Tonight, I was holding off on deciding what to do until I heard for definite from my friends, who were supposed to be coming over. But one of them realised she needed her passport renewing, so they had to wait to do that before booking - and lo, the flight prices increased too much in the meantime. So now they're not coming this weekend - which left me free to go to a talk at Southwark Cathedral, courtesy of This and That (TnT)! I know the organiser - it's about time I got to one of his events, and it'd be good to see him again. The talk was about the pilgrims' route from Winchester to Canterbury - I have a particular interest in medieval history, so this appealed. (Interestingly, London Social Detours was going too.. and charging £3.50.)
I bravely set out without my Oyster card - this should be walkable, closer to home, but even from the office. And to be fair, today was the first day we got a hint of Spring - gorgeous sunshine all day (if cold) - so I didn't mind. And it was a lovely walk, apart from the dreadful crowds I had to push through at Bank and Monument junctions. Arrived in time - and indeed, before the organiser, whose train was delayed, apparently. Met one of the group outside - the other had, it seemed, gotten a spare ticket from some other random attendee, and gone in ahead of us.
So, most of us sat towards the back. There were two screens for slides, of which I had a decent view, and although the talk had a constant backdrop of the buzz of conversation from a pub outside, gee, for me, it just added to the summery vibe. As did the slides themselves, with gorgeous photos of leafy lanes and idyllic country villages. The presenter was quite entertaining, mixing history with practical information - like which supermarket to walk past, and where to get your pilgrim's passport stamped..
Most enjoyable. And afterwards, we made for the pub - tried the Barrowby & Banker first, as the nearest, but honestly, I know it's Friday, but the level of noise..! particularly from the sound system, blaring out right beside us. So we repaired instead to the Bunch of Grapes. Where there was music - but unobtrusive - and things improved mightily when some kind lady offered the table as she was leaving, and we got seats to go with it. The post-work, just-having-one crowd duly cleared out, and the noise level was low enough that we could hear each other speak. Just about. And we prevailed upon our organiser to stay for one too many. :-) Well, that's what Fridays are for. It was a good night.
Tomorrow, I'm headed back to the Lyric Hammersmith, for something called Love, Love, Love, written by the excellent Mike Bartlett. Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) is heading to this later in the month, I see.
On Sunday, I was thinking of film - got the film list done on Wednesday, then wasn't too pushed about what was coming out on top. Not that it was easy to get the listings, mind - my film site has a new look, still apparently gets the new listings on Tuesday evenings, but now doesn't seem to list the times for the following week along with the new films! So I can see what's on, just not where or when. I managed to Google a couple, which had their own websites, and from those I determined that they're not showing on days that'd suit. Others, I wasn't so lucky with, and just had to guess on the basis of the cinemas in which they were showing this week, whose websites I then had to check.
Anyway, the upshot was that I thought Meetup had better suggestions. So now, on Sunday I'm joining North London Friends for a concert called Some Kinda Wonderful - a tribute to Stevie Wonder. Run by the Chickenshed - the link was broken for a while, but was working again, last I checked. Unfortunately, it's all the way out in Cockfosters - ah well.
On Monday, back with UITCS for City of Angels at the Garrick. Funny thing is, I was recently looking ahead for shows to book, and this came up - was on the point of booking for it, busily looking for deals, when I suddenly realised I'd already booked! The perils of booking early.. I booked this the day after Christmas.
On Tuesday, whoop-de-doo! Finally got a decently priced, decently located ticket to the show of the moment, Hamilton! Showing at the Victoria Palace, booking through Ticketmaster exclusively. Booked the same day as City of Angels - I often block book. So I get to see whether it lives up to the hype - I'm just delighted to be able to stop searching for tickets for it! Must just remember to bring the ticket to the office with me - they insisted on posting it.
On Wednesday, back at Soho Theatre (hopefully - at least the show is later than Tuesday's, which I missed!). This time, it's Sara Barron's show, Enemies Closer.
On Thursday, back with TnT (feast or famine, I guess!). This time, it's a pre-Paddy's Day concert with the Band of the Irish Guards, at the Guards' Chapel. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.
On the 16th, back at Soho Theatre again - this time, for the opening night of Tom Rosenthal's show, Manhood.
