Storytelling: Dauntless - Grace O' Malley, Pirate Queen

Today, back with the Crick Crack Club, for Dauntless - Grace O' Malley, Pirate Queen, at the British Museum. AKA Granuaile, she was a real person.. the pirate queen of the West of Ireland, who did one better than Mary, Queen of Scots, and actually did get to meet Elizabeth I! This one wasn't told by Clare Murphy, though - it was Debs Newbold.

Ah, a lie-in - lovely. Now, if only I hadn't had to wake up in the middle of the night to turn on the fan, it was so hot.. In fact, with temperatures predicted to reach 30 in the afternoon, it was a real scorcher - I tried my neck fan for the first time. Bought it last year, just as the heatwave ended, and never used it.. It actually proved its worth today, being very pleasant on the walk down. I did feel like I'd trekked through the desert by the end, though - passed a couple of ice cream vans on the way, and would so have loved one, but didn't have time. There wasn't much of a queue, so I was quickly through security - and oh, the aircon in the room where they do the storytelling was pure bliss!

In due course, Debs bounced onstage - not even Irish, she's a Scouser! but with an absolute passion for Granuaile. Which was apparent throughout - she even evoked her image, with a great shock of curly hair. 80 minutes, straight through, as she told a rapt audience all about this woman - I do wonder how many of them had heard of her before. There were gasps as she told of the English overlord's persecution of Granuaile, laughs at the jokes, spontaneous bouts of applause. And - I have to say - this is the first storytelling event I've ever attended that achieved a standing ovation! Ben Haggarty, MCing, grabbed her wrist as she tried to run off, and wouldn't let her until she'd taken her applause. Well done, that woman..

Dinner afterwards at The Museum Tavern, where I managed to squeeze into a small table, and had the Sunday roast chicken, as usual here. Funny, they don't really do great roast chicken in The Lucas Arms.. Mercifully though, the temperature had dropped enough to be mostly comfortable. And the ice cream van in Russell Square was still there as I passed through! so I had an ice cream with flake. Except.. it was chocolate, but it wasn't a flake! I hear there's a shortage.. the ice cream was delicious, though, which I finished on a bench in the square.

Tomorrow, taking myself off to see The Accidental Death of an Anarchist, at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. I've heard only good things..

On Tuesday, giving up on Meetup, I'm with TAC, for Mixed Omens - an improvised horror show, at the Drayton Arms.

On Wednesday, thinking film - and what's coming up is a documentary called The Pearl Button, set in Chile. Scenery looks spectacular.. this is showing in the ICA only. Wow, it's years since I was last there, too! This is part of an In Focus series they're doing on the director, Patricio Guzmán.

On Thursday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats, for All of It, at the Royal Court. And then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

Storytelling: Orpheus Dismembered

Today, I was back with the Crick Crack Club, for Orpheus Dismembered, at the British Museum, courtesy of Ben Haggarty. The event there that I'd already heard of. And gee, eatery of choice down there is the Museum Tavern! Hmm..

After a late night, I did manage to drag myself out of bed in time - and, despite the dire weather forecasts of earlier in the week, it was a lovely, sunny day. The queues to get into the museum weren't too bad, and I went in by the "timed entrance" queue - not that anyone checked that. A quick bag check, and off I went - I wonder whether they've implemented measures to speed this process up, because it was horrendous last time I attended storytelling here!

Ah, I love this building - it's so spectacular. And the event was well-signposted, for anyone who didn't know the way - of course, I did. Joshua Whiskey on the door, as ever, and plenty of ushers to direct us - we were informed that this was sold out, so please don't leave any gaps. Having said that, there were some free seats around me..

Dunno why there weren't more stage lights at the beginning - during the interval, Ben produced a big bag of them and proceeded to lay them at the edge of the stage. There must have been some delay in setting up. Anyway, he was accompanied on this occasion by Jonah Brody, and both used a variety of instruments, which you can see to the right of the stage.

