I rather fancied Chinese, and Google said the nearest was the Crystal Boat. Location is everything, they say, and that's where we went. Mind you, Google Maps wasn't completely accurate in its location- we got to where it was supposed to be, with no sign! Only that the website mentioned that it fronts the canal, we'd have given up- but following the water, there it was.
We took a table by the window. Service was friendly and efficient, the menu has a decent choice. It's BYOB, so we didn't bother with wine - there is a food market next door if you want to do that. I chose the beef szechuan, my companion had chicken curry- both with fried rice. A jug of tap water was brought to the table.
It hasn't really settled on an identity, I think. The setting is lovely for a good Chinese restaurant, but the decor isn't up to par - the upholstery is cracked, and the feeling as you enter is of a takeaway, with a fridge of soft drinks and bottled water. The food is fine, and very reasonably priced- but nothing special. If I wanted a treat, I'd go elsewhere.
With the weather so awful, we grabbed some supplies from the food market and spent the rest of the afternoon indoors. We decided to eat in the hotel before leaving for the concert- both because of the weather, and the €5 voucher I'd been left in my room! Anyway, it was the handiest to head from to the concert.
It was a mite confusing. The carvery in the bar, which should have finished at 2, was still on - in retrospect, we should probably have had that, but we thought the menu outside the bar, which didn't say otherwise, was the actual bar menu. The bar server explained that the bar menu was being served on the mezzanine.
So we went up there, sitting on sofas beside a low table. We waited, then pressed the bell for service- well, that did diddly. I finally noticed higher tables, so we moved there, and were soon presented with a completely different menu. I'd been thinking steak, but chickened out, thinking I didn't have the appetite. So we both had the house burger and chips, and I had a very pleasant glass of pinot grigio. When someone finally found the time to deliver our drinks tray, which had been sitting on the bar for a while. Don't you just hate it when you can see it but it's not acceptable to go fetch it..?
I was to regret it- the burger was all meat, and I couldn't finish it. The sauce was nice, but there was hardly any of it! And the presalted chips were also too salty for me to finish. I don't think I'll be sampling the bar menu here again. Interestingly, there was no evidence of life in the adjacent restaurant.
And so, eventually, to the concert- way too early, but the rain had stopped, and we had little else to do in the time available. We had to mosey all the way around the building again to get in, but there was much less of a queue. Inside, we bought a couple of cold drinks, from which they removed the caps, and made our way to our seats; the usher sternly advised us to make sure we had the right ones, as it was completely sold out.
setlist
- The Blackout
- Lights of Home
- I Will Follow
- All Because Of You
- Beautiful Day / Rain (snippet)
- Zoo Station
- The Fly
- Stay (Faraway, So Close!)
- Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses (Intermission - Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me)
- Elevation
- Vertigo / The Jean Genie (snippet)
- Even Better Than The Real Thing
- Hall of Mirrors (snippet) / Acrobat
- You're The Best Thing About Me
- Summer Of Love
- Pride (In The Name Of Love)
- Get Out Of Your Own Way
- New Year's Day
- Ode To Joy (snippet) / City Of Blinding Lights
- Women of the World (snippet) / One
- Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way
- 13 (There Is A Light) / The Miracle (of Joey Ramone) (snippet)
encore(s):
Firstly, a shout out to the guy in front of me, who obligingly stayed standing for most of the concert, which gave me the excuse to do the same when I wanted. Mind you, our section was pretty good- they hadn't got the idea at the start of I Will Follow, but soon more and more stood, and when they started to stand near me, up I went. Which set off both the guy in front, and the excitable guy beside me, who'd been jiggling in his seat from the beginning. You're welcome.
Secondly.. what happened to Bono today? It did occur to me that perhaps he had a great night's sleep.. later in the show, he mentioned having met some fans today, and I do wonder whether that had anything to do with it. He crossed himself during Lights of Home- I hardly ever remember him doing that in a show. He shared with us a hilarious anecdote about Adam, who as a teenager had an argument with the bus conductor when he didn't have the fare. "Would you possibly take a cheque?" "You don't have a chequebook, and I don't need your autograph." "My name and address are legal tender, and as for the autograph, give me time.."
Mr. McPhisto described himself and "The Don" as being inseparable. Mind you, he remarked, he's more like the Burger King.. serving up an extra dollop of white supreme sauce. And as he stripped off the makeup, he noted that he'd scared himself by looking in the mirror that morning and seeing his father- whom he described as a showman, too.
