Concert: London Philharmonic Orchestra

Tonight .. hmm. Well, I was supposed to go on another Invigorate pub crawl. Until I got the shock on Monday of being notified that I had been removed from the group! and when I tried to ask the organiser what was going on, I discovered he'd blocked me. Not to mention, when I thought to check yesterday, he'd unfriended me on Facebook! Well now, and I've known that guy for years. Goes to show, you never do know with people.. whatever his reason for removing me (probably because I don't tend to go on hikes), it seems terribly cowardly to block me on the message system as well! Never mind, Wednesdays are the most popular weekday for Meetups, and I can always find something else - indeed, instead, I was delighted to be headed with London Classical Music and Theatre Group to a London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) concert at the Royal Festival Hall! Nice, cheap tickets available - as usual - with TAC, who send you a promo code to book on the LPO website. So, bye-bye Invigorate - I'll miss this group, it was one of my friendliest, but if the organiser is going to behave like that..!

After what turned out to be a less-than-satisfactory job interview, what I fancied was a KFC - so I took myself down there, for a change. Haven't been in so long. And it has changed - they now have termini where you can place and pay for an order. So I did - my usual boneless banquet, except they now have sweet chili chicken bites as an option, so I chose them as well. I mightn't have if I'd known how long they'd take! On the plus side, I got so many different people fiddling with my bag in the meantime that I got several rounds of cutlery (sporks), straws, napkins..

In the upstairs seating area, I have to say, it looked cleaner than the last time I was there. And so I proceeded to stuff myself. The beans I always have as a side were lovely, the chili bites were lovely, and worth the wait - except, with all the other food, I couldn't finish them. But I have to say, the major event - the chicken fillets - were a major disappointment. Seriously, I remember when KFC really was finger-lickin' good! I remember the special recipe being delicious. This, however, was just chicken in overcooked breadcrumbs - tasteless and stodgy. That recipe was their USP, and if they're no longer using it, I won't be back.

After that, it wasn't long before it was time to head to the concert. Covid checks on the way in. I seemed to be first there, although it ain't easy to spot people - unless they did what our organiser did, and obligingly carry something obvious. Well, we did all meet up eventually, and a lovely, friendly bunch it was. A good chat was had until it was time to take our seats.

I'm not usually this close, here! And it was lovely to be so close to such a large sound. Meantime, the tall guy a couple of seats over was remarking to his companion that this is a really comfortable venue for him, he never feels cramped. So, you have been told..

All Russian composers tonight. The concert started with a piece I hadn't heard before, but was completely blown away by. The Kingdom of Silence, by Victoria Borisova-Ollas, is so evocative that I was transfixed. Starting with something sounding like bells, it moves through a dreamlike state - and swept me along with it. Equally evocative - if rather more depressing - was Shostakovich's Second Violin Concerto, which followed. If I had to describe it in one word, that would be "angst".. The soloist treated us to an extra piece that I'm not familiar with - and while he left the stage in one piece, the same can't be said for his violin, which had a bit fall off..

The second act was all Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony - composed, as the program notes told us, when he was convinced that Fate itself was out to destroy him. The notes also mention that he threw himself completely into it - and it certainly shows. One to blow off the cobwebs, this, and one for those who love the dramatic. Me, I loved it - so did everyone around me. Busy clapping between all movements - seems to be a thing now, and what harm - was followed by enthusiastic applause when they really were finished. I was surprised they didn't get a standing ovation, actually! But an excellent concert.

Afterwards, we all spent ages chatting - the poor security guard was most patient with us, as he waited to close up. One had to leave early, but the rest of us headed in search of a pub - and I think we found a good one in Topolski, one of those businesses under the railway arches at Waterloo. Friendly staff, and with a classic playlist to die for.. Oh yes, very much what I needed!

Tomorrow, back with the same group for a concert by the 23 String Orchestra at Cadogan Hall. This had cheap ticket offers too, but I booked too late - hey, it's been hectic!

On Friday, Ivan can't make it, but I'm meeting another ex-coworker for a meal at Cote.

