Wednesday, 20 September 2017

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood Walk

Tonight was supposed to be Funzing (London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night, as usual) 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 was on nice and close to me again. Seems to be a feature of her talks! How and ever, London Literary Walks were off on The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood Walk. And since that was on even closer to me - and I felt bad about missing the last two - well, I couldn't refuse, now could I?

A short walk from the office got me to the Jack Horner a little after 7, when we were supposed to meet. Into the pub, and I soon met two of the group.. no sign of our fearless leader though, who was a bit late. Never mind, by virtue of heading to the toilet, I magically made him appear, and we stayed a bit past time, to have a drink together and pore over the books of pre-Raphaelite art he'd brought.



More photos here. And soon enough, we were off into the back streets of Bloomsbury - an area close to where I live, but one I've not ventured into, much. Isn't it always the way, that the most interesting things are often under your nose? We were soon off into a walk that featured blue plaques..




..and shops:




The main theme of the evening seemed to be feminism:



..and, eh.. well, let's just say I know where to come for unusual gifts!



After a walk jam-packed with facts, as usual, and delivered in our guide's inimitable way - during which we even used a couple of pedestrian crossings, for once! - most of us repaired to The Museum Tavern, as featured in The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle. Where I was pretty starving - they're out of butter, in the office, and how's a person supposed to make a sandwich in that case?! So I had a full dinner, someone else a sandwich, and we were well fed. Albeit on a teeny table that only just held everything. But we managed, and talk lasted a long while.

And the best part of the evening was being among friendly faces, in what will have been my only properly social outing of the week. We'll see how I do at the weekend, but of these five days, this is the only one that will have been sociable for me. Anyway, tomorrow, it was free comedy in Hammersmith - with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and GreenwichRandom London, and DiscoverLDN.UK. But yay, I have my alternative at last! Going to some comedy I have to pay for, which will probably be better. Mae Martin is at Soho Theatre. Advertised by a group called Moxie Ladies.. good luck to them, but as they charge extra, I'm going solo.

And on Friday, it was the same free comedy - with DiscoverLDN.UK. But, d'you know, it was only last week I remembered they'd actually cancelled it! I'm now off to Proof, at The Courtyard.. with the (un-nameable) club that charges £3.60. And I don't book that free comedy any more, considering I'm unlikely ever again to go to it.

On Saturday, I was to do the same comedy, 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 Sunday, 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 Monday, 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 Tuesday, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats - to see Wings, at the Young Vic. Accidentally booked standing, I think.. :-/

Next Wednesday, I was with Up in the Cheap Seats again - for Jekyll & Hyde, presented by the National Youth Theatre, at the Ambassadors Theatre. But gee, of course, London Literary Walks is out again - King's Cross and John Betjeman, this one. Likely to be the last of the year - I couldn't miss it.

On the 28th September, I was 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! But then TunedIn advertised flamenco at Sands Films.. irresistible really. So I've booked that instead. And then RSVPed with the World Music Meetup, when they finally got around to advertising it. 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 RevolutionNorth 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. 

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

On the 11th October, back with Funzing for a talk on Revolution in Iran: Girl with a Gun. This will be an interview with a female Kurdish revolutionary.. on the Battersea Barge, which I believe can get choppy. Never mind. This is one I got for free, for completing a loyalty card with three talks.

On the 12th October, Let's Do This are back to St. Martin-in-the-Fields, where London Concertante is performing Bach Violin Concertos. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

And on the 16th October, back at Southwark Playhouse with Up in the Cheap Seats - this time, it's for A Day By the Sea.

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