Tonight, back at a proper Meetup at last, to the Park Theatre with Up in the Cheap Seats for the opening night of Pressure. Not that it hasn't been shown before - we had a look at the flyer, and it seems to have been presented in a couple of venues. Tonight's performance was sold out, though - a good sign.
Two buses to get there, but it worked out absolutely fine. As I was boarding the second, large drops started to fall on my head - sure enough, the sky, brilliant blue just minutes before, had turned black just about there. And it lashed rain for the rest of my journey - happily, I wasn't out in it for very long.
I had the most ridiculous wait at the box office, behind a woman who seemed to be enquiring about the entire season. I haven't seen the like in years - has she not heard of the internet? Mind you, I can't talk.. when I was looking for this booking, for some reason I completely missed the e-ticket in my inbox, just seeing the confirmation! Which was why I was queueing in the first place. Not finding my physical ticket, the poor girl was very flustered, and asked me for my order number.. took me ages to search my inbox, during which time I told her it was booked in November, and she found it anyway. Oops, sorry..!
While I was waiting, I got a text from the organiser - apparently, some others did too - to say that he had no idea when he'd get there, as someone had fallen in front of his train. Sorry to hear about the unfortunate victim, of course - but Lordy, this organiser has the worst luck with public transport! Well, I queued for ages to get a drink - the performance being sold out, the place was packed - and schlepped upstairs, where I met the others on the mezzanine - the upstairs bar was too packed. And we had a nice chat.
And so into the theatre - most of us were in the stalls. This is based on the true story of Dr. James Stagg - you might not have heard of him, but he was the meteorologist that was instrumental in persuading Eisenhower to delay the D-Day invasion for 24 hours. He's played by Olivier award-winner David Haig, who also wrote it - and my God, does he make the weather interesting! You could not wish for a more tense and exciting play, as they use the now-archaic technology to try to make longterm predictions - easy to see why it sold out. Perfectly balanced, with just enough science to make sense, but not so much as to become overwhelming.
In fact, the constant scurrying and frantic action reminded me of work. It's true what they say in the blurb - tense, exciting, and moving by the end. The sense truly comes across that this is a man that believes passionately in what he's doing - and it's infectious. Also very impressed by Eisenhower in this. Highly recommended - I joined with others in a standing ovation at the end. Runs till the 28th of next month - booking highly recommended, with limited availability for many performances. Contains scenes with lightning - the weather wasn't great, which is what makes the story interesting.
Our organiser bravely made it to us at the interval! and then schlepped back home, having had a sufficiently trying night. As for my cough - it flared up in the second half, violent as ever, and boy was I glad to have invested in some menthol sweets. I guess it'll go, one day.. anyway, when we left, the rain had stopped, and I was delighted to be able to get a direct bus home.
Tomorrow, I'm back to Ireland (yes, again!) for Easter, flying back to London on Monday. I see there's a treat for BBC viewers - Andrew Scott's Hamlet, from last year, is being broadcast on BBC2 on Saturday. Interesting choice for Easter. I just wonder whether his performance will be as electrifying on screen as it was live.. Man with the Hat, if you're reading, make sure to watch this! I know you would have loved to see it live.
On Tuesday, Meetup is throwing up a couple of things I'd have been interested in - Up in the Cheap Seats is off to the ballet at the Opera House, and North London Friends is off to see a play called Black Men Walking at the Royal Court. And wouldn't you know it, by the time I got around to checking, they were both sold out! Blast. (Mind you, I read a not-great review of the play, the other night). Although there seemed subsequently to be some tickets left for the ballet, which is now sold out again. Anyway, in the meantime, I got the last £15 ticket - from the official website - for Bat Out of Hell, in the Dominion Theatre. Rear stalls - not so shabby. Should be fun. Then a couple more events were advertised that I'd have been interested in - too late, guys, I usually book earlier than that!
Next Wednesday, I'm headed (finally, it's been so long!) to see the Crick Crack Club perform The Gods and Monsters Show at Rich Mix. Now, I don't know what's with the head of their Meetup group, but she seems to think it's on two days later - I did comment on the event page to that effect. Just check the venue website, as I then said. Or indeed, the Crick Crack Club's own website. Daft woman hasn't changed it yet. Not that it wouldn't have suited me to have it on another day - I'd be missing London Literary Walks' first outing of the year, damnit! But it's for a very good cause..
Then I checked, and wouldn't you know it, he subsequently shifted the walk to the 5th! Seems he now works alternating shifts, so dates can change at short notice. Well, this one worked out great for me. Sadly, I'll be missing North London Friends' trip to the Moors Bar Blues Jam and Drinks - well, you can't have everything. I'd never be up to Crouch End in time after the walk.
On the 6th, with nothing much on Meetup, I booked - with my £3.60 club, when they finally put something on - for Banana Crabtree Simon, at the Drayton Arms. A play about dementia, it might be terrible, but I can give it a try.
On the 7th, back with Up in the Cheap Seats, for The Inheritance, at the Young Vic - both parts, so the whole day! With each part running to about 3.5 hours, I hope it's worth it.. Vanessa Redgrave takes part (only in Part II).
On the 8th, I had booked for London's Grime & Punishment Tour, with Walking in London again. However, when I checked Crick Crack's Meetup group.. I discovered I'd forgotten about their story of The Liberty Tree - Robin Hood and Other English Radicals, at the British Museum! What's more, it's hosted by Hugh Lupton, and my second-favourite storyteller, Nick Hennessy. I'd have hated to miss this - thank heaven there were still tickets. Not to mention that I could blithely cancel the walk, as it's Funzing, and it'd already been used to amass a loyalty discount, so I had no penalty at all.
