Well, the meetings didn't run on too long, and I had time to walk to Brunswick Square - just! A beautiful sunny evening, but I was just a bit pushed for time, and couldn't really enjoy the journey. I was looking for the Foundling Museum, on the northern side, and that proved easy enough to find. The actual entrance wasn't - the large doors at the front were locked, with a sign on them that said "If your event is in the Clore Studio, please use the side entrance". Problem - I had never heard of the Clore Studio, and didn't know where the side entrance was! (An arrow would've helped.) Well, process of elimination led me down the right-hand-side, where there were open doors - when I looked in, I saw a slide I recognised from the advertisement for the talk. Yippee! Found it.
She hadn't started yet, and there were still quite a few free seats - I took one at the side, with nobody directly in front of me. And in due course, the whole place filled up - as she explained, it had sold out, so could we please stow our bags where they wouldn't block the way, in case others were trying to get in.
Finally, she began. Goodness me, she hardly looks old enough to be out of college - but she's a psychotherapist, working with the police, and as she told an enthusiastic crowd afterwards, yes, she has lots more talks along this line coming up! including a repeat of this one.
It's an age since I've been to something this good, it really is. I'm so glad I changed my mind and booked it! She's personable, she makes the talk entertaining - it helps, of course, that it's a subject that so many are interested in. It also helps that she includes lots of footage from YouTube, from tv documentaries, showing interviews with psychopaths. Ian Huntley features, for instance - and as well as him, some in the audience were familiar with other case studies that she mentioned.
We learned the common characteristics of psychopaths, in which areas of society they are commonly to be found (a high proportion among drug users and prisoners). We did a (non-clinical) test to see whether we qualified as psychopaths! (Never fear, I was way off.) We learned how to spot one, and which professions they're drawn to - as she pointed out, the psychopathic tendency not to experience emotion can be handy for the military, the ability not to experience nervousness is useful for CEOs, surgeons, bankers.. perhaps the most surprising of the professions in which psychopaths are to be found is that of the clergy. Non-psychopathic professions include anything where empathy is required: nursing, teaching, etc.
And when she described the tendencies we can spot in psychopaths around us, they really rang a bell. Do you know someone who's out for themselves, takes all the credit but none of the blame, loses their temper easily? Someone who's superficially charming, but just might make your skin crawl? Yes you do. Look out, there's a psychopath about - they represent 1% of the general population.
A lovely, spring evening outside - we could hear the shouts from the neighbouring football field, until she closed the door when they got too raucous. It was also getting a bit cold by then. And when she finally finished, she was inundated with questions - check out Funzing for her upcoming talks. This one is really worth the trip! And I was finished early in the evening, and walking distance from home - lovely.
Tonight, I'm with London Dramatic Arts (LDAM) to see Don Juan in Soho, with David Tennant, in Wyndham's. Just down Charing Cross Road - nice! There's another London Literary Walk today, and with a couple of my friends going - but I'll have to pass, I do want to see this! Also, the LDAM organiser has just arranged for us to meet beforehand in Fumo, just down the road. And afterwards, it's back to Brown's, as usual.
Then I'm back to Ireland for Easter - on Friday, my mother and I are off to La Bohème, at the University Concert Hall. We'll have to sneak in some alcohol - it's a dry day, although this will be the last year of it.
Tuesday, back in London, and back with Funzing - London Speaks Sessions, LDN Talks @ Night, and London for a Tenner or Less, for a talk on the Science of Paranormal Activity. Unless I get a better offer, in time - it'd have to be a good one, I'm interested in this!
Next Wednesday, London Literary Walks is off down Brick Lane - and so am I.
On the 20th, I had my usual placeholder of free comedy in Hammersmith - courtesy of Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith Wimbledon and Greenwich, and London Live Comedy. Of course - much like Funzing - I usually end up cancelling these, when something better comes up. And lo and behold, it did - Walking Victorian London is off to see Six Islington Squares. Does sound better - costs £12, but I haven't been charged yet.
Ditto the comedy on the 21st - or I may go to the cinema that day. As usual, watch this space..!
On the 22nd, I'm off to see the Naked House Cleaner! Venue to be revealed just the day before.. ooh!
On the 23rd, I'm on a walk of Hampstead Village Highlights, with Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts. Be good exercise, leading up to my own sponsored walk in September, in aid of Cats Protection.. Helen and I are going as Dick Whittington and his cat. She's the cat.
The 24th, a summery treat! The Man with the Hat is taking both London for Less Than a Tenner and Let's Do London - for less! to the Globe (ah, it's been too long..). For one night only, the Comedy Store Players will regale us with Shakespeare-inspired improv. As usual, London for Less than a Tenner standing in the yard, Let's Do London - for less! in lower gallery seats. Which is where I go - couldn't take standing for that long. Better savour this trip - he only has four more events scheduled thereafter, three of which I'm going to, with no word on whether he'll continue longterm. And if he doesn't (Heaven forbid!), that'll leave a huge, hat-shaped hole in my life..
The 25th, London European Club again - it'll have been a while! They're off to an informal evening of classical music, in Peckham.
The 26th, London Literary Walks is doing the Sloane Ranger.
The 27th, Helen and I are on an Underground treasure hunt, courtesy of Walk, Talks and Treasure Hunts. TFL goodies to be won, it seems.. Then back to Ireland for the bank holiday weekend - which I'd forgotten was a bank holiday, or I'd have stayed over an extra day!
Instead, for 1 May, I've booked The Ferryman, with LDAM, at the Royal Court.
And 2 May, those same three Funzing groups have advertised a talk called Origin of Vampires: Fact or Fiction?
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