Film: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

For today (given that, with a coronation bank holiday, I have an extra day again), the film was The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, one of those eccentric British stories, in which Harold (Jim Broadbent) is distressed to hear that his good friend is dying. He's going to post her a letter - but decides to go to see her. On foot. His wife (Penelope Wilton) is less than impressed, considering she's at the other end of the country.. based on a book. Anyway, like yesterday's, also showing in Ennis.

I was a bit late leaving - so, even though I got much closer parking (there being free parking on Sundays in Ennis, I could choose a closer site), I missed the very start. I see their front door is still off.. Funnily enough, I got the same person behind the counter - who, I think, recognised me. Particularly when I chose the same chocolates! Anyway, different screen today - and when I went in, it had started, but was at least bright enough that I could see it was nearly empty. Except for a couple of people sat on the right. So I sat on the left.

So, I missed the start - but I knew pretty much what had happened, from the trailer. He gets a letter from his old friend, and from the return address, which is a hospice, figures out that she's in a bad way. I was in time to see him, having headed out to post his letter, pop into a filling station to pick up a bottle of milk, and have a chat with the girl behind the counter. Who gets to telling him about her gran, who had cancer, but said that the girl's faith gave her hope. Whereupon he decides that, as well as posting his letter (which he does), he's going to walk to see his friend. He also phones the hospice, where he isn't allowed to speak to her, but leaves a message, telling her to hang on until he gets there. It doesn't occur to him for ages to tell his wife what he's up to, by which stage she's figured out that he's left, but without his phone.. he uses phone boxes, from then on (I thought they were kind of obsolete by now)..

It is a kind of airbrushed version of England, with little litter, and generally nice people. He doesn't do a lot of sightseeing en route, but we get a couple of lovely shots of Exeter Cathedral, where he makes a pitstop. And some nice, rolling hills, right at the start. He generally sticks to back roads, but has a brief trot along the side of a main road - as bad an idea as you'd anticipate, with heavy traffic, lots of noise, and a rush of air as a lorry speeds past, nearly knocking him off his feet..

"Long walk" stories tend to be great for deep examinations of the soul, and he has skeletons from his past to examine. And as he touches other people's lives, and we learn more about his own, mainly through flashbacks, it is really moving. Recommended.. also for the evocative folk music we hear as he passes through parts of the North. Most appealing.

On Tuesday, back in London, I'm - heh - thinking of film again. Now, that film listings site is, as established, a nightmare - but I have a choice of two; there's Pamfir, which is Ukrainian, and The Blue Caftan, which is Moroccan. Both showing in my local cinema (how else would I even know they existed..?). Anyway, we'll see - both rated the same at the moment, but straightaway, Pamfir looks more interesting to me, set in dense forests swirling with mist, and lying somewhere on the border between fact and fantasy.. 

On Wednesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats, for Retrograde, in the Kiln. Based on Sidney Poitier, and what he had to do to become a star, it seems.. Now, this is from the same writer as For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy. Which I hated. So I'm taking a risk.

And on Thursday, I'm back with The Hideout: Horror Sci-Fi Club London, for wine tasting followed by comedy (hmm..) in La Pizzica restaurant. Could be interesting..

Film: Missing

Now back in Ireland for the coronation weekend, on another comfy Lauda plane - long may that last. And wow, I did enjoy the coronation - found the anointing particularly moving. I guess it was mostly hearing Zadok the Priest performed for the purpose for which it was intended, for the very first time..

Post-coronation, the film was Missing - now, this did look interesting. Taking place almost entirely online, it concerns a teenage girl's efforts to find her mother, who's gone missing on holiday abroad. I do love techy films.. and this has one of the same writers as Searching, an excellent film on the same lines, about a father looking for his missing teenage daughter. In fact, this film starts with footage based on that film.. Showing in Ennis.The highest-rated film showing locally is actually Lakelands, which is getting good press - the story of a young Irish sportsman who's attacked on a night out and suffers injuries that mean he can't play any more, apparently the lead actor is one to watch. The next Paul Mescal, they're saying - and good luck to him. However, the trailer did absolutely nothing for me - to be fair, I have little interest in sport. And it just looked depressing. No, I'll be giving it a miss.

The timing of my film was good - it didn't start till after 4, which gave me time to get there after watching the coronation, and such of a flypast as the weather permitted. And I was parked and had made my way to the cinema well in advance of the showing time - to find that they seem to be redecorating! One of the front doors was off.. they might want to have fixed that by night.. and at the box office, I found that they've moved the sweets to the front, so you can pick up your own! Much handier, I approve. Similarly, there are loose wires all about - I think they're having a complete refit. To be fair, it's a while since I was here..

A few other people were sat down the back, but it wasn't crowded. Oh man, was I glad to see this! Ever since I saw the trailer, I was dead keen. And it's terrific! Didn't feel at as much of a remove as Searching - probably because of all the security camera footage that's used, which shows live action. Or, you know, perhaps it's because, since Searching came out, we're all that more tech-savvy, and used to living our lives online!

Anyway, the sheer number of apps she uses, as well as several devices, is captivating. And the ingenuity of her trying to find alternative means, as one trail after another goes cold. I particularly loved her idea of using Taskrabbit to find someone in the country where her mother went missing, to go in person to review the security footage of the hotel, because they won't give it out online.. brilliant. The plot is fantastic - several extreme twists, but every one of them makes sense, and they all tie up perfectly in the end! Honestly, this story is a dream to follow.. excellent stuff, and I'm delighted to have caught it!

For today (given that, with a coronation bank holiday, I have an extra day again), the film is like to be The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, one of those eccentric British comedies, in which Harold (Jim Broadbent) is distressed to hear that his good friend is dying. He's going to post her a letter - but instead, decides to hand deliver it. His wife (Penelope Wilton) is less than impressed, considering she's at the other end of the country.. based on a book. Anyway, also showing in Ennis.

On Tuesday, back in London, I'm - heh - thinking of film again. Now, that film listings site is, as established, a nightmare - but I have a choice of two; there's Pamfir, which is Ukrainian, and The Blue Caftan, which is Moroccan. Both showing in my local cinema (how else would I even know they existed..?). Anyway, we'll see - both rated the same at the moment, but straightaway, Pamfir looks more interesting to me, set in dense forests swirling with mist, and lying somewhere on the border between fact and fantasy.. With additional films announced, I see Little Richard: I Am Everything is rated the same - it's a documentary. But I have little interest in him, and frankly, I don't feel like going all the way to the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith to see it!

On Wednesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats, for Retrograde, in the Kiln. Based on Sidney Poitier, and what he had to do to become a star, it seems.. Now, this is from the same writer as For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy. Which I hated. So I'm taking a risk.