On the 9th, back with Let's Do This for Nell & the Hot Mess Muggers, at Wilton's. Now, that should be a good night..
On the 10th, the London European Club (LEC) advertised a free classical concert in St. John's, Smith Square. Email musikolondon@gmail.com for tickets, subject to availability.
On the 11th, Up in the Cheap Seats is off to see Pericles, at the Barbican.
On the 12th, the LEC is going to Voices of America, at Sadler's Wells. Goodee, two nights in a row that I can walk! Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
On the 16th, tragically, a Crick Crack event that I found out about too late.. Red Bead Woman, with Martin Shaw at Soho Theatre, is sold out. Never mind, he's not one of my favourites anyway. Instead, back with the Funzing talk groups, London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night (until they cancel!), for The Story of Accent and Identity.
On the 17th, (nominally) going with London Science Events for a talk on Gravitational Waves and Beyond, at the Royal Institution. They've given no Meetup details, so I'm not anticipating a social evening.
On the 18th, Funzing again, for The Strangest Feeling: Déjà Vu, at Gabeto, in Camden Market. Presented by Anthony Peake, whom I spent a long time researching to make sure he's not a sceptic, as I have extensive personal experience of precognitive experiences.
On the 19th, back with London Literary Walks - he's only doing them fortnightly now, it seems. Well, he's covered half of London at this rate! And he seems to prefer Thursdays, which are working out better for me so far. This one is called Guitar Bands Are on the Way Out, Mr. Epstein.
On the 20th, I got the very last ticket to The Phlebotomist, downstairs at Hampstead Theatre. I'm going with Up in the Cheap Seats - North London Friends are seeing it in preview, but it was already sold out for that night. For the 20th, one of the group is looking to sell her ticket, if you're interested - I didn't see that until I'd got mine.
On the 21st, I'm back with London Discovery Walks for yet another ghost tour - this one is called Ghosts of the Old City - just like my last walk!
On the 22nd, back with Up in the Cheap Seats, for a film music gala at the Albert Hall.
On the 23rd, a Funzing talk - An Introduction to the Dark Net. At Sink.. For which I earned a loyalty discount, on account of all I booked the other night!
On the 24th and 25th, back again with Up in the Cheap Seats: the 24th is for An Ideal Husband - part of the Oscar Wilde Season, at the Vaudeville. Stars father and son, Edward and Freddie Fox. And Susan Hampshire. The 25th is for Mood Music, at the Old Vic, with Ben Chaplin.
On the 26th, the LEC is attending a lecture at the LSE, on Euroscepticism and the Future of European Integration. And then I'm back to the highly non-Eurosceptic Ireland again, for the weekend.
Tonight, back with Funzing - a Walking in London tour of Ghosts of the Old City. (Yes, it's different to the last one..) and lo, they didn't cancel this during the day. Unlike yesterday's Funzing event. For both of these events, got a 10% discount - they alternate between the codes crazy_fun and LoveFun, these days.
So I walked on down to it. The guy was there by the time I got there, brandishing his leaflets - and lo, this was London Walks again! Now, years ago - shortly after arriving in London, really - I went on another walk of theirs with the same title. The guide was dressed in a cape, and various people popped up at us, in costume, during the night. This was a very different beast; I wonder whether they've stopped that other walk entirely.
Well, this was a personable chap - Scottish, and said he used to be a journalist. We met outside St. Paul's - and never got very far from there, meaning that this was truly a walk of the old City! Plenty of Americans on this walk.. including an enthusiastic little lad, who, as we were being given the preamble, shot up his arm for a question, despite his mother's protests. "If we catch a ghost, can we keep it?" The guide thought for a minute. "Do you believe in ghosts?" "Yes!" "Well then, you're much more likely to catch one - and if you do, you can keep it." "Yay.."
Down backstreets and alleyways, some paths I knew and some I didn't. I'll say this, though - of all the tales he told us over our two hours or so, I can honestly say I'd only heard the very last one before - and even that had a new element. How do they do it? Well, he did tell us a story he'd got from one of his patrons, just last week - "fresh off the presses", indeed! We saw a new angle to the Old Bailey - why have none of my other walks ever taken me this way?
And no-one ever before pointed out to me the other monuments at Smithfield (you know, apart from the one to William Wallace):
I can also honestly say that this was the most atmospheric ghost walk I've been on. Costumes not required - some people who can tell stories join the Crick Crack Club and do it on a stage, some give guided walks. Our guide (Adam) has a real talent for showmanship - highly recommended! And then my blasted cough surfaced, and lasted a good five minutes while he was telling the group about the ghost of the Viaduct Tavern. Bless him, when he was done, he gave me a cough sweet that saw me right. Now, that's what I call being prepared! Very highly recommended - you don't need to book, it costs £10, £8 concessions and free for the under-15s. Speaking of whom, the small boy was a bit tired by the end, but otherwise delighted with himself. Great range of walks, and if they're all as entertaining as this, you can't go wrong.
Tomorrow, back at a proper Meetup at last, to the Park Theatre with Up in the Cheap Seats for the opening night of Pressure. Then I'm back to Ireland (yes, again!) for Easter, flying back to London on Monday. I see there's a treat for BBC viewers - Andrew Scott's Hamlet, from last year, is being broadcast on BBC2 on Saturday. Interesting choice for Easter. I just wonder whether his performance will be as electrifying on screen as it was live.. Man with the Hat, if you're reading, make sure to watch this! I know you would have loved to see it live.
