Restaurant: Jade Cottage

I've exhausted the repertoire of decent films in the area that I haven't seen. Which left me with nothing to do today - so, isn't it a good job that my friend who wanted to catch up with me over dinner got in touch yesterday, and suggested doing it this evening! He works in Galway, suggested Ennis as convenient to me, and on his way - but he doesn't know the place at all. So it occurred to me that the area of Roslevan is close to the motorway, has decent restaurants, and avoids him having to go into the town centre! And they have a Chinese restaurant, Jade Cottage, that was excellent the last time I went there - which was years ago.. so I booked. I had to book by phone, but I have to say, it was one of my easier experiences - the phone was answered on the second ring, and the woman on the other end was comprehensible.

It lashed rain all evening. I arrived a bit early, leaving me time to go to the nearby shop for a paper, and headed in shortly before the scheduled appointment time. Sure enough, she asked for the Covid cert - and made very sure to absorb the necessary details. And I was finally shown to our table. I kept trying to take a photo, but gee, every time I did, a server appeared wanting to help in some way! And then my companion arrived - so I never did get that photo taken.

I had chili chicken, followed by General Tso's chicken with egg fried rice. I was delighted to see they have half-bottles of wine - so I had the white. He had chicken spring rolls, and chicken szechuan with both noodles and steamed rice. And he polished off the lot, remarking that this place was a good suggestion! Me, I loved all of mine, but was too pogged to finish the rice. We didn't bother with dessert, but it was great to see the place is as good as ever!

I fly back tomorrow evening - and on Friday, it's back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS), to an opera by Handel, called Amadigi. Playing at the Hackney Empire.

With so little choice on Meetup at the moment, the next four nights for me are with one of my cheap ticket groups (TAC), at £3.60 a pop. Well, it's good to get back with them before they decide I no longer want to be a member! Saturday sounds interesting - it's Ophelia Thinks Harder (a reworking of Hamlet) at the Bridewell Theatre.

Now, I'm thrilled that Hallowe'en is coming up - so I spent a lot of time today trying to find something decent to do that day. And would you credit it, I haven't yet found anything! So I had a look at what Darkfield is offering - that was the best thing I did, last Hallowe'en. They have in-person shows too, but Darkfield doesn't provide a venue, and I don't have one to give them! So, I was delighted to see that they've got a new personalised audio show called Knot. It's a three-parter - the first is designed to take place on a park bench, the second in the front passenger seat of a car, the third at home. If necessary, all parts can be experienced at home, but they ask you to recreate the environments as closely as possible. Currently booking - but only up to the 11th! I'm sure it'll still be running on Hallowe'en, but just to be sure, I've booked for Saturday night. I should be back in time. Headphones and app download required - I still have the app from last year. Blindfold highly recommended, as you're not supposed to peek..!

Sunday is Love Goddess: The Rita Hayworth Cabaret, at the Canal Cafe Theatre. I believe we have to buy membership on the door, for another £1.50.

Monday is the World Doctors Orchestra, at the Barbican. Yes, apparently with actual doctors. They're to send me a promo code to use to get my own ticket - I asked what the story was, and they said the venue recommends not sending the code out until the day before the event.

Tuesday is Fritz & Matlock, at the Pleasance - they caught my eye by advertising it as a reworking of Waiting for Godot..

Next Wednesday, I've signed up for a Free 3 Mile City of London on Screen - Guided Walk & Post Event Social, with Invigorate. It's a tour of film locations, most of which I might know already, but hey. This is a newly minted group, made from one that I used to be a member of, before. And it'll be my first guided walk, post-lockdown! The organiser of this group also organised one of the last events I went to, pre-lockdown..

Thursday of next week, I've promised to keep free so I can go for drinks with my boss and her team again. Happens weekly.

Friday of next week, back with TAC for Lately, at the Lion & Unicorn. Then I'm back to Ireland again - on Saturday again, as I was unable to get a Friday flight! Working from home the following Monday, and flying back to London that evening.

On the 12th, I found a curious thing on Meetup - it seems that Watkins Bookshop has its own Meetup group, where it advertises events, and that day there's a talk by Stephen Skinner, about Aleister Crowley's Four Books of Magick. Ok, sounds interesting to me - I signed up.

On the 13th, back at last with Civilised London! We're off for what promises to be another excellent meal, this time at the Korean restaurant, The Petite Corée. Meeting beforehand in The Railway pub.

On the 14th, back at last with London European Club! Happily, they're going to what I'd be going to anyway.. the Crick Crack Club is performing The Women Who Gave No F*cks, at Rich Mix. Fantastic when the London European Club decide to come..

On the 15th, woo! A couple of weeks ago, UITCS was off to 2:22 - A Ghost Story, but I was meeting an ex-colleague for drinks that night and couldn't go. Well, I got a ticket for the 15th - second-last night of the run! Unfortunately, cheapest available were £65, and no availability with cheap ticket sellers - ah well, I decided I really wanted to see it (great reviews helped), so I booked. Had great fun trying to decide which of the few remaining seats at that price was the best.. Showing at the Noel Coward Theatre.

And on the 16th, my first outing with another new group - Bucket List London is off to Kenwood House, and I said I'd join them. You don't have to book, but it guarantees availability- tickets for free from English Heritage, via See Tickets.

Film: Respect

Next up for a film for today was Respect, the Aretha Franklin biopic starring Jennifer Hudson. Forest Whitaker plays her father, a Baptist minister who got her started singing in church. Mary J. Blige plays Dinah Washington, a family friend. I heard good things, I heard she sings a blinder - so, was looking forward to that. I wanted to go to the earliest showing, at 2.20pm in the Omniplex - booked, because they prefer that, and made my way in. Just as well I left in time, with the traffic.

Only one usher on duty, who said he'd scan my ticket, and was most solicitous about making sure I knew where I was going (didn't ask for my Covid cert, mind!). Only one other person in the screen. And ooh, lovely Pullman seats.. A few ads, and we were into the main feature. In short, the woman had a hard enough private life, but a stunning musical talent.. the film, as reported, isn't terrific. It glosses over an awful lot of her life, involving sexual abuse when she was a kid, which is shown briefly. We don't see much of her relationship with her children, we don't see a lot of the motivation behind her later addiction to alcohol, which is just dropped suddenly into the plot.