Classified as over-16s, and I could see why - Ben began the show by reminding us that (at least on some sites) this show was advertised as "Greek Myths Unleashed". Now, as he explained, anyone familiar with Greek myth would already be aware that that, in itself, constitutes a whole heap of trigger warnings - and, as he pointed out, these were going to be "unleashed", no holds barred, on the audience. Hold onto your hats..

It was as bawdy a rendition of Greek myth as I've heard, or could want. Never vulgar, he nonetheless didn't hold back, going into sometimes graphic detail, treading a fine line with the audience. But then, of course, Zeus did have a habit of sleeping with lots and lots of characters.. and Ben injected the whole performance with his customary humour. Jonah accompanied brilliantly, his gentle sounds providing the backdrop, and creating a kind of aura, woven around the words.

I've heard most of this, at one time or another, in one form or another - although I didn't realise that Thrace covers the greater part of modern-day Bulgaria! but it's always good to hear the master do it. And Ben really surpassed himself today, weaving the story and embellishing it with such rich and powerful language - Truly, when he got to Orpheus, at the end of the show, he described the story so poetically as to make it seem completely new. I, for one, was really moved. You won't hear classical mythology told better - keep an eye out for this man!

He'd warned us that there'd probably be an announcement that the museum was closing - there always is, by the time these shows are over. Wouldn't you know it, it came just as, in the story, Apollo was making an announcement..! And so ended another successful outing with the Crick Crack Club - and as we got ready to leave, I overheard someone remark to her companion how "powerful" this was.. Well, yes!

And so to the Museum Tavern, where there were two small, free tables by the door. So I grabbed one, and ordered at the bar, which seemed quicker - it's a curious mixture here, I've always had table service before, but today, everyone seemed to be ordering from the bar. Also curious is how I tend to have chicken here, unlike in The Lucas Arms, also a Greene King pub, where it's pie or bust! Well, I think the first time I was here, I had never had the pie, so didn't know how great it is - and now it's just become a tradition. I tend to come here on Sundays, and have the Sunday roast - but today, seeing chicken kiyev on the menu, I thought, it's a long time since I had that, I'll have it for a change! Service came with a smile, but took some time - they were busy. And the chicken was very moreish - although not very garlicky. Still, I was fed. Pity they don't clean up a bit more thoroughly, though.. the busyness meant tables were left a little messy..

Tomorrow is film, so I was waiting for the film listings - and I was delighted with what came up. Top of the list was Tetris, would you believe! Now, this is a game I used to love - and it seems it also has an interesting backstory! The chameleon-like Taron Egerton plays the American businessman who wants the rights, but it seems the inventor is actually a programmer in Soviet Russia. Cue lots of Cold War-style intrigue - right when the USSR was collapsing, in 1989. So, also looking forward to sights and sounds I remember from then! Also stars Toby Jones. Seems the real story wasn't quite as exciting as depicted - but you know what they say about not letting the truth get in the way of a good story! Anyway, the trailer looks fantastic. Streaming on Apple TV+, if you have it.. In cinemas, it seems to be exclusively in the Everyman - not all of them though, and the closest showing to me is in the Screen on the Green. I'm too damn interested not to see this.

And then its rating fell. :-( Now, top of the list is Mrs. Chatterjee Vs. Norway - based on the true story of an Indian woman, living in Norway, whose children were taken into care. Differences in perceptions of how children should be raised, apparently. Only showing in Cineworld Wood Green at a time I can manage - but do you know, I'd much rather watch Tetris. Anyway, its rating is rising again. Watch this space..

Tuesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for The Unfriend, in The Criterion Theatre. A comedy about a British family that befriend an American lady while on holiday over there, and agree to keep in touch. Now she's on a plane over to see them - and they've discovered a terrible secret about her! How to they get rid of her - politely..? Sounds excellent. My though, I had terrible trouble trying to find a decent seat - everything left that was cheap seemed to be behind a pillar! and they aren't small pillars, as I discovered thanks to Seatplan. I finally plumped for something in the back row of the Dress Circle, where the pillars are thinner. Hey, you never know, I might be upgraded..