Next Tuesday, Meetup is throwing up a couple of things I'd have been interested in - Up in the Cheap Seats is off to the ballet at the Opera House, and North London Friends is off to see a play called Black Men Walking at the Royal Court. And wouldn't you know it, by the time I got around to checking, they were both sold out! Blast. (Mind you, I read a not-great review of the play, last night). Although there seemed subsequently to be some tickets left for the ballet, which is now sold out again. Anyway, in the meantime, I got the last £15 ticket - from the official website - for Bat Out of Hell, in the Dominion Theatre. Rear stalls - not so shabby. Should be fun. Then a couple more events were advertised that I'd have been interested in - too late, guys, I usually book earlier than that!
On the 4th, I'm headed (finally, it's been so long!) to see the Crick Crack Club perform The Gods and Monsters Show at Rich Mix. Now, I don't know what's with the head of their Meetup group, but she seems to think it's on two days later - I did comment on the event page to that effect. Just check the venue website, as I then said. Or indeed, the Crick Crack Club's own website. Daft woman hasn't changed it yet. Not that it wouldn't have suited me to have it on another day - I'd be missing London Literary Walks' first outing of the year, damnit! But it's for a very good cause..
Then I checked, and wouldn't you know it, he subsequently shifted the walk to the 5th! Seems he now works alternating shifts, so dates can change at short notice. Well, this one worked out great for me. Sadly, I'll be missing North London Friends' trip to the Moors Bar Blues Jam and Drinks - well, you can't have everything. I'd never be up to Crouch End in time after the walk.
On the 6th, with nothing much on Meetup, I booked - with my £3.60 club, when they finally put something on - for Banana Crabtree Simon, at the Drayton Arms. A play about dementia, it might be terrible, but I can give it a try.
On the 7th, back with Up in the Cheap Seats, for The Inheritance, at the Young Vic - both parts, so the whole day! With each part running to about 3.5 hours, I hope it's worth it.. Vanessa Redgrave takes part (only in Part II).
On the 8th, I had booked for London's Grime & Punishment Tour, with Walking in London again. However, when I checked Crick Crack's Meetup group.. I discovered I'd forgotten about their story of The Liberty Tree - Robin Hood and Other English Radicals, at the British Museum! What's more, it's hosted by Hugh Lupton, and my second-favourite storyteller, Nick Hennessy. I'd have hated to miss this - thank heaven there were still tickets. Not to mention that I could blithely cancel the walk, as it's Funzing, and it'd already been used to amass a loyalty discount, so I had no penalty at all.
On the 9th, back with Let's Do This for Nell & the Hot Mess Muggers, at Wilton's. Now, that should be a good night..
On the 10th, the London European Club (LEC) advertised a free classical concert in St. John's, Smith Square. Email musikolondon@gmail.com for tickets, subject to availability.
On the 11th, Up in the Cheap Seats is off to see Pericles, at the Barbican.
On the 12th, the LEC is going to Voices of America, at Sadler's Wells. Goodee, two nights in a row that I can walk! Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
On the 16th, tragically, a Crick Crack event that I found out about too late.. Red Bead Woman, with Martin Shaw at Soho Theatre, is sold out. Never mind, he's not one of my favourites anyway. Instead, back with the Funzing talk groups for The Story of Accent and Identity.
On the 17th, (nominally) going with London Science Events for a talk on Gravitational Waves and Beyond, at the Royal Institution. They've given no Meetup details, so I'm not anticipating a social evening.
On the 18th, Funzing again, for The Strangest Feeling: Déjà Vu, at Gabeto, in Camden Market. Presented by Anthony Peake, whom I spent a long time researching to make sure he's not a sceptic, as I have extensive personal experience of precognitive experiences.
On the 19th, back with London Literary Walks - he's only doing them fortnightly now, it seems. Well, he's covered half of London at this rate! And he seems to prefer Thursdays, which are working out better for me so far. This one is called Guitar Bands Are on the Way Out, Mr. Epstein.
On the 20th, I got the very last ticket to The Phlebotomist, downstairs at Hampstead Theatre. I'm going with Up in the Cheap Seats - North London Friends are seeing it in preview, but it was already sold out for that night. For the 20th, one of the group is looking to sell her ticket, if you're interested - I didn't see that until I'd got mine.
On the 21st, I'm back with London Discovery Walks for yet another ghost tour - this one is also called Ghosts of the Old City!
On the 22nd, back with Up in the Cheap Seats, for a film music gala at the Albert Hall.
On the 23rd, a Funzing talk - An Introduction to the Dark Net. At Sink.. For which I earned a loyalty discount, on account of all I booked last night!
On the 24th and 25th, back again with Up in the Cheap Seats: the 24th is for An Ideal Husband - part of the Oscar Wilde Season, at the Vaudeville. Stars father and son, Edward and Freddie Fox. And Susan Hampshire. The 25th is for Mood Music, at the Old Vic, with Ben Chaplin.
On the 26th, the LEC is attending a lecture at the LSE, on Euroscepticism and the Future of European Integration. And then I'm back to the highly non-Eurosceptic Ireland again, for the weekend.
With nothing much on Meetup for yesterday, I was thinking of a film: but gee, Makala came top again. Or a film called Raid, whose closest showing was in Shepherds Bush at 10.05pm! So, film not enthusing me - instead, back with Funzing (via London Speaks Sessions), for a "dim sum talk" about "Why the Universe Shouldn't Exist". Should be interesting. Oh, and LDN Talks @ Night then advertised the same thing, so I signed up with them as well. They also offered a 10% discount code.. but then, I did already get a 10% discount.
Sure enough, during the day, both Meetup groups cancelled the Meetup. Predictable, but weird - what is it with them? Do they not want it on record? I've actually had them cancel Meetups that were in progress. Anyway, I checked, and Funzing was still running it - so off I went. Now, I've been in Ping Pong before - didn't help with getting to it, as I was coming from the other side, but it did help with finding my way once I was inside. Talks are all the way down in the basement, and it's not hugely obvious where you're going - they could do with a sign or two. On this occasion, they didn't open the downstairs bar, so I had to get a drink upstairs and bring it down with me.