But the music is terrific. Apparently, Aretha handpicked Jennifer Hudson to play her, and indeed, she does a marvellous job. The performances are worth sitting through the film for. And gee, they finish with her "Amazing Grace" concert, a documentary she shot while recording her Gospel album.. I saw that film over two years ago, imagine. So, highly recommended for the music. And do stay for the credits - they are played over her performance at the Kennedy Center Awards! Terrific to hear the woman herself, after all the imitation.

Well now, that exhausts the repertoire of decent films in the area that I haven't seen. Which left me with nothing to do tomorrow - so, isn't it a good job that my friend who wanted to catch up with me over dinner got in touch this evening, and suggested doing it tomorrow! He works in Galway, suggested Ennis as convenient to me, and on his way - but he doesn't know the place at all. So it occurred to me that the area of Roslevan is close to the motorway, has decent restaurants, and avoids him having to go into the town centre! And they have a Chinese restaurant, Jade Cottage, that was excellent the last time I went there - which was years ago.. so I booked, and it'll be great to get back (and to see him, of course). I had to book by phone, but I have to say, it was one of my easier experiences - the phone was answered on the second ring, and the woman on the other end was comprehensible. So, cool - looking forward to that.

I fly back on Thursday evening - and on Friday, it's back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS), to an opera by Handel, called Amadigi. Playing at the Hackney Empire.

With so little choice on Meetup at the moment, the next four nights for me are with one of my cheap ticket groups (TAC), at £3.60 a pop. Well, it's good to get back with them before they decide I no longer want to be a member! Saturday sounds interesting - it's Ophelia Thinks Harder (a reworking of Hamlet) at the Bridewell Theatre.

Sunday is Love Goddess: The Rita Hayworth Cabaret, at the Canal Cafe Theatre. I believe we have to buy membership on the door, for another £1.50.

Monday is the World Doctors Orchestra, at the Barbican. Yes, apparently with actual doctors. Curiously, they're to send me a promo code to use to get my own ticket - no sign of it yet. I've emailed - hopefully, they're more polite than they were before, when I contacted them to alert them that a show had been cancelled, so I was due a refund..

Next Tuesday is Fritz & Matlock, at the Pleasance - they caught my eye by advertising it as a reworking of Waiting for Godot..

Wednesday of next week, I've signed up for a Free 3 Mile City of London on Screen - Guided Walk & Post Event Social, with Invigorate. It's a tour of film locations, most of which I might know already, but hey. This is a newly minted group, made from one that I used to be a member of, before. And it'll be my first guided walk, post-lockdown! The organiser of this group also organised one of the last events I went to, pre-lockdown..

Thursday of next week, I've promised to keep free so I can go for drinks with my boss and her team again. Happens weekly.

Friday of next week, back with TAC for Lately, at the Lion & Unicorn. Then I'm back to Ireland again - on Saturday again, as I was unable to get a Friday flight! Working from home the following Monday, and flying back to London that evening.

On the 12th, I found a curious thing on Meetup - it seems that Watkins Bookshop has its own Meetup group, where it advertises events, and that day there's a talk by Stephen Skinner, about Aleister Crowley's Four Books of Magick. Ok, sounds interesting to me - I signed up.

On the 13th, back at last with Civilised London! We're off for what promises to be another excellent meal, this time at the Korean restaurant, The Petite Corée. Meeting beforehand in The Railway pub.

On the 14th, back at last with London European Club! Happily, they're going to what I'd be going to anyway.. the Crick Crack Club is performing The Women Who Gave No F*cks, at Rich Mix. Fantastic when the club decide to come..

On the 15th, woo! A couple of weeks ago, UITCS was off to 2:22 - A Ghost Story, but I was meeting an ex-colleague for drinks that night and couldn't go. Well, I got a ticket for the 15th - second-last night of the run! Unfortunately, cheapest available were £65, and no availability with cheap ticket sellers - ah well, I decided I really wanted to see it (great reviews helped), so I booked. Had great fun trying to decide which of the few remaining seats at that price was the best.. Showing at the Noel Coward Theatre.

And on the 16th, my first outing with another new group - Bucket List London is off to Kenwood House, and I said I'd join them. You don't have to book, but it guarantees availability- tickets for free from English Heritage, via See Tickets.

Spoken Word - Poetry: Search Party & Storytelling: The Market at the End of the World - pub: The Butcher's Hook & Cleaver, & Film: The Many Saints of Newark

Wednesday, first time to meet my boss! Who very sensibly suggested a gelato expedition. I was a bit dubious - she being a vegan- but said I'd risk it. 

Well, she does enjoy walking! I seriously thought we'd never get there. And yes, she's a fast walker.. When we finally arrived at Prime Gelato (whose website I can't seem to open).. there was a "Be back soon" sign! Well, she was determined - at least there were tables and chairs outside, where we waited until someone showed. It was a lovely, sunny day.

Happily, they have a non-vegan section! I had two scoops - one of mint chocolate chip (of course), one of hazelnut. In a cone. She paid - and yes, she has a loyalty card. Unfortunately, she needed to get back, so we had to eat on the run. But oh man, the hazelnut was a revelation! Wow, seriously recommended- I can see why this is her favourite. And in all that time, we had a great chat..

Wednesday night, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Search Party at the Donmar Warehouse. This was an evening of poetry, spontaneously created from audience suggestions, by Inua Ellams, writer of Barber Shop Chronicles. Running all week. (When I mentioned it to my boss, she pulled a face.) Unfortunately, I bought my ticket before one of my cheap ticket sellers (CT) started to offer them for free - what the hey, it wasn't expensive.

So, I left work earlier than usual, leaving time to grab some salted peanuts in the Co-Op beforehand. Got the bus, walked through the area around Seven Dials for the first time in oh so long! Passed the Seven Dials Market - new to me - and it was great to see all the tables out on the street! I was the first of our group there, and it was great to people-watch - and when my companions arrived, also great to chat to them! until it was time to go in.

