I hope you're sitting comfortably - this was quite a journey. So, I left a little later than intended - I knew I wouldn't make the District Line train that I needed to, to get there in time, so it was now to be Tube and train. I started with the Central Line, very pleased that I was in time for a train earlier than the one specified by Google Maps. Even more pleased that I'd had to come this way, what with the announcement that there were only "minor" delays on the Central Line, due to a lack of drivers. As opposed to the "severe" delays on the District Line, along with many others, due to faulty trains. Gee, my tardiness saved me again! Had some fun watching a really small mouse on the tracks run off at lightning speed when he felt the rumble of the train approaching.
But of course, being the Central Line, the train was too packed to squeeze onto. And now I was waiting for the one that Google Maps said I needed to take, and hoping against hope that it'd be less crowded - also pessimistic, given that you kind of always have to leave earlier than Google Maps' optimistic estimates, if you need to be somewhere for a certain time. Happily, it was a lot less crowded, so I squeezed on - and it was a squashed journey indeed, for four stops. At least I got to Oxford Circus when I was supposed to, which was where I had to change lines.
I had to make for the Victoria Line - and this was where my time deviated seriously from the Google Maps estimate. It was impossible to progress through the thick crowds - I hadn't a hope of making the train that Google Maps said I needed to. At least the Victoria Line was a lot more spacious - I even got a seat, after a bit! At Vauxhall, when I finally wheezed my way up all those steps to the platform, it was just in time to see my train to Wimbledon depart. Blast, I was never going to make it on time now.
Google Maps was of the opinion that I'd have to wait for 15 mins for the next train - nonsense, there was another right along! Different destination, but it still stopped in Wimbledon. So I hopped on. Unfortunately, it was the slowest train known to humanity - and rubbish to Google Maps' 11-minute estimate for the journey time three stations away, to Wimbledon; it took 5 minutes more than that before we finally crept into the station. Ponderously. No wonder the trains are always late.
So it was already showtime - but at least I'd made it to Wimbledon. I had more steps to climb (!) to the exit - with no clear idea whether to go left or right, since there was an exit at each end, I chose the one beside the lower-numbered platforms. Yay, for once this evening, I was in luck. So I set off down the town - it wasn't a long walk, but I was further delayed trying to cross roads, in horrendous traffic. Gee, you really forget how bad the traffic is in West London. I finally reached the church, 10 minutes late.
Mercifully, the doors were open, and two ladies were stood just inside, looking as though they worked there. After a bit of a fluster, they found my ticket, and where I was to sit - although, as one of them told me, I might just take a seat to the rear - there should be some free. Which is exactly what I did - the place isn't huge, my view was fine, and even when I could have moved, at the interval, I decided to stay put; I had the pew to myself, could spread out, and hey ,if my cough flared up, I could make a hasty exit: or at least not bother too many people. Which is when it occurred to me that my cough was really behaving itself - yes, I had a little tickle: but even with the really cold night air, and all the steps I'd had to climb, it really didn't cause any trouble! Wow.
Some beautiful music was just getting underway - sounding recognisably like Vivaldi. But then, I noted the same thing when I saw an opera of his, last month - some of which was doubtless in tonight's concert, but I didn't recognise it. But what was unique about tonight's concert was that it was accompanied by an electric guitar - and by some very modern pieces! They mixed it up quite a bit, mixing arias with instrumental pieces, and baroque music with rock. It didn't always work, and some of the older audience members were unimpressed, and left after what was probably the highlight of the show - a spirited rendition of Summer from the Four Seasons, in the second half. Pity for them - they missed a great version of Feeling Good, to finish the show!
It's funny, most of the time I've lived in London has been in West London, but I've never before been to this festival - if this is a typical example of their output, it's worth checking them out. The festival runs till the 24th, and this ensemble is performing a few more shows at the weekend. Very glad I stuck with the horrendous journey. It was easier coming home, of course, and a lot cheaper - for goodness' sake, that train on its own cost more than my concert ticket! I caught the bus to Colliers Wood Station, very glad to be rescued from waiting in the cold - and wouldn't you know it, the ticket machine wasn't working, so I got that trip for free! The heat of the station was a relief - the station mouse was bigger too - and the Tube was much less crowded, now. Boy, was I tired as I climbed the steps out of Moorgate, though.. lotta steps today.
Tomorrow.. well, 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners are off around the Southbank Christmas market. So I said, well, I can do that on my own - thus avoiding the Meetup fee, and I'm not pushed about the meal. Good chance to start on my Christmas shopping. But then I thought I might go to a film - the listings change that day - and gee, what's coming on top of the list but The Irishman. Never mind the plot, or that it's three and a half hours long - for goodness' sake, it's directed by Scorsese, and just look at the cast list. Robert De Niro plays the eponymous Irish-American, Frank Sheeran, who works for the mob. Anna Paquin is his disapproving daughter, Peggy. Joe Pesci is his mob boss, Russell Bufalino, and Ray Romano plays his cousin, and Jimmy Hoffa's lawyer, Bill. De Niro ends up as a driver for Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino). Harvey Keitel is the leader of another crime family, Angelo Bruno. I am so there. Showing in my local cinema too - and the Barbican has comfy seats. Not selling out at this point - watch this space.
On Saturday, I'm with cheap ticket source #1 - you have to book something with them every three months, or be expelled (!). Honestly, I've never heard such draconian regulations. So I'm going to Stop Kiss, above the Stag.
On Sunday, back with the Crick Crack Club (CCC) for 1001 Nights, at the British Museum. Mea culpa, I recently told people that this was The Embers Collective - nope! Turns out it's not. Ah well.
On Monday, back, after a week, with Up in the Cheap Seats for Falsettos, at The Other Palace. An aisle seat, as usual - legroom is poor, here.
On Tuesday, back with them again for Acosta Danza - Evolution, at Sadler's Wells.
On Wednesday, Anthony's Cultural Events and Walking Activities Group is off to a performance entitled Virginia Woolf - Killing the Angel, at the LSE. So I'm going on my own, and saving the Meetup fee - I haven't had that much luck with socialising with them, anyway. And now that Meetup is full.
Next Thursday, back with Spooky London - the John Snow Pub. Then another weekend in Ireland.
On the 25th, the CCC is back with Rebel Children, at the British Library. Ben Haggarty & Jan Blake - ooh yeah!
On the 26th, my annual trip to Winter Wonderland - heading to Cirque Berserk and the Ice Kingdom, as usual. Someone said he might come along.
On the 27th, the first night in ages with North London Friends! We're at A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, at Trafalgar Studios.
And on the 28th, our ex-company's social group's Christmas meeting. We had a tiff about the venue - the organiser decided on Thai Square, which I think is overpriced and underwhelming. So he started to grumble about the difficulty of getting somewhere before Christmas - which will take a group, and doesn't cost the earth. Still though, he came up with an alternative - we've decided on the Warwick Castle pub in Little Venice. Lovely area, the pub sounds nice - with a Christmassy open fire, and a room we can book - and hey, it's a pub, which won't throw us out as quickly! Must get on to booking their wine deal.. 10% off if you order at least £150 worth. Which I'm sure, among the dozen or so that are coming, we'll manage to drink. And gee, he's had us choosing what we want off the menu..
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