On Wednesday, back with the Horror Book Club, at the Prince of Wales in Drury Lane, as usual. And wow, this month's book is a doozy - House of Leaves is a massive tome, which I started reading years ago and never did get finished. I couldn't find that copy, so ended up buying it again - but am I finding the time to read it? Well, I'm doing my best, and it is a cracking read. Here's hoping I get it finished in time, as it's quite dense.. I'm still only under 200 pages through a nearly 700-page story..

On Thursday, with a bank holiday next day, flying back to Ireland. Aer Lingus, because I left it too late to book with Ryanair, and the evening flights were gone. Now, I have an old friend, Vicki, in Cork, whom I usually go down to see once a year, staying the night - usually at Christmas, but she was too busy for me last Christmas. So we've arranged for me to go and stay on the 11th this year, coming back the next day. Now, that realistically means I can't fly to London before the 13th - but with nothing unmissable on the 14th, I'm flying back that day instead. I finally got my holiday request in - no word yet.. Well, if I am denied the holiday, I'll just have to take the laptop with me. Which could get interesting, as I'd have to have it on in the car on the road to Cork..

I definitely have to be back for the 15th though, when I'm booked on another walk with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners! This one is A City built by a Genius - Wren's London. And as of now, he's scheduling walks I haven't done for days I can make them! Very cool.. because I do love his walks. And lunches.

Now, my boss suggested - quite a while ago - that we might have a jaunt to the head office in Tel Aviv on the 16th! I hadn't heard anything since, though - so I asked him yesterday. He did happen to be online, and confirmed that it won't be until at least next month now - wants to get the latest release out. So I'll be in London that week. However, there isn't honestly much coming up on Meetup - so, for the 19th, I've booked For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide.. at the Apollo. I have a front-row seat in the Dress Circle - now, I seem to remember ridiculously tight legroom, here - so I'm at the end of a row, and Seatplan says it'll be OK if I lean forward..

On the 20th, I'm with TAC for a talk on Arab & Islamic Roots of Europe's Architecture, at St. Mary Magdalene Church.

Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend. On the 24th, back with UITCS for The Secret Life of Bees, at the Almeida - no seats left in the stalls! Seatplan made me wary of the cheapest seats, so I'm in the next bracket up..

And on the 25th, back with Over 40 Living the Life, for dinner at the Greenwich Yacht Club again. Well, it was good last time - good food, cheap prices, good company. Three of us going so far - I'm sure there'll be more!

Exhibition: Hieroglyphs - Unlocking Ancient Egypt

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

We met - well, 15 or so of the 72 who confirmed attendance; some had flagged that they were going straight there - outside Holborn station. Where it was chilly to be standing and waiting for attendees, but never mind. Off we went to the museum in due course. And that was where the fun started, as the guards at the gate objected to 1. the fact that there was a large-ish group of us, and 2. to the fact that our guide had a large bag. In which he had a flag, which they were concerned he was going to unfurl inside and make some kind of protest! They eventually reached a compromise, whereby his bag would be confiscated, and returned to him on exit. He was seriously miffed, but really, you can see their point - there have been some terrible attacks on artworks of late, and they didn't want to be next!

After that - predictably - he was nowhere to be seen. A small group of us met inside, and after a few minutes, I led them to the exhibition. Where, naturally, we got separated. I saw some of them from time to time, but mainly made my own way around. Wow, did it make me nostalgic for Egypt, where I visited in 2000.. as I told people afterwards, it was easier to go around looking at hieroglyphs today, mind, without that searing heat! I loved the atmospheric films projected on the walls though, one depicting a temple interior, the other a Nile scene.