And on Thursday, I'm back with The Hideout: Horror Sci-Fi Club London, for wine tasting followed by comedy (hmm..) in La Pizzica restaurant. Could be interesting..

Films: What's Love Got to Do with It? & Unsane

Back to Ireland for the weekend. Not for want of the Stansted Express trying to stop me, mind - I rushed to the station to make the last train that would get me there in time - I'd checked the timetable to make sure when that was. Arrived at the station - to discover that train was cancelled. NO word on the website. Disgraceful. Well, this wasn't my first rodeo - I immediately got onto Uber. Once I was outside. Price was a bit cheaper than last time - it depends on demand. And within a few minutes, I had a driver - who got out of his car and came looking for me! So much better than other drivers, who've vanished if they couldn't immediately see me.

Off we went - and he turned out to be chatty, and with perfect English - although Pakistani. Bless him, he kept trying to reassure me that we'd get there in time - if only he knew how many times I've rushed for flights! I wasn't that worried. Anyway, he promised me we'd get there at 6.35 - 20 minutes before the gate closed for my flight. En route, I looked up the cancelled train, to see whether I could see what happened - nothing still on their website, but on Twitter, I found out it was, apparently, a points failure.. I told my driver, who asked whether I'd get a refund. HAH! Their attitude is, well, the tickets aren't time-specific, so you could just go on the next service.. regardless of whether it would get you there in time.. I've asked them for confirmation of the cancellation, so I can claim on travel insurance. Didn't think to take a photo of the departures board, which was the only confirmation I received. Ah well..

Mercifully, he also turned out to be one of those drivers who knows all the tricks of where to take the fast route, where to change lanes.. and, as promised, he did get me there at 6.35! I made the flight in time to board, and there was even room for my bag. Happy days!

Back in Ireland, the choice of films is very limited. Mostly kids' films, in fact. Best for me seemed to be What's Love Got to Do with It?, a romcom in which Emma Thompson plays the mother of a young lady whose good friend (of Pakistani heritage, as it happens, making a lot of Pakistani influence this week) decides enough is enough, and he's going to let his parents arrange his marriage. She's a budding filmmaker, and decides this would provide excellent footage for a new documentary. No prizes for guessing how it turns out, I suspected - but it seemed harmless enough. I decided on the showing in Ennis, which is both quicker to get to, and where I can choose from a better choice of ready meals when shopping after..

There were a good few others at the screening, for once! Well, it's got common appeal. And.. I have to say, it's better - way better - than your average romcom. Written by Jemima Khan, as it happens - and as the Evening Standard review said, a great debut for her! Packed with funny one-liners, it's got giggle-out-loud moments, it's moving at the end, and it does have the odd instance of racism, or Islamophobia, to link us to the real world. After all, it's mostly set in London. The bit where the action moves to Lahore for the wedding is gorgeously colourful, with a bit of Bollywood dancing thrown in. And yes, even though I'm only away for the weekend, it did make me nostalgic for London, what with the red buses and all.. and she has her doc preview in the BFI. I thought this was really good - highly recommended.

More so than tonight's late film on tv - Unsane stars Claire Foy as a woman who's kind of jumpy, so she goes to a counsellor. Who makes her sign a form that she says is boilerplate, nothing to worry about - fine, until she realises that what she's signed is an agreement to voluntary committal for 24 hours! which turns into longer. Meanwhile, she recognises one of the staff as the stalker she's been running away from.. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, this is what I would describe as bland. She's a really cardboard character, only coming to life when attacked, and completely unlikeable outside of the hospital. I'd have expected better from him, and what Matt Damon is doing in a cameo as the detective who rather cartoonishly advises her what to do, now that she's been stalked, is beyond me. Avoid - there has to be something better to watch.

The coming week is mostly Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS). On Monday, 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 Tuesday, my one non-UITCS day next week - back with Over 40 Living the Life, for a dinner at Greenwich Yacht Club. Ooh la la..

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

Next Saturday, 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.

Film: The Fabelmans

Well, back to Ireland for the weekend again. Interestingly, no scrum for the airport bus this week - it was very relaxed, in comparison to last time! Very relaxed driver too, considering he made us load our own luggage.. pity his driving wasn't as relaxed. What with the constant acceleration and braking, and a stuffy, over-warm bus, I felt a bit ill by the time we got there.

Anyway, I was in plenty of time to grab a sandwich at Pret. And we were boarded in due course, sat on the plane and waited. And then - it got interesting. A member of cabin crew asked could we please dig out our boarding passes again.. turned out that the computer that records your details as you scan your boarding pass as you board - wasn't working. So our details hadn't been recorded. And, I kid you not, a guy came on with a pen and paper, and wrote down all our details. And then off he went to enter those on the computer. And then we had to wait for them to get that computer working again, so they could board the rest of the plane - I'd thought it looked a bit empty! To top it all off, when we landed, someone was parked in our spot.. so the journey took a bit longer than it should have..

Film for the weekend was The Fabelmans (Oscar-nominated for Best Picture), in Ennis - an autobiographical tale from Stephen Spielberg, about how he got into filmmaking. Stars Michelle Williams (Oscar-nominated for Best Actress) as his mother, Paul Dano as his father, Judd Hirsch as his great-uncle, who spent his lifetime in the circus and drops by, following his grandmother's death, for a single, Oscar-nominated (Best Supporting Actor) scene,.and Seth Rogen as a friend of the family. Oh, and real-life director, David Lynch, as the legendary director, John Ford, whom Spielberg meets briefly, in one of the most spellbinding scenes of the film. Directed (with another Oscar nomination), co-produced, and co-written, by Steven Spielberg. Naturally.

An Evening Standard review said it best - this is pure.. magic. No more than expected, from the master magician of movies. All the characters are lovable, and despite the long running time, I didn't find it dragged at all. It's fascinating to watch as he learns his craft - and just near the end, as he's about to start making history, a couple of great scenes top it off.

First up is the scene after he plays the film he shot of the school's day at the beach, which he shows at the prom. He's been bullied a lot at school for being Jewish, but he makes one of the bullies the star, depicting him as a hero, winning the footrace. Afterwards, this guy seeks him out for an explanation. While they're talking, another bully appears - he didn't come across so well, and wants his revenge. Well, the first guy sees him off - then warns Fabelman (Spielberg) never to tell anyone about this. "Oh, I won't!" he reassures him. "Well, unless I put it in a film." Seeing the other guy's wary look, he hastily adds, "Which I never will!" Yeah, well, he did wait a while, huh..? ;-)

The other scene that stuck out to me was his chance meeting with legendary director, John Ford, who gruffly gives him a few minutes and a nugget of advice. Right at the end of the film, just as he's starting his career. And having watched years and years of his movies.. all I can say in response is, "Wow." This is like being there at the start. Just "Wow".