So yes, I was seated to the side of the stage - when he came on, he sat in that chair. Some of the books scattered around were for sale. The show took the form of him asking for words from the audience - then he'd search on his tablet for poems that he'd written that had that word in them. And read one to us.. generally from his tablet, although that night, I did notice that he recited the last one from memory.

As I tried to explain to my boss next day, I adore hearing good writing recited on stage. I get lost in the mood of it. So I loved this: my only gripe was that no sooner was I lost in a poem - than it was over. Never mind.. this was a terrific evening. Surtitles were provided, typed live because the poems (and therefore content) weren't determined in advance. He had a lovely, chatty, easy demeanour, put us at our ease - and I enjoyed the poetry. Even when, instead of providing a word, someone asked whether he, as an unappreciated poet, could have a go, he was invited on stage to read one of his own! which I thought was a lovely touch. We'd been warned about adult language - sure enough, Inua has apparently written a collection of poems that all have a title that starts with "F***" - little, if any, of the following content has any adult content in it, though. A lot of them do have a dark tone, reflective of the fact that he comes from Northern Nigeria, since overrun by Boko Haram - his family fled when he was small.

Ireland even got a couple of mentions - firstly, when he mentioned that he never used to drink until he went to Ireland and discovered Irish cream, and secondly, in his admiration for Irish revolutionary, Roger Casement, who was the subject of one of the evening's poems. Awesome evening, delighted to find something unusual and so enjoyable. Sadly, there was little enthusiasm for a drink afterwards, despite the show finishing so early, but it was still a great evening.

Coming back, passed a light installation in Covent Garden:

And it's as well I'm quite familiar with my local bus routes, as Google Maps seemed to have forgotten there was a stop by my place at all! Didn't get the blog done that night, was catching up with other stuff instead.

Now, Thursdays are the day that my boss' main team tend to come in the office - and so I got dragged off for lunch with them, that day. "Market", suggested someone- so that's what we did. They must all really love walking- it was a trek to Whitecross Market. As with all markets, there was a wealth of choice of eateries- when I spotted a katsu stall though, I was sorted. 

As it turned out, I was the first to get my food. When I found my boss, I asked her where we were eating. "Oh, back at the office." Uhh. At least we walked back a bit slower. But of course, mine was too cold by the time we got back- and microwaving didn't really help..

On Thursday evening, woohoo! Back with the Crick Crack Club for The Market at the End of the World, at King's Place. Starring Daniel Morden, Sarah Liisa Wilkinson, Clare Murphy, and TUUP. Oh man, was I looking forward to that! The work group have their drinks night on Thursdays too, and I said I'd come for one - we went to the Butcher's Hook & Cleaver, a few minutes' walk from the office. Excellent, strong house white, I have to say!

Well, I left after one, as they repaired elsewhere - had a variety of buses I could take to King's Cross, and arrived at King's Place with tons of time to spare. I'd considered getting something in the cafe - only to discover that the cafe was closed! Bummer. Sat over the side, somewhere I could get my phone charged, making a start on this blog, until it was time to head downstairs.

Downstairs, the bar was open - I was in need of food more than drink, and managed to get a packet of fairly tasteless crisps eaten in time to go in and get a seat; despite us having seat numbers on our tickets, we were told that seating was unallocated. Striving to get as close as possible to the front, I headed around the far side, and managed a seat at the end of the second row.

What a joy it is to be in the hands of four such consummate professionals! I guess each story lasted about 15 minutes, because each storyteller had time to tell one before the interval, about an hour in, and with each also telling one afterwards, it was about a two-hour show. All around the theme of markets, and what a wild and wacky set of markets they were. Strange things were bought, magic was performed, thieves and swindlers abounded. TUUP had his bongo, but was a bit more restrained than usual - I loved his gentle drumming as Clare did the intro though, spine-tingling.

As usual, her first story came from Ireland, with a nod and a wink. Sarah Liisa's were Nordic, as ever, with a feeling of fun throughout. TUUP's second story was obviously designed for an audience that had spent the interval drinking, as he described to us the problems inherent in a harvest of penises - man, his telling was hilarious! But it was Daniel who won the night for me, the star of a first-class group, as his second story, in particular, was the exotic weaving of a tale from Armenia, about a prince who falls in love with a shepherdess - when she tells him she cannot marry a man without a trade, he employs a Persian master weaver to teach him how to weave gold cloth. Later, when he is tricked at a marketplace, this skill saves his life. Absolutely engrossing. And what a joy to have live storytelling again.

On the bus home, I was reminded somewhat of the Dairy Milk ad with the little boy on a bus who offers some of his Dairy Milk to a weeping woman. Except in this case, the lady in question seemed a little tipsy - and was, indeed, carrying a small bottle of wine. She was certainly flustered, dressed in a summery dress, and after she sat just across from me, she soon started to sob. Plenty of looks in her direction, but nobody offered her anything.. she flounced off in Shoreditch, so we shall just have to wonder what her evening involved.

That night, again, I got caught up doing other things, and the blog didn't get done. On Friday, nothing major was catching my eye, and I had nothing booked - which was just as well, as someone at work was having leaving drinks. So, back to the Butcher's Hook & Cleaver, second night in a row. And I stayed longer this time, the chat was mighty, I knew more people, and the guy who was leaving proved hilarious (I'd never before spent time with him socially). Aww, another fun person bites the dust! Anyway, just lucky I'd had nothing booked. Drank a bit too much, again.. But none of us had any idea what this guy was doing - he seemed to be pouring wine into the openings on top, which came out as bubbles..?

And was definitely too tired to blog, especially as I had to be up early next morning.

You see, this was an Ireland weekend for me, and I should have flown on Friday - but could not get a Friday flight for love nor money, as they say. And so, booked myself on a flight Saturday lunchtime. (Well, I got my Friday night free that way.) There was a slight panic, when I realised I couldn't text for some reason - so I messaged my taxi driver on Facebook on Friday night to pick me up. Whereupon it transpired that he was away, and had blocked my car in.. So he phoned his father, 6am Saturday, to go for me, and to bring a key to move the other car. Lordy me..

