Walk: Moby Dick

Tonight, London Literary Walks had a walk called Moby Dick (ahoy!). It was around Greenland Dock. And at a certain point of the evening, I realised that, were I to get stuck into my next project, I'd be late - so I took off. The route is just like going to Rotherhithe - just a bit further - so I had a couple of buses to take to get there. And gee, as we approached the stop where I'd have to change, I saw my second bus waiting at the lights.. so I knew it wouldn't be long. Sure enough, it so happened that I got there a full half hour before the organiser was due to meet us! and wow, everyone else who was to show up was already there. So we occupied a discreet corner of The Surrey Docks, and when the organiser arrived, we squeezed him in - nobody else arrived.

It's a Wetherspoon's, which means they have wine on tap - but although the list of different wines, and their corresponding prices, was appended to a line of taps, they seemed not to be in operation; mine came straight from the bottle. And we sat for quite a while, shooting the breeze - my boss had informed me, before I'd left (and hearing what I was going to) that Moby is actually a great-great-great nephew of Herman Melville, the author of Moby-Dick. That's where he got the nickname that became his stage name! Anyway, yes, our organiser had known that - the others hadn't.

Well, we weren't so rushed about starting off - but we did eventually. We found out some interesting things along the way, about the book and the author, and about the diversity evident in the book.. a diversity mirrored by the street names, referencing all the places that trading was done with: but mainly, it was a scenic walk around the dock, past the warmly lit windows of flats more expensive than any of us could ever dream of..

A circular walk led us back to the pub, where a few of us shot the breeze again. Glad Mary could make it tonight - she's leaving London at the end of the month, so it's not so many chances remain to see her. Not easily, anyway. Anyway, another lovely evening.

That bus I caught most of the way there brought me all the way home. Tomorrow, I'm at an Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) double bill at the Orange Tree! The Mikvah Project and Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography! (ahem..) Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

On Monday, I booked for This is Black, Double Bill 1. But gee, Civilised London (CL) then advertised another night at Wilton's - featuring, on this occasion, the Lucky Dog Jazz Trio. Now, that'll be a blast! So I'm going to that, instead. And given last night's offering from This is Black, I'm so glad about that..! Not only that, but the organisers got in touch today to explain that one of the plays for that program.. isn't actually audience-ready yet! (Amateur hour, I knew it.) Instead, they're organising a series of public readings, to gauge audience reactions. They invited people to get in touch if they wanted to change their bookings. Well now.. so I got in touch, and am getting a refund! Nice..

On Tuesday, back with Anthony's Cultural Events and Walking Activities Group - they're at a free outdoor concert in Canada Square Park, called the Magic of the Movies. Again, I'll be watching the weather.

Now, UITCS is at Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet the same night, at Sadler's Wells - and I was gutted not to get a ticket. But guess what - I got one for the next night! Last seat in the house, in fact.. love Matthew Bourne.

On the 15th, back with The Embers Collective, who are performing Full Moon Stories at Cafe Cairo.

On the 16th, I'm back with the Best Authentic Walking Tours in London (aka Funzing) - for the Sex, Drugs, Sausage Rolls Tour. Unusual for me to find a new walk!

On the 17th, going to see The Doctor, with Juliet Stevenson, at the Almeida. Now, I'd originally booked for this for the 15th, forgetting that The Embers Collective were meeting that day. Can happen when I'm booking lots of stuff. When I realised my mistake, I thought I just wouldn't bother with this - then saw that London Dramatic Arts are going on the 17th! So I switched my ticket to that night, and let them know I was coming too. Now, the organiser is selling tickets for this, and doesn't appreciate competition - or anyone advertising another way to get tickets. Which might be why she deleted the comment I left to explain that I'd be there that night too! I haven't had a message from her either - so I suppose she'll be ignoring me, then. Wouldn't be the first time.

On the 18th, going with CL to the Cartoon Museum - with optional dim sum afterwards. Yes please!

On the 19th, I'm finally going to see Evita, at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Never have seen it.

On the 20th, with the London European Club at the Globe - we're going to risk The Comedy of Errors.

And on the 21st, I'm seeing Showtune - an evening of Jerry Herman music - at the Union Theatre.