Back to London tonight, and tomorrow, I'm heading with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) to Noises Off, starring Felicity Kendal, at the Phoenix. Again, cheapest tickets from Official London Theatre (OLT).

On Tuesday, with a group I haven't joined in a Very Long Time - I'm back with London Dramatic Art, from whom I've got a front-row ticket for Sylvia, at The Old Vic; this is the story (in song) of Sylvia Pankhurst, and stars the excellent Beverley Knight. Completely sold out - this was my only way to get a ticket!

On Wednesday, back with the Horror Book Club. This time, it's The Ballad of Black Tom, based on the Lovecraft story, The Horror at Red Hook, but told from the perspective of a black man. I managed to get through the club's book, and read the entirety of the story it's based on, which is much shorter - and less coherent. Again, the meeting is in the Prince of Wales, Covent Garden. Question is, will the kitchen be open..?

On Thursday, I'm on my own for My Son's a Queer (but what can you do?), a musical at the Ambassadors Theatre.

On Friday, my first meeting of the year with London Classical Music and Theatre Group! We're off to Wigmore Hall, to listen to the Hagen Quartet play Mozart. They're Austrian, so that's appropriate.. I just need to remember not to drink the ultra-expensive sauvignon blanc! Meeting my sometime dinner companion beforehand, down the road at Olivelli.

On Saturday, well, Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners are back to Greenwich again. Now, I have been there with him before.. not sure how "new" this one will be, but hey, it was a great day last time! Indeed, that evening might be the time to meet Ivan - and our coworker, if he's recovered, by then, from the jetlag he'll suffer from the trip to India he's currently on!

Next Sunday, nothing on Meetup appealed massively - I thought I might go for a walk along the Ken's Events route, if I feel like it! (on my own). Or Over 40 Living the Life has advertised a walk along the New River.. I'd have to see, as I have to pay to sign up (refunds given to those who then come). And I might well change my mind.. which I finally have, now that Free Stuff and Free Events has advertised a blues concert at the Earl of Chatham, Woolwich. It's a way out, is all - but then, it's free, if I want to cancel.

On the 6th, my first actual event with the Over 40s. We're off to How Not to Drown at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East - the first event of theirs for which I couldn't get a cheaper ticket! So I decided, if I couldn't beat them, I might as well join them. True story of an unaccompanied, 11-year-old asylum seeker.

On the 7th, excited to be headed to see Derren Brown in Showman, at the Apollo Shaftesbury Avenue. Cheapest tickets with OLT again.

On the 8th, off to The Lehman Trilogy, at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. Based on the true story of the bank that collapsed. Got the last £39.50 ticket!

On the 9th, back with UITCS for Winner's Curse, at the Park Theatre - an interactive show about a peace negotiation. Turns out North London Friends are headed to it the same night - what, are they now copying this group, as another group did some time ago? (since closed down). And then I'm back to Ireland again.

And on the 13th, I'm headed to Allegiance, starring George Takei in a musical based on the true story of his time in an American internment camp during the Second World War. Showing at the Charing Cross Theatre.

Films: A Man Called Otto & Peterloo

Yesterday, flew back to Ireland for the weekend. As usual, that wasn't so easy a process.. for the rest of the month, the Stansted Express is out of operation - no, not for strikes this time (for once) but for engineering works. Now, they offer a rail replacement service - but as that takes half an hour extra, I prefer to take the bus the whole way. Might take as long, but at least you don't have to change.

Well, I got to the stop 15 minutes before it was due - at 4.10pm - to see a bus pulling in! Wow, that was early.. I scurried to meet it, and then I saw the queue. Or scrum, as you might call it, with people queueing from two different directions, and each branch accusing the other of queue-jumping. It finally transpired that this was the 4pm bus, whereas mine was the 4.25. And they were strictly only taking people with confirmed bookings for 4pm - in the end, the bus actually left with empty seats as a result, even people with open tickets refused permission to board! The same thing happened with my bus, when it arrived - 15 minutes late, but I was in plenty of time. I'd gratefully settled myself on board, but before we left, the driver hailed us, wanting to know who'd left a case at the door! Of course, it was mine - I identified myself, and he said he'd put it in the hold. Well now, the National Express employee shepherding us on board had specifically said to do that.. not my fault..

It's a comfortable journey, and I napped - and, of course, our flight was delayed, as usual, so I had time for dinner in Pret - not enough time for anything more substantial. At the other end, I was to find the weather much colder, and wetter, than where I'd left!

This weekend's film was A Man Called Otto, which suited just fine! Based on the Swedish comedy, A Man Called Ove, it stars Tom Hanks as an old grump whose wife has just died, but who meets his match in the fiesty young family that moves in next door. And, interestingly, its IMDB rating just keeps rising.. Showing in Ennis, handily. But oh, what a cold day to head out.. I nearly froze on the way to the cinema! And then got stuck behind someone buying a gift voucher, which took forever.. by the time I got in, the film was on the point of starting. I never pay any attention to the specific seat I'm allocated, here - nor does anyone else. So I sat in front of the long row of people all in one group.. shortly after I got there, a couple arrived, and I guess were supposed to sit inside them, because he excused himself past every single one! His companion, more sensibly, sat on the other end of my row instead, where he duly joined her..

I have to say, the things Otto is grumpy about, I sympathise with him on. He can't buy exactly the quantity of rope he needs at the store, cars continually drive down his restricted road.. and as the film progresses, we all find ourselves turning more to his point of view about things. Partly, this is because, as the film progresses, we learn more about his back story. Early in the film, we see his truly horrendous retirement do at work, but mostly, the film concerns itself with his wife: how they met, and what happened with them.

It's a Tom Hanks film, so as I kept saying to people beforehand, you're in safe hands. It's hilarious, as you'd expect. The family that moves in next door is endearing, and Otto is adopted by a stray cat. But oh, it's heartrending.. his backstory has unexpected depth, and there's a poignant side story with his old friends, also neighbours. This is a real tearjerker. Approach with caution.. those who brave it, however, will be well-rewarded.

Walked right out into the most horrendous hail shower:

Tonight's film on tv was Peterloo, which I hadn't seen, and ended up watching most of - directed by Mike Leigh, it stars Rory Kinnear as Henry Hunt, the MP who spoke at the gathering. This is the story of the Peterloo massacre, as it came to be known (it took place at a place called St. Peter's Field, and reference was made in the name to the recent Battle of Waterloo) - a group of factory workers and their families met at  a political gathering to discuss parliamentary reform. Unfortunately, as someone recently said, the British government is not known for its restraint, and overreacted, in typically brutal form, with the military brought in and attacking and killing innocent people.