On Saturday, back with Cultureseekers - for the first time in person! They're off to the Cinema Museum - apparently only group visits are allowed, these days, and it only reopens the day before. They also have a talk organised. With a choice of two times, I have - of course - chosen the later one! Cash on the day - I'll have to get some.

On Sunday, ooh - London European Club is at a storytelling event in King's Place! Not Crick Crack this time - this appears to be an independent event, a telling of The Little Prince, with piano accompaniment. Sounds lovely!

On Monday, Surrey History Meetup has another Zoom meeting - this one is on Canal History and Heritage.

On Tuesday, my first in-person Meetup with 45+ not Grumpy Old Londoners - a guided walk with Laurence Summers! This is the Feisty Fitzrovia pub tour - and since I used to live there, I can hardly refuse! Another pay-on-the-day, damnit.

Next Wednesday - would you believe, my first Meetup of the year with Up in the Cheap Seats! Well, they're going to see Magic Goes Wrong, which I've been dying to see - again, I could hardly refuse! Yet again, I missed out on cheap tickets - ended up in the Gods, but at the end of a row, and the view should be OK. The Apollo Theatre, tickets now cheapest on the official website. And with all the seats that are still free, you never know, I might get an upgrade.. The ticket was a nightmare to book, mind - when I tried to add my payment details, it gave me an error! Failing to get a response from the box office, I tried the workaround of adding the payment details to my account and checking out again, which worked.

On the 27th, I wasn't really seeing anything - but CT just advertised two shows at 2Northdown that night. So I'm going to both! As you do. And then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend - and finally get to pick up my new phone! But the Stansted Express isn't running again that Sunday, damnit..

Film: Boiling Point

Tonight, film again - all Meetups seem to happen on the same day! (and not today). (Joint) top of the list - and the most interesting of the three there - was Boiling Point, if I excluded all the films that were starting a bit too early. This sounded interesting (and, thankfully, quite a bit shorter than last night) - it's the story of the busiest night of the year (around Christmas, of course) in a restaurant. Shot in a single take - apparently the third of four they tried. They would have had a few more goes, but decided it was safer not, because of Covid. Seemed they'd made something quite intense! Showing in the Curzon Bloomsbury.

I skipped the earlier showing, on the grounds of it being too early - so my showing was quite late. So I could work late - just as well, with all I have on - and still made it in plenty of time. In fact, I was the first there! And I'd made sure to pick a seat with a free one beside it - as well as Covid considerations, it's very handy for leaving my stuff on!

It's not surprising that they'd make a restaurant-based film - an Irish TV series, The Restaurant, which ran for a number of seasons a while ago, took us behind the scenes as a different celebrity each week acted as head chef in The Courtyard Restaurant, conveniently located near the TV Studios where the programme was put together. With real chefs putting together the head chef's menu, and real diners - including two regular critics and a different guest critic each week - were fed it. It was compelling viewing, and apart from seeing what rating the celebrity's menu would get, part of the fun was the diners trying to guess who had designed the menu, before the big reveal prior to the awarding of the result!

Tonight's film reminded me a bit of that, as we get to see both behind the scenes, with stressed staff, and front-of-house, with difficult diners. Mainly, the camera follows the head chef, who's got personal problems as well as having to deal with everyone else's issues. But there's the restaurant manager, whose dad owns the place and who is in over her head, there's the sous chef, so at the end of her tether that she's demanding a pay rise, or she'll walk - and she might anyway. There's the new chef, a bit befuddled by the chaos around her, and whose first language isn't English, so she gets confused. There's the dishwasher, overworked and rattled at the guy who's supposed to be helping her, but spends his time getting stoned. There's the commis pastry chef, who is great at his job, but has serious personal problems. There's the waiter who's always late because she wants to act, and has auditions.

Oh yes, don't forget the customers - the demanding table for whom nothing is right: the table of Instagrammers who want special treatment, and something that's not on the menu: the table reserved for a couple, and he's let the manager know that he's going to propose, so they must be treated like royalty. Oh, and let's not forget her nut allergy. And on top of that, the table with the celebrity chef at it, who used to work with this head chef - and shows up with an unexpected guest.