During Pride, he asked us to sing out loud, so they could hear us across the Atlantic. Like last night, he reminded us how many Irish had availed of American hospitality. "Caravans of crying children- is this the same country they went to?"
Conversely, he was full of praise for Irish politicians, who, as he said, worked across party lines to support the poorest. Apparently, Michael D. wasn't the only one there last night, but also Simon Coveney - Micheál Martin and Brendan Howlin made it tonight.
You could see Bono at the side of the stage toward the end, willing the crowd on - he let us sing practically all of One. And as he walked off at the very end, he wouldn't stop singing, instead egging us into the intro for The Miracle! It felt as though he didn't want to leave..
Neither did I. I'm marking this as the concert of the tour for me so far. It has the edge over Manchester, which I didn't think could happen. Two concerts like that in one tour.. Bono, whatever you're on, take more of it! Take care, see you soon.
On the way back, the same busker was, again, wailing his way through Where the Streets Have No Name. My companion gave him something for his efforts- give him that, he was loud! Tonight, the angry bear is back, but my earplugs are a match for him and the traffic.
On Monday, I booked for Macbeth, at the Wanamaker Playhouse. And then Let's Do This (LDT) finally posted that date for the Shirt Tail Stompers at Wilton's - well, I couldn't miss that! Funnily enough, London Social Detours have now advertised the same thing (and are charging more, as usual) - there's a terrible rivalry between the groups, with the leader of the latter group thinking she has prior claim to the floorspace. Sparks might fly. Meantime, anyone want a spare ticket for Macbeth?
Next Tuesday, we have our monthly team outing - probably just the two of us, but hey.
On the 14th, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) at last for Love Lies Bleeding, at the Print Room at the Coronet. Got my ticket from London Theatre Direct.
On the 15th, I'm going to try the Seven Deadly Sins Pub Naughty History Tour. Walking in London again. And it being a Funzing event (like all of Walking in London's) I scoured my old Funzing discount codes, and discovered that Funzing_Fb20 seems to be working again - for all of them I've recently booked! So, a 20% discount - better than any recently offered on their Facebook page. Then I'm back to Ireland again for the weekend.
On the 19th, News of the Strange, from the Crick Crack Club, at Soho Theatre. The club does have a Meetup group, but it seems to have gone dormant, and is no longer advertising upcoming events. Not that that stops the organiser from attending - I'm sure I saw her at a recent event! I've actually asked whether they're now defunct - we'll see whether I get a response. None yet.
On the 20th, back with UITCS for Pinter at the Pinter - Pinter plays at the Pinter Theatre. Two long ones on this occasion - this is Programme Four: Moonlight & Night School.
On the 21st, back at last with The London Jazz Meetup, who are off to the London Jazz Festival for a concert by the Faraj Suleiman Quartet at King's Place. UK premiere, apparently!
On the 22nd, with UITCS at the Garrick for Don Quixote. The only cheap tickets left for this were terrible, so I went a bit upmarket. A bit - I'm still behind a pillar!
On the 23rd, I'm on a Paranormal Activity Tour - ooh! Now, for this one, we get ghost-hunting equipment, which could make it interesting - I don't fancy the dowsing rods, myself, but we'll see. Walking in London, again. Discounted, again. And this was after my loyalty discount - so I got it at better than half price! which is good, considering the price.
On the 24th, I'm off on my own to see A Small Place, at the Gate.
On the 25th, back at last to Winter Wonderland! That evening, I'm off to Cirque Berserk - an annual tradition for me. The latest show is the cheapest, so that's the one I booked.
On the 26th, I'm back with UITCS for Programme Three of Pinter at the Pinter - Landscape / A Kind of Alaska / Monologue.
On the 27th, I'm going to see Company, by Sondheim, at the Gielgud. No tickets available for the upper levels on the official site - they must all have been bought up by resellers! Cheapest I found was with OfficialLondonTheatre, run by See Tickets.
On the 28th, I'm with Walking in London again for the Haunted London Pub Tour.
On the 29th, I'm back with UITCS at the National for Hadestown. Then back to Ireland again for the weekend.
On the 3rd, I'm back to the National for I'm Not Running.
On the 5th, LDN Talks @ Night and London Speaks Sessions (both Funzing) advertised a "Winterville" talk on The Science of Santa, where we get the scientific explanation of how he does it. Taking place at The Windmill. However, seems they meant the day before, when of course I'm busy. So instead I'm going to True West, with Kit Harington, at the Vaudeville. Cheapest tickets from the venue.