The train to the airport was uneventful - apart from an uptight lady sitting across from me, who was fiddling with her luggage as I was trying to get into my seat. She bumped into me, shot daggers at me, and then silently shook her head in disgust. Spent most of the trip sanitising.

Having escaped her clutches, I arrived at the airport, timing everything - sure enough, again I was an hour too early. Ryanair was good enough to text me again (I had no problem receiving texts) to let me know what my gate was probably going to be - and so it proved. And I dozed a bit on the flight back - unfortunately, I couldn't get comfortable. I couldn't get much air out of my vent, despite having turned it to the max and pointing it directly at me, and especially with the mask, I was stifling. Had to take off the mask at one point, out of sheer discomfort.

Our first experience of being asked for Covid documentation was arriving in Shannon, where everyone had to show a receipt for having sent off a passenger locator form. And yes, one young fellow hadn't done it, and was made to go over the side and fill one out on the spot. Good luck to him - with all the details I had to look up for it, it must have taken me half an hour! (I did it during a quiet moment at work on Thursday.) It was a palaver to handle both that and my passport, mind, to get through customs. Got back to my mother's eventually (shopping on the way, of course) - I didn't plan anything else for that day, I was tired, and it was good to chill. Indeed, I literally fell asleep while doing the blog that night.

Yesterday, headed to the pictures - best-rated was The Many Saints of Newark, showing nice and early in Ennis. And I was delighted, upon watching the trailer, to discover that this was one I'd heard of a while back, which looked really good! The coming of age of Tony Soprano, basically. Now, I never really watched the TV series, but I do love a good gangster movie, so I was hooked.

Didn't bother to book, as booking was slow. Parked in my usual place - free on Sundays. When I went to buy my ticket at the cinema, however, I got a surprise - they're now asking for your Covid cert before they'll sell you a ticket! There'd been a notice about that on the website, and a sign at the top of the stairs, but I hadn't paid any attention. Well, thank goodness I had it on my phone, and she patiently waited for me to dig it out so she could scan it.

There were four of us in the screen. Some trailers were shown, for decent-looking films.. and then the censor's certificate came up. For, eh, Malignant! Someone across from me went to tell an usher, and while we waited for them to change it, we got about the first five minutes of Malignant. Now, this is a horror film, and I'll always give those a shot - but honestly, it looks awful. A cartoonishly strong and evil man is incarcerated in a mental institution - but Lord knows why, since he finds it so easy to overpower the guards. Anyway, for some reason, he calms down eventually and is overpowered himself, and the clinic director is just saying how he's been a bad b.. and they finally got around to changing the reel, so that was all we saw of that. And frankly, it's now come off my film list. Not what I've come to expect from James Wan.

So, back to the gangster film. Handily, they have the young Tony Soprano played by Michael Gandolfini, the son of the late James Gandolfini, who played him in the TV series - so he's quite believable as someone who could turn into the older man. Vera Farmiga is his mother, Ray Liotta plays both his great-uncle, who's in prison for the whole movie, and makes a few appearances in there, and also plays Tony's grandfather, the convict's brother.

One review said there were far too many references to The Sopranos - well, I wouldn't know. But I really enjoyed it - perhaps a bit overlong, but beautifully acted, compelling, and of course, ultra-violent. So, if you like gangster films, you'll like this! The title, BTW, refers to Ray Liotta's characters' surname, Moltisanti, which means "Many Saints". And the main subject isn't Tony, but rather his uncle and mentor, another of the Molitsantis.

Afterwards, back to An Teach China for the first time in weeks. Now, the last time I was there, I ordered a dessert that they never gave me. Well, would you credit it - she remembered! and gave me the same dessert last night for free. Now there's customer service. And yes, absolutely delicious, as always - and we're still making our way through the prawn crackers.

Well, I have most of this week off, so I'm staying in Ireland for a few days. With Malignant gone from the film list, I'm left without much to go see - next up is Respect, the Aretha Franklin biopic starring Jennifer Hudson. Forest Whitaker plays her father, a Baptist minister who got her started singing in church. I hear good things, I hear she sings a blinder - so, looking forward to that. But I'd like to go to the earliest showing, at 2.20pm in the Omniplex - I can't make that today, having to pick up my mother's pension, and preferring to do it in the afternoon - but tomorrow will do just fine.

Film: Summer of Soul (Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised..)

Tonight. thought of film again. Top of the list was Escape from Extinction, a nature documentary narrated by Helen Mirren. But.. meh. Wasn't enthused. Instead, I decided on Summer of Soul (or, When the Revolution Could Not be Televised). This is about the Harlem Culture Festival, which happened around the same time as Woodstock - and hearing the performer list, I was sold! Why, B. B. King on his own would have satisfied me - I saw him live a couple of times in support to U2, he brought the house down! Anyway, closest this is showing to me is in the Curzon Soho.

With a late start time, I stayed on in the office until I was - I think - the last one there. Again. Took the bus - and was pleased with myself for remembering that Google Maps isn't always right! They had me traipsing off down the road for absolutely no reason, when there was a stop much closer. So, rode the bus to the end of the line, then had a nice stroll down Shaftesbury Avenue - past our old office, ah, how convenient that was for the nightlife! And so to the Curzon Soho, for the first time in a very long time.

I hadn't booked, there was no need - although a scattering of other seats had been booked. I was the first in by a long shot, though, and the one seated furthest forward - which I was glad of, as it's a small screen. The trailers were the same list of trailers as the last Curzon I was at. I did miss the pullman seats they'd had there, though - this screen doesn't.

Ah, the film was well worth it, mind. Glorious, glorious music - lots of which has been covered more recently, and it's always interesting to hear the original. A very slim Stevie Wonder, in a frilly yellow shirt, Nina Simone - dressed, as one audience member remarked, like an African princess - Gladys Knight and the Pips. And it was also terrific to see people who were there - both on stage and in the audience - watch the film and reminisce.

But it also captures a very specific time.. there's even a piece about black fashion of the time, when afros and African clothing were proving popular. A number of Gospel choirs participated.. and there's politics. Oh, so much politics. The Black Panthers were acting as vigilante police, Jesse Jackson was onstage, describing the assassination of Martin Luther King.. volatile times.

