and on this occasion was much happier just to engage her audience in discussion, rather than lecture to us. Great.. 'cept I was there for the history, and what I got was a sodding self-help seminar! Sorry, but I was telling the truth - when she asked for a show of hands of women who'd been slut-shamed, or had slut-shamed others, and I didn't put my hand up (and was about the only one who didn't). Honestly, this was not a thing when / where I was growing up. I never, ever heard the term "slut" except on telly - and so much of what was on telly was alien to us: like, for instance, public transport: that we would never have copied it. The talk duly moved on to sexual fantasies, and sorry, but I just felt no affinity with these women, who were talking about the shame associated with certain ones. Eh, not me, sister..
Lovely women, but honestly I doubt I'll be back - just not my thing. Interesting decor, though - had it not been so dark throughout, I'd have taken photos. Afterwards, the host explained to us that this was a strip club (aha! No wonder it's dark) and if we wanted a tour, the person to ask was Kathy - sat near me, as it happened. I see her name on the website, too. I might have - but there was no general rush in her direction, and frankly, feeling out of place (the group, not the building..) I just wanted to scarper. And that's what I did, down stairs that seemed just as dark to me as when I came up. I don't think the lights get brighter, I think it's just that the outside gets darker, to match. As I left, I got a blast of heat - nice to see they're taking care of the doorman! It rained, which it wasn't supposed to.. And I was home nice and early. I do believe that all their meetings are there - but although I'm intrigued by the building, sometimes you just get a feeling that a group is wrong for you, y'know?
Tomorrow, I was back with Jennifer Rees (Funzing, courtesy of London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night), for a talk about the Psychology of Serial Killers. This is at least the third instance of this talk - I was booked for one last month, but had to cancel - it clashed with the trip to the Icebar. The next was sold out - and then I saw this one and booked, at last! It's on the Battersea Barge, of all places! Just a 10% discount this time - I see the latest code for that is crazy_fun. And gee, guess what.. London Literary Walks just advertised a Regent's Park Walk for that day! Guess I'll never make this talk..!
On Thursday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, a musical about the life of Billie Holiday. Nice and close to me, at Wyndham's. Passed it the other evening, in fact.
On Friday, back with the same group (!) for yet another Camden Fringe double bill: Boris - the Musical! at the Cockpit again (the London European Club - LEC - are also going to this), and Make Advena Great Again, at Camden People's Theatre. Goodness, that's only a short walk from home..
On Saturday, I'm back to the Proms for the first time in years! Funnily enough, it was inspired by a Meetup group - Gothic Requiem London (!). This is the "Gothic Prom", you see - all the composers are Czech (Bohemian). Now, I'm no Goth - but the Proms sound like a great idea.
On Sunday, I'm off on a day trip to Bath, with Carpe Diem: booked while I was in Barcelona, recently.
On Monday, the organiser of Walks, Talks & Treasure Hunts promised Helen and me free tickets to a treasure hunt she was organising that day - in recompense for that treasure hunt, not run by her but advertised by her, where the organisers never showed, and instead marked us as no-shows. However, the event next Monday still hasn't been advertised, and what with severe engineering works at Waterloo for the whole month, Helen's not sure she can make it at all. We shall see.
Next Tuesday, I'm off to see Five Guys Named Moe, at the Marble Arch Theatre - a pop-up, it seems! From the Box Office provided the best deal on this occasion.
On the 30th, I was back with Up in the Cheap Seats, for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, at the Apollo (although booking is with the Young Vic), with Sienna Miller, Colm Meaney, and nudity. Cheapest tickets this time were with LoveTheatre. And then, London Literary Walks advertised one. So, instead, I'm off on The Michelin Walk.
On the 31st, back with those two Funzing groups. This time, the talk is entitled "Can You Trust the Media?", and is given by Annie Machon, who gave an interesting talk last month on Russian Hacking. Another 30% discount. I just wish she'd use some visual aids.. At the Lighthouse again, terrific. :-/ Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
On the 4th September, I'm finally going to see Dreamgirls, at the Savoy, courtesy of Amazon Tickets.
On the 5th September, I was back with the Scarlet Ladies for a talk on Generation Sex. Until Let's Do This advertised a concert that sounds really good.. at the Apples & Pears Bar. Hey, I do allow myself to change if something sounds better.. and as I say, the Scarlet Ladies are not my kind of ladies.
On the 6th September, I'm with another new group - North London Friends - for an interview with Michael Palin, at the Knowledge Centre Theatre at the British Library. I was really torn, though - the LEC is off to an early music concert the same night, and I do love that - but had already booked this, and it is Michael Palin. Hey-ho..
On the 7th September, I was back with North London Friends, and another talk on Fake News - different speaker, mind! This is the Fulbright Commission annual lecture, at the British Library. However, much more attractively, Let's Do This are reviving what used to be a regular Man with the Hat event - we're off to St. Martin-in-the-Fields, for some Vivaldi concertos. With a discount, yet! London Concertante, as usual.