First up is a fascinating display, of cubes, each displaying a different hieroglyph on one side, and other forms of it (e.g. in Greek) on the others:

As usual, they have elements to keep the kids (and big kids!) interested:

Mind you, there was a danger of being hieroglyphed-out:

We learned how hieroglyphs evolved into cursive script:

Appropriately, they've moved the Rosetta stone in here for the exhibition. There's also a short film, on loop, about how the stone came to be interpreted:

We got some large exhibits:

and a variety of other documents:

I was fascinated by this extract from a Book of the Dead, which belonged to some queen who was responsible for the deaths of two policemen (which, I believe, she was trying to hide from the gods of the afterlife):

Of course, they worshipped cats. Quite rightly! And I love how the ancient Egyptian for "cat" translates as something like "miaouw"..

And when you consider some of the fragments of parchment that have been recovered, you can see how hard this work has been!

This sarcophagus is inscribed on both inside and outside, with spells to aid the dead person:

The gift shop, appropriately, exits to the Egyptian gallery, always a favourite of mine:

So, a fascinating exhibition for anyone with an interest in ancient Egypt. Runs till the 19th. Afterwards, we were supposed to meet at The Museum Tavern - I headed over early, and had their delicious Sunday roast chicken. Kept my eye out for anyone from the group - a couple came, saw there was no sign of the organiser, and left. Two of us were sat inside - when we saw another couple from the group outside, we joined them. The one who'd kept me company went home - and we were all about to do the same when lo! the organiser arrived, 40 minutes late. So, six of us ended up propping up a table at the end of the bar for one for the road - he'd apparently booked some space, but the pub had promptly ignored the booking. Never mind - it was good to get some social time with this group, for once! Still not one whose events I'll be rushing to join.

Tomorrow, 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 Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS)! On Tuesday, 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 Wednesday, 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 Thursday, 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. 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 just 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 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! 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!

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 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.

Exhibition: Mexico After Hours, Walk: Paddington - Proud, Perky & Picturesque, Comedy: Dara O' Briain - So, Where Were We?, & Storytelling: Inisfáil

Friday was something advertised with the Crick Crack Club (CCC) - they're celebrating all things Mexican in Kew Gardens this month, with Mexico After Hours on some nights! With something about the Day of the Dead, of course.. and on Friday, the CCC came along.

That far out, it had to be Tube - even coming home, late at night. Outbound, I took the Piccadilly Line - happily, before it got to be full, so I got a seat. And changed to the District Line - as you have to, for Kew Gardens. And when I got off, it was drizzling - as it had been all afternoon. Just as well the e-ticket they sent me included a map, though, showing me where to enter - although Google Maps recognises Temperate House, where the event was taking place, in no way did it seem to know exactly where it was! Without the map supplied with the e-ticket, I'd have been completely lost. As it was, I had about 15 minutes' extra walk once I got as far as the gardens. You couldn't miss it in the end though - I arrived at about 6.15, 15 minutes before it was due to open, and the queue outside the gates was growing rapidly..

They were about five minutes late letting us in. The path to Temperate House was lit for us - most attractively, I must say. And as we made our way, someone behind me remarked to her companion that she'd looked into hiring it as a wedding venue - but it would've cost £20,000..

See those buildings either side? They're all connected - this is, apparently, the world's largest Victorian greenhouse. 

The central atrium is the centrepiece of the activity, with constant music and a bar:

Oh, and to satisfy the macabre cravings of - well, people like me - there are plenty of shrines to the ancestors:

Well, we'd been handed the evening's programme on the way in, and I could see that the first of two CCC sessions was scheduled for 6.45 - five minutes' time, by this stage. Unfortunately, this central section of the glasshouse is on a raised area, steps either side - and yes, the CCC sessions were in a separate building to the rear. I spent the whole blasted night steeling myself to go up and down these steps - no handrails, of course. No accessible alternative, either - when I went for food, later, I did manage to find a flat path to the side, which I used to come around to the back again. However, the event trucks were parked there, and when I tried to exit that way at the end, an usher spotted me and sternly ordered me back hrough the central hall. There were a few people on mobility scooters - I suppose, if they had wanted the accessible path, they'd have been allowed.

