Concert: Prague Symphony Orchestra & Restaurant: Kin + Deum

On Tuesday, I was thinking of film - but honestly, wasn't so enthused by the offerings at the top of the list. I did have an offer of cheap tickets to a classical concert at Cadogan Hall, which sounded better - but the cheap tickets had sold out. Never mind, I bought a full-price ticket - it was the Prague Symphony Orchestra. The cheap ticket agency later advertised an extra ticket allocation (typical!), but when I checked, out of curiosity, the link was still saying sold-out. Still was up to the day, so I dunno.

I should've taken the bus, but was running late, of course - so instead got there really fast by Tube. The District and Circle lines are a pleasure, anyway - spacious, rarely crowded: I got a seat straight away, and there was plenty of breathing room. I got to Cadogan Hall 20 minutes early - by which stage the house was already open, so I headed straight up, after I collected my ticket. And with all those stairs, I was glad I was only in the stalls!

Funny - the site says the rear stalls seats are restricted view, because they're not tiered - but excuse me, they are tiered! There was nobody to one side of me, so I had space to leave my stuff.. in retrospect, I should probably have moved to that seat, to save the man beside me (there was no seat to the other side of that empty one), as my cough reared its ugly head. It's been troublesome for a while - nothing major, except when you're not supposed to make noise! It actually flared up during the show on Monday, but it hardly matters for a comedy show. On Tuesday, I think the climb up the stairs set it off - it was quite violent for a few minutes, and I had to step outside to let it take its course. (Just as well I was early.) Mercifully, I'd brought some juicy sweets with me, which saved me for the rest of the evening - I take them everywhere now. Even if my next-seat neighbour did give me an irritated look for rustling a wrapper during the show, the alternative would've been worse..

This was a straight-through performance - nearly two hours without interval - of the entirety of Mahler's Third Symphony. And by gosh, what an extravaganza - a riot of melodrama, passionate and expressive, dare I say cinematic. The early part reminded me of the score of LotR - later, the score of Excalibur was brought to mind. Definitely one for those who like dramatic music, then. Two choirs took up space in the gallery - a boys' choir, and a ladies' one: and a soloist with a look of Brunhilde about her completed the show. They deserved their standing ovation..

I got the bus home, and discovered a few interesting facts. Firstly, the Google Maps version of the bus route is slightly wrong - it does a little detour just before Westminster. Secondly - it doesn't currently go through Westminster! Roadworks this time, rather than protestors, divert it south of the river: so it's probably a good thing that I didn't risk it on the outbound journey, or I'd probably have been late. Finally, I've solved the mystery of the No. 11 terminus. For ages, although it advertises Liverpool Street as its destination, it's stopped one stop early - handy for my flat. Well gee, now that stop is closed (roadworks again!), and it carries on to the back of the station! Which I walked through on my way home - I had to go to Tesco anyway, so it worked out well for me, as it's out that way. We do get through an amount of loo roll.

Yesterday, back - for the first time in five weeks! - with Civilized London. It was another meal - we headed for Thai food at Kin & Deum, meeting beforehand at The Woolpack. It's actually years since I've eaten Thai! Handily, for once this didn't sell out immediately - and we had another taker, a Frenchman who's in town for a couple of weeks, saw this, and signed up. Isn't that a great idea?! He's not the first I've seen to take advantage of Meetup when in town temporarily.

Well, of course I got caught up doing the film list again - hence the delay in the blog. Anyway, it also meant that I was late in leaving, yesterday evening - I could've walked, but decided on the bus, to save a few minutes and a lot of stress. Anyway, it was cold, and threatening rain. As I waited, I got talking to a lady who'd just come from the Tube, which wasn't running - so it seems to have been a difficult travel evening, in general! The bus wasn't long in coming - pity it had to be this one, though, which comes without many seats, so I stood to London Bridge, where a handy escalator took me down to St. Thomas Street. A brisk walk to the pub then, which was handily identified by its sign. Just like in the days when it served for those who couldn't read!

The group was there before me, of course - they'd been supposed to get a table, but good luck, in this pre-Christmas season! Handily, they were stood just inside the door, so easy to find. And it seemed I'd missed the first round - but our French visitor bought the second, and I gratefully accepted. We had a nice chat, before heading to the restaurant, which wasn't far away.

I don't have photos of the restaurant - because its decor is quite plain. But I can say straight away, it's highly recommended! Packed on a Wednesday, but they'd saved us a long table by the wall. And despite some dithering over the choices, we were all absolutely delighted with our choices! The only problem, if I went back, is that it was so good that I'd likely to have exactly the same again. I had Thai dumplings for starter - a mixture of pork, prawn, and chestnuts, with a delicious sauce. Suffice to say, I'm not often the first to finish! Very moreish. Others were delighted with the aubergine, or squid.. I'm not sure what everyone had. The only dissenting voice was from the guy who'd ordered tea - which turned out to be extremely sweet - positively caramely!

Mains were just as good. I was about the only person who didn't have rice - I just didn't feel like it. But wow, I had the most delicious main - the Himmaparn is similar to what I used to have when I ate Thai regularly, but this was more, well, moreish than any Thai food I've had! As for the others, I think it was the gra pow that turned out to be extremely spicy - I had a mouthful, but wouldn't have fancied the whole thing. They're not joking when they mark it as such on the menu. I'm not sure what the others had - I'm afraid I was far too interested in my own. Very, very highly recommended. Oh, and BTW - gents' and ladies' toilets are on opposite sides of the bar, if you're looking for them.

With no chocolate on the menu, those of us who might have had desserts didn't feel like them - so we just headed for another pub. Our host took us to The Horseshoe Inn, at the end of a side road, where we stood for a while, then grabbed seats as they became available. An interesting place, and we had a great chat before parting.

Good company then, on my last Meetup of the week - and probably the last time I'll meet this group before Christmas. I walked home - it was dry, not too cold - and you do get a great view!

For tonight, I got a cheap ticket to another classical concert, with a different seat-filler group - this is a concert of Vivaldi arias, at the Trinity United Reform Church. Part of the Wimbledon Music Festival. This far out, it'll have to be Tube.

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..