The 17th is, of course, Paddy's Day itself - and like last year, I'm off to the Irish Centre in Camden. And again, they have a St. Patrick's Night Special - I've already booked my ticket. Dunno whether anyone will join me, but hey.
On the 18th, back with UITCS for Be More Chill, at The Other Palace. My only Meetup that week!
The 19th is going to be hugely busy for me. So, first I'm at Soho Theatre for Jena Friedman's show, Miscarriage of Justice. And then, wouldn't you know it, The Embers Collective scheduled a series of shows at the Vault Festival. And blast it if I wasn't already booked for the whole week! But hey, with the comedy show finishing at 8.30.. and the storytelling not starting till 10.. this one was doable! Their show that night is Queerstory - LGBTQ+ - themed. And I'm going.
On the 20th, finally getting to see Dear Evan Hanson, at the Noel Coward Theatre. It got the royal seal of approval during the week, of course! And it's about time I saw it - UITCS went last year.
On the 21st, a proper social at last from my last company, woo-hoo! We now have 5 (possibly 6) confirmations for a dinner at my current favourite Italian - Amarcord Museum. The place with the chocolate mousse cake to die for.. I'll make a booking soon, just waiting to see whether there are any other takers.
On the 22nd, heading to the last night of a classical spectacular at the Albert Hall. Popular classical tunes, complete with lightshow - sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
On the 23rd, back with UITCS for Far Away, at Donmar Warehouse. Unfortunately, I'm now hearing really bad reviews of this - ah well. Not surprised, given that it's by Caryl Churchill, who also wrote A Number. Which I didn't rate highly.
On the 24th, seeing The Dumb Waiter, by Harold Pinter, at Hampstead Theatre.
On the 25th, back with UITCS for Clybourne Park, at the Park Theatre.
On the 26th, back with them again - for the opening night of a Ballet Black Mixed Bill, at the Barbican, for once! Much handier for me. Interestingly, no fewer than three Meetup groups are going to the same thing - but UITCS advertised it first, and I've booked with them and will not be repeating the chaos of multiple bookings that I tried previously. One in particular, Love London Theatre Arts Music & Stuff (LLTAMS) - which has a habit of booking the same thing on the same night as UITCS - has introduced a new rule that you can't book with them if you've booked with someone else as well. Well gee, no problem - wasn't going to anyway. Not really the way to increase your group's attendance, if you ask me. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.
On the 30th, ironically, I'm with LLTAMS for something that they're the only ones to advertise! It's a classical concert of religious music at Queen Elizabeth Hall, and should be lovely.
On the 31st, back at the Barbican for It's True, It's True, It's True. Dramatisation of a 17th-Century rape trial.
On the 1st, I find myself with London Science & Geek Chic Socials! We're off to a talk at the Star & Garter (Greenwich), entitled Greenwich Skeptics: A Magician Among the Spirits, which describes the confrontational relationship between magicians and psychics - the name is taken from a book by Houdini.
On the 2nd, back with UITCS at the Barbican - this time, it's the opening night of Orlando.
And on the 3rd, back with them again for Last Easter, at the Orange Tree.
Today, I booked for the matinee of Glass. Kill. Bluebeard. Imp. at the Royal Court. Excellent review in Thursday's paper. And then Civilised London (CL) organised an outing to see London Concertante perform the Four Seasons at Southwark Cathedral. What the hey, I figured I could make both! It's ages since I last heard it, in fact.. and it'd be a nostalgic trip for me, as my very first Meetup with the Man with the Hat was to listen to Concertante in Southwark Cathedral. He's much missed.
Dragged myself out of bed - after a late blogging session - to catch the bus to Sloane Square. Good job I got out early though, what with the dreadful traffic on Strand, and the diversion (not advertised by TFL) - I had quite a job explaining to elderly, hearing-challenged passengers around me where we were and what was going on. In the end, I got there with 10 minutes to spare - just as well I hadn't cut it fine to leave! Handily enough, I was in the Circle - the middle level of the main theatre here, it's on ground level. So while I did have to climb down some steps, there weren't many. I was in the slips:
Comfy leather seats, decent legroom, and an ok view - you do miss the action in the near corner (I was fourth seat in). But that was mostly fine, and I just leaned for the bits I needed to.
