Top Secret

Ah, last Top Secret of the year.. wouldn't be seen anywhere else tonight! Not with London for Less Than a Tenner going.. First, though, I had an interview to attend. A massive one, which took most of the afternoon. Mary had the day off, had spent it shopping, and agreed to meet me near the venue - when I finally got out, she texted me to say she was in the Pret down the road. Funnily enough, as I walked in the door, she texted me to say where she was.. and after a quick run-down of how the day had gone, I really needed the loo. Not that they hadn't offered at the office, but frankly I just wanted out of there. At Pret it turned out to be downstairs, and needed a code - or you could do as I did, and just wait for someone to come out and hold the door for you.

Well, I needed food, and more than they have in Pret. I suggested Chinese - it's been so long, and we were so close to Chinatown, it seemed a shame not to.. and once there, I suggested New Loon Fung. Love their lemon chicken, and when Mary was assured they had a decent range of vegetarian options, we were in. A bottle of wine between us, which - naturally - was used to refill our glasses as soon as they showed signs of emptiness. Starters, mains - we were stuffed. Happily.

They were a bit slow in bringing the bill.. and it didn't help that we turned the wrong way out of there. What the hey, we made it to Top Secret eventually.. pity the first act (Danny Ward) was already underway.  We took a little extra time to swing by the bar, which was gloriously queue-free. And found a couple of decent side seats to watch the show.

He was good.. comments about audience members coming and going, and to finish, a little bag of tricks, extracted from his serious-looking briefcase.. which turned out to be full of curious-looking implements he found in Lidl. And after him, over the course of the night, we had the familiar (the mc with the old jokes, and the excellent Radu Isac and Bobby Mair), and the unfamiliar - Gabriel Ebulue and a couple of musicial comedians, beginning with Faye Treacy, who played the trombone - and the squash.. Robert White finished the night on a keyboard, and had an enthusiastic young lady in a Santa costume pay him just a bit too much attention, until she was politely escorted off. There was only one I didn't get the name of, although I have seen him before.. well, he was excellent. Whoever he was. Good lineup, all in all.

Outside afterwards, we were instructed to assemble across the road - couldn't be having crowds gathering outside the club. So fair enough, and when we'd gathered all we seemed likely to, we made our short way up the road to the White Hart. And the Man with the Hat used his coat - rather than Hat - to secure us a table, up the back. And there we passed a convivial time..

In the final part of a triple bill (!), the Man with the Hat has just announced a new event for Let's Do London - for less! There I was with nothing definite organised for tomorrow, and up he and his Hat pop with a Christmas concert at Cadogan Hall. With famous people in it, such as Aled Jones, who's hosting, and Dame Penelope Wilton, who's doing a reading. Now, that'll be nice, especially as he's going to something there in Christmas week, which I'll miss. I don't suppose the red hat with the pom-pom will make a reappearance for this..

I'm back to Ireland on Friday for the weekend, as it happens.. Back in London on Monday for my last week before Christmas, and it won't even be a full week.. on Monday, Crick Crack is doing something a bit different. They're at Soho Theatre, with The Remarkable Tale of Robert Desnos. This, apparently, was a surrealist poet incarcerated in Auschwitz - unusual fare for Crick Crack. One of the speakers is Clare Muireann Murphy - my favourite storyteller, and I'll be fascinated to see what she does with it.

On Tuesday, my last event of the year with the Man with the Hat (sniff!.. unless he surprises us) will be on a trip to the West End. He's scored tickets in the front two rows of the stalls for Dead Funny, at the Vaudeville Theatre, for Let's Do London - for less! Ooh now..

And on Wednesday, my very last thing before I fly back to Ireland for Christmas? Umm, a presentation on data collection apps, courtesy of Org London. Eh, unless I don't. Well, it just doesn't sound very Christmassy, now does it?! Helen is coming to town, so we'll see.. And then I fly back to Ireland on Thursday of next week..

Then things shall get very quiet for Christmas. I fly back to London on Monday 2 January - still no word on what I'll be doing after that. But hey, I have one more defnite paycheck to come in, which will cover my rent for January, and I have quite a few things booked. On Tuesday 3rd, I have my trusty placeholder of Free Comedy in Hammersmith - gee, it's been a while now since I actually went to one of those! Anyway, assuming I show up, I'm booked with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith Wimbledon and Farringdon, London Art Comedy & Culture Lovers, London Live Comedy, Random London, and London for a Tenner or Less and Funzing UK (both Funzing groups, and both advertising the thing twice). My, that's a lot to cancel, if I do..

On Thursday 4 January, yes, I'm back with the Man with the Hat (no, not Santa Claus) - Let's Do London - for less! is off on their annual festive trip to The Nutcracker (ahh!) at the Opera House. Sold out performance, I see. See now, even if I'm jobless, that's worth flying in for.

And on Friday 5 January, I'm (nominally) back in Hammersmith - this time, only with London Live Comedy, Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith Wimbledon and Farringdon, Funzing UK. and London for a Tenner or Less. Once only with each!