I have never had more respect for restaurant staff. You think your job is stressful? Go watch this! It's compelling. Not least the manager constantly having to tell the kitchen staff to swear quieter, they can be heard on the floor.. If you have ever eaten in a restaurant, you will enjoy this. You might even recognise yourself.. go see. Recommended. Mind you, after last night, I felt surprised it came to so quick an end..

On the way home, Google Maps suggested a change of buses. But knowing the area as I do, I found a better combination.. ;-)

Tomorrow.. hmm. Well, I was supposed to go on another Invigorate pub crawl. Until I got the shock yesterday of being notified that I had been removed from the group! and when I tried to ask the organiser what was going on, I discovered he'd blocked me. Not to mention, when I thought to check today, he'd unfriended me on Facebook! Well now, and I've known that guy for years. Goes to show, you never do know with people.. whatever his reason for removing me (probably because I don't tend to go on hikes), it seems terribly cowardly to block me on the message system as well! Never mind, Wednesdays are the most popular weekday for Meetups, and I can always find something else - indeed, instead, I'm delighted to be headed with London Classical Music and Theatre Group (LCMTG) to a London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) concert at the Royal Festival Hall! Nice, cheap tickets available - as usual - with TAC, who send you a promo code to book on the LPO website. So, bye-bye Invigorate - I'll miss this group, it was one of my friendliest, but if the organiser is going to behave like that..!

On Thursday, back with the LCMTG for a concert by the 23 String Orchestra at Cadogan Hall. This had cheap ticket offers too, but I booked too late - hey, it's been hectic!

On Friday, I've pencilled in to meet my ex-coworkers again - Ivan isn't sure whether he can make it, he's to let us know.

On Saturday, back with Cultureseekers - for the first time in person! They're off to the Cinema Museum - apparently only group visits are allowed, these days, and it only reopens the day before. They also have a talk organised. With a choice of two times, I have - of course - chosen the later one! Cash on the day - I'll have to get some.

On Sunday, ooh - London European Club is at a storytelling event in King's Place! Not Crick Crack this time - this appears to be an independent event, a telling of The Little Prince, with piano accompaniment. Sounds lovely!

On Monday, Surrey History Meetup has another Zoom meeting - this one is on Canal History and Heritage.

Next Tuesday, my first in-person Meetup with 45+ not Grumpy Old Londoners - a guided walk with Laurence Summers! This is the Feisty Fitzrovia pub tour - and since I used to live there, I can hardly refuse! Another pay-on-the-day, damnit.

And on the 26th - would you believe, my first Meetup of the year with Up in the Cheap Seats! Well, they're going to see Magic Goes Wrong, which I've been dying to see - again, I could hardly refuse! Yet again, I missed out on cheap tickets - ended up in the Gods, but at the end of a row, and the view should be OK. The Apollo Theatre, tickets now cheapest on the official website. And with all the seats that are still free, you never know, I might get an upgrade.. The ticket was a nightmare to book, mind - when I tried to add my payment details, it gave me an error! Failing to get a response from the box office, I tried the workaround of adding the payment details to my account and checking out again, which worked.

Film: A Brighter Summer Day

Back to London now - unfortunately, the Stansted Express was out of action coming back (same thing is happening next time I fly, I think they're doing repairs). Happily, these outages are well-advertised, and I knew I'd be coming with the National Express, as I've done many times before. Unhappily, they seem to have removed the ticket machines from Arrivals! (I should have bought my ticket in Baggage Reclaim.) Anyway, I ended up buying it in the queue - sadly, I'd just missed a bus, but was well up in the queue for the next, which arrived 10 minutes later and departed promptly on schedule, 10 minutes after that!

They are very comfy - and I was glad of the USB charge point, conveniently located in the back of the seat in front of me; my phone needed a boost. And it's important not to let it down these days - the on/off button has come off, so if it dies, I can't restart it! (I've ordered a new one.) Anyway, albeit the journey took slightly longer than the Stansted Express would have, I can't otherwise fault the trip - the driver deserves a special mention for his conscientiousness in making sure that nobody missed their stop. Unfailingly polite, and a credit to the service.

