Cool Camden Pub Walk & Play: Scandaltown

Well, Wednesday was Star Wars Day. And I had another flat viewing on Wednesday evening - advertised as a 1-bed! Imagine, affordable and within walking distance of work - I hoped it'd work out, I'd love to live alone again, for the first time since I moved to London!

I could have taken a bus, but with a last-minute work demand and having to call my mother, it ran too late, and I ended up on the Tube. I arrived where I'd been told to go on the dot of 5, when I'd arranged to be there. Messaged him to let him know I was there..

So, it started to rain. No response from him, and the only people around had shopping bags, so I figured none was him. I messaged him every few minutes, no response. No sign of him either. Then it started to pour - I finally took refuge under a large tree across the street. I might have left, but was so keen to view a 1-bed that I hung on. At 5.30, he apologetically messaged back, asked whether I had a UK number. Duh, no, just the one you've been messaging me on! I pointed out to him that it's on WhatsApp, on which you can call and message for free - indeed, this was what we were talking on! He told me there was someone in the flat, who would call me on WhatsApp.

He did, told me to come into the courtyard. I told him the gate was locked, he contradicted me and said it was open. I said it had been open, but someone had gone through and locked it. He said he'd come down.

No sign. His boss, whom I'd been speaking to first, got back to me to say the other guy had been calling and there was no answer. Meantime, someone opened the gate and I entered the courtyard. I didn't know the flat number, got it from the boss - but checking the list of flat numbers, I couldn't see it! A local resident passed, and I asked - he told me I was on the wrong side of the building, I'd have to go out and around. Sure enough, there was another courtyard with another gate - and it was open! Guy #2 called me again, I explained what had happened, and he came and got me, led me up to the flat.

He told me someone else was also looking. Well, duh - I should have been in and out by now. Lo, it was a couple that had also been waiting around the other side - pity I didn't get talking to them! Now, they'd got directions from someone, and come around here before I did - pity the idiot didn't join the dots and realise I'd got lost the same way. Anyway. The place - described in the ad as "spacious" - was the pokiest flat I've ever seen. A tiny kitchen, a tiny bathroom, no storage anywhere - and two other rooms. The whole place still needed furnishing, which makes it odd that it's already available! Anyway, I was confused about the two rooms - oh, he told me, he's renting out both! So it's a 2-bed. Well, they were way too small for my purposes, as was the whole flat. What a let-down. I legged it out of there, and reported the ad to Spareroom as misleading. They've been on to him to change the description.

I was due back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners shortly afterwards! Ah, it'd been too long.. someone suggested that I skip off work for a couple of hours during the day to go on the walks, but seriously, every time I checked when his walks were, I had a meeting that clashed! So, not an option. Anyway, this was the Cool Camden Pub Walk! and a short walk from where I was. It was actually rescheduled - was originally supposed to happen last week. Unfortunately, last night it clashed with a couple of other things - a Civilised London (CL) meal I was actually booked on (happily, he gave me a refund of my deposit), and leaving drinks for my favourite ex-boss from my last company. Tarnation. Well, couldn't be helped - I really wanted to go on this. I was originally booked for an online talk that night - Fight Them on the Beaches was a talk about the greatest speeches in parliament. Courtesy of Guided Walking Tours in Brighton and Sussex. But they record the talks, and indeed the organiser sent me the link yesterday, since I didn't attend. True, isn't it - everything happens on Wednesdays!

So, I was the first Laurence met. And heading to the nearby station, we met someone I literally haven't met in years! Great to see her. The others happened along gradually - only half the number who'd booked, because of the rain. And off we schlepped, through the always-interesting streets of Camden. To be fair, it did rain on us a bit, but not as much as when I was stuck under that tree. It was chilly, though..

Came across a statue that Laurence described as "unloved" - but this guy does deserve respect, as the man who helped to repeal the corn laws, which had such a devastating effect on Ireland as well as England.

Famous residents included:

and I've always loved the graffiti:

We even saw some blue sky, eventually:

Our first pub was The World's End, with nice heavy music on the sound system, and a barman who (again!) mistook my request for a glass of white wine, and tried to serve me red. And him Irish, too! Mind you, he was a bit away with the fairies - stared into space as I was ordering, and came back to himself with a jolt. Anyway, I always like this pub.

Next was The Dublin Castle, which had a loud, live gig in the back (with well-soundproofed doors, thankfully). This is where we shared a table with someone who used to work there, and regaled us with stories..