The basement wasn't terribly crowded when I arrived, but the chairs were so packed that it was difficult to make your way to the back - so I didn't, and took pretty much the same seat as last time I was a talk here, at the front. A spare seat beside me gave me room to leave stuff on. I'd arrived at around the time the doors opened, and it was a while before they got started, so I spent my time booking stuff ahead - of which more anon. When they did get going, I was to be glad the mc wasn't giving the talk - he was incomprehensible! Happily, the actual speaker was much clearer - despite a dicky mic, which kept cutting out.. and not to mention the typical hubbub from upstairs. Typical Funzing - they claim on the website that they use "carefully curated" venues, but many of their talk venues are just not fit for purpose.
The talk, however, was pure gold. Delivered by Harry Cliff, who works at CERN as well as holding a joint fellowship with the University of Cambridge and the Science Museum, it was absolutely packed with technical detail - but, as you'd also expect from someone who presents often, it was quite accessible, and peppered with humour. I really don't think I've ever been at a talk before where quarks, the building blocks of matter, as he said, were explained so thoroughly.
His basic premise was to describe how the standard model does a wonderful job of describing the universe as it is - explaining how, for example, it predicts the existence of the recently discovered Higgs-Boson particle (he showed a picture of the jubilant lecture where that was announced, pointing out how this is how particle physicists look when they get excited). It decays very fast, see, which is what makes it so elusive. Also known as the "God particle", it is the particle that gives mass to matter.. (sort of). Okay great! The standard model breaks down in extreme cases, however - which, to be fair, is true of most models - and can't explain why, not only is the expansion of the universe not slowing down.. it's speeding up!
Now, he did mention a number in relation to this particle, which I think was 286, and to my shame, I cannot remember what that relates to! I do remember that he pointed out that scientists are very suspicious about such a precise number, and that if it went too far in one direction, we'd just have a universe full of black holes, and too far in the other direction would leave us with a universe just full of featureless static. "Too far" mightn't be very far, either. Pity I can't remember what it is.. and just as well I don't have my hand on the dial that controls it! Answers on a postcard, please..
At the interval, I nipped to the loo, which is down a labyrinthine hallway, "Staff Only" on all the doors you're not to take - usefully. When I got back, our dim sum had arrived - and it was lucky I'd been before and knew what it all was, as no-one was in a hurry to tell us. Very nice food, though.
A terrific talk (even if I can't remember all the details) was followed by a Q+A, where questions were nicely mixed with the daft and the sensible. I am so glad that I happened upon this - there had been so little on for yesterday, but this guy is well worth listening to, and I recommend heading to see him if you get the chance. As an aside, I've had a cough for the last damned month, and California just made it worse, would you believe - mercifully, although I did get a persistent fit of coughing during this, it wasn't until near the end of the Q+A. After a cold wait for the bus, when I got home, I got into such a flurry of booking things that I decided to leave the blog for today, it'd take so long just to describe what's coming up!
Tonight, back with Funzing - a Walking in London tour of Ghosts of the Old City. (Yes, it's different to the last one..) I presume they won't cancel this during the day. For both of these events, got a 10% discount - they alternate between the codes crazy_fun and LoveFun, these days.
Tomorrow, back at a proper Meetup at last, to the Park Theatre with Up in the Cheap Seats for the opening night of Pressure. Then I'm back to Ireland (yes, again!) for Easter, flying back to London on Monday. I see there's a treat for BBC viewers - Andrew Scott's Hamlet, from last year, is being broadcast on BBC2 on Saturday. Interesting choice for Easter. I just wonder whether his performance will be as electrifying on screen as it was live.. Man with the Hat, if you're reading, make sure to watch this! I know you would have loved to see it live.
Next Tuesday, Meetup is throwing up a couple of things I'd have been interested in - Up in the Cheap Seats is off to the ballet at the Opera House, and North London Friends is off to see a play called Black Men Walking at the Royal Court. And wouldn't you know it, by the time I got around to checking, they were both sold out! Blast. (Mind you, I read a not-great review of the play, last night). Although there seemed subsequently to be some tickets left for the ballet, which is now sold out again. Anyway, in the meantime, I got the last £15 ticket - from the official website - for Bat Out of Hell, in the Dominion Theatre. Rear stalls - not so shabby. Should be fun. Then a couple more events were advertised that I'd have been interested in - too late, guys, I usually book earlier than that!
On the 4th, I'm headed (finally, it's been so long!) to see the Crick Crack Club perform The Gods and Monsters Show at Rich Mix. Now, I don't know what's with the head of their Meetup group, but she seems to think it's on two days later - I did comment on the event page to that effect. Just check the venue website, as I then said. Or indeed, the Crick Crack Club's own website. Daft woman hasn't changed it yet. Not that it wouldn't have suited me to have it on another day - I'd be missing London Literary Walks' first outing of the year, damnit! But it's for a very good cause..
Then I checked, and wouldn't you know it, he subsequently shifted the walk to the 5th! Seems he now works alternating shifts, so dates can change at short notice. Well, this one worked out great for me. Sadly, I'll be missing North London Friends' trip to the Moors Bar Blues Jam and Drinks - well, you can't have everything. I'd never be up to Crouch End in time after the walk.
On the 6th, with nothing much on Meetup, I booked - with my £3.60 club, when they finally put something on - for Banana Crabtree Simon, at the Drayton Arms. A play about dementia, it might be terrible, but I can give it a try.