Most of the film is a bit dry, honestly - lots of political discussion in backrooms, women relegated to the position of serving drinks and food, or other menial tasks. The film only hots up when the violence starts, and that is suitably horrible. A scene of gaudy decadence is thrown in shortly afterwards, for contrast, where we see a ghastly made-up and out-of-touch Prince Regent cavorting with his mistress and complaining about the pesky poor. Of course, as I was watching British soldiers impaling countryfolk with their swords, it did occur to me to wonder whether today's British government thinks of the general populace any less a herd of cattle than they did then.. Anyway, an event I'd recommend finding out about, but not a film I'd recommend watching.

On Monday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for The Art of Illusion, at Hampstead Theatre. Award-winning, it seems..

On Tuesday, I'm headed to Chicago Blues Explosion in the January Blues Festival at the 100 Club. Just a shame their early bird tickets were sold out.

On Wednesday, with TAC for a classical concert at King's Place (nice and close). This is the Kirckman Society for young artists, presenting Connaught Brass.

On Thursday, Ken's Green Walks for Health (aka Ken's Events, to those of us who know it from before) is off to see the Winter Lights at Canary Wharf. Now, I wouldn't go with them in a fit - but there's nothing to stop me seeing the lights myself for free, eh? I don't see the point in paying Ken £5 to lead a group around.. Mind you, the lady that sold me my ticket for Mandela was in touch afterwards to say that the theatre is offering a free link to a livestream of the full show! and she was asking me what day would suit. This being one of the options, I figured it'd be a good way to avoid the cold of Canary Wharf..

On Friday (unusually, it's usually Thursday), back with Watkin's Bookshop for a book launch. This is Fifty Forgotten Books by R. B. Russell. Occult theme, as usual. Let's see whether I can avoid falling asleep this time!

Next Saturday, back at King's Place - this time it's the Crick Crack Club, with Stories in the Dark. Told in darkness, by the sound of it - sounds divine!

On the 22nd, back with Cultureseekers for the Hieroglyphs: Unlocking Ancient Egypt exhibition at the British Museum. Assuming it's not curtailed due to transport strikes - there is a warning on the museum website that galleries might have to close early!

On the 23rd, I've finally booked for Best of Enemies at the Noel Coward Theatre. This play concerns a series of debates on US television between liberal writer Gore Vidal and conservative William F. Buckley in 1968 - the interesting twist here, given the time and place we're talking about, is to cast William Buckley as black! Had my own seat review on Seatplan to guide me in picking a seat - this is one of those restricted view/legroom theatres. And despite all the theatre offers flooding my inbox, I found the cheapest tickets for this on the official website! Mind you, what with See Tickets doing the selling, I found myself with a second, unexplained, booking fee..

For the next week or so, it's all UITCS! On the 24th, for some reason, I hadn't seen their advertised event to see Orlando, based on the book by Virginia Woolf, and showing at the Garrick. For this, however, I found the cheapest tickets from Official London Theatre (OLT).

On the 25th, we're off to see John Bishop at the Leicester Square Theatre. Love him, so I booked as soon as I saw this advertised - one of the few things for this month that I booked last month! Not that it seems to be selling out..

On the 26th, we're off to The Vaults Festival - specifically, The Welsh Lxdies, a bilingual show about the women of Wales. Then back to Ireland for the weekend again.

On the 30th, we're heading to Noises Off, starring Felicity Kendal, at the Phoenix. Again, cheapest tickets from OLT.

On the 31st, with a group I haven't joined in a Very Long Time - I'm back with London Dramatic Art, from whom I've got a front-row ticket for Sylvia, at The Old Vic; this is the story of Sylvia Pankhurst, and stars the excellent Beverley Knight. Completely sold out - this was my only way to get a ticket!

On the 1st, back with the Horror Book Club - Lordy, that means I need to read a book! :-) I suppose I can use my flights for that. This time, it's The Ballad of Black Tom, based on the Lovecraft story, The Horror at Red Hook, but told from the perspective of a black man. Which means I should really read that, too.. Nice, I'd like to get back to some Lovecraft! I've read the summary, and started the book club's book. Again, it's in the Prince of Wales, Covent Garden again. Question is, will the kitchen be open..?

On the 2nd, I'm on my own for My Son's a Queer (but what can you do?), a musical at the Ambassadors Theatre.

On the 3rd, my first meeting of the year with London Classical Music and Theatre Group! We're off to Wigmore Hall, to listen to the Hagen Quartet play Mozart. They're Austrian, so that's appropriate.. I just need to remember not to drink the ultra-expensive sauvignon blanc!

On the 4th, well, Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners are back to Greenwich again. Now, I have been there with him before.. not sure how "new" this one will be, but hey, it was a great day last time!

On the 5th, nothing on Meetup appeals massively at the moment - I might go for a walk along the Ken's Events route, if I feel like it! (on my own). Or Over 40 Living the Life has just advertised a walk along the New River.. I'll have to see, as I have to pay to sign up (refunds given to those who then come). And I might well change my mind..

On the 6th, my first actual event with that group. We're off to How Not to Drown at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East - the first event of theirs for which I couldn't get a cheaper ticket! So I decided, if I couldn't beat them, I might as well join them. True story of an unaccompanied, 11-year-old asylum seeker.

On the 7th, excited to be headed to see Derren Brown in Showman, at the Apollo Shaftesbury Avenue. Cheapest tickets with OLT again.

On the 8th, off to The Lehman Trilogy, at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. Based on the true story of the bank that collapsed. Got the last £39.50 ticket!

On the 9th, back with UITCS for Winner's Curse, at the Park Theatre - an interactive show about a peace negotiation. Turns out North London Friends are headed to it the same night - what, are they now copying this group, as another group did some time ago? (since closed down). And then I'm back to Ireland again.

And on the 13th, I'm headed to Allegiance, starring George Takei in a musical based on the true story of his time in an American internment camp during the Second World War. Showing at the Charing Cross Theatre.

Films: I Wanna Dance with Somebody & The Notebook

Friday (early), it was back to Ireland for Christmas. Kudos to me for getting up in time! Well.. all went fine until I got to Heathrow. See, I'd already checked in - but Aer Lingus, with whom I'd booked, charge you to bring on the case - so I hadn't paid the extra, and therefore had to check it in. And oh lordy, what a disconcerting sight was the queue.. wasn't like this at all the last time!