Fantastic viewing for the music, even more so if you're interested in the history. It's such a shame that it was pretty much ignored in favour of Woodstock - definitely, go see if you have a chance!

On the way back, Google maps redeemed itself by suggesting a couple of buses that could take me right from the cinema to where I was to get my bus home.. now, that's service!

Tomorrow, my boss - whom I've never met in person - will be in the office, and is planning on taking me for gelato. Hmm.. not exactly my favourite thing. Ah well. Tomorrow night, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Search Party at the Donmar Warehouse. This is an evening of poetry, spontaneously created from audience suggestions, by Inua Ellams, writer of Barber Shop Chronicles.

And on Thursday, woohoo! Back with the Crick Crack Club for The Market at the End of the World, at King's Place. Starring Daniel Morden, Sarah Liisa Wilkinson, Clare Murphy, and TUUP. Oh man, am I looking forward to that!

Play: Shining City

Tonight, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Shining City, a Conor McPherson play set in Dublin and showing in the Theatre Royal, Stratford East. Brendan Coyle plays a man haunted - he believes literally - by the ghost of his late wife, and the play takes place in a therapist's office. Well, this is an excellent playwright, so we were in safe hands. Someone was going for food beforehand, but I seriously doubted I'd be able to get there for that.

Just as well I grabbed something to eat in the office instead - I was, indeed, looked for to provide information for a hurriedly scheduled meeting tomorrow morning. I still got to leave in good time - Tube proved the only reasonable option to travel so far out, so I did, and a woman kindly gave up her seat for me. Once there, I remembered to take the "town centre" exit (i.e. steer clear of Westfield), and also took the shortcut through the smaller shopping centre across the road.

We made quite the crowd in the bar, taking up a few tables - and I saw some more people I haven't seen in so long! Had a drink there, and was reminded what a nice ambience it has, with decent background music - and in due course, we took our seats. And I lucked out! I'd got one of the £10 tickets, which got me into the second row of the stalls - but in addition, the two seats beside me were free ,so I could stretch out, and so were all the seats in front of me, so I had a perfect view! Nice.. two trips to the theatre so far since I came back, and on each occasion, loads of space. I could live with this.

Five acts, between each two of which the safety curtain is lowered, and we get to look at a map of North Inner City Dublin. Gave them a chance to change sets. I swear, by the end of it, you'd nearly have it by heart. I might have lived there for three years, but that was a long time ago, and my more recent memories centre on going there for U2 concerts (yes, the map includes Croke Park).

Anyway, these five acts - no interval - all take place in what must be the scruffiest therapist's office in the Western world. Holes in the ceiling, a basic plug-in heater. Damp. Seriously? Well, in walks our bereaved man with a story about his wife's ghost. Mind you, he's not the only one who needs therapy - our therapist is an ex-priest, retrained as a therapist, and is still trying to find his way in this unfamiliar world. Both men, if you like, are struggling to connect - despite the bereaved man's sorrow over his wife, we learn how alone he felt in the marriage. And the therapist, of course, would have had little human connection as a priest, and now seems in a hurry to make up for lost time. As the play progresses, each character must decide how to proceed - and the results can be startling.

The plot twists are fascinating. But what I got most from this were the character studies. Each character in the play is well-drawn, and I enjoyed getting to know them. I enjoyed the relaxed pace, although some others might have preferred them to hurry it up a bit. I have to say, this writer is a keen observer of human nature, and I loved having a peek into his view of the world. Loved the play. Beautifully written. Runs till the 23rd of next month, highly recommended!

Afterwards, we hung out in the bar for a bit, and Brendan Coyle came in for a drink with some friends. On his way out, he was engaged in conversation with our group - and as he left, called back that it was great to see audiences back again! Well yes, I completely agree. Great to be back..

Took the bus back - at this time of night, it wouldn't take as long. I didn't have to wait long - didn't even have to check how long it'd be, as before I could, it arrived. And with hardly anyone on board, we flew through most of the stops without stopping.

Tomorrow, thinking film again. Top of the list was Escape from Extinction, a nature documentary narrated by Helen Mirren. But.. meh. Wasn't enthused. Instead, I'm thinking about Summer of Soul (or, When the Revolution Could Not be Televised). This is about a black music festival that happened around the same time as Woodstock - and hearing the performer list, I was sold! Why, B. B. King on his own would have satisfied me - I saw him live a couple of times in support to U2, he brought the house down! Anyway, closest this is showing to me is in the Curzon Soho.

On Wednesday, back with UITCS for Search Party at the Donmar Warehouse. This is an evening of poetry, spontaneously created from audience suggestions, by Inua Ellams, writer of Barber Shop Chronicles.

And on Thursday, woohoo! Back with the Crick Crack Club for The Market at the End of the World, at King's Place. Starring Daniel Morden, Sarah Liisa Wilkinson, Clare Murphy, and TUUP. Oh man, am I looking forward to that!

Film: Incendies

Today, it was promised to rain. And so it did, chucking it down! Perfect day for the cinema then.. unfortunately, when I had cause to check my film list again last night, it had changed almost completely! New films, new times.. well, as long as it's as accurate as possible, I guess! So, top of the list for today was now Incendies, in which a brother and sister, who have grown up in Montréal and whose mother has just died, learn that she has instructed each of them to go in search of their father, whom they'd thought had died, and a brother they didn't know they had! In the Middle East. So this gives them a chance to explore the region, and their own roots.. Showing in the BFI only, and today was the last showing.. Interestingly, the BFI has moved to a first-come first-served, unallocated seating policy. Not sure what the advantage of that is, but the upshot is that I can't see how full a screen is, online! However, knowing how busy the BFI traditionally gets, I decided I'd better book, and I did.

I managed to get out early for once, sheltered with several others under a building outcrop while we waited for our buses. And waited.. and waited.. as the rain got heavier, bus after bus came, and none was mine, the #26 - the Buses Due app kept pushing back its projected arrival time until it had gone so late that it couldn't get me there. And the BFI doesn't admit latecomers, you know! So I ended up settling for the 344 - which I could have taken ages before, and would need a change. Well, at least now I was on the move. And wouldn't you know it, as I got off and rounded the corner, my next bus was taking on passengers! Sadly, the stop was a way off, and the driver wasn't paying attention - I was literally hurrying along the side when the door closed and it pulled off. Had to wait 20 minutes for the next one!