On the 7th, back with Up in the Cheap Seats, for The Inheritance, at the Young Vic - both parts, so the whole day! With each part running to about 3.5 hours, I hope it's worth it.. Vanessa Redgrave takes part (only in Part II).
On the 8th, I had booked for London's Grime & Punishment Tour, with Walking in London again. However, when I checked Crick Crack's Meetup group.. I discovered I'd forgotten about their story of The Liberty Tree - Robin Hood and Other English Radicals, at the British Museum! What's more, it's hosted by Hugh Lupton, and my second-favourite storyteller, Nick Hennessy. I'd have hated to miss this - thank heaven there are still tickets. Not to mention that I could blithely cancel the walk, as it's Funzing, and it'd already been used to amass a loyalty discount, so I had no penalty at all.
On the 9th, back with Let's Do This for Nell & the Hot Mess Muggers, at Wilton's. Now, that should be a good night..
On the 10th, the London European Club (LEC) advertised a free classical concert in St. John's, Smith Square. Email musikolondon@gmail.com for tickets, subject to availability.
On the 11th, Up in the Cheap Seats is off to see Pericles, at the Barbican.
On the 12th, the LEC is going to Voices of America, at Sadler's Wells. Goodee, two nights in a row that I can walk! Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
On the 16th, tragically, a Crick Crack event that I found out about too late.. Red Bead Woman, with Martin Shaw at Soho Theatre, is sold out. Never mind, he's not one of my favourites anyway. Instead, back with the Funzing talk groups for The Story of Accent and Identity.
On the 17th, (nominally) going with London Science Events for a talk on Gravitational Waves and Beyond, at the Royal Institution. They've given no Meetup details, so I'm not anticipating a social evening.
On the 18th, Funzing again, for The Strangest Feeling: Déjà Vu, at Gabeto, in Camden Market. Presented by Anthony Peake, whom I spent a long time researching to make sure he's not a sceptic, as I have extensive personal experience of precognitive experiences.
On the 19th, back with London Literary Walks - he's only doing them fortnightly now, it seems. Well, he's covered half of London at this rate! And he seems to prefer Thursdays, which are working out better for me so far. This one is called Guitar Bands Are on the Way Out, Mr. Epstein.
On the 20th, I got the very last ticket to The Phlebotomist, downstairs at Hampstead Theatre. I'm going with Up in the Cheap Seats - North London Friends are seeing it in preview, but it was already sold out for that night. For the 20th, one of the group is looking to sell her ticket, if you're interested - I didn't see that until I'd got mine.
On the 21st, I'm back with London Discovery Walks for yet another ghost tour - this one is called Ghosts of the Old City.
On the 22nd, back with Up in the Cheap Seats, for a film music gala at the Albert Hall.
And on the 23rd, a Funzing talk - An Introduction to the Dark Net. At Sink.. For which I earned a loyalty discount, on account of all I booked last night!
Yes! I did make it back, in time and alive. A short walk from the office to the airport, I dropped my bag (when my printed boarding pass was, weirdly, replaced by a conventional one that they printed themselves), and I went through a weird security process, where everything went straight onto the belt - no trays! (They had little ones, for keys, wallets and change, I guess.) I didn't even have to take my liquid bag out of my luggage.. Anyway, once past security, guess what? No duty free. Whatsoever. Never before seen an international airport without one. As I say, weird.
Hmm. Anyway, once I finally got onboard, I consulted my film list - I could fit in one film. They had to serve dinner anyway. So, a choice of four at the same rating, and I started at the top, alphabetically, with A Taxi Driver, one that's been on my list of London films for a while. Unfortunately, that was temporarily unavailable, so I went to the next - Hindi Medium, about an Indian couple who are determined to get their child into the best school. Another that's quite good - the parents go through all sorts of funny shenanigans to get through the stiff admissions system, and it turns to social conscience at the end, as they consider children from less privileged backgrounds. Very enjoyable.
Still eating when that ended, so I decided to try A Taxi Driver again - which was working by now. Based on a true story, and set in South Korea during the pro-democracy demonstrations, it describes how a taxi driver steals someone else's fare - upon overhearing someone at lunch describing how he has a big fare to take a foreigner (whom we've already learned is a journalist) to Gwangju (centre of the action), our hero finishes early and nips off, pretending to be the reserved driver. I wasn't really getting into it, to be honest, by the time I'd finished my food and decided that I didn't have time to finish the film and still get a decent amount of sleep. So I left it.
Sleep didn't really work very well - it was too hot in the cabin, with no individual air vents, and the engine noise was intrusively loud, even with earplugs. Finally, I had the idea of selecting some music that might lull me to sleep - would you believe, they don't have any soothing music whatsoever! Just silly, on a flight where passengers are expected to sleep. I ended up drifting off to an Ennio Morricone soundtrack, which was at least familiar. And they have a "night" option to darken the screen, which was handy. Still, sleep was brief and broken. Upon landing, I had a scuttle across town, to drop luggage at home and pick up my case for Ireland, then a dash to Stansted. On the plane back to Ireland, it occurred to me that you could make a good case that I was hallucinating the leprechaun in the row in front of me.. (stag do, the stag in full fancy dress). Surreal - you couldn't make it up. Still, at least I had my own air vent now - and he and his companions were as entertaining as any airline-provided fare.
Too tired to blog last night, obviously, and indeed this afternoon as well. With nothing much on Meetup for Monday, I was thinking of a film: but gee, Makala came top again. Or a film called Raid, whose closest showing is in Shepherds Bush at 10.05pm! So, film not enthusing me - instead, back with Funzing (via London Speaks Sessions), for a "dim sum talk" about "Why the Universe Shouldn't Exist". Should be interesting. Oh, and LDN Talks @ Night just advertised the same thing, so I signed up with them as well. They also offered a 10% discount code.. but then, I did get a 10% discount. Unless I could've used both..
