Walk: Bloody Brilliant Bermondsey Women

The weekend is all about London Herstory Guided Walks, the walks from a female perspective, as guided by Mandy Morrow. Today, a new walk for Mandy - Bloody Brilliant Bermondsey Women. Oh, and if you sign up to her newsletter, you get the next walk half price! I saw that offer in time for this walk.

Went to bed in decent time, for once - and got the bus down there. Not much difference in travel time from the Tube, actually.

Weirdly, again, Google Maps was telling me that the bus stopped just past the bridge - now, I was checking, and no it doesn't! It'd have been handy if it did, of course - but no, it stops in the bus station. Whence I made my way down to Duke Street Hill, and schlepped up the road until I found the guide. Who was where she'd said she'd be - not where the Meetup map had her, mind, but hey. We all found her.

I adore this part of town - was most jealous to find out that others in the group do live there. Tons of history - and just that bit disreputable. We went into King's College, where Virginia Woolf apparently studied:

and no tour of the area would be complete without a stop at The George!

Soon, we were at Crossbones Graveyard - once for prostitutes, then for the destitute in general:

The prostitutes of the area were known as the Winchester Geese - licenced by the Bishop of Winchester, and paying him tribute. Now, for all the times I've been past here, I'd never been inside - as it happens, today, we came across the guy locking the gate. And he was only delighted to take us in and show us around! The entrance is in the shape of a goose's wing:

One statuette was donated by a Mexican diplomat!

There's some poetry:

There's a poignant suicide corner:

There's a statue of a trans angel:

and oh! this is lovely. Apparently, it's a Japanese tradition - if you lose a child - to erect a mizuko in the garden, in remembrance:

The little one in the picture? Thrown over the wall, when the graveyard was closed - they decided it was appropriate to erect it with the others!

The donation box is a reproduction of the skull of one of the last people buried there - Elizabeth Mitchell, who died in her late teens, of syphilis. Hence the pockmarked skull - this one, however, was made from 2p coins!

Seriously, this was a highlight of the walk. Highly recommended that you visit, if you have the chance.

This was an area obviously keen to be of assistance - we couldn't stop anywhere, but someone was out and ready to add something! Like in Red Cross Garden:

Also has a library - one of those bring a book, leave a book initiatives. Fantastic community spirit, which we could do with more of in general.

The Church of St. George the Martyr incorporates part of the old Marshalsea prison, where Charles Dickens' father was imprisoned:

Sometimes, the female connection led us to some interesting sights. This, for example, was designed by a female architect, who had a thing for blue people:

Some plaques speak for themselves:

One of the most enjoyable features of the walk was the streets we walked through, lined with converted warehouses. And with surprising views:

Terrific walk, I have to say! A real winner. And for all the times I've been in the area, this was an almost completely new route.

Afterwards, we repaired to the Dean Swift for a drink - or several. At the cheapest price I've seen since I came to London, who could blame us? And a most convivial evening was had. When we parted, I headed for the nearest eatery - which turned out to be Cote. Where I was well fed - but in order to get the bill, had to get up and put my coat on. Usually works! In all though, an excellent day.

Tomorrow, thinking film again - and what's coming up looks really interesting. Continuing on a women's theme, Women Talking is, apparently, based on real-life events in a Mennonite community, where women were being drugged, and sexually assaulted as they slept. Some ended up injured, some pregnant, some with STDs. The film is based on a book, imagining the women's response - in a community that doesn't even teach its women to read and write, the women mobilise to form a response to a group of uncaring elders, whose dictat is that they must forgive their attackers, or forfeit their place in heaven. Stars Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Ben Whishaw, and Frances McDormand - against type, as has been mentioned - as an older woman who does not support the younger women's rebellion against staying quiet. Also nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture. Closest showing to me is in the Everyman King's Cross.

On Tuesday, back with London Classical Music and Theatre Group, for an English Concert of Bach, at Wigmore Hall. Lovely, it's ages since I heard Bach..

On Wednesday, it's film again - this one is a BFI presentation of Joyland, an Indian film about a young man who joins a burlesque show, and becomes infatuated with the trans lady who runs it. I'm normally suspicious about Indian film, having had some bad experiences - but this trailer looks excellent, so I'll risk it. Showing in the Vue Islington - which I've booked, for once, as they now have theatre-style seat pricing, different seats in different locations at different prices!

On Thursday, back with TAC for Feel More X Lately, showing at the Lion and Unicorn. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

There follows a mostly Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) week. On the 27th, back with them for Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, at the Harold Pinter Theatre. This is a rom-com about a couple living in a dystopian state, which limits the number of characters they can speak. Lots of body language then, I guess! Frankly, I was delighted to see that, by the time I booked, the Balcony was sold out - the legroom there is woeful, and good luck to those who've booked up there. The cheapest price bracket left when I booked included some in the Dress Circle - and thanks to Seatplan, I seem to have identified a decent seat among them. Watch this space.. cheapest tickets from the official site, but I booked with From the Box Office, which had tickets at the same price, but without the booking fee.

On the 28th, my one non-UITCS day that week - back with Over 40 Living the Life, for a dinner at Greenwich Yacht Club. Ooh la la..

On the 1st, back with UITCS at the Arcola for Afghanistan is Not Funny, the true story of a British comedian and photographer in war-torn Afghanistan.

On the 2nd, with them again at the Peacock (think I can walk to that!) for Bat Out of Hell, a musical based on the music of Meat Loaf. Awesome - just a pity it isn't one of the singalong nights..

On the 3rd, ending a run of UITCS with Lucrezia Borgia, by the English Touring Opera Company, at the Hackney Empire.

On the 4th, back cat-herding - Ivan suggested that whole day for, well, a lot of drinking. And food - he wanted to go back to O' Neill's. Well, he must have been reading the blog - because the other day, he got in touch. To say that, unfortunately, he can't now make it. My other coworker from that company still can, though - as they've both said, it's been so long since they actually met each other! They can never seem to coordinate..

On the 5th, back with Discover London at last - she does excellent walks, but sometimes they clash, and sometimes they sell out before I get to them! This one is Discover Historic Chelsea: From Quaint to Quant - 1660s to 1960s.

On the 6th, back with - you guessed it - UITCS, for Romeo and Julie, at the Dorfman.

On the 7th - not so much appeals on Meetup. Free Stuff and Free Events does have Free Community Singing with Ros Hone and the Global Fusion Sound Singers, which you can attend on Zoom, or in person at Fossdene School Community Hall. Which sounds just fine - except that this is the sort of thing I keep cancelling! So I'm not confirming until nearer the time.

On the 8th - back with the Crick Crack Club, woohoo! for Goddesses in the Garden, at the Chelsea Physic Garden. Features my favourite, Clare Murphy, along with Sarah Liisa Wilkinson, Laura Sampson, and Xanthe Gresham.

On the 9th, my final booking - for now - with UITCS, for Brilliant Jerks at Southwark Playhouse. And wouldn't you know it, I still had credit on my Pay as you Go subscription, so got it for free! And then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.