Film again last night - this one was A Brighter Summer Day, a Taiwanese film set in the early 60s, a coming-of-age drama mixed with gang warfare. Something of a marathon, but was supposed to be good - showing at the Prince Charles. Two and a half years since I was there last.. and for once, it was mostly sold out, so I booked!

I headed off in good time, after a packed day of an intensive job interview and two work meetings (both of which required my contribution), and arrived early - to find a couple of guys waiting outside. I then spied a little sign indicating that this was where you should queue for the downstairs cinema - the one I was going to. So I checked with one, and yes, this was the queue. So - I queued. While we were waiting, a Big Issue seller came to ply his wares - he got chatting with the guy at the head of the queue, who told him yes, we were queueing. For a four-hour film. Well, that intrigued him..

About 15 minutes before start time, someone checked our Covid status, and we were let in shortly after. As we discovered in a pre-film announcement, the air is filtered at least eight times per hour, through medical-grade filters that remove the pathogens. Someone went to the lobby bar, but happily there's one downstairs as well. A long film demands a picnic - I got chocolates, and then thought I'd ask about wine, since the interview had gone well. Yes, he said, we have red wine, indicating various bottles - you don't have white, I asked? Oh yes, we have that as well. So I got a small bottle. Which was damn hard to open, mind.. but I managed, and was well fed.

Which was just as well, because, as I say, this is a marathon. It's based on the true story of a teenage lad, with a promising future, who finds it destroyed by gang warfare and its effect on him. The characters are engaging, and the film as a whole presents itself as a kind of passage through childhood, the lazy, hazy days of summer, having to navigate school and parental pressure, as well as the excitement of first love.. oh, and the odd bit of violence, or pretence at violence, when the gangs run into each other. The title, BTW, comes from the song Lonesome Tonight, which one character is convinced contains that phrase. Elvis is popular in this, and is often to be heard playing.

The characters are engaging, and we all remember those endless childhood days, when you're planning for a future, but have no idea what form it'll take. And sure enough, we cannot predict how this film is going to go. So, it's entertaining - if not exactly emotionally engaging. But Lordy, it's so, so long.. they really do tell the whole story, and maybe you need it for context, but this would have been better as a miniseries! Three quarters of the way through, I remembered I hadn't updated my mother's Tesco order, which I needed to go before I got home - so I nipped out into the hall, where, thankfully, there was great reception. Don't think I missed much - there are a few scenes that you shouldn't miss, but over the whole runtime, the chance of running into them is slim! I wouldn't recommend seeing this in the cinema.. but it is a good film.

On the bus back, the lady in front of me bopped away continuously to music I couldn't hear (she had headphones in). Unusual.. I can usually hear through other people's headphones! Anyway, it was entertaining. With all the booking ahead I did afterwards, and given the late finish time, there just wasn't time to blog.

Tonight, film again - all Meetups seem to happen on the same day! (and not today). (Joint) top of the list - and the most interesting of the three there - is Boiling Point, if I exclude all the films that are starting a bit too early. This sounds interesting (and, thankfully, quite a bit shorter than last night) - it's the story of the busiest night of the year (around Christmas, of course) in a restaurant. Shot in a single take - apparently the third of four they tried. They would have had a few more goes, but decided it was safer not, because of Covid. Seems they've made something quite intense! Showing in the Curzon Bloomsbury.

Tomorrow.. hmm. Well, I was supposed to go on another Invigorate pub crawl. Until I got the shock yesterday of being notified that I had been removed from the group! and when I tried to ask the organiser what was going on, I discovered he'd blocked me. Well now, and I've known that guy for years. Goes to show, you never do know with people.. whatever his reason for removing me (probably because I don't tend to go on hikes), it seems terribly cowardly to block me on the message system as well! Never mind, Wednesdays are the most popular weekday for Meetups, and I can always find something else - indeed, instead, I'm delighted to be headed with London Classical Music and Theatre Group (LCMTG) to a London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) concert at the Royal Festival Hall! Nice, cheap tickets available - as usual - with TAC, who send you a promo code to book on the LPO website. So, bye-bye Invigorate - I'll miss this group, it was one of my friendliest, but if the organiser is going to behave like that..!