On Tuesday, back with Funzing - a Walking in London tour of Ghosts of the Old City. (Yes, it's different to the last one..) For both of these events, got a 10% discount - they alternate between the codes crazy_fun and LoveFun, these days.
On Wednesday, back at a proper Meetup at last, to the Park Theatre with Up in the Cheap Seats for the opening night of Pressure. Then I'm back to Ireland (yes, again!) for Easter, flying back to London on the 2nd. I see there's a treat for BBC viewers - Andrew Scott's Hamlet, from last year, is being broadcast on BBC2 next Saturday. Interesting choice for Easter. I just wonder whether his performance will be as electrifying on screen as it was live.. Man with the Hat, if you're reading, make sure to watch this! I know you would have loved to see it live.
On the 3rd, Meetup is throwing up a couple of things I'd have been interested in - Up in the Cheap Seats is off to the ballet at the Opera House, and North London Friends is off to see a play called Black Men Walking at the Royal Court. And wouldn't you know it, by the time I got around to checking, they were both sold out! Blast. Although there seemed subsequently to be some tickets left for the ballet, which is now sold out again. Anyway, in the meantime, I got the last £15 ticket - from the official website - for Bat Out of Hell, in the Dominion Theatre. Rear stalls - not so shabby. Should be fun. Then a couple more events were advertised that I'd have been interested in - too late, guys, I usually book earlier than that!
On the 4th, I'm headed (finally, it's been so long!) to see the Crick Crack Club perform The Gods and Monsters Show at Rich Mix. Now, I don't know what's with the head of their Meetup group, but she seems to think it's on two days later - I did comment on the event page to that effect. Just check the venue website, as I then said. Or indeed, the Crick Crack Club's own website. Daft woman hasn't changed it yet. Not that it wouldn't have suited me to have it on another day - I'd be missing London Literary Walks' first outing of the year, damnit! But it's for a very good cause..
And then I checked, and wouldn't you know it, he subsequently shifted the walk to the 5th! Seems he now works alternating shifts, so dates can change at short notice. Well, this one worked out great for me. Sadly, I'll be missing North London Friends' trip to the Moors Bar Blues Jam and Drinks - well, you can't have everything. I'd never be up to Crouch End in time after the walk.
Quite intrigued about what I was doing yesterday evening - on the recommendation of someone else at work, I went on a tour of the Winchester Mystery House - the most interesting-sounding of the local attractions. It was built by the Winchester heiress (played by Dame Helen Mirren in a recent film), who reportedly became convinced that malevolent spirits haunted it. Apparently she was told that they'd be kept at bay only if she never ceased construction on the house - so, on it went, reportedly 365 days a year for the next 38 years. (No, she wasn't resident at the time.) Historians, however, dispute the fact that it continued after the 1906 earthquake. Whatever the truth, it sounded a fascinating place - staircases that lead to nowhere, doors and windows that open onto walls. Servants working in the house apparently needed a map to navigate its 500 rooms! (now reduced to 160).
Well, it took over an hour to get to - there's a free flyer that goes to the Caltrain station (if only I'd known that on Sunday!), then I could get another bus, which stops right outside. I booked onto the last tour, which starts at 5 - so I had to leave early. Imagine my chagrin when someone organised a meeting with me for 4.. I put my foot down, and he moved it earlier. As he remarked, that sounded more interesting than talking to him! :-)
Well, my first time taking buses in America! I checked the route on my phone before I left the office, while I still had WiFi. The Flyer stop is just down the road - and I didn't need to pay on this one, just took a seat. I was soon educated as to how to get the bus to stop - unlike the buttons I'm used to, there's a pull-cord. Not that there was any need of it at the Caltrain station - he stopped for a break there anyway, and when he saw me checking my phone, he asked where I was going, and directed me around the corner for my next stop.
Which wasn't due for a while. I used some of my change on this trip - yes, I remember when that was a handy way to get rid of change - they don't accept cash on London buses any more, of course. While on this longish trip, I realised that only the important stops were announced - well, there was a transit centre three stops away from mine - and transit centres are announced - so after that, I just carefully counted the stops at the side of the road as we passed. And got off right outside the mansion!
More photos here. Moseyed down to the entrance, which is through the gift shop - they have some cool things, but I left the buying of them till I came out. Went to wait in the courtyard, where the various tour groups were going from - I could have made the 4:20 tour, actually (the bus was early), but who knew! or certainly the 4:40. Mind you, I got confused when the 4:55 was called.. I asked, and it turned out that no, there was also a 5pm tour, which would be mine. Closely packed, eh?
They were tearing people's tickets - I had mine on my phone, whose details she checked, then jokingly asked whether she could tear my phone.. First, you're led into the carriage house, where you have the chance of a souvenir photo - $20 to pose with a Winchester rifle! Ornate they may be, but no thanks. Then our guide - in a long skirt, appropriate to the period - took us around the twists and turns of this maze of a structure. It sure is an odd place - strange staircases, windows and doors looking onto walls, the famous Door to Nowhere:
Unfortunately, you can't take pictures inside the house - the film company owns the rights, it seems. Pity - apart from the weirdness, there are some gorgeous period features, beautiful stained glass windows and patterned wallpaper. And some surprisingly modern features, for convenience. At least you can photograph as much as you like from the gardens, which form the way out.