And so finally to Camden Market:

and our final pub, the Hawley Arms, where Amy Winehouse used to work. V musical part of town, Camden!

Terrific to see everyone! I'm nearly forgetting how to have proper conversations these days, it happens so seldom.. Anyway, I was too tired that night to blog. Mercifully, my internet connection was down yesterday morning, so I got a bit extra in bed. And then too busy to blog all day!

Last night, I was off to Scandaltown, at the Lyric Hammersmith. Yet another play by the prolific Mike Bartlett, this is a revamped Restoration comedy, set in modern-day, debauched London. As always, love his stuff and was really looking forward to this. But wouldn't you know it, now CT has tickets.. ah well..

Again, work got in the way of my leaving at a decent hour - and again, I had to do without a proper dinner. Grabbed a molten steak slice from Delice de France in Liverpool Street Station en route to catch the Tube. And while I was there, caught sight of a Tube status update board - severe delays on the Circle, District, and Hammersmith & City lines. For different reasons, it transpired. All the lines I could get direct to Hammersmith. Happily, there's an alternative - Central and Piccadilly lines. Just as well I've been out there several times lately, and knew what I was doing.

Now, this had all been a rush - which is why, as we approached Hammersmith - in the above-ground section, where I can get internet - it occurred to me that I hadn't dug out my ticket yet. They had texted me a link, but that was to pre-order drinks. So I set about finding the ticket - and was so engrossed, would you believe it, I missed my stop! Jesu. I ended up all the way out in Acton! Non-stop between there and Hammersmith on the Piccadilly line, mind you - so I just caught the next one back. Having said that, I was so flustered, I was in grave danger of missing it - it's years since I lived in West London and used to fly to/from Heathrow, so was familiar with this station..

The Lyric isn't far from the station, is well-signposted, and visible once you're at the right exit - all v helpful. It also helped that I knew where to go - the entrance is on the right, the theatre upstairs (not immediately obvious) - and with all of the fuss, I just made it in time! Well, I might actually have been slightly late, but that was due to the horrendous queue on the stairs. And I had a nice seat, third row in the Stalls:

I'd heard a bad report of this - but that was from someone who doesn't like Restoration comedies. Me, I absolutely loved it! The tone is exactly right, rather silly and very debauched, with even some of the appropriate language creeping in! (The excuse for the two young persons at the centre of the plot speaking in such an old-fashioned way is that they were raised by their aunt, who "wanted to raise them right"). It's hilarious - and wow, does it poke a pin in the inflated ego of some of today's sacred cows! Politics, TV, social media, "wokeness".. scathing dialogue combines with very topical plotlines. Covid shows up, appropriately, as the Plague - Tories having parties in the garden, anyone? The hapless politician, squirming and changing sides as he finds himself in bind after bind, turns to the audience at one point for support. Heh. In fact, there was a good bit of heckling, all taken in good spirit by the cast. Silly, cheeky, OTT.. Highly recommended! Only runs till the 14th - run and see it!

(Oh, and maybe buy something from the poor usher who positions himself in the Stalls at the interval - with everyone heading out to the landing, where there's a bar as well as an ice cream stand, he had nothing to do! Occupied himself bopping to the interval music. Well, I'd have bought my ice cream from him, but he didn't arrive in time..)

Anyway, the Tubes were all running again when I was headed home, and I got a direct one. Ran too late to blog though, as I had to be up for a meeting today - which, ironically, I couldn't attend: internet problems again! For tonight, another ex-boss, Ivan, asked could we do drinks again! He also suggested we try to find somewhere quieter than the last place - not an easy ask, for a central venue on a Friday night. Ah, but I have contacts.. the organiser of CL once recommended to me a pub just off Charing Cross Road, which he knows as quieter than the usual - I couldn't remember the name, but he reminded me it's the Round Table. I'd have booked, but they seem not to take bookings on Friday evenings. Our ex-colleague, James, was coming, and for the first time, my aforementioned ex-boss from my last company! Promised to be cool, and would make up for me missing her leaving drinks on Wednesday night.

And now Ivan has cancelled - as usual. Complicated life, as he says - he swears he'll make it up to us. Ah well, I did enough drinking on Wednesday night anyway! And my ex-boss is still recovering from her debauchery on Wednesday. James is still meeting me for a meal - we've booked Cote Covent Garden. V necessary on a Friday night.