Four short plays in rapid succession, they have no titles (as has happened here before) to tell you the names as you switch. The themes are quite obvious, though. In contrast to the aforementioned reviewer, my particular favourite was the first - Glass has four people playing on a lit, elevated ledge; they represent glass ornaments on a mantelpiece, having a series of conversations. I love the idea.
While they set up for Kill, you get a juggler to distract you while they hammer away behind the curtain. Fair play to her, the smile never faltered - despite her dropping the clubs three times, once into the front row, where a nice man handed it back to her. When she heads off, the curtain opens to reveal a chap sat on a wispy cloud. This turns out to be a Greco-Roman god, musing on the shenanigans of the mortals down below, and constantly reminding us that the humans invented the gods, and "we don't exist". Quite matter-of-fact about it, he is. Lights a cigarette whose smoke merges with the cloud wisps. And has quite an hilarious speech to make about a convoluted proverbial Greek tragedy, and which bits of it the gods approve of, and which they don't.
More circus performance between plays - nothing was dropped the second time, though. The final piece before the interval is Bluebeard, where a number of Bluebeard's friends gather in shock after all his nefarious actions are revealed, to discuss what happened, and the fallout, and to reiterate how they had no idea! Mind you, there's opportunity in misfortune..
After the interval, we get Imp, where an elderly couple - cousins - get visits from a young relative, and another young chap who comes into their lives. Brightens the day for them y'know? But one of the cousins has this thing about this empty wine bottle she keeps to the side - seems it has an imp in it, which she can turn to for wishes when all else fails. Just as well..
Very interesting, recommended. Runs till the 12th - sold out for the run though, apart from those cheap Monday tickets, which are released on the day.
I was fainting with hunger by the time it finished - I hadn't had time to eat before I came out, and I'd checked at the interval, but all they had in the bar were odd nuts, and odder flavoured crisps. I didn't think I'd have time to order from the kitchen during the interval. And I didn't even have enough cash on me for an ice cream! so I went hungry till the end. I had seen a Cote across the square, though - I hadn't known there was a Cote here! It doesn't look big from the front, but they have a huge space at the rear - and boy, was I served fast. Well, you can expect that from the plats rapides. And despite the waiter's dessert suggestions, I knew exactly what I wanted - the coupe noire as they do it here is how it should be done: ice cream, with a separate jug of steaming chocolate sauce, with which you can douse it as you wish. I used absolutely as much as I could get out of the jug.. heaven.
Two buses to get me to Southwark Cathedral - and had I realised, upon coming down the steps from the main street, I could have just turned right under the bridge for the entrance! instead of walking all the way around. Ah well. I still got there first of the group. I'd booked with Time Out, who had an offer (oops, sorry, forgot to mention that!) - anyway, it included a free programme and cd! V nice. The others weren't far behind me, and we all schlepped in together for a quick look around the cathedral. Oh, and I blithely ignored the £2 photography permit. ;-)
I had a side seat - pretty close to where I was before, actually! Couldn't see much - but if I wanted a close-up of the performers, they did come to and from the dressing rooms very close to me.
Well, how reassuring to see that the jokes haven't changed! The first half was different musically from the usual, though, with a Mendelssohn piece that wasn't listed in the programme, and a Dvořák. But for me, the Four Seasons of the second half was the star of the show - it's weeks since I was at a classical concert, and years since I heard anything of the Four Seasons. As for the full thing..? No idea.. And you do forget how powerful it is. In such a beautiful venue too, it was a memorable evening.
And lo, we repaired afterwards to The Thameside Inn, where the Man in the Hat also took us on that first night. Where we had a lovely chat.. and some moreish chilli puffs. Ooh yeah, a new addition to my list of favourites.. So, glad I came. Walked home afterwards - the rain wasn't that bad.
Tomorrow is film. What came up top was - appropriately for the weather - something for the last day of the Raindance Festival, at the Vue Piccadilly. Booking seems to be on the Raindance website, rather than the Vue's - tickets with Eventbrite. And I'm going to Babysplitters - a comedy about two couples who can't decide whether they want a baby, so decide to have one they can split amongst them all! Since tickets were only available until today, I'd have had to book anyway - so I just went ahead and booked straight away.
On Monday, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Ballet Preljocaj - La Fresque at Sadler's Wells.