Well, I managed it - and scored a central seat, in the ring of chairs they'd erected, for the performance.

(Note the plate of scraps of paper in front of the altar - the CCC left blank paper and pens at the front of the stage, for people to write deceased loved-ones' names on, if they wanted, and leave them at the alter. So they'd be included in the ceremony.)

All night, Clare Muphy and Sarah-Liisa Wilkinson took turns to deliver short stories centred around death, cheating death, the Land of the Dead.. One interesting tale described the origin of mist, and I heard again the story of how Hare brought the tale, from the Moon, that people woud die, but was in such a hurry that he completely forgot the second part of the message, that they would rise again. Clare Murphy has a wonderful, comic delivery, and Sarah-Liisa Wilkinson an absolutely madcap one, always urging the audience to contribute sound effects. I was sad to leave them at the end of the set - but we had to make way for a Mexican cookery/cocktail making demonstration, so off I went. It was damn chilly in there, anyway - I don't know how "temperate" these glasshouses were that night, with all the doors left open!

And so to investigate the bar. By this time, it was about 7.25, and I managed to grab the very last small bottle of white wine in one of the ice buckets - a pinot grigio. And a plastic container to go with it. Tricky to open, but I'm good at that - and I was determined. And meantime, there was a parade of costumed people! ( I did take a video, but am having trouble downloading it..)

And then I went for a stroll. It's fantastically lit, quite surreal in the dark:

Marigolds are supposed to ease the passage of those from the Land of the Dead:

Quite striking from outside:

I finished what was rather a weird-tasting pinot grigio, and headed for the cocktail bar, where I had to queue - you could have an old-fashioned, or a margarita. Margarita all the way for me, thanks! and it did taste good. Toilets are located down a spiral staircase, in the "magnolia room". And then, being hungry, I went in search of food! Following the map on my programme, I found that the only food to be had was back the way we'd come in - great, down the steps again. Where I found just the one food stall, serving tacos - pork or veggie. I had pork. After a long queue, the guy to the side taking orders with his card machine. I dunno why he bothered to ask what we wanted - they were the same price, and we had to give the order again at the counter! Ah well, it was tasty anyway. The miniscule amount of it we had, for £9.50, was scandalous - mind you, they were the only food stall there! Disgraceful - of course, I should have left earlier to find food elsewhere, but wanted to stay for the storytelling at the end of the night.

I sat and watched people stream in for the demos - and when a queue started for the storytelling, I joined it. Unfortunately, there is very little seating. And, of course, all the people who'd been lucky enough to score a seat for the demos were reluctant to give it up, and thought they might experience a bit of storytelling as well! So, for all of the ladies in front of me in the queue saying it wasn't fair, we hadn't a hope of getting a seat. Being first up, though, we did manage to get a perch on a ledge at the edge of the flowerbeds, at the side. Where we (usually) had a clear view to the side of the stage, but it was a challenge to hear. Ah well. At least some newbies were experiencing storytelling - and it might stick with some.

Different stories for this section, of course - Sarah-Liisa regaled us with the tale of a Scandinavian hero, whose mother came to rescue him and bring him back to life, after he was killed while out adventuring. Both got a great reception. Meanwhile.. a ghostly silver cat slinked its way through the crowd, disappearing into the foliage. Then came back and did it again, completely ignoring us all. And as I left, at the end, I could hear its meowling, bidding us farewell.. most appropriate.

The Tube home was interesting - first up was the ever-interesting District Line, where I found myself sitting beside a bunch of people in togas, one arguing with another about the suitability of his modern underwear, which was poking out, to the period he was trying to evoke. And unfortunately, I decided to change to the Victoria Line - which was stifling! What a relief to get off..

Couldn't blog that night, as I had to be up early. Yesterday was another of those busy days. So.. first I was headed on a walk with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners - this one was Paddington - Proud, Perky & Picturesque.