Tomorrow, back with Laurence and the 45+s - this time, it's a walk called Red Lights, Rabble Rousers & RocknRollers, around Soho. And Helen is coming up for it! So, a highly sociable week! Sadly, this'll probably be my last trip with Laurence and the 45+s this month.. the trials of working during the week.

On Sunday, back with the Crick Crack Club (CCC). This is The Origins of Life and Death, with Jan Blake, at the British Museum, which I missed in January. Limited availability at time of writing, as they have socially distanced seating.

On Monday, I'm headed to a film - Everything Everywhere All at Once is a Chinese English-language comedy about a woman travelling through multiple alternate realities. Jamie Lee Curtis shows up too. Nearest showing to me is in Hackney Picturehouse, and I've booked because it's booking heavily.

On Tuesday, what I think is my last event rescheduled because of Covid - I'm headed to the postponed Tarot, at Soho Theatre. Wow, it's over two years since I was there last.. (and now TAC have tickets, blast.)

On Wednesday, back with TAC - for another operatic evening at Hoxton Hall. National Opera Studio is presenting Mozart: Secrets and Seduction. (So much for Meetup being busy on Wednesdays!)

On Thursday, my only Meetup of the week - I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats, to see a performance of As You Like It at Wilton's. Went for a slightly more expensive seat than usual, this time - I'm sick of straining my neck.

Then back to Ireland for the weekend - would you believe it, I've exhausted the films showing locally that I'm interested in! So it'll be a quiet one.

On the 16th, headed to Middle, at the National.

On the 17th, back with CL for a meal at last - this one is at Mestizo (Mexican). Not usually my favourite, but I'll give it a shot. Meeting beforehand at the Crown & Anchor.

On the 18th - well, I saw on Meetup that a group called Get a Tech Developer Job has a free webinar, Learn Web Scraping with Python! Now, we're expected to use Python in my new job, and I never have - so this could be very handy indeed.

On the 19th, I'm headed to the CCC again, for Astray, at Rich Mix. A storytelling double bill.

On the 20th, headed to Marys Seacole, at Donmar Warehouse. Based on a true story, I've heard mixed reviews - we shall see.

And on the 21st - well Lordy, I've booked for the Roman London Walk, with Walk About London (also advertised on Walks, Talks & Treasure Hunts - both linked to London Guided Walks). Now, I missed the last two I was booked on with this company - third time lucky?

The Regent's Park Walk & Musical: Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill

Wow, work finally quieted down! Roll on the return of my co-worker from holiday - it's been manic. So, time to catch up with catching up.. On Wednesday, I was supposed to be back with Jennifer Rees (Funzing, courtesy of London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night), for a talk about the Psychology of Serial Killers. This was 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 was 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 then advertised a Regent's Park Walk for that day! Guess I'll never make this talk..!

Like on Monday, I could walk to the meeting point.. and arrived at the Mason's Arms in good time. I joined them down the back - under the watchful eyes of Churchill..

(brrr.) More photos here.

Anyway, apart from that, it's a pleasant place - all wood and glass inside, a forest of flowers outside. When it was time, we left - still missing one of our number, but as with last time, he rang when he was nearby, and caught up with us.

A lovely evening for a walk, too. The usual round of fascinating folks and facts followed. The Rosettis, for instance, lived at Rosetti House, just down the road. We passed the house of Edward R. Murrow, and heard all about his adventures with radio during the Second World War. We passed the site of the house where Lister lived. Learned all about dioramas, and the development of photography. We passed on to the elegant terraces surrounding Regent's Park.. I found that Cumberland Terrace seemed to have the best sound for listening to Jesus Christ Superstar, over the trees!

We made a special detour to a dark courtyard, to see London's jelling stone - an ancient Danish artefact, including runic script:

..and finished up in the lively area of Camden. A longish walk - but packed with so many different things, it's no surprise. The evening ended convivially in The World's End - a cavernous place, which I've often passed but never before entered. I finally decided to walk home - it wasn't that far really, and I need the practice for next month. Sadly, passed en route a venue that I've visited many's the time. another victim of progress:

RIP The Forge. Too late to blog, that night.

Yesterday, 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 week, in fact. And gee, all of five minutes' walk from the office! Which was handy - I needed the extra hours at work, with everything I'd had to do, and made the theatre about 10 minutes before showtime. Identified the group, gathered outside - but with the crowd flooding the theatre doors, I figured I'd better get my ticket, which I had to collect from the box office. And with the crowds streaming in, I couldn't realistically have joined them outside, after that.