So, I was about halfway through, and thinking to myself how slowly it was going, and how time was advancing, and how close the gate was to closing.. and then there was some announcement for passengers for Shannon - but I didn't hear it. So I made an executive decision, excused myself out of the queue, and joined the adjacent, priority queue. There were two check-in assistants - when the one at the adjoining queue (which I'd just left) finished with her current passenger, she turned to me (I was now second in the priority queue). So I trotted over to her, explaining that I was for Shannon - and lickety-split, I was in. After having to go through the e-gates - those in Stansted don't take your picture, you know, and I'd forgotten how those in Heathrow often don't like glasses. Well, after all that, my flight was delayed - which was fine, apart from that brief period when it disappeared from the departures board! The delay was only an hour, in the end.

Oh, lovely.. this was one of the longhaul aircraft, with individual entertainment screens! and I'd brought my headphones, with the intention of listening to my audiobook. I checked out the movies, none of which were familiar - so I looked at the music selection. And lo, whatever was first up - but a U2 concert, from Hammersmith, in 1982.. So that was me sorted, then! As someone remarked afterwards, the flight can't have been long enough for me at all.. As to the delay, turned out it had to be de-iced. In Shannon..?! Now, as it was flying on to Boston, perhaps it had come from there the night before: which, with the weather they've been having, would explain that..

Since then, would you believe, nothing decent for me in the cinemas - until I Wanna Dance with Somebody, the Whitney Houston biopic, opened today! Stars Stanley Tucci as her record producer. So I went to see it in Ennis. And wow, for all that the cinema was open - it was almost the only thing that was! which was good for parking, at least..

I had to queue behind a crowd of teenage girls, one or two adults accompanying. Naturally, they were going to the same film - in fact, I ended up sitting right in front of them! Which was fine, except for the odd flurry of teenage energy, which rocked my seat. Anyway. Now, you might know that Whitney Houston was known as The Voice - and with good reason; she had a terrific range, a powerful delivery. Which begs the question - who on earth could reproduce that for the biopic?

That would be one Naomi Ackie. Now, as you might expect - no, she doesn't really do the singing: well, not the full performances, anyway. Seems she does sing the snatches where the character is considering a song, trying it out.. But she absolutely nails the mannerisms, and you really wouldn't know the performances themselves aren't hers. So, that's actually Whitney we're hearing! and boy, what a tribute. I was literally moved to tears a couple of times. And what a sad story it is - plagued by a father who insisted on managing her, then threw all her money away, so she was forced to tour incessantly: and a husband who cheated on her persistently. Small wonder she ended up overdosing on drugs, and accidentally drowning in the bath.

But don't think it's a depressing film - my, it was good to hear all the old songs: and I did know most! So - recommended, for the sake of listening to the music. And realising how very good she actually was.

Later tonight, I ended up watching The Notebook on tv, a real weepie of a romance between Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams (their older versions played by James Garner and Gena Rowlands, respectively), for whom the path of true love certainly doesn't run smooth. I defy anyone to watch this without a tear in their eye..

Yep, that's it now until I go back to London - that exhausted the available list of films. I fly back next Monday - and on the 3rd, am also thinking of film. But the listings aren't out yet - so that'll have to come as a surprise. To us all.

On the 4th, back with the London Horror Book Club - for an actual book club meeting! Yes, I'll have to bite the bullet and get around to reading something by then - specifically, The Silent Companions, by Laura Purcell. Happily, it's a short one - and the free Kindle sample I got from Amazon, and finished, has already covered about 1/3 of it! So, seems doable - it's a Gothic novel, in which a young lady, newly widowed, comes to her late husband's brooding family estate for the first time. Set in 1865, it keeps referring back to the supposed origin of the mystery that unfolds, in the 1600s. Anyway, our discussion will be in the Prince of Wales, quite close to me. This group obligingly holds an online version of all their in-person Meetups, on the day after!

And on the 5th, I'm with a new group - Shanty Singers Colliers Wood - who seem to exist to advertise free shanty singing concerts. That night, it's in The William Morris. Should be fun!

Film: Spirited

Back in Ireland for the weekend again - flying Aer Lingus for a change! My passport was up for renewal, as I say - I don't technically need one to travel between Ireland and the UK, but Ryanair demands it. Aer Lingus doesn't..

Well, the journey to Heathrow is quick and easy. Unfortunately, it's an absolute marathon from Heathrow Central Train Station to Terminal 2 - I'd probably have been quicker by Tube! Terminal 2 itself is nice and compact - it is interesting to note the differences in security protocols among the various airports, though. Stansted requires you, as always, to put your liquids in a sealable, clear plastic bag separate to your luggage. Shannon doesn't require any special treatment for your liquids. Heathrow kind of has a compromise, in that it requires the sealable, clear plastic bags, but then allows you to put them back in your luggage. Which is just weird, if you ask me..

Having survived the airport experience, the rest was pleasantly luxurious though, compared to what I'm used to. Aer Lingus charges extra for taking bags on board, where Ryanair charges you to check them. So this time, I checked mine - and how lovely it was not to have to fly with it! And of course, they use the airbridge, which is lovely in bad weather. I did notice that they check boarding passes more often than Ryanair. Seats are nice, comfy leather - and the flight wasn't completely full, like I'm used to, so I could spread out onto the seat beside me. Oddly though, I found it harder to nap on Aer Lingus than on Ryanair - something about the headrest, I think. Anyway, I was flummoxed by the path from the airbridge in Shannon to customs - I don't normally take that route any more, and it is so much longer than the walk from a Ryanair plane. Ah well.. Flying is never perfect, eh!

Anyway, film for the weekend was - Spirited, in which Will Ferrell plays the Ghost of Christmas Present to Ryan Reynolds' Scrooge, in a musical update to A Christmas Carol. Octavia Spencer plays Ryan's hapless assistant, and there's even a cameo from Dame Judi Dench. Well, it looked like fun - Ryan Reynolds is always very watchable - and frankly, it was the best thing on in the afternoon that I hadn't seen. Ennis would do - I prayed there wasn't a match!

I don't think there was - there were a few spaces in Aldi, so I parked there, and on my walk to the cinema, was glad I had; there didn't seem to be any more spaces on my route. Arrived slightly late, but happily just in time for that scene from the trailer in which the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is pointing ominously at someone. He certainly looks the part, as the victim is helplessly sucked into her own grave - and then he completely spoils the scariness of the scene by reassuring us that she isn't actually dead. This is just the first of many PC touches I was to notice in this film.