On Tuesday, we have a slightly delayed September social for ex-employees (and current, if they want) of the company I last worked for - Ivan is away till tomorrow, and of course I'm busy on Monday. So, on Tuesday we're headed to Imperial China - the new Chinese restaurant I discovered via CL. Booked for six people, it probably won't exceed that. Getting an answer out of people is predictably difficult.
On Wednesday, I'm headed to The Merry Wives of Windsor, at the Globe.
On Thursday, I'm back with CL - this should be interesting. Red Palace is an immersive cabaret experience - lots of fairytale characters, I believe - at the Vaults. And I really hope the weather is ok, because I sourced the most fantastic outfit for it..! Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend - the start of another brief hiatus from Meetup.
On the 7th, I'm off to Shushkin's Stories, at the Barbican. Performed in Russian, with English surtitles, it's a dramatisation of the short stories of Vasily Shushkin.
On the 8th, off to Wilton's, for Lady of Jazz.
On the 9th, heading to the Turbine Theatre, for Torch Song. This is the inaugural show at the new theatre in the revamped Battersea Power Station!
On the 10th, back with Meetup - North London Friends is off to A History of Water in the Middle East, at the Royal Court. Another where I got my ticket from the organiser.
On the 11th, back with UITCS - to Southwark Playhouse this time, for Preludes. D' you know, I bought their passport a while ago, which entitles you to cheap tickets to five shows - and of the last three I booked, something else came up for every single one! Hope I make this one..
On the 12th, seeing the matinee of Solaris at the Lyric Hammersmith. Turns out that both UITCS and Love London Theatre, Arts, Music & Stuff (LLTAMS) are going - so I booked with both! Why not? Each requires you to buy your own ticket. And since only the organiser and I are going from LLTAMS, I hope we can merge..
On the 13th, joining the London Improvisation Community Group for the first time - they have a show called Happily Never After at the Pleasance - part of the London Horror Festival.
On the 14th, I'm seeing Mother of Him, at the Park.
On the 15th, UITCS is off to the Albert Hall for Symphonic Queen - the Royal Philharmonic is performing Queen.
Then begins a long period of non-Meetup stuff. On the 16th, I'm heading to the ballet Manon, at the Opera House.
On the 17th, the Crick Crack Club (CCC) is back at Rich Mix, with Melusine. TUUP is the headliner on this occasion, which should be terrific!
On the 18th, Helen's in town, heading to a Midge Ure concert at the Palladium - we're meeting for dinner beforehand. Now, that's the day I should be flying back to Ireland - so I'm going the next day instead. And with my mother's birthday during the week - and not having any major holidays booked - I said, why not just take the week off and spend it in Ireland? So I am.
On the 28th of next month, the CCC is back again - Ben Haggarty is in Soho Theatre with Grim Grimms - a dark take on fairytales, highlighting four lesser-known tales of the brothers Grimm. With musical accompaniment. Tickets weren't available when I noted this in my calendar - they are now, and will likely sell out.
On the 29th of next month, I'm trying to persuade the aforementioned social group from my former company to come with me to a Design My Night event - Fright Night Cinema is showing Hallowe'en in the Rivoli ballroom, with a themed cocktail bar and people dressed in spooky costumes. Now, that sounds like fun..
On the 30th of next month, back with Meetup at last - UITCS is at a mixed programme by Birmingham Royal Ballet, at Sadler's Wells. I've seen part of it before, and it's excellent.
And for Hallowe'en, The Embers Collective stepped up to the plate, with a storytelling performance called Witch, at The Jago.
Last night, I headed to a rather interesting talk on Bodysnatching in Southwark! Mary, too.. and it's a funny thing, all the tickets were gone when I first saw it, but then I checked again on spec, and more were available! Lucky I checked - despite being on the waitlist, I got no notification. As advertised by Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts - but they didn't run it, tickets were available on Eventbrite, and were free. London Social Detours were going too.
Determined not to have a repeat of what happened on Sunday, I left in good time to catch a direct bus - the office is that bit closer to Southwark cathedral than my home is, and it didn't take quite as long. Well, I was strolling along, nearly at the bus stop, when I got a message from the organiser of Walks, Talks & Treasure Hunts - the doors were closing at 6:45 for the talk at 7. I'd projected to be there by 7, and had heard nothing about this before - I wasn't going to have a hope of getting there for 6.45 now!! What possessed her to post this message at such a late stage, I don't know. Anyway, I did my best - got on the 68 instead to Waterloo and got the packed Tube from there - again; at least this time, I was dropped on the right side of the station, so it didn't take as long to get to the Jubilee Line! With delays on both bus and Tube, it still took as long as the direct bus would've - I needn't have bothered.