So started my trek up to the balcony - where most of us were seated. It's a very long way, you know.. lots and lots of stairs, balustrades interestingly snuggled in purpose-built niches in the walls. Seatplan had kindly informed me that Row A was tight for legroom - as I could see, people struggling to find somewhere to put their knees! They did say the same for Row B - but I'd seen that an aisle seat was available there, which was what I chose. Have to say, Row B was quite ok; there is a rail, but free space underneath means there's plenty of room to flex your legs. Just do try not to kick the heads of the row in front - they have enough problems, cramped as they are! Awkward to get into Row B though, not much step space. The view is high, but perfectly good: cabaret-style tables in the stalls and on stage, as you can see..

Mind you, with the seat backs as upright as they are, I kept having the feeling that I was being pushed forward - and ended up quite stiff.

It would've helped if I'd moved more - but you see, I was so enthralled! Audra McDonald is a six-time Tony award winner, it seems - and oh my, on the evidence of this, she deserves every one. Dressed in an elegant white gown - eventually donning the gardenias for which Bille Holiday was famous - she storms the house in a 90-minute show, which takes the form of a cabaret concert in a supper club. And in that time, she seems literally possessed by the spirit of Billie Holiday. I've never made much study of Billie Holiday - but it sounded authentic to me.

Kudos to her for singing for that long - and for eight shows a week - in a voice that isn't her natural one! We heard classics such as God Bless the Child and Strange Fruit - and also, as during the course of the evening, she succumbed to the effects of the booze, constantly in her hand - she told us about her sad life. Wow. This is an absolutely amazing performance - not to be missed. Runs until the 9th only.. rush out and get a ticket. I'd have joined in the standing ovation at the end, had I not been so oddly positioned at the very edge of the stairs!

Afterwards, to the Hippodrome - somewhere, again, that I've passed about a million times, but never before entered. We did have a bit of trouble getting in - the bouncer on the side door wanted ID, unexpectedly! So we wandered around the front, where he was happy as long as he could peer in our bags. Passing the slots and gaming tables, we headed to the upstairs bar - after waiting forever to be served, we made our way to the lounge, along appropriately decorated floors:

We could have gotten served in the lounge, but would have been charged for table service. And so we had a convivial drink, in plush surroundings, and good company:

Again, home too late to blog. Tonight, 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..

Tomorrow, I'm back to the Proms for the first time in years! Funnily enough, it was inspired by a Meetup group - Gothic Requiem London (!). This is the "Gothic Prom", you see - all the composers are Czech (Bohemian). Now, I'm no Goth - but the Proms sound like a great idea.

On Sunday, I'm off on a day trip to Bath, with Carpe Diem: booked while I was in Barcelona, recently. Tarnation, an early start - ah well.

On Monday, the organiser of Walks, Talks & Treasure Hunts promised Helen and me free tickets to a treasure hunt she was organising that day - in recompense for that treasure hunt, not run by her but advertised by her, where the organisers never showed, and instead marked us as no-shows. However, the event on Monday still hasn't been advertised, and what with severe engineering works at Waterloo for the whole month, Helen's not sure she can make it at all. We shall see. Mary and I were also thinking of going to the pictures - watch this space.

On Tuesday, I'm off to see Five Guys Named Moe, at the Marble Arch Theatre - a pop-up, it seems! From the Box Office provided the best deal on this occasion. And the organiser of last night's event is keen to hear my feedback - of the venue as well as of the show - as she's taking a group there later in the year.

On Wednesday, I was back with Up in the Cheap Seats, for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, at the Apollo (although booking is with the Young Vic), with Sienna Miller, Colm Meaney, and nudity. Cheapest tickets this time were with LoveTheatre. And then, London Literary Walks advertised one. So, instead, I'm off on The Michelin Walk.

On Thursday, back with those two Funzing groups. This time, the talk is entitled "Can You Trust the Media?", and is given by Annie Machon, who gave an interesting talk last month on Russian Hacking. Another 30% discount. I just wish she'd use some visual aids.. At the Lighthouse again, terrific. :-/ Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

On the 4th September, I'm finally going to see Dreamgirls, at the Savoy, courtesy of Amazon Tickets.

On the 5th September, I was back with the Scarlet Ladies for a talk on Generation Sex. Until Let's Do This advertised a concert that sounds really good.. at the Apples & Pears Bar. Hey, I do allow myself to change if something sounds better.. and as I say, the Scarlet Ladies are not my kind of ladies.