Not hard to get to Paddington - a simple bus ride, with a choice of buses. (And would you believe it, I was just in time to miss a #205 - the fabled, but rarely seen bus of the fleet. What are the odds?) Having got off the bus, though - not being familiar with the station, it was impossible for me to find it!! Jeez, they have roundels for the Tube - could they not stretch to a sign saying something like "station entrance over here"? Anyway, it appeared as a big blob on Google Maps - so, heading in that general direction, I eventually came across what looked like an entrance. Found the platforms - and Laurence had helpfully mentioned that the Paddington Bear statue beside which we were to meet was on Platform 1. And so it proved - but not at the top of it, oh no. I had to walk a long way down the platform - and saw the group before I saw the statue. Ah well, he's only a little bear.

We waited for latecomers, and then we were off. And one of the most interesting things in the tour was right outside!

There's a man in the clock - about lifesize. And he's constantly on the move - cleaning it, repainting the hands as the time changes. Seriously, you could spend so much time just watching this..!

On to the Mitre pub:

And on to the Italian gardens, designed by Prince Albert as a present for his wife, Queen Victoria, not long before he died:

The man had taste, I must admit.

To the side is a statue to Jenner:

And to the other side, an upmarket (Rolls Royce) ice cream van!

We enjoyed our trip to the park - but it was hard for Laurence to get us all back in time, and we were a bit late starting off again! Never mind, we were nearly finished.. just a quick stop outside St. Mary's Hospital, which has seen the births of so many members of the Royal Family in recent times!

A most interesting and entertaining walk! And so to lunch in Fountains Abbey pub - where you might be forgiven for thinking they'd never heard of us, although Laurence had rung to book, as he always does. Well, they have a couple of function rooms upstairs, and duly shunted us into one of them - where we did a bit of reorganising so we were all sat together. We had to go back down to order, mind. But we were well fed - me on the half roast chicken with BBQ sauce - and passed a most pleasant afternoon chatting.

Me, I was killing time - I wasn't going home, because, for nearly a year now, I've had tickets booked, for me and Helen, for Dara O' Briain in the Hammersmith Apollo that night! Crikey, I'd never even have thought of it if it hadn't been noted in my calendar. So anyway, she couldn't come on the walk, but we arranged to meet for dinner beforehand in Bill's of Hammersmith. I could only hope for better service than I got in Bill's of Clink Street..

So, I got the bus. Buses. And ended up going the wrong way, slightly. Ah well, I was still on time - got the table, and then she arrived and someone was right along to take our order. This time, I had steak - skipped a starter, under the circumstances. And we shared a bottle of sauvignon blanc. And it was good - although the steak was nothing special. Indeed, we might have had dessert - certainly, I asked for the dessert menu - but Bill's was back to its old self, and the only thing we could get the staff to do for us from then on was bring us the bill. Yep, not the place to come for a special occasion.

As usual, I couldn't access the "free WiFi" - can't get it in train stations, on trains, or in hotels or restaurants or airports at all any more. It technically exists, but has "no internet". Which meant I couldn't download our tickets. Of course, as soon as I was out the door, no such problems.. it was a short walk to the Apollo, and we went straight in. And having booked quite quickly, we had very good seats!

No support act, he came straight on. I love his comedy, and really enjoyed this - his comeback tour after lockdown. Revelation of the night, however, was that he's adopted! He was describing the palaver to get a look at his birth cert, following which he tracked down his birth family. Crikey, you never do know, eh?

Too tired last night to blog, but it was a great day, and great to see Helen again. Today, back with the CCC for Inisfáil, Irish storytelling courtesy of the wonderful Clare Murphy, in the British Museum. Mercifully, not on till afternoon, so I could have a lie-in - and walk there!

Took the back entrance, as cleverly suggested to me by Google Maps, and arrived just in time. And wow, I have never seen one of these events so well-attended! Popular subject today, methinks. There were people directing audience members to seats. I got one a few rows from the front - and a young couple were delighted to grab a couple of spare seats together, right beside me.