Well, it was only a short second journey, and I did actually make it - with just minutes to spare. Just as well, too, that I remembered that NFT3, where this was showing, is upstairs, through the door beside the sign for the mezzanine - it isn't signposted. I panted through there - if you have prebooked, you don't have to bother with the box office - and despite having been instructed to show the booking on my phone, I actually just had to give the lady my name, which she checked off a list. As she waved me in, she alerted me to the information fliers, in the holder to my left, which they provide for all their films, and which contain a critical review. Excellent, I didn't think they were doing paper copies any more!

And so, looking around, I identified a few empty seats in a row, where I decided to sit - it wasn't completely full, but mostly, and I'd probably have booked in advance anyway if I had known the number that finally came. Settling into my comfy, plush seat, I didn't have time to read more than half of the flier before the lights went down - and just as well, because he gives away the whole plot! Tsk.. A nice cool breeze wafted over us throughout. Anyway, lights down, and the message on the short introductory film was "Welcome Home"! Aww..

The Middle Eastern country in the film is never named - but events are based on the Lebanese Civil War, and it's filmed in Jordan. The brother isn't too keen at first - seems he wasn't as close to their mother, he thinks her funeral demands are OTT, and he wants nothing to do with any of it. The sister, however, is intrigued, and sets out to solve the mystery by travelling out there. Her story intersects with their mother's, as the scenes flit back and forth, and it can take a minute to figure out which we're dealing with. But my goodness, what's discovered is stunning, unexpected, and devastating - both on a personal level for this brother and sister, and also on a wider level, with what was happening in the country.

Absolutely compelling, sensitively told. Definitely, take a look if you get a chance.

Afterwards, I felt like food - wandering in the most likely direction, I plumped for Pizza Express. They had no problem seating me - and despite the poster we passed, with the massive QR code so you could register with Track n Trace, I wasn't asked to use it. Unlike its Irish equivalent, Cafe Milano, where I was in July. Also unlike there, I was automatically given a physical menu! So, I had garlic bread - and they really need to get with the concept of a starter, because I hadn't finished it before my pizza arrived. I was having the BBQ Burnt Ends, which my friend's fiancé had back in July, and which was so tasty when he shared it with us. And it was just as tasty now - but oh! impossible to finish. I left the very end, to squeeze in some rather good chocolate fudge cake (with a scoop of ice cream). Yum.. and really friendly service to boot. Highly recommend this place, if you're in the area. (A table just down from me had obviously also been to the same film, which they were discussing..)

Had to do some climbing, to get up onto the bridge, to catch a bus home. Funnily enough, there was no trouble getting a #26 this time..!

Tomorrow, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Shining City, a Conor McPherson play set in Dublin and showing in the Theatre Royal, Stratford East. Brendan Coyle plays a man haunted - he believes literally - by the ghost of his late wife, and the play takes the form of a series of psychiatric sessions that he attends. Well, this is an excellent playwright, so we're in safe hands. Someone's going for food beforehand, but I seriously doubt I'll be able to get there for that.

The Bear and Staff pub

Today, met Helen! for lunch at the Bear & Staff. Had a much-needed lie-in.. unfortunately, that left me too late to take the bus I'd intended to, and (sighs) yes, I was on the Tube again! It was crowded, but not as much as yesterday - and I did get a seat. It took a minute to turn myself in the right direction, but the pub is very near Leicester Square Tube Station, and I found it without too much trouble.

She was already there - the slightly clueless barman directed me to her. She remarked that it was a good thing we booked, it was so busy.. After perusing the menu, we decided that you probably had to order at the bar, so I did - I asked him whether I should pay in advance, but he wasn't sure. (!) So I didn't.

We didn't order starters, but did order garlic bread as a side - which came as a starter. A bit tough, I thought, but hey, I was hungry. For mains, she had the "Ocean Fish & Chips", I had gammon - which I hadn't had in years! (and was also served with chips). So I asked for salt - and gee, salt and pepper came in the same dispenser! Hadn't seen that before!

And oh my, the gammon was lovely! Served with fried egg, mind you, which I didn't fancy, but she happily took. I ate with relish, and we easily downed a bottle of wine between us, as we caught up with everything that had happened since we'd last spoken. Dessert for both of us was a rather nice brownie, served hot with ice cream.. Yes, I'd happily eat here again.

As we strolled through the West End, she remarked at the crowds - just like pre-Covid times.

After a browse through bookshops, and a trip to Primark, we were in need of a sit-down and a cold drink. Sadly, we didn't really know where we were headed, so we just ended up in Costa, where we took comfy chairs by the window, and people-watched. She had a mango and passion fruit smoothie, which she described as lovely, if a bit too cold. I wasn't as lucky, unfortunately, with my mint choc chip frostino - I could hardly seem to get anything through the straw, and there just didn't seem to be any substance to it. I left half, and won't be getting a frostino again.

Never mind, it was great to see her anyway, and we had fun watching the Swiss glockenspiel at the edge of Leicester Square. Roll on the next time. Oh, and I got the bus home. ;-) V hot and crowded, mind, and the mask didn't help..

Today was lovely, sunny and mild, but tomorrow it's promised to rain. Perfect day for the cinema then.. unfortunately, when I had cause to check my film list again, it had changed almost completely! New films, new times.. well, as long as it's as accurate as possible, I guess! So, top of the list for tomorrow is now Incendies, in which a brother and sister, who have grown up in Montréal and whose mother has just died, learn that she has instructed each of them to go in search of their father, whom they'd thought had died, and a brother they didn't know they had! In the Middle East. So this gives them a chance to explore the region, and their own roots.. Showing in the BFI only, and tomorrow is the last showing.. Interestingly, the BFI has moved to a first-come first-served, unallocated seating policy. Not sure what the advantage of that is, but the upshot is that I can't see how full a screen is! However, knowing how busy the BFI traditionally gets, I decided I'd better book, and I have.