On the 8th September, until the other day I was still technically booked for free comedy in Hammersmith with DiscoverLDN.UK. But, as I say - good atmosphere, but the comedy is usually pretty bad. I was saved - again - by Up in the Cheap Seats, who are off to see Doubt, a Parable, in Southwark Playhouse. Aww.. it's so long since I was there, and I have so many good memories of it from my time with the Man with the Hat!
On the 9th September, Helen and I have our 25km sponsored walk, in aid of Haslemere's Cat Protection Society. We're going as Dick Whittington and his cat, respectively, and the route is the Thames Bridges Trek. You can donate here..
Which will tire me out nicely, just in time for my flight to Prague the next morning! I'm at a conference there, Sunday to Tuesday. (What a nice company I work for!) Gee, but I love Prague - most beautiful city I've ever seen, and I've seen a few. They're putting me up at a nice hotel too, just down the road.
So, I fly back on the 12th September, and on the 13th I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats, at Sadler's Wells, for the Hofesh Schechter Company grand finale.
On the 14th September, I'm at another talk with Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts - this one, at Southwark Cathedral, is about the River Effra, South London's Secret Spine. Another free Eventbrite event, this is to publicise a book about the subject, and the talk is again given by the author. Another thing that had no tickets, then it did (no notification)! I'm not going to believe any messages about door closures. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
On the 18th September, I was off to Showstopper! at the Lyric. Ticket courtesy of From the Box Office again. I have actually seen this before - but, being an improvised musical, it literally is different every time! But you'll never guess - the Crick Crack Club finally announced their autumn schedule on Friday, and now, that night, I'm off to Eaten Father, Eaten Mother by Ben Haggerty. In Soho Theatre, first time in ages.
On the 19th September, back with the Scarlet Ladies, for a talk entitled 100 Women - Their Breasts, Their Stories. Although actually, if I didn't like tonight's, I think I'll hate this - will be looking for alternatives.
On the 20th September, Funzing (same two groups) and Jennifer Rees again - this time, a fun talk about the Psychology of Batman Villains! The first of hers for which I managed to get a 30% discount.. and it's on nice and close to me again. Seems to be a feature of her talks!
On the 21st September, technically, free comedy in Hammersmith - with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, and DiscoverLDN.UK. And on the 22nd September, the same - with DiscoverLDN.UK. I rather doubt it though - don't you?
On the 23rd September, I was to do the same, but am now headed to the launch of Rob Luft's new album, Riser, at King's Place. As advertised by The London Jazz Meetup. I finally ended up paying their membership fee after booking an event with them the other day, for November, which someone is attending that I know. So I figured it was wiser!
I had booked the same free comedy, with the same group, on the 24th September, but was again saved - this time, by the World Music Meetup! They're off to see Kefaya, in Nell's Jazz and Blues bar, back in my old stomping ground of North End Road! Happy days, when I was working there..
On the 25th September, a group called Theatre and Stuff is off to see Prism, at Hampstead Theatre. They're charging extra to go with them, though - so I happily bought my own ticket. What the hey, odds are I won't know any of them anyway.
On the 26th September, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats - to see Wings, at The Young Vic. Accidentally booked standing, I think.. :-/
On the 27th September, with Up in the Cheap Seats again - for Jekyll & Hyde, presented by the National Youth Theatre, at the Ambassadors Theatre.
On the 28th September, with another new group: London, Surrey and Beyond.. for an event called "A Unique Experience. Olde Pub, Gerry's Private Club, 2 'i's Famous Fish 'n' Chips". Which says it all, really! Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.
On the 2nd October, I had booked at Hampstead Theatre, for No One Will Tell Me How to Start a Revolution. North London Friends are attending - and charging extra, so I was going it alone! But now it turns out I'm spending the week in the Stockholm office - back on the 8th.
On the 3rd October, it was free comedy in Hammersmith - nominally. With Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich. So, that was easy to cancel, for Stockholm!
On the 4th October was Up in the Cheap Seats and Labour of Love, with Martin Freeman, at the Noel Coward Theatre. Cheapest tickets from the venue, for once!
On the 5th October, same group - headed to see the Company Wayne McGregor, at Sadler's Wells.
And finally! on the 6th October, headed to see Chekhov's The Seagull, at the Lyric. Third night in a row for that group - almost as busy a group as I am a person! So, four things in all I had to cancel, without refund.. what the hey, I'll doubtless be saving money in Stockholm! Expenses paid, after all.
On the 9th October, I'm finally going to see the show so many people have asked me whether I'm seeing. Ink is showing at the Duke of York's Theatre.
And on the 10th October, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Ballet Boyz at Sadler's Wells.
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