Oh, but don't get me wrong - I loved it! So - Ryan Reynolds is the most annoying "perp" these spirits could ever imagine. He's just not cooperating - he heads his own media company, he's got every angle, and he's not going just to do as he's told. He looks behind the doors he shouldn't, goes left when he should go right.. gets far too friendly with the spirits who haunt him.. Will Ferrell is encouraged to retire, at which point he'd be reborn - but he just can't get over the buzz of redeeming souls (they do one every Christmas). And then he meets Octavia Spencer..

Honestly, I didn't think much of Will Ferrell in this. But that's ok, because Ryan Reynolds is definitely the star! and he - is - hilarious. I mean, I thought the same in Deadpool - but here, you can see his facial expressions too (he had a mask on in that). He's got a mischievous streak that he uses here to devastating effect. Really, it's worth watching just for him.

But not just for him - the soundtrack is terrific. I fully expect to see some of this at the Oscars - the original songs are clever, they're entertaining.. and the whole thing is ridiculously uplifting. Including the stereotypical Dickensian London bit! Aw man, this is well worth a look! And to think, it's only by chance I saw it..

On Monday - yep, the London Chess Community again looked like the best option. Hmm. But just lately - hallelujah! I was saved by London Social & Cultural Meetups, who have scheduled a talk on The 70th Anniversary of the Great London Smog. (Although oddly, we're meeting outside - perhaps the venue is hard to find?) Anyway, I'm delighted - this is that friendly group I joined a while ago for Evensong at St. Bartholomew the Great, and I'm glad to be seeing them again.

On Tuesday, well, Free Stuff and Free Events are holding another online singalong. Again, I cancelled my attendance at the last of these I booked for, so was reluctant to rush off and book again.. Or the Garden Talks have one on How Did Language Begin? Unfortunately, my free trial has long since expired, and they won't let me take out another. Well, I might have paid - but I'd be paying for a month's worth, so I figured I might as well wait until closer to the date, and get the value.. And yay, then Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) jumped to the rescue again, with a comedy called Dinner with Groucho, at the Arcola. The setting is a dinner, somewhere in heaven, with Groucho Marks and T. S. Eliot the guests.

On Wednesday, I'm back with UITCS for Baghdaddy at the Royal Court. About a little girl, realising she's half Iraqi, just as the Gulf War is raging. I see CT now has tickets for this.. unusually for this venue!

On Thursday, I've signed up for another Watkin's Bookshop talk! This is Colin Stanley on Colin Wilson's Introducing the Occult. Well, the last talk I was at here was interesting, so..

On Friday, I'm heading to Lightopia, at Crystal Palace Park. As suggested by Over 40 Living the Life, who are not actually hosting a trip themselves, but just wanted to advertise it. 15% discount if you subscribe to Lightopia's mailing list, 20% discount for purchases of 10 or more tickets. And durnit if Groupon hasn't just advertised cheap tickets..

Next Saturday - well hallelujah, Bucket List London has finally scheduled something I want to go to, at a time I can make! He's off to see the Wallace Collection that morning - and so am I. 

That evening - I've bravely scheduled another meeting of Those who Do Not Come. It's my last weekend in London before Christmas, you see. Well, so far Ivan and my first boss in London are actually coming! while the one person who came the last two times probably not, for once. We shall see - I've booked The Lucas Arms - O' Neill's isn't taking bookings for that day. Deposit payable, refundable with cancellation up to 72 hours beforehand.

And on the 11th, I was vaguely thinking of heading to see Carnaby Street's Christmas lights.. and then CT advertised tickets for Love Factually - a kind of rewriting of one of the relationships in that classic Christmas romcom, Love Actually. Sadly, all their tickets were gone - but I got a full-price ticket from the venue. It sounds good. Showing at 2Northdown.

University of Limerick PhD Alumni Reunion and Tour & Films: The Menu & Triangle of Sadness

Spent the weekend in Ireland again. On Saturday, UL hosted a PhD reunion, with a tour of the campus and, crucially, free lunch. And I intended to use the occasion to catch up with an old friend and, hopefully, find out what finally prompted him to quit lecturing at last, more than 10 years after I did, considering he was bullied even worse than I was! The event started in one of the newer buildings, which I looked up on the campus map - and shared with my friend. Not easy to find - I had to Google it!

Well, I found it - something of a trek across the far side of the campus: they certainly have loads of space! Parked behind the building, only to get a message from my friend to say all he could find were changing rooms - yes, that's on the ground floor. I had seen this one before, knew the cafe was on the first floor. So, I decided to go straight up, figuring he might have found his way in by now - and he had. I found him in the lunch room, gazing at the slideshow of PhD conferrings. I don't think he came across either of ours - he'd have said.

We chatted for a bit, and then people started to queue up for lunch, so up we went. There was rice, and a choice of chicken or beef - I enquired as to the sauces, and was told it was chicken curry or beef stroganoff. I love a stroganoff, so had that - was just sorry the portions weren't larger! To drink, we had water - tea and coffee were brought around after a bit, but I don't drink either. After lunch, we were brought out plates of biscuits. The place wasn't overcrowded - the event was free, and as we discovered afterwards, 70 had registered, but only 40 showed up. Which the organisers thought was a pretty good turnout, for a free event! At the end, we were introduced to our volunteer guides - who, I must say, were friendly and professional all day - and in what was a well-organised move, we were told that we'd be led to our next stop, but then, if we had cars, we should park them at the Kemmy Business School, where a bus would take us around the rest of the campus.

Walking to our next point of interest, I remarked to my friend how all these buildings were new since I'd last been here - UL is sure expanding massively! We identified what we thought was a new student residence, beside which stands the Graduate Medical School - a brilliant UL innovation, entry to this is restricted to people who already have a degree. It's designed to avoid the tremendous pressure of coming to medicine straight from the school system, with so much competition, and teenagers not even sure whether this is truly what they want to do. It's also a secondary route into medicine for those who are not successful straight out of school. And crucially, the students are more mature than the regular medical student intake - making for a better experience all round, methinks!

Anyway, across from that, UL now has the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. This used to be housed in another building, and itself was a new innovation when I was here - established by the late, great pianist and composer, Micheál Ó' Suilleabháin. Well, it now has its own building! and we were sat in one of its theatres to listen to a speech about the academy, and watch a presentation on the music therapy programme - another UL initiative that's unique in Ireland.

Most impressive. We then drove our cars down - I wasn't sure of the parking around the Business School, so parked in front of the Computer Science building instead and walked across - fortunately, not a long walk, as the weather was dreadful! And we piled onto the bus, and were taken the short distance to the Bernal Institute. You guessed it - another completely new development since my time. Someone asked the presenter what was there before that building - he had a think, and came up with - a bus stop. Figures. And the most enthralled of our group were the people who'd graduated the longest time ago - the place certainly has come on by leaps and bounds. This instute, FYI, concerns itself with material science - the development of composite materials, ever lighter, ever stronger: for use in aeroplanes, for example. And it was great to hear about their collaboration with other university institutes around the country, each of which specialises in a different area.