And on Monday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Shining City, a Conor McPherson play set in Dublin and showing in the Theatre Royal, Stratford East. Brendan Coyle plays a man haunted - he believes literally - by the ghost of his late wife, and the play takes the form of a series of psychiatric sessions that he attends. Well, this is an excellent playwright, so we're in safe hands.

Film: Another Round, The Viaduct Tavern, Play: Oleanna, & NewsRevue

On Tuesday afternoon, one of our new starters, whom I hadn't met yet, booked some time in his busy afternoon to take me for coffee. Well, not in my case - I don't drink it - but it was such miserable weather that I figured hot chocolate would do. And wouldn't you know it, he turns out to be something of an expert on local places to go! How handy is that.. now, we walked along beside Smithfield, where it turns out there are lots of places, and I wasn't really paying attention - so I'm not entirely sure where we ended up. But it COULD have been Redemption Roasters, who apparently provide jobs for ex-prisoners! Anyway, the hot chocolate was nice and hot - not sweet enough for me, but it almost never is. He had coffee, and we had a good old chat - sadly cut short when he discovered he had to rush back for an unexpected meeting. Never mind, I'm sure there'll be other occasions!

Looking for a film for Tuesday night, and having excluded the arty films at the top of the list that were either not showing that day, or just not interesting to me, I was delighted to come up with Another Round, in which Mads Mikkelsen is a disaffected schoolteacher, who, with a group of like-minded teachers, decides to test the theory that humans do much better slightly sozzled (i.e. having consumed a certain minimum amount of alcohol). This is a theory I've heard before, that small amounts of alcohol help with concentration. Anyway, initial results are so good that they take it a step further - but how much is too much? This is one that I seem to remember was showing in Ireland, but only in the evenings, which I couldn't do, because of having to keep my mother company. Anyway, it's gone from my local cinemas there, but still showing in the Curzon Bloomsbury, yay! Nice cinema.. Interestingly, doesn't have social distancing - unlike the cinemas in Ireland.

Well jeez, I thought I'd never get out of the office. There's a blasted major release that's already been delayed over a month, and my boss' boss' boss' boss (yes, really), who has to sign off on all these, never, ever gets to them before evening. And then, with his marketing hat on, he finds ever so much stuff that he wants changed. So he sits me down and goes through it with me - and there was I, trying to sneak surreptitious glances at my watch, as the time ticked by. I literally didn't get out of there until after 8. At least the film wasn't on until 8.20 - but I had planned to walk there. As it was, the Tube was the fastest option, so off I trotted - and did, at least, have great luck with my trains (I had to take two), both of which pulled into the platform just as I arrived. So in the end, I made the cinema just after start time. Nobody checked my ticket, and I took my seat just in time for the trailers. (And it's nice here, with the Pullman seats - almost worth the £17.50 ticket price.)

Appropriately for the theme of the film, a number of audience members had gotten into the spirit (pun intended) by buying drinks - the ladies at the end of my row had to move the ice bucket out of the way so I could pass. And after the opening scenes of drunken student celebration, the film starts with the 40th birthday dinner for one of the four teachers. The night is a celebration, so they go large, taking all the fine vintages that the posh restaurant suggests. But it's clear they're all in a rut, unhappy with their lot. Then the birthday boy - who also happens to be a philosophy teacher (this school offers philosophy!) starts to tell them about this theory about alcohol - and they start an experiment. Mads plays the history teacher, so he's aware of the famous (and successful) drinkers of history, and decides they should follow Hemingway's example, only drinking during work hours. Which makes it interesting, as they find ways to smuggle in alcohol, and hide their slurred speech and unsteady gait.

They make endearing drunks, it has to be said. And wouldn't you know it, initial trials go great! Improvements happen in their work performance, their home lives, their sex lives. And although things do kind of go south as they go deeper into the experiment, still, things mostly pan out ok for them, in the end. If there's a message to the film, it's this - alcohol is to be enjoyed, it's part of social occasions, and it can enhance life. Just don't let it control you. And I just love how the film isn't preachy about alcohol, as they usually are. Recommended.

Now, when I got home on Tuesday, I did up the new film list, for next week - so that ran on too late, and I couldn't blog. And they've now blocked this blogging website at work, along with several others, so I can't do it there anymore, either! It's making it much harder to get everything done..

On Wednesday, my social life creaked back into action in earnest. The aforementioned boss' boss' boss' boss took me out for lunch! Gosh, I'm in so much demand it feels like Christmas. Anyway, I had a think, and suggested Wasabi, in One New Change - I've dreamed of their chicken katsu curry, during lockdown. En route, we passed a brass band, of all things. But, shock horror - Wasabi has closed!  Noo, the best place around to have lunch is no more! :-( Well, I said, let's go to Nando's - it's just across the hall, and I didn't want to wander all day. So we did, taking a table by the window.

I hadn't brought my phone, so he did the honours - he was paying anyway. (Two free Nando's for me then, this week!) And it was handy that I had a regular order to give him - I returned to my regular lemon and herb sauce though, I'm not crazy about the new one. But my, he had fun with the website! For one thing, the confirmation button on every screen was hidden by an ad - and it didn't help matters that he had to set up an account in order to order. Nor did the menu offer Sprite - so I ordered Fanta.

Now, the soft drinks they sell here are bottomless, so they give you a glass and you help yourself from the machine around the corner. And wouldn't you know it, when I went, I saw they had Sprite after all! so that's what I had. Same price anyway. As for the food, the chicken was burnt at the edges, as usual here, and I left the end of it - but the sides were lovely. (He had great fun dissing the place in the review he left, BTW.)

On Wednesday evening, the social group of ex-employees of my last company had two members say they could meet me for drinks. Great! Mind you, try getting a response from anyone else.. or a decision on the day, or the venue.. so we decided on "somewhere in Farringdon, on Wednesday." Herding cats, indeed.. I had to decide on the venue, too, and said - why not The Viaduct Tavern? It's so close to my office, lovely and ornate.. so, one agreed, and the one other who'd said she could come went AWOL. Now, that Release Note that I'd thought put to bed the night before rose from the grave, in the form of a raft of things that nobody had seen fit to tell me about, which had to go in ASAP - I did my part, and sent it for signoff, but when the evening rolled around, nice and sunny, had the man signed off? Nope, and no sign of it happening. So, shortly after my friend texted me to say he'd arrived, I legged it (and just as well, because that review didn't happen till nearly 10:30!