On the 6th of next month, Hazel of Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts, London Guided Walks (and, indeed, Walking in London) has a Christmas Carol Tour. Now, the last two events I booked with her turned out to be no-shows.. the first might not have been her fault, as she was advertising someone else's event, but the second, she just missed the ball on and left three of us standing on a street corner. Whether this event happens is anyone's guess! Now, it's technically more expensive if you book on Funzing - but if you have my discount ;-) it comes down to the same price she charges on her own site, without the booking fee! So I did it that way. But then Henning, with the London European Club, advertised a Happy Xmaths evening at Imperial College, the same night! Festive fun for maths geeks - sign me up. Plus it's free - you just have to register with Eventbrite. And it'll be great to get back with this group. And since I booked the walk with Funzing, I've cancelled and will get a full refund. And I feel no sadness at missing an evening with Hazel, after what's been happening.
On the 7th, back with UITCS at the Royal Court, for The Cane. Got the very last ticket, phew!
On the 8th, with them again at the Orange Tree Theatre for The Double Dealer.
On the 9th, the Crick Crack Club is back at the British Museum for I Know Not, an afternoon of Sufi legend.
On the 10th, I'm off to the Bridge Theatre for A Very, Very, Very Dark Matter, by Martin McDonagh. Starring Jim Broadbent, this is a dark take on Hans Christian Anderson!
On the 11th, I'm going with North London Friends to The Convert, at the Young Vic. Discounted top-price seats, it seems!
The 12th is our office Christmas party, but LDT has now advertised a Christmas dinner- which sounds a more attractive prospect. So I'm doing that instead.
On the 13th, I'm thrilled to be going to Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, at Sadler's Wells, with UITCS. He's a fantastic choreographer, but I've never before gotten around to seeing this all-male version. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
And on the 17th of next month, the Crick Crack Club is performing Gilgamesh, at Soho Theatre. With Ben Haggerty the spotlight, this will be a treat!
Conversely, he was full of praise for Irish politicians, who, as he said, worked across party lines to support the poorest. Apparently, Michael D. wasn't the only one there last night, but also Simon Coveney - Micheál Martin and Brendan Howlin made it tonight.
You could see Bono at the side of the stage toward the end, willing the crowd on - he let us sing practically all of One. And as he walked off at the very end, he wouldn't stop singing, instead egging us into the intro for The Miracle! It felt as though he didn't want to leave..
Neither did I. I'm marking this as the concert of the tour for me so far. It has the edge over Manchester, which I didn't think could happen. Two concerts like that in one tour.. Bono, whatever you're on, take more of it! Take care, see you soon.
On the way back, the same busker was, again, wailing his way through Where the Streets Have No Name. My companion gave him something for his efforts- give him that, he was loud! Tonight, the angry bear is back, but my earplugs are a match for him and the traffic.
Tomorrow, I fly back to London (BA) - purely so I can work on Thursday. Had the usual trouble with their app, of course, which while acknowledging that I've checked in, simultaneously says it can't confirm my checked-in status, so can't give me a mobile boarding pass! The flight isn't till evening, so tonight's companion is meeting me for brunch.
I fly back here on Thursday night. Was supposed to be Cityjet, but they've now ended their flight schedule - so now I'm going Ryanair. The genial chap at reception said I could check in for that as I was checking out tomorrow! Same hotel, same venue, same band - on Friday and Saturday. Can't wait. I fly back on Sunday, exhausted, and finished with U2 concerts for the year! Sadly. What will I do with myself if/when they stop touring..?
On Monday, I booked for Macbeth, at the Wanamaker Playhouse. And then Let's Do This (LDT) finally posted that date for the Shirt Tail Stompers at Wilton's - well, I couldn't miss that! Funnily enough, London Social Detours have now advertised the same thing (and are charging more, as usual) - there's a terrible rivalry between the groups, with the leader of the latter group thinking she has prior claim to the floorspace. Sparks might fly. Meantime, anyone want a spare ticket for Macbeth?
Next Tuesday, we have our monthly team outing - probably just the two of us, but hey.
On the 14th, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) at last for Love Lies Bleeding, at the Print Room at the Coronet. Got my ticket from London Theatre Direct.
On the 15th, I'm going to try the Seven Deadly Sins Pub Naughty History Tour. Walking in London again. And it being a Funzing event (like all of Walking in London's) I scoured my old Funzing discount codes, and discovered that Funzing_Fb20 seems to be working again - for all of them I've recently booked! So, a 20% discount - better than any recently offered on their Facebook page. Then I'm back to Ireland again for the weekend.