On Thursday, back with the LCMTG for a concert by the 23 String Orchestra at Cadogan Hall. This had cheap ticket offers too, but I booked too late - hey, it's been hectic!

On Friday, I've pencilled in to meet my ex-coworkers again - Ivan isn't sure whether he can make it, he's to let us know.

On Saturday, back with Cultureseekers - for the first time in person! They're off to the Cinema Museum - apparently only group visits are allowed, these days, and it only reopens the day before. They also have a talk organised. With a choice of two times, I have - of course - chosen the later one! Cash on the day - I'll have to get some.

On Sunday, ooh - London European Club is at a storytelling event in King's Place! Not Crick Crack this time - this appears to be an independent event, a telling of The Little Prince, with piano accompaniment. Sounds lovely!

On Monday, Surrey History Meetup has another Zoom meeting - this one is on Canal History and Heritage.

Next Tuesday, my first in-person Meetup with 45+ not Grumpy Old Londoners - a guided walk with Laurence Summers! This is the Feisty Fitzrovia pub tour - and since I used to live there, I can hardly refuse! Another pay-on-the-day, damnit.

And on the 26th - would you believe, my first Meetup of the year with Up in the Cheap Seats! Well, they're going to see Magic Goes Wrong, which I've been dying to see - again, I could hardly refuse! Yet again, I missed out on cheap tickets - ended up in the Gods, but at the end of a row, and the view should be OK. The Apollo Theatre, tickets now cheapest on the official website. The ticket was a nightmare to book, mind - when I tried to add my payment details, it gave me an error! Failing to get a response from the box office, I tried the workaround of adding the payment details to my account and checking out again, which worked.

Film: Scream

I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.. and today, my weekend cinema was - the new Scream! At the Omniplex, naturally, as the cheapest. They're really doing this franchise to death, but hey, I was curious..

Headed off in decent time - but with a match on, my side road, which I take to avoid Limerick City Centre traffic, was packed with traffic! So I did get there in time - but without much to spare. Three people greeted me at the door, ready to check my non-infectious credentials, and in I went. Lovely big screen, hardly anyone there.. I thought it might be on when I arrived, but it was a trailer for The Batman. So, I got to see about half of that trailer, and an ad, and the feature was on.

Yeah. Like The Matrix: Resurrections, this is basically a blatant attempt to cash in on the franchise, with plenty of nods and winks to fans to say yes, we know what we're doing is cynical. Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette are roped in to support the latest crop of youngsters to be slaughtered. Of those, the only one I recognised was Dylan Minnette, who's shown up in a few things I've seen.

Now, this is a franchise with some rules. As in all the films, a guy is running around (or are there two?) wearing a mask inspired by the painting "The Scream", and a long black cloak. This person is nicknamed "Ghostface", for convenience, and his (or her) favourite method of murder is stabbing - with a nice, vicious-looking blade. The victims are chosen by some unknown rule relating to something that happened in the past, and generally, the more innocent they are, the longer they survive. And all of this happens in a small, American town called Woodsboro. Neve Campbell was the original target, Courtney Cox is a news anchor, and David Arquette was sheriff, and married to her - not much of a spoiler to say they're not together anymore, and his drinking and general moroseness cost him his job.. He's the only one of the old cast that still lives there, Courtney Cox comes back when she hears there's a story, and Neve Campbell comes because she thinks she has a duty to help the innocent.

A lot has been made of how clever this franchise is - yes, it is, and the characters are always big horror-film fans, full of trivia about various films, and dictating the horror film rules. Of course, like The Matrix: Resurrections, it's a nostalgia-fest - for whatever reason, I preferred when they did it for The Matrix. Here, I wasn't as impressed - although the whodunnit element is excellently done. As is pointed out, the killer(s) can be expected to come from the victim's group of friends, and frankly, any of them could be guilty. I think people are a little hard on Melissa Barrera, who plays the lead - she's OK, if not spectacular. And it's watchable - I just don't think I could go so far as to recommend it. Far too many jump scares, for one thing - although one sequence of them does work really well.