He'd grabbed a table near the door - and we stayed there till closing, catching up, putting the world to rights, as they say. Great to see him! and the first time for either of us in a pub, after lockdown.. looking forward to catching up with the rest of them, soon - hopefully. I'm quite out of practice with drinking, mind, and couldn't finish my glass when closing time came. Home at last, I conked out on my bed, in my clothes, with the light on. Slept nice and deeply. Too tired to blog.

Last night - delighted to be back with Up in the Cheap Seats! We saw Oleanna, a play about a professor who has a sexual harassment claim brought against him by a female student, at the Arts Theatre. Always a topical theme. Well, guess what? Those Release Notes still haven't got done - I was so busy all day, I only got to them in the evening, and then there were more last-minute additions, and another lecture from Himself, who was of the opinion that the first lecture hadn't gone in! So I was rushing again - actually forgot one entry, in my haste - and instead of the bus, I ended up taking the Tube yet again.

Took me a minute to orient myself, when I came out - the Dominion Theatre finally told me which way was up, and off I trotted in the other direction. I had to queue to pick up my ticket - and although they said I should present my email confirmation or payment card, well, my name did just fine. As for meeting the group - well, they were already in situ when I arrived, and well, I hardly recognised most of them, with their changed hairstyles! Really, I had to pause for a moment to sort out who was who. And one of the few who had pretty much the same hair was wearing a mask! Crikey, it was like they were in disguise..

And so to the auditorium, shortly - I was late meeting them, and didn't really have time for a drink (and had had enough after the night before, anyway!). The usher explained that the Circle, where I was, was mostly empty, and I could sit where I liked.. the others who'd beaten me to it had opted for seats with a central view, but mine was right at the stage end of the slips, and I'd have the place to myself, which decided me.

All takes place in this lecturer's office, and in three acts, between which the actors go off and change clothes. 80 minutes straight through, without interval. Maintains the mood, do you see. And it's one of those cat-and-mouse games - over the course of the play, the power balance shifts, as you might expect. And we had a good old natter in the bar afterwards, people taking different sides. How much did he deserve it? Did she have an alternate agenda? It starts slowly, but the tension soon ramps up to its violent conclusion.. caveat, those sitting in the front row of the stalls had a nervous time, as the action reached its climax and things started to fly..

Of course, I'm a bit biased. I used to be a lecturer, and I know the power that students have. The tendency can be to believe the student outright in any dispute, and boy, are there students who abuse that. Lecturers end up playing politics not only with the faculty, but with the student body as well - which is actually why I quit. (And I actually cheered when he finally lost his temper, here..) She's certainly an annoying, whiny madam. 

Having said all that, we spent much of the time afterwards discussing how things used to be. Casual sexism was a thing when I was growing up, and whatever the faults with today's society, that much has improved. People can get away with less, and so their behaviour has improved, and others' lives are made easier. Whatever your take on this play, I do recommend it - I always think that the most important kind of play is one that gets its audience talking, and this play certainly does that. Currently booking up to the 23rd of next month, recommended - although perhaps not for those of a nervous disposition.

I did start this blog when I got home, but it went late, I was tired, and there's so much to say..

Tonight, woohoo! I booked for NewsRevue at London Wonderground, courtesy of one of my cheap ticket sellers (CT). For less than 1/3 of the price, thank you.. and I really thought I wouldn't get to London Wonderground at all.. and it's at Earl's Court, which was a blast from the past - I miss the job I had (and the office environment) when I was staying there, in the nicest flat I've had in London!

Well, after two Tube journeys during the week that were necessary because I got held back at work by that release - ironically, by today, the release had been cancelled, and I had time to kill. But still needed to take the Tube, it's so far to travel! Anyway, Google Maps recommended I take the Central Line to Notting Hill Gate, then the District Line to West Brompton.. while at the same time telling me that the District Line was closed for part of the way. So I alighted there and took a bus - which came just as I was trying to cross the road! So I needs must wait for the next one - when the LCD display turned out to be broken on the bus stop, so I couldn't even tell when it was due, I discovered I didn't even remember the name of the bus app on my phone, it's been so long! Anyway, I had to cool my heels for 14 minutes or so. The bus journey, mind, was quick - and so nostalgic, as I started to find placenames familiar.

So, I was a bit later than anticipated, but still in plenty of time - I could see the fairground a while before I found the entrance, but trusted Google Maps, which sure enough led me to the main gate:

Hung around at the box office while he figured out my ticket, then moseyed over to the tent ad took a seat while I waited for it to open - sadly, again, I didn't really have time for a drink. Seating was unassigned, and I got a nice, central seat. And oh, this was great! They're always so good, you know, adapting popular songs to topical news themes being their speciality. It's really clever, really well-performed, and few people get away unscathed. Some pieces scraped close to the bone, which is exactly how it should be.. I only wish I could remember all the numbers! I think this is over now, but London Wonderground is open till the 26th.

Coming out, I was looking to see whether I could spot the street I used to go down on my way home! It's a long time ago, though. Google Maps said I should walk to Earl's Court and catch the Piccadilly Line from there (which is the line I should have taken on the way out) - fine, sez I, but why walk, when I can take the District Line from West Brompton, which I'll be walking past?! And for no extra charge. And that is what I did, accompanied by a group of young American-sounding ladies who were seriously confused by all the branches of the District Line.

Boy, it was a fun journey home, what with the whole town partying..

From Earl's Court, the Tube was pretty full - standing rom only. I got a seat eventually, which is just as well, because I was inhibiting the chap next to me, who wanted to do a pole dance on the pole in the middle. Which he proceeded to do, to the amusement of all. Very athletic fellow. Not that he'd have managed it on the Central Line, where we were squashed in like sardines..

Tomorrow, meeting Helen! for lunch at the Bear & Staff, followed by leisurely secondhand bookshop browsing. Hallelujah, a lie-in!