On the 19th, News of the Strange, from the Crick Crack Club, at Soho Theatre. The club does have a Meetup group, but it seems to have gone dormant, and is no longer advertising upcoming events. Not that that stops the organiser from attending - I'm sure I saw her at a recent event! I've actually asked whether they're now defunct - we'll see whether I get a response. None yet.
On the 20th, back with UITCS for Pinter at the Pinter - Pinter plays at the Pinter Theatre. Two long ones on this occasion - this is Programme Four: Moonlight & Night School.
On the 21st, back at last with The London Jazz Meetup, who are off to the London Jazz Festival for a concert by the Faraj Suleiman Quartet at King's Place. UK premiere, apparently!
On the 22nd, with UITCS at the Garrick for Don Quixote. The only cheap tickets left for this were terrible, so I went a bit upmarket. A bit - I'm still behind a pillar!
On the 23rd, I'm on a Paranormal Activity Tour - ooh! Now, for this one, we get ghost-hunting equipment, which could make it interesting - I don't fancy the dowsing rods, myself, but we'll see. Walking in London, again. Discounted, again. And this was after my loyalty discount - so I got it at better than half price! which is good, considering the price.
On the 24th, I'm off on my own to see A Small Place, at the Gate.
On the 25th, back at last to Winter Wonderland! That evening, I'm off to Cirque Berserk - an annual tradition for me. The latest show is the cheapest, so that's the one I booked.
On the 26th, I'm back with UITCS for Programme Three of Pinter at the Pinter - Landscape / A Kind of Alaska / Monologue.
On the 27th, I'm going to see Company, by Sondheim, at the Gielgud. No tickets available for the upper levels on the official site - they must all have been bought up by resellers! Cheapest I found was with OfficialLondonTheatre, run by See Tickets.
On the 28th, I'm with Walking in London again for the Haunted London Pub Tour.
On the 29th, I'm back with UITCS at the National for Hadestown. Then back to Ireland again for the weekend.
On the 3rd, I'm back to the National for I'm Not Running.
On the 5th, LDN Talks @ Night and London Speaks Sessions (both Funzing) advertised a "Winterville" talk on The Science of Santa, where we get the scientific explanation of how he does it. Taking place at The Windmill. However, seems they meant the day before, when of course I'm busy. So instead I'm going to True West, with Kit Harington, at the Vaudeville. Cheapest tickets from the venue.
On the 6th of next month, Hazel of Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts, London Guided Walks (and, indeed, Walking in London) has a Christmas Carol Tour. Now, the last two events I booked with her turned out to be no-shows.. the first might not have been her fault, as she was advertising someone else's event, but the second, she just missed the ball on and left three of us standing on a street corner. Whether this event happens is anyone's guess! Now, it's technically more expensive if you book on Funzing - but if you have my discount ;-) it comes down to the same price she charges on her own site, without the booking fee! So I did it that way. But then Henning, with the London European Club, advertised a Happy Xmaths evening at Imperial College, the same night! Festive fun for maths geeks - sign me up. Plus it's free - you just have to register with Eventbrite. And it'll be great to get back with this group. And since I booked the walk with Funzing, I've cancelled and will get a full refund. And I feel no sadness at missing an evening with Hazel, after what's been happening.
On the 7th, back with UITCS at the Royal Court, for The Cane. Got the very last ticket, phew!
On the 8th, with them again at the Orange Tree Theatre for The Double Dealer.
On the 9th, the Crick Crack Club is back at the British Museum for I Know Not, an afternoon of Sufi legend.
On the 10th, I'm off to the Bridge Theatre for A Very, Very, Very Dark Matter, by Martin McDonagh. Starring Jim Broadbent, this is a dark take on Hans Christian Anderson!
On the 11th, I'm going with North London Friends to The Convert, at the Young Vic. Discounted top-price seats, it seems!
The 12th is our office Christmas party, but LDT has now advertised a Christmas dinner- which sounds a more attractive prospect. So I'm doing that instead.
On the 13th, I'm thrilled to be going to Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, at Sadler's Wells, with UITCS. He's a fantastic choreographer, but I've never before gotten around to seeing this all-male version. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
And on the 17th of next month, the Crick Crack Club is performing Gilgamesh, at Soho Theatre. With Ben Haggerty the spotlight, this will be a treat!
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