Also, this time, I knew which way to go from the station. More crowds to push through - and damned if I didn't have to traipse around the whole perimeter to get to the back door, leading to the back room where the talk was on - not in the main cathedral. It was a bit of a maze, but well-signposted. Oh, and I don't know where the organiser of Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts got her story, but they didn't close the doors early - in fact, Mary arrived after the talk had started, and still got in! The place was pretty full, but not completely, despite the tickets having gone. There was water at the back if you wanted it - and you might have; it was stifling! The mc apologised, but explained that the aircon was too noisy and the windows tended to stick. Hey, the seats were comfy though.
I saw no sign, all night, of the organiser of Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts, although in her misguided message she'd said she was on her way. Instead, the organiser of London Social Detours gave me a cheery wave, so I made my way over there. She'd mistaken me for someone else - but, despite me not being on her list, and not having paid the fee she was charging, she invited me to join them - and as there was a free seat, and I was sat beside someone I knew, I did.
The talk - which, I think, started a little late - or my watch might be fast - lasted about an hour, and was fascinating. Her well-researched talk described bodysnatching through the ages, from the 1600s to the 1800s. It all started with the advent of surgical schools, you see, and the demand for cadavers on which to perform dissections and other surgical procedures. Graveyards near medical schools were especially targeted - such as Southwark cathedral itself, of course, which is right across the road from St. Thomas' hospital.
Beadles from the colleges took themselves to executions, and were allowed a certain number of corpses per year: but not nearly enough. So a black market trade flourished. So-called "resurrection men" operated under cover of darkness, and she described to us how the corpses were extracted - very effective! and how they had to be stripped; the removal of a corpse was a misdemeanour, but if any of their clothing, or personal effects (or even bits of the coffin that came off while they were being removed) were left on the body and brought as well, the bodysnatcher could be hanged as a thief! Teeth were generally removed - unless required for medical purposes, they could be sold separately to dentists to make dentures.
Measures to combat the bodysnatchers included iron coffins - harder to break into, but expensive, so not that popular. Railings were put in place around churchyards, to make it harder to hide behind the high walls that had been there before. The night watch was established. Questions afterwards included why it took the government so long to do anything about it, whom the corpse belongs to (no-one, really), whether the church objects to dissections (no), and what sorts of operations they performed in those days. Without aid of anaesthetic. Which question greatly intrigued th guy sitting beside me!
Afterwards, I caught up with Mary, and we gatecrashed London Social Detours' trip to the pub. I've been to The George before - a lovey old coaching inn, very atmospheric: and, yesterday, not quite as busy as I've known it. Had a pie and chips, which came with gravy and veg, Very moreish - a very unusual pastry on the pie, which seemed homemade, and was seeded. It was all a bit much for me, and I couldn't finish it - but very, very nice. We sat at a table beside where London Social Detours were - that table was rather full. And Mary and I caught up until they chucked us out, and outlasted London Social Detours, I'm proud to say! ;-) Great seeing her again. Finally, a combination of buses brought me home without too much fuss. I was way too tired to blog, though.
Tonight, I'm back to Ireland again for the weekend. On Monday, I'm off to see Jesus Christ Superstar, finally! At the open-air theatre in Regent's Park - again, I hope it doesn't rain.
On Tuesday, 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 is about the history of slut-shaming.
On Wednesday, I was back with Jennifer Rees (and the same two Meetup Funzing groups again), 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.
Next 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 the 26th, 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 the 27th, I'm off on a day trip to Bath, with Carpe Diem: booked while I was in Barcelona, recently.
On the 28th, 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 on the 28th 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.
On the 29th, 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, 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.
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..
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 today, 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.
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!
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.
I don't know how I missed the Meetup group London for Less! before - but there are so many groups. Anyway, with none of my Meetup groups having anything today that appealed, I had a look at what else was going on - and this group was running a trip to a candlelit classical concert in Southwark Cathedral. Well now, that sounded like the business - I joined and booked.
