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.