Well, she took us on again in her inimitable way, charming her way into the audience with a healthy dose of humour. Today, it was all about the Tuatha Dé Dannan - even the name sounds like a drumbeat. About how they came to Ireland (then known as Inisfáil) and fought the Firbolg. And finally, about how they in turn were displaced by the Celts. When she asked, yes, many of the audience had heard of the characters in the tales - but probably hadn't seen them brought to life in the energetic way that she did. We spent a fabulous hour or so - and the man of the young couple beside me turned to his partner (as so many have before) and thanked her profusely for dragging him there. Well, yes. Others on the way out were remarking to their friends how Clare Murphy is one of the best. Well, yes! I heartily agree.

On then to The Museum Tavern. It was pretty full, but I found a table right at the end - with a QR code on it! And hey, here - and in the museum itself - is the first free WiFi I've come across in ages! So, I was going to have a stab at that for once - but just as I was looking at the website, the waiter came along and took my order. Now, this is also a Greene King pub - like the Fountains Abbey pub - so a similar menu. So I decided not to have the chicken again, and went for a steak and ale pie instead. And the requisite glass of sauvignon blanc. Which were serverd quite promptly. The glass could have been cleaner - but otherwise, it was very moreish, gorgeous beef dripping gravy accompanying the pie. The chips weren't the best I've had, but the pie might well have been. I was absolutely stuffed for the walk home.

Tomorrow, I originally booked a free online talk about Railways of Surrey, from the Surrey History Meetup. But I just recently saw (despite the fact that it was evidently posted months ago) an event in Sadler's Wells from Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) - Samsara is inspired by the Chinese novel, Journey to the West, and contains partial nudity, we're told. Tickets for this are quite cheap, and we're all in the Stalls, for once - they haven't even opened the Second Circle, where we normally are! So, no stairs, for a change!

On Tuesday, I've booked for Iphigenia in Splott, in the Lyric Hammersmith.

On Wednesday, was supposed to have drinks with Ivan. But now it turns out he has Covid, so that's off the menu. Instead, I'm headed to hear the London Handel Players perform At Their Majesties' Pleasure, a programme of Baroque dance music, at St. John's Smith Square. Courtesy of TAC.

On Thursday, back with Civilised London for dinner at Le Sacré Coeur. Always good.

On Friday, back to Ireland again - and the following Monday, it's my mother's birthday, so I'm staying in Ireland for that and flying back on Tuesday 25th. I've already cleared it with work.

On the 26th, I've booked with UITCS again - for Mary, at Hampstead Theatre again. Political machinations in the court of Mary, Queen of Scots. Funny thing - there were two seats in the main seating section at the cheapest price, but the site objected to me just booking one of them. No problem booking an equivalent seat in a higher price bracket, though! So I booked one of the high seats, at the back, instead. At the lower price.

I hadn't anything booked for the 27th - was thinking film - and then Ticket Text (one of hundreds of ticket organisations I seem to have signed up for) sent me an advertising email. So, it seems that night the comedy venue, 21Soho, is holding an event of Comedians Telling Spooky Stories. Which sounds the business, for the week that's in it. So I booked. Hallowe'en fancy dress, apparently - well, I'll have a think. I do have some duds that might do.. 😜

The 28th, I've kept free for an all-night drinking session with Ivan. Man, I've missed these! In vino veritas, as they say, and these are wonderful chances to get stuff off your chest. He fancied doing it earlier, but I didn't want to have to take time off work - this was the first overnighter I could fit in. And with him taking ill, it seems it was just as well! I hope he can make this one.

Which should make the 29th interesting - I'm on another walk with Laurence and the 45+s! Might not actually get to bed in between.. this one is the Edgy London Walking Tour, and is one of his new ones.

And yes, I have something to do that evening! (This month is far too busy.) I'm back with the CCC, for the Game of Candles - their Hallowe'en offering, where they extinguish a candle for every spooky story told. Tim Ralphs and Sarah-Liisa Wilkinson - in King's Place, lovely! I can walk (or stagger) home..