On my way out, I overheard one of the staff muttering to his co-workers that he just didn't see the point in putting on matinees for Scream that only attracted five people! (That'd be mine.) I completely agree - that was shown in a massive screen, practically empty. It's currently showing in two screens there - seems like overkill. But I'm glad they showed it - gave me something decent to go to!

Back to London tomorrow, and film again on Monday - this one will be A Brighter Summer Day, a Taiwanese film set in the early 60s, a coming-of-age drama mixed with gang warfare. Something of a marathon, but is supposed to be good - showing at the Prince Charles. Two and a half years since I was there last.. and for once, it was mostly sold out, so I booked!

Tour: 3 Historic Belgravia Pubs & Social

Yesterday, back with Invigorate, for a tour of "3 Historic Belgravia Pubs". My first event with them this year! Happily, my legs are working again, although I'm still stiff and sore in sundry places. And have a spectacular bruise on that toe! Still dunno exactly how that happened - but anyway, I was fine - apart from going up and down stairs.

Well, the first pub was The Grenadier. Would Google Maps tell me how to get there? Not a bit of it! Apparently, I wasn't the only one with the same issue. So, I could see it on the map - figured out that a combination of no fewer than three buses would be the fastest (bus) route to Hyde Park Corner, which was also the closest Tube, and it gave me walking directions from there. So that's what I determined to do. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite as fast as I'd hoped - at every single stop, I either just missed my connection, or it was delayed. So I was a little late, arriving at Hyde Park Corner. And then, trying to figure out which of the many roads around there to cross - and avoiding the hordes of bicycles (nearly as dangerous as Amsterdam!), it took me a little while to get on the right road through the acres of posh accommodation that don't do public transport.

The walking route looked quite convoluted - unfortunately, it's perfectly accurate - there are so many walls and cul de sacs, you have to go that way. But it's not as far as it looks, and I did finally come across my destination, on a very atmospheric back street:

And in such a small place, there was no trouble finding the group! We did remark on the ceiling decoration:

And had a lovely chat there, before heading off again! Now, the next place - The Nag's Head - we'd been warned about. Crucially, no mobile phones (so I have no pictures). What we hadn't realised was that there's a £15 minimum on card payments!! So, I paid on the tab of an ever-generous group member whom I'm going to have to repay a fortune to, one of these days - and there was at least one person who simply went without, as she didn't have the cash. Now really, that restriction is just plain unreasonable. Snug, too - we were lucky to snaffle a couple of tables by the door.

And so to our final stop, The Star Tavern:

We should have known from the sign really - but this is a terrifically friendly pub! We did a bit of exploring:

And a number of us ordered food. Me, I had my first steak in a long, long time.. oh man, was it good! There was even a little dog, at a nearby table, who fancied the smell.. Service comes with a smile, the kitchen is open till 9, and at closing time, the three of us who remained were sat at the bar, chatting with the lady behind it. Truly, a friendly port in a storm! Highly recommended, and our favourite of the night, methinks. And damnit, I really didn't intend for someone else to pay for the round while I was in the loo..

Too tired, too drunk, to blog last night. Tonight, my ex-coworker suggested meeting up - I  recommended the Duke of Sussex. I was supposed to tell him how I got on that day, but lo, last-minute work demands meant I had to postpone my presentation - it's now happening on Monday. Well, when we arrived at the pub - it was "wait to be seated", and if you didn't have a reservation, you had to wait at the bar. Nuts, we said, we have options.. but really, it isn't always easy to find a decent food pub, which was what we wanted. We finally plumped for The Fire Station.

Saying we wanted food, we were shown to the dining section at the back - where we sank into very low chairs, it seemed! I have to give credit to whoever designed the menu - the names are top-notch! As are the food combos - I decided to try the carbonara pizza, which comes without tomato, but including egg and bacon. My companion had the margherita pizza - which isn't called that - the vegan version, as he can't do dairy. The drinks menu is even longer, and with a great list of wines to choose from, I chose the chenin blanc - it's hard to mess up.