So I headed over there today - I had to run to Westfield first, and coming from that side, the engineering works on the Tube didn't affect me. I was looking up on Google Maps how to get from London Bridge station to the cathedral, and it's interesting to note that they completely ignore the fact that there's a flight of steps leading down from the street. I complained - again - and again, we'll see whether they do anything about it.
Our organiser had given really detailed instructions, so it was hard to get lost. Well done there! I rarely come across that level of attention to detail, to be honest. Anyway, for once I was early, and slightly beat him to his setting up. He gave us our tickets, and complementary programmes - what a luxury! I hardly ever buy a programme. And he instructed us to take our seats in the near side aisle, near the front for the best view.
I found myself sitting with some friendly folks from the group, and we chatted for a bit before the concert - we were in good time. The girl beside me didn't join in the conversation, but when there was a pause, she asked me whether we were a Meetup group. "Yes." She asked me which one, and I told her - she thought for a moment, and decided that wasn't one of hers. As she remarked, there are so many it's hard to keep track.. I think she'd come on another offer scheme; I saw a large table of envelopes near the entrance as I came in, and I think I caught sight of a Groupon logo. (Which reminds me, I really must check those more often.) Everyone around me who wasn't with my Meetup group had one of these envelopes. Jeez, was everyone there on one offer or other?!
They started in due course. First, though, they had to light the candles - because, of course, it was candlelit. Now, candles are very pretty - especially against stone, and indeed the cathedral was beautiful. But these candlelit concerts are a bit of a faff. It'd all be more authentic if they turned off the spotlights.. at least in the main part of the nave, for atmosphere.
The ensemble duly filed on. It was the London Concertante, and their designated speaker was a born comic, entertaining us before each piece as he explained to us the significance of what was to come. We started with a lovely bit of Mozart - and the audience applauded merrily after each movement. I know you technically shouldn't, but I've never agreed, really. There is a real break between movements, and it feels more natural to applaud. Anyway, this was followed by some Elgar (more applause between movements - my favourite was the Larghetto), and then the sublime Adagio for Strings, by Barber. The constant applauding became a nuisance here, where it became obvious that many of the crowd had never heard this piece before, and didn't realise that there's a silent bit before the end..
And then a cat passed by. Just as the guy was talking about the next piece. "A cat!" he exclaimed. Later reports had it that the cat started coming down the steps of the altar, where they were playing, and froze when it saw all the people. (I couldn't see - my view was partially obstructed by pillars.) And then it carried on.
A Holst piece took us up to the interval, where I went in search of a bottle of water - I was parched - only to discover that the café was closed. Bah humbug. I had a look around outside, but there was nothing. Getting a bit chilly now, though.
After the interval, they had Spring and Summer from the Four Seasons. The soloist, while no Nigel Kennedy, was very enthusiastic, with a fair bit of jumping around. You might consider these pieces overplayed - but when you listen to the sublime piece that is Summer, you realise why they're played so often. Unfortunately, these pieces were interspersed with pieces by Piazzolla, which were inspired by them. I don't think they won many fans - I saw a couple leaving after the first Piazzolla piece. In other news, the cathedral cat returned - round our side this time, to say hi.
Afterwards, some of us went to the nearby Old Thameside Inn. Predictably, it was crammed - but we managed to find a corner, and seats. It was very noisy though. Still, a good time was had, and the wine tasted much better after a few sips - as with most wines. Mind you, we were a bit shocked when last orders were not called, but the bell simply rung to denote the end of serving, with no prior warning. Beware.. the bell rings at 11, and that is that.
Great night, I'd love to join the group again - though I see their next few meetups are full up. Well, we'll see. Meantime, for tomorrow, nothing is enthusing me much. It's now too late to go to anything in the morning, if I'm to have a full night's sleep. There's an afternoon tour about "Fire, Pestilence and Plague" with the Free London Events and Talks group, but it turns out membership has to be approved - so I'm waiting on that. I doubt I'll get approval in time to go on this tour. Film-wise, top of the list is a film in the SciFi festival that's on at the moment - Terminus. However, it's only on at the Stratford East Picturehouse! An hour to get to, and it's only on at 2:30. Hmm.. watch this space!