Now, when I told someone I was headed out there, he said I'd find lovely places to eat on Santana Row - I didn't have internet access (no WiFi, and prohibitively expensive to use data), but I found it quite easily, and sure enough it looked promising. I finally decided on LB Steakhouse - one of these places with low lighting, frequented by businesspeople on expenses. Like me. :-) Hallelujah, here they didn't ignore me! The lovely lady on reception said she'd see whether they had a table - and yes they did, and I was seated in no time. Service in general was lightning-fast - before I knew it I had a menu, before I had time to peruse that, a waiter arrived to ask whether I wanted a drink. I said I'd like a half bottle of white wine, and he proceeded to point me in the direction of a couple.. of what turned out to be the most expensive on the menu. $80 for a half bottle, I ask you!!
So I hummed and hawed, and he said he'd be back - which gave me time to find the cheapest half bottle of white. It cost $29, and was delicious. Naturally. He asked me whether I'd like oysters to go with that.. at the price they are, I'm glad I don't like them! None of the starters really enthused me, so I went straight to the main course. They do burgers as well, but I had the cheapest steak on the menu - the smallest fillet mignon they had, 6oz for $38. With a red wine sauce. Happily, the smallest usually does me just fine. And I ordered onion rings.
OMG, it was all gorgeous. Melt in the mouth steak, delicious sauce, a huge pile of good onion rings ($6). Bread rolls were £1.50 each - but they were warm. I had two. Dessert was a chocolate fondant with a scoop of ice cream - served with a long stick of dark chocolate and the ice cream sitting on dark chocolate shavings. $10, worth every penny. I was pogged at the end - the bill, with tip, came to three figures, but you know - that only translates to about £67, which puts it in London range. (And hey, my dinner averages $50 over each night that I'm charging them for - I think that's reasonable, what with the cheap motel I booked n all..
Afterwards, I scurried back to where I'd seen a bus stop - they run hourly after 7pm. I was sure I'd missed it, and there it came. Sadly, I just missed my connection to the Flyer, which was disappearing down the road as I arrived, but the wait was under half an hour, and it wasn't that late - or that cold. No blogging when I got back to the motel though - I paid for WiFi on a 24-hour basis, and didn't bother with the extra to tide me over last night and this morning.
When I fly back tonight, arriving tomorrow lunchtime, I'll be turning straight around and flying to Ireland for the weekend. With nothing much on Meetup for Monday, I was thinking of a film: but gee, Makala came top again. Or a film called Raid, whose closest showing is in Shepherds Bush at 10.05pm! So, film not enthusing me - instead, back with Funzing (via London Speaks Sessions), for a "dim sum talk" about "Why the Universe Shouldn't Exist". Should be interesting. Oh, and LDN Talks @ Night just advertised the same thing, so I signed up with them as well. They also offered a 10% discount code.. but then, I did get a 10% discount. Unless I could've used both..
On Tuesday, back with Funzing - a Walking in London tour of Ghosts of the Old City. (Yes, it's different to the last one..) For both of these events, got a 10% discount - they alternate between the codes crazy_fun and LoveFun, these days.
On Wednesday, back at a proper Meetup at last, to the Park Theatre with Up in the Cheap Seats for the opening night of Pressure. Then I'm back to Ireland (yes, again!) for Easter, flying back on the 2nd.
On the 3rd, Meetup is throwing up a couple of things I'd have been interested in - Up in the Cheap Seats is off to the ballet at the Opera House, and North London Friends is off to see a play called Black Men Walking at the Royal Court. And wouldn't you know it, by the time I got around to checking, they were both sold out! Blast. Although it seems there are now seats for the ballet again, starting at £40 - nuts. Anyway, in the meantime, I got the last £15 ticket - from the official website - for Bat Out of Hell, in the Dominion Theatre. Rear stalls - not so shabby. Should be fun. Then a couple more events were advertised that I'd have been interested in - too late, guys, I usually book earlier than that!
On the 4th, I'm headed (finally, it's been so long!) to see the Crick Crack Club perform The Gods and Monsters Show at Rich Mix. Now, I don't know what's with the head of their Meetup group, but she seems to think it's on two days later - I did comment on the event page to that effect. Just check the venue website, as I then said. Or indeed, the Crick Crack Club's own website. Daft woman hasn't changed it yet. Not that it wouldn't have suited me to have it on another day - I'd be missing London Literary Walks' first outing of the year, damnit! But it's for a very good cause..
And then I checked, and wouldn't you know it, he subsequently shifted the walk to the 5th! Seems he now works alternating shifts, so dates can change at short notice. Well, this one worked out great for me. Sadly, I'll be missing North London Friends' trip to the Moors Bar Blues Jam and Drinks - well, you can't have everything. I'd never be up to Crouch End in time after the walk.
Well, Monday night's sleep was great, thank goodness. And I had a good day in the office yesterday. All of which is good, considering what a palaver it was to get dinner..
I stayed late, because the film listings were out and I wanted to do the film list. But hey, there was still plenty of time to eat. Now the nearest place is Spencer's Steakhouse, at the Doubletree, just down the road - someone said that was good, so I said I'd try it out. Felt a little bit scruffy, especially with my work backpack on my back, but what the hey. Asked at the desk, and she said the restaurant was full, but I was welcome to take a seat in the lounge, which is open seating. So I found a table, asked her was this ok - she was showing other people to a table - and she said yes. I made myself comfortable.
Just as well I was comfortable, because that was the last human contact I had. (For about an hour and a half, as it turned out.) Nobody whatsoever bothered with me. I eventually just got up and left. Hate, hate, hate indifferent service - by the way, while I was waiting, I found some quite mediocre reviews of them online, so maybe it was just as well - they might do steak well, but it seems that other options leave something to be desired.