And so on to the library - the organiser was wondering about the wisdom of taking the bus, when it's only a short walk, but as I pointed out, people do have a tendency to wander off if unsupervised! So instead of the short walk, we drove out of the university by the back gate, in the main one again, and around. Then straight up to the top floor (happily, there's a lift), where we were led into the Law School (never been up here before, myself):

And while sat here, we were given a fascinating presentation on research that UL is doing into rugby injuries! Apparently, they're the only ones in the world conducting research into injuries sustained by female rugby players - it was interesting to see the differences in types of injury. And the crowd was never so animated as in this talk, firing questions - plenty of rugby fans! (Well, Limerick is the home of Munster rugby..)

On our way out, we happened past the space-age book retrieval system. As someone said, hey, who's going to order a book, so we can see it in action..?

Reminds me of Star Wars! Our final stop was to be back at the Business School, where we were fed tea, coffee, water, and pastries - and when we'd had our fill, filed into a lecture room for a series of presentations by Limerick PhDs about the kind of thing they'd learned during their PhDs, and also how they'd used them afterwards. Last speaker of the evening - was Bill Whelan! A Limerick native, and recipient of an honorary doctorate from UL, he composed the music for what became the behemoth that is Riverdance! Plenty of other anecdotes from his career too.. mind you, his wife, sitting at the back, didn't look too impressed. Doubtless she's heard them too many times!

The evening ended with an interesting discussion with the organisers, and whoever wanted to stay - they were curious about whether people had ideas of how to reproduce the day! Well, it was an excellent event - kudos to them, and here's to more interesting events in the future. I won't be taking them up on any opportunities to describe how I used my PhD though - I don't think my story is quite what they're looking for!

And so, my friend and I repaired to the Kilmurry Lodge Hotel for dinner. Or at least, he did - I always have trouble finding that turnoff, and wouldn't you know it, got myself trapped in the Johnson & Johnson campus in the technology park! It's massive, it's one-way - and they don't seem to want to let you leave! Mercifully, I finally escaped and made my way to the hotel. Where, despite having left after I did, my friend had been waiting for me for 15 minutes. Well, he had got menus - it didn't take me long to order, and we were soon fed. I had the stuffed, breaded mushrooms - which were lovely - and the steak sandwich. Sadly, this was not lovely - a bit tasteless, mostly my problem with it was that the steak was far too thick for the sandwich, rendering the whole thing impossible to eat. I managed just over half, and won't be having it again.

Oh, and I might have guessed - he's timed his leaving of lecturing to ensure that his pension won't be curtailed. And will just put up with the atmosphere until then. Well, rather him than me.. Anyway, I was too tired to blog that night.

Planned a film yesterday.. and coming up was Aisha, just released at the weekend, which centres on a young woman in Direct Provision (Ireland's asylum processing system). Looks like a hard watch, focusing as it does on a severely criticised system, which can see asylum seekers stuck for years in limbo, while their claims are processed.. Ennis only.

But wouldn't you know it - I checked on Saturday night, and its ratings had plummeted! Right, recalculation - and the highest rated, showing in the afternoon, was The Menu. Also in Ennis. This has Ralph Fiennes as the head chef of an exclusive restaurant. Anna Taylor-Joy is a reluctant diner, invited along but not enthused by the excessive luxury and gourmet dining that the evening entails. And the trailer looked dark and interesting..

Well, here we go again, I thought as I meandered round and around Ennis, looking for a parking space. Another GAA match, dontcha know? At least this time, I got parking in the Dunnes multistorey - and only on the first level. And, being Sunday, it was free. I was a bit late though - but it's worth remembering that this is actually closer to the cinema. I'll think about it from that perspective in future.

I galloped along to the cinema - as I climbed the stairs to the box office, I overheard a couple of young ladies telling staff how one of them had just thrown up in Screen 1. Very sorry about it and all. And off they went. As I arrived, staff were just discussing how they could hardly do anything about it until the film finished - and this was the largest screen, too! Wow, was I glad I was in Screen 2..

Sadly, I did miss the start - but not too much, it seems. The restaurant is on an island, the customers are taken out there by boat - I missed that part. When I came in, they were being shown around the restaurant staff quarters, on the island - and the stern-looking maitre-d' was explaining how the long hours made it preferable for staff to live onsite. I did spend a little time wondering whether these people were to be expected to work there - but no, this was just an informational tour.

I'd also missed being introduced to the different characters, but that happens quite naturally through the film, so that's ok. So yes, this is the story of a very exclusive dinner - only 12 guests, each charged a fortune to be there. A famous chef, who runs his kitchen with more than military precision. Most diners are rather blasé about being there - either because they've been before, or because they're, well, jerks. Anna's companion is stoked - he's been trying for months to get a reservation, and here he is! And she just gets less and less enthusiastic as the night goes on.

Oh, this is surreal. You really have no idea, from course to course of this really long meal, what's going to happen next - and it's more outrageous than you can imagine. As Anna's companion says, each meal has a theme - it's not until the end that you figure out what it is. She provides our entry into this world, gaping in astonishment at what's going on around her - incredulous at the chef's pretentiousness, at the staff's superior attitude, at her companion's fawning adulation.

You could call it a scathing indictment of fine dining, and of those who indulge in it. Let's just say this - the chef has chosen this evening's guest list very carefully. He has a bone to pick with each of them. Except Anna - she wasn't on the original guestlist, doesn't appreciate what he's doing, and turns out to be a real thorn in his side. But - how she does it is a stroke of genius. This is very, very clever.. just be prepared for it to be very, very dark, too.

Now, last night, I flew back to London. Ryanair, as usual, flew an hour late - so we missed the train and had to take the bus. Which takes longer. And in London, I was obliged to wait on the never-present #205 for 35 minutes.. so it was after 3am when I got in. Hence the delay in the blog.

Headed to another film tonight - I wanted to see Triangle of Sadness last month, in the BFI Film Festival, but it was sold out. Well, it's made it to the mainstream - and I've just seen it in the Vue Islington, which is the closest venue to me that's showing it. It's a comedy in which Woody Harrelson is a cruise ship captain, cynically presiding over a group of scathingly depicted rich folk - and then they get shipwrecked on a desert island. Oh dear, how shall they fare?! ;-) Yet another scathing indictment of the rich - am I sensing a theme? Cheaper if you buy online, so I did.