I was a bit dubious about my pizza - but it smelled delicious, and was very tasty! With a runny, fried egg in the middle. Unfortunately, I found the base - while nice and thin - very salty, and couldn't finish it. I chose the "gimme s'more" for dessert, which had chocolate ice cream and salted caramel sauce, topped with torched meringue. Very moreish - again, also very salty. I have to wonder whether the chef has a high salt tolerance. Interestingly, although my dessert was served in a wide tumbler, I was given a sundae spoon to eat it with. When I asked for a bigger one, I was.. given a second? When I asked again, they disappeared around the kitchen for a few minutes, then came back with something slightly larger than a teaspoon. Ok, and I finished - but really, they don't have dessert spoons? But anyway, service is friendly, and we stayed there, ordering more drinks, until closing. Most enjoyable, and great to see him again!

Tomorrow, I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.. and hallelujah, they've dropped the testing requirement again! And on Saturday, my weekend cinema is looking like - the new Scream! At the Omniplex, naturally, as the cheapest. They're really doing this franchise to death, but hey, I'm curious..

Film: Drive My Car

Today was, of course, film - and what came up was Drive My Car, a Japanese film whose closest showing to me was in the Curzon Bloomsbury. Didn't book out, so I didn't book.

Damnit, second night in a row when I could have got the bus, but work made me late! For heavens' sake, the sooner I quit that place, the better - they always land stuff on me at the end of the day. Took the Tube, just made it in time. Funnily enough, I can never quite find this cinema easily - it's in the middle of the Brunswick Centre, and you'd hardly notice it! It looks just like any other pop-up, and with the back windows full of bottles, you'd think it was a bar. Nope, but they do have a bar - on each level: and as one guy behind the counter sold me a ticket, the other asked whether I'd like anything else.

And I said.. why the hell not? I'm celebrating, you see - had a phone screen for another job today, which I thought didn't go great, but later heard I'm through to the next round, on Thursday: and at practically the same time, heard back from last week's interview, wanting me to do a writing test, and then continue with the round of interviews. WooHOO! Either would be a massive improvement on where I am now. So, naturally, I balanced a glass of wine all the way downstairs to the cinema. The guy had asked me whether I wanted large or medium, I said large. "It's a long one," he said - "you'll need it!"

Long as it was, they didn't skimp on the ads - it was 8.20 when it started, 11.20 when it finished. Now, how shall I describe this? I am a big fan of ASMR - I find ASMR videos on YouTube very relaxing. There's one guy in particular, from Sweden, who not only has a gorgeous accent and very soothing voice, but relevant to this film, he has posted a number of "bus trip" videos, tracing a route from the far North of Sweden to the very South. His soft voice names every stop on the route, slowly and carefully, as you are supposedly travelling on the last night bus, all the way, listening to the constant engine noise, the radio playing softly, and the sound of soft rain on the windows..

Mmm yes, and I did have to stop for several minutes there to listen again, it's been a while! Anyway. Point is, there's a lot of driving in this film - the main actor spends more time in his car than anywhere else, it seems. And regardless of whether you associate long road trips with ASMR - they are fantastic for reflection, which is what happens here. It's no spoiler to say that his wife dies, early (well, 40 minutes) into the film - it says as much in the trailer. Up to that point, he mainly drives himself - until diagnosed with glaucoma, when she drives him briefly. But, two years after her death - as we're informed - he takes himself off to Hiroshima, where he's the artist in residence (he's an actor). And there, he finds he must needs have a chauffeur - who, it turns out, is a young woman.