Well, I was now passing the hotel, so I dropped off my backpack. Plan B was the Tandoor House down the road - it's beside the Fairfield Hotel, and again, someone at work had said that had good eating, but I checked and it seems that this consists of the block of restaurants out front. I moseyed in. Nobody about. I quickly identified what I wanted from the menu, and picked up a bottle of water from the (almost-empty) fridge - and stood at the till. Signs around said to "help yourself" and "self service" - but there was nothing to help myself to! (apart from the water). A couple of people were mooching around the kitchen, cooking.. but short of going into the kitchen myself and ladling my dinner from one of the huge pots, there was nothing I could do! After being ignored for a while again, I left again.. honestly, what was it about last night, was I invisible?
Well, now I was in a dilemma. I didn't fancy the other restaurants there, so headed back to the hotel for the WiFi to see where I could go next - there were no more obvious options. Google Maps suggested I try the airport, so I schlepped up in that direction. On the way, I spied Honba Sushi, over to the side - ooh, there was an option, and much closer! I trotted over - but they were closing in 10 minutes (it was nearly 9 by this stage). Blast, if I'd come straight there I'd have been in time..
So, down to the airport - pushing against a strong wind. I was quite bedraggled by the time I got there. A brief exploration confirmed - yep, nothing outside of security. Blast Google Maps. At least I got to go to the toilet while I was there.
Well, now there really was nothing else for it but Denny's, beside my hotel. Despite all the warnings from my co-workers. So, in I went, and was shown to a seat - ordered chicken strips, which come with two sides and "dinner bread", and a hot chocolate. The food came quickly enough, and meantime, I watched the news (silent, with subtitles) on the tv at the side.
I have to say, I really liked the hot chocolate - but I have an extremely sweet tooth, and I think it'd be too sweet for most people. The "dinner bread" turned out to be toasted brioche, which was lovely. The chicken strips.. well, I liked them to begin with, but by the time I was halfway through them, I was finding the taste overpowering, and I only ate three of the four large pieces. The hash browns I ordered - were tasty enough, but came in an unfamiliar format for me; I'm used to getting them shaped into triangles, and what I got was a big, flat mess.. too messy to eat much. The fries were absolutely tasteless, and the dip I ordered with them was a bit watery. I didn't eat most of this - and I'd hesitate about coming back, although I've definitely been in worse places, and I think I could have chosen tastier options. Never mind, I was fed - and finished the evening with a bottle of wine (no, not all of it!) from the food mart next door, which is now chilling happily in my fridge - knew I'd find a use for that.
Didn't blog last night, because I thought I'd have an early meeting today - and then I didn't. Quite intrigued about what I'm doing this evening - on the recommendation of someone else at work, I'm going on a tour of the Winchester Mystery House - the most interesting-sounding of the local attractions. It was built by the Winchester heiress (played by Dame Helen Mirren in a recent film), who reportedly became convinced that malevolent spirits haunted it. Apparently she was told that they'd be kept at bay only if she never ceased construction on the house - so, on it went, reportedly 365 days a year for the next 38 years. (No, she wasn't resident at the time.) Historians, however, dispute the fact that it continued after the 1906 earthquake. Whatever the truth, it sounds a fascinating place - staircases that lead to nowhere, doors and windows that open onto walls. Servants working in the house apparently needed a map to navigate its 500 rooms!
Well, it'll take over an hour to get to - seems there's a free flyer that goes to the Caltrain station (if only I'd known that on Sunday!), then I can get another bus, which stops right outside. I've booked onto the last tour, which starts at 5 - so I'll have to leave early. Imagine my chagrin when someone organised a meeting with me for 4.. I put my foot down, and he moved it earlier. Hopefully, food will go easier tonight.
When I fly back tomorrow, arriving Friday, I'll be turning straight around and flying to Ireland for the weekend. With nothing much on Meetup for Monday, I was thinking of a film - hence the film list, last night: but gee, Makala came top again. Or a film called Raid, whose closest showing is in Shepherds Bush at 10.05pm! So, film not enthusing me - instead, back with Funzing (via London Speaks Sessions), for a "dim sum talk" about "Why the Universe Shouldn't Exist". Should be interesting.
On Tuesday, back with Funzing - a Walking in London tour of Ghosts of the Old City. (Yes, it's different to the last one..) For both of these, got a 10% discount - they alternate between the codes crazy_fun and LoveFun, these days.
Next Wednesday, back at a proper Meetup at last, to the Park Theatre with Up in the Cheap Seats for the opening night of Pressure. Then I'm back to Ireland (yes, again!) for Easter, flying back on the 2nd.
On the 3rd, Meetup is throwing up a couple of things I'd have been interested in - Up in the Cheap Seats is off to the ballet at the Opera House, and North London Friends is off to see a play called Black Men Walking at the Royal Court. And wouldn't you know it, by the time I got around to checking, they were both sold out! Blast. Although it seems there are now seats for the ballet again, starting at £40 - nuts. Anyway, in the meantime, I got the last £15 ticket - from the official website - for Bat Out of Hell, in the Dominion Theatre. Rear stalls - not so shabby. Should be fun.
On the 4th, I'm headed (finally, it's been so long!) to see the Crick Crack Club perform The Gods and Monsters Show at Rich Mix. Now, I don't know what's with the head of their Meetup group, but she seems to think it's on two days later - I did comment on the event page to that effect. Just check the venue website, as I then said. Or indeed, the Crick Crack Club's own website. Daft woman. Not that it wouldn't have suited me to have it on another day - I'd be missing London Literary Walks' first outing of the year, damnit! But it's for a very good cause..
And as I just checked, wouldn't you know it, he subsequently shifted the walk to the 5th! Seems he now works alternating shifts, so dates can change at short notice. Well, this one worked out great for me. Sadly, I'll be missing North London Friends' trip to the Moors Bar Blues Jam and Drinks - well, you can't have everything. I'd never be up to Crouch End in time after the walk.