Well, this being one of the longer blog posts, I didn't have time to get it finished before I left. Neither did I have time to grab a proper bite to eat - got some overpriced Maltesers at the cinema instead. The cinema was just open for us to take our seats - I had about 10 minutes before the programme started. And after a series of Christmas ads, and trailers of varying interest, off we went..

So, I'd been thinking about this as a film about a cruise - but it actually starts off with the model couple we see in the trailer, who are given the cruise tickets as a present. In fact, the first scene - which appears in the trailer - has the man, Harris Dickinson, at a modelling shoot. We discover that the "triangle of sadness" of the title is not some kind of reference to the Bermuda Triangle, as I thought - nope, it refers to the bit between your eyebrows - the bit that creases when you frown. We are then introduced to his girlfriend - Charlbi Dean, who in real life, tragically died suddenly in August.

Now, if the purpose of this film is indeed to send up the shallow culture of the rich and beautiful, it kind of batters us over the head with it - we see both taking part in vapid modelling shoots, we see her spending more time on her phone than talking to him, we see an intense argument about how she never, ever pays for dinner. Well, he's arguing intensely - she's staring at him as though he's lost his mind.

Cut to the cruise ship, where we have every variety of obnoxious passenger. The beleagured crew are instructed firmly by the steward always to give the passengers what they want! no matter how insane. The captain? He, rather sensibly, has retired to his cabin, where all you can hear is the clanking of bottles. The fun really starts when he decides to hold the captain's dinner - highlight of the ship's social calendar - on the one night when the weather is to be bad. You can imagine the chaos that ensues..

Not all the passengers are shipwrecked - I suppose most drown. Anyway, the motley crew that assembles on the beach of the desert island includes, initially, the model couple, a Russian oligarch, a guy nobody recognises who says he worked in the engine room, and a lady who's had a stroke, and has lost the use of both legs and one arm, and can only say "nein" and "in den Wolken" in German, although she does seem to understand everything that's happening. There's another guy who might be a painter - and one crew member, the steward. Until.. they come across a lifeboat (a proper one, with roof and such), which has a resourceful crew member in it: the toilet manager. Who turns out to be - the only one able to fish, the only one able to gut a fish, the only one able to build a fire, the only one able to cook..

Suffice to say, authority is turned on its head as she now discovers a respect she never had before. She becomes the de facto leader of the group - having previously been the least of them. And it is fascinating to see how their social group restructures itself in this new reality. I tell you though, hilarious as it is, this is also really poignant - particularly at the end. In fact, the actual ending is left really ambiguous.. Well, I do like to be kept guessing. Anyway, this is great fun.. highly recommended. Even with everyone throwing up once the weather hits.

And gee, there's a lovely, big Sainsbury's across the road! Lovely big supermarkets they have up there. Finally, I got everything on my list.. And dragged it all the way home. And lo - our lift is finally working again! after five months. Well, not half soon enough.

Tomorrow, I'm with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) again, for a double-bill at the Park Theatre. Part of the Make Mine a Double series, where you get a discount for booking two or more, in the same transaction. This week sees a comedy double - Anything With a Pulse, about dating, and Pickle, a Jewish comedy. Some of us will meet there early, to eat.

Wednesday - oh dear, I'm just not sure. There are a few things coming up that I'm iffy about.. at the moment, I'm leaning towards Chess Community Wednesdays, with the London Chess Community (LCC). But I booked with them twice before and cancelled, so am reluctant to do it again - watch this space.

On Thursday, I'm back with TAC for Haunting Julia, at The Questors Theatre, a new one to me. A ghost story, goodee! Written by Alan Ayckbourn.

On Friday, back with the Crick Crack Club for The Beast in Me, by Daniel Morden. At King's Place. Fantastic!

On Saturday, I have my Christmas get-together with Helen! We're planning a Christmas bonanza - first to the Magical Ice Kingdom at Winter Wonderland, where we must also have a stroll around the Christmas markets, and get some alcoholic hot chocolate. Then food - then we're on a Tootbus night-time open-top bus tour. As booked on Wowcher. Now, there is a rail strike that day, but she says it's not yet affecting her - she'll keep an eye on it. Mind you, the Tube strike might - I had her asking me for bus directions this morning!

On Sunday, I'm back with Discover London, for a walk entitled Secrets of the Riverside Part 1: Tower Bridge to London Bridge. These events are good - I'm delighted to be back on one!

The next two days, back with UITCS - for some reason, I only just saw their advertised trip, next Monday, to see Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel, at the Arts Theatre. Awesome! This should be good - title decided by the audience on the night.

On the 29th, we're back at the Park for the Make Mine a Double series - next week, it's Press, which examines the world of journalism, and Tunnels, about two cousins hoping to escape East Berlin. So, darker than tomorrow's.

On the 30th.. same problem as this Wednesday. Again, watch this space..

On the 1st - well, I might be unemployed, as my contract technically ends the day before. If I am, best thing on is an online talk, The Life and Times of Magnus Folk, from the Surrey History Meetup. One of the earliest electrical engineers in England, it seems. Anyway, it's free, if I want to cancel.

Then back to Ireland for the weekend again - flying Aer Lingus for a change! My passport is due to expire, you see - I don't technically need one to travel between Ireland and the UK, but Ryanair demands it. Aer Lingus doesn't.. so, I must get on to that renewal now!

On the 5th - yep, the LCC is again looking like the best option. Hmm.

On the 6th, well, Free Stuff and Free Events are holding another online singalong. Again, I cancelled my attendance at the last of these I booked for, so am reluctant to rush off and book again..

On the 7th, phew, a definite plan! I'm back with UITCS for Baghdaddy at the Royal Court. About a little girl, realising she's half Iraqi, just as the Gulf War is raging.

On the 8th, I've signed up for another Watkin's Bookshop talk! This is Colin Stanley on Colin Wilson's Introducing the Occult. Well, the last talk I was at here was interesting, so..

On the 9th, I'm heading to Lightopia, at Crystal Palace Park. As suggested by Over 40 Living the Life, who are not actually hosting a trip themselves, but just wanted to advertise it. 15% discount if you subscribe to Lightopia's mailing list, 20% discount for purchases of 10 or more tickets.

On the 10th - I've bravely scheduled another meeting of Those who Do Not Come. It's my last weekend in London before Christmas, you see. Well, so far Ivan and my first boss in London are probable attendees, the one person who came the last two times probably not, for once. We shall see - I asked them again today to confirm, and only the one who probably can't make it did so! Nowhere booked yet.

And on the 11th, I'm vaguely thinking of heading to see Carnaby Street's Christmas lights..