Talk: Bodysnatching in Southwark

Last night, I headed to a rather interesting talk on Bodysnatching in Southwark! Mary, too.. and it's a funny thing, all the tickets were gone when I first saw it, but then I checked again on spec, and more were available! Lucky I checked - despite being on the waitlist, I got no notification. As advertised by Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts - but they didn't run it, tickets were available on Eventbrite, and were free. London Social Detours were going too.

Determined not to have a repeat of what happened on Sunday, I left in good time to catch a direct bus - the office is that bit closer to Southwark cathedral than my home is, and it didn't take quite as long. Well, I was strolling along, nearly at the bus stop, when I got a message from the organiser of Walks, Talks & Treasure Hunts - the doors were closing at 6:45 for the talk at 7. I'd projected to be there by 7, and had heard nothing about this before - I wasn't going to have a hope of getting there for 6.45 now!! What possessed her to post this message at such a late stage, I don't know. Anyway, I did my best - got on the 68 instead to Waterloo and got the packed Tube from there - again; at least this time, I was dropped on the right side of the station, so it didn't take as long to get to the Jubilee Line! With delays on both bus and Tube, it still took as long as the direct bus would've - I needn't have bothered.

Also, this time, I knew which way to go from the station. More crowds to push through - and damned if I didn't have to traipse around the whole perimeter to get to the back door, leading to the back room where the talk was on - not in the main cathedral. It was a bit of a maze, but well-signposted. Oh, and I don't know where the organiser of Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts got her story, but they didn't close the doors early - in fact, Mary arrived after the talk had started, and still got in! The place was pretty full, but not completely, despite the tickets having gone. There was water at the back if you wanted it - and you might have; it was stifling! The mc apologised, but explained that the aircon was too noisy and the windows tended to stick. Hey, the seats were comfy though.

I saw no sign, all night, of the organiser of Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts, although in her misguided message she'd said she was on her way. Instead, the organiser of London Social Detours gave me a cheery wave, so I made my way over there. She'd mistaken me for someone else - but, despite me not being on her list, and not having paid the fee she was charging, she invited me to join them - and as there was a free seat, and I was sat beside someone I knew, I did.

The talk - which, I think, started a little late - or my watch might be fast - lasted about an hour, and was fascinating. Her well-researched talk described bodysnatching through the ages, from the 1600s to the 1800s. It all started with the advent of surgical schools, you see, and the demand for cadavers on which to perform dissections and other surgical procedures. Graveyards near medical schools were especially targeted - such as Southwark cathedral itself, of course, which is right across the road from St. Thomas' hospital.

Beadles from the colleges took themselves to executions, and were allowed a certain number of corpses per year: but not nearly enough. So a black market trade flourished. So-called "resurrection men" operated under cover of darkness, and she described to us how the corpses were extracted - very effective! and how they had to be stripped; the removal of a corpse was a misdemeanour, but if any of their clothing, or personal effects (or even bits of the coffin that came off while they were being removed) were left on the body and brought as well, the bodysnatcher could be hanged as a thief! Teeth were generally removed - unless required for medical purposes, they could be sold separately to dentists to make dentures.

Measures to combat the bodysnatchers included iron coffins - harder to break into, but expensive, so not that popular. Railings were put in place around churchyards, to make it harder to hide behind the high walls that had been there before. The night watch was established. Questions afterwards included why it took the government so long to do anything about it, whom the corpse belongs to (no-one, really), whether the church objects to dissections (no), and what sorts of operations they performed in those days. Without aid of anaesthetic. Which question greatly intrigued th guy sitting beside me!

Afterwards, I caught up with Mary, and we gatecrashed London Social Detours' trip to the pub. I've been to The George before - a lovey old coaching inn, very atmospheric: and, yesterday, not quite as busy as I've known it. Had a pie and chips, which came with gravy and veg, Very moreish - a very unusual pastry on the pie, which seemed homemade, and was seeded. It was all a bit much for me, and I couldn't finish it - but very, very nice. We sat at a table beside where London Social Detours were - that table was rather full. And Mary and I caught up until they chucked us out, and outlasted London Social Detours, I'm proud to say! ;-) Great seeing her again. Finally, a combination of buses brought me home without too much fuss. I was way too tired to blog, though.
Tonight, I'm back to Ireland again for the weekend. On Monday, I'm off to see Jesus Christ Superstar, finally! At the open-air theatre in Regent's Park - again, I hope it doesn't rain.

On Tuesday, my first talk with Scarlet Ladies UK (!). Their stated aim is to abolish the stigma of talking about sex.. so they have a load of talks. This one is about the history of slut-shaming.

On Wednesday, I was back with Jennifer Rees (and the same two Meetup Funzing groups again), for a talk about the Psychology of Serial Killers. This is 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's 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 just advertised a Regent's Park Walk for that day! Guess I'll never make this talk..!

On Thursday, 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 evening, in fact.

Next Friday, 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..

On the 26th, 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 the 27th, I'm off on a day trip to Bath, with Carpe Diem: booked while I was in Barcelona, recently.

On the 28th, 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 the 28th 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.

On the 29th, 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.

On the 30th, 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.

On the 31st, 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..

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..

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 today, 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.

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!

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.