He has chosen a hotel an hour from the theatre, so he can learn lines on the way. And as they drive, and drive - an awful lot of reflection is done, by both. In fact, even when they give someone a lift, that passenger ends up reflecting too. Meanwhile - it's stunning to look at. I never thought of Hiroshima as a tourist destination, but this really shows it off.. be it shots of the ocean, or the hills, or the snow at the end (they're coming into winter).. or just the way the camera lingers on faces, this is beautifully shot. Multi-award-winning, for direction, acting, and screenplay, as well as best picture - there are definitely those who'll say it's long and slow, but I say it's considered. Of all the long films I've seen, this one is definitely worth it. But yes, it is three hours, so set the time aside.. And yes, I got the bus home!

Tomorrow, back with Invigorate, for a tour of "3 Historic Belgravia Pubs". My first event with them this year! Happily, my legs are working again, although I'm still stiff and sore in sundry places. And have a spectacular bruise on that toe! Still dunno exactly how that happened - but anyway, I should be fine.

On Thursday, my ex-coworker is talking about meeting up - dunno exactly where yet, but I did recommend the Duke of Sussex. So I can tell him how I got on that day. And then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.. and hallelujah, they've dropped the testing requirement again!

Concert: Gabrieli Consort & Players

So, the first adventure of the day was coming back from lunch, when the side of my foot kind of caught in one of the many cracks in London pavements - and down I went, like a cannonball. Ouch! Those pavements are hard - I banged both knees (not great at the best of times) and did something funny to my right foot, in particular the big toe. And so I was stiff, sore and sorry all afternoon.

Tonight, I was back with London Classical Music and Theatre Group, for a Gabrieli Consort & Players concert at Wigmore Hall. Programmes available to ticket-holders to download. And wouldn't you know it, the organiser gave his seat number - so, when I saw the seat beside him was free, I booked it! I was glad I wasn't walking, given the state of me. A combination of buses would have got me there, in just under an hour - but as usual, work dragged on, and I ended up on the Tube. It was a quick journey, at least, if not so comfortable with all the stairs.. but I did discover, desperately trying to hurry up the stairs at the far end, that exercise seemed to help. Oxford Circus station has a simple enough exit system - East or West for Oxford Street, North or South for Regent Street, making four exits in all. Which didn't stop me nearly making an ass of myself by heading back onto the Tube again instead - what can I say, the first thing I saw when I passed through the barriers and came down the tunnel was - another set of barriers! So, not quite obvious.

I made the venue with five minutes to spare, and figured there was no point in dragging myself downstairs to the cloakroom where we'd agreed to meet - I was messaging to explain when the organiser appeared anyway! Handily, we'd got paper programmes, despite them urging us to read them on our phones. Anyway, he just had time to regale me with stories of sundry people involved with the music who all hailed from the same part of Ireland as we both did (!) before the concert started.

I hadn't realised it was Epiphany-specific.. gee, that's two days in a row, what with the Epiphany procession I saw yesterday! As a reminder:

Anyway, the music was glorious. I love Bach, and this being sung, it was lovely to have the printed lyrics, with translations alongside so I could see how much German I remembered. Definitely a language I'd like to pick up again, if I had the time. The second half, mind, was his Mass in F, and was in Latin. Truly an antidote to the daily grind, and in beautiful surroundings I hadn't seen in nearly three years!

At the interval, we went downstairs - and seeing the length of the queue at the bar, simply had water. The cloakroom turns out to be on the other side of the basement, and has seating that isn't used any more - most handy! And there we were, chatting away, when our third member showed up! Excellent - and we had a lovely time, then and again at the end. Another enjoyable and sociable evening. Oh, and I took buses back - handily, my first bus arrived - as usual, lately - exactly when I did. And it took me no longer than the Tube would have done, at that time of night - and with far less climbing. (and a better view!) Nearly stumbled again on the way- perhaps it's the shoes..

So, tomorrow is, of course, film - and what's coming up is Drive My Car, a Japanese film whose closest showing to me is in the Curzon Bloomsbury. Not yet booking out, so I haven't yet booked.

Wednesday, back with Invigorate, for a tour of "3 Historic Belgravia Pubs". My first event with them this year! I just hope my legs are working again.

On Thursday, my ex-coworker is talking about meeting up - dunno exactly where yet, but I did recommend the Duke of Sussex. And then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.. and hallelujah, they've dropped the testing requirement again!