On the 6th September, I'm with another new group - North London Friends - for an interview with Michael Palin, at the Knowledge Centre Theatre at the British Library. I was really torn, though - the LEC is off to an early music concert the same night, and I do love that - but had already booked this, and it is Michael Palin. Hey-ho..

On the 7th September, I was back with North London Friends, and another talk on Fake News - different speaker, mind! This is the Fulbright Commission annual lecture, at the British Library. However, much more attractively, Let's Do This are reviving what used to be a regular Man with the Hat event - we're off to St. Martin-in-the-Fields, for some Vivaldi concertos. With a discount, yet! London Concertante, as usual.

On the 8th September, until the other day I was still technically booked for free comedy in Hammersmith with DiscoverLDN.UK. But, as I say - good atmosphere, but the comedy is usually pretty bad. I was saved - again - by Up in the Cheap Seats, who are off to see Doubt, a Parable, in Southwark Playhouse. Aww.. it's so long since I was there, and I have so many good memories of it from my time with the Man with the Hat!

On the 9th September, Helen and I have our 25km sponsored walk, in aid of Haslemere's Cat Protection Society. We're going as Dick Whittington and his cat, respectively, and the route is the Thames Bridges Trek. You can donate here.. Must try and pick up some decent walking shoes at the weekend.

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 last Friday, and now, that night, I'm off to Eaten Father, Eaten Mother by Ben Haggerty. In Soho Theatre, first time in ages.

On the 19th September, back with the Scarlet Ladies, for a talk entitled 100 Women - Their Breasts, Their Stories. Although actually, if I didn't like the other night's, I think I'll hate this - will be looking for alternatives.

On the 20th September, Funzing (same two groups) and Jennifer Rees again - this time, a fun talk about the Psychology of Batman Villains! The first of hers for which I managed to get a 30% discount.. and it's on nice and close to me again. Seems to be a feature of her talks!

On the 21st September, technically, free comedy in Hammersmith - with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, and DiscoverLDN.UK. And on the 22nd September, the same - with DiscoverLDN.UK. I rather doubt it though - don't you?

On the 23rd September, I was to do the same, but am now headed to the launch of Rob Luft's new album, Riser, at King's Place. As advertised by The London Jazz Meetup. I finally ended up paying their membership fee after booking an event with them the other day, for November, which someone is attending that I know. So I figured it was wiser!

I had booked the same free comedy, with the same group, on the 24th September, but was again saved - this time, by the World Music Meetup! They're off to see Kefaya, in Nell's Jazz and Blues bar, back in my old stomping ground of North End Road! Happy days, when I was working there..

On the 25th September, a group called Theatre and Stuff is off to see Prism, at Hampstead Theatre. They're charging extra to go with them, though - so I happily bought my own ticket. What the hey, odds are I won't know any of them anyway.

On the 26th September, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats - to see Wings, at The Young Vic. Accidentally booked standing, I think.. :-/

On the 27th September, with Up in the Cheap Seats again - for Jekyll & Hyde, presented by the National Youth Theatre, at the Ambassadors Theatre.

On the 28th September, with another new group: London, Surrey and Beyond.. for an event called "A Unique Experience. Olde Pub, Gerry's Private Club, 2 'i's Famous Fish 'n' Chips". Which says it all, really! Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.

On the 2nd October, I had booked at Hampstead Theatre, for No One Will Tell Me How to Start a Revolution. North London Friends are attending - and charging extra, so I was going it alone! But now it turns out I'm spending the week in the Stockholm office - back on the 8th.

On the 3rd October, it was free comedy in Hammersmith - nominally. With Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich. So, that was easy to cancel, for Stockholm!

On the 4th October was Up in the Cheap Seats and Labour of Love, with Martin Freeman, at the Noel Coward Theatre. Cheapest tickets from the venue, for once!

On the 5th October, same group - headed to see the Company Wayne McGregor, at Sadler's Wells.

And finally! on the 6th October, headed to see Chekhov's The Seagull, at the Lyric. Third night in a row for that group - almost as busy a group as I am a person! So, four things in all I had to cancel, without refund.. what the hey, I'll doubtless be saving money in Stockholm! Expenses paid, after all.

On the 9th October, I'm finally going to see the show so many people have asked me whether I'm seeing. Ink is showing at the Duke of York's Theatre. 

And on the 10th October, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Ballet Boyz at Sadler's Wells.