Play: Lately

Tonight, back with one of my cheap ticket groups (TAC) for Lately, at the Lion & Unicorn. Despite an absolute flood of work, I said sod it, and headed out at 6pm. I brought the laptop home anyway, to work from home on Monday - just having it near me makes me feel less guilty! Bus again - first time since Sunday I've taken public transport, and first time since last Friday I've taken a bus! And honestly, I'm tending to feel sick on them these days - the mask doesn't help, of course, but I'm just not used to them any more! Ah well, watch this space..

So, it was a relief to get off after over half an hour. Then a short walk to the pub - I didn't recognise it, but it seems I have been here before! Twice, in fact - both with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS). But of course, that was years ago. Anyway, it's a lovely, welcoming pub - spacious, off the main street, big fluffy white labradoodle wandering everywhere, delighted with all the attention.. Staff were friendly too, the barman who served me reminding me of Robson Green (although his name was Phil). As he was getting my drink, the theatre door opened and someone announced that the house was open - I asked Phil whether I could take the drink up, and he gave me a cheeky wink and whispered "yeah, of course".

The lady at the top of the stairs was all smiles too, as she ordered anyone without a drink to get their mask on! Seating was unassigned, and I ended up second row from the front, pretty much in the centre:

It's only an hour long, no interval. A simple story really, of teenage romance that doesn't work out - but beautifully written. Very few props - apart from what you can see in the picture, there's a blanket and some projections on the screen at the back. Amazing what they can do with so little! Recommended - showing just once again, tomorrow night. On the bus back, one woman - obviously unfamiliar with London - was hopelessly lost and asked the driver for directions. We changed driver en route, but neither of them had a clue - as I left for home, the second driver seemed to be looking up directions on his phone. Gee, I remember when they were all authorities on all London bus routes!

And so for me, a short walk home, past jolly-sounding pubs. Tomorrow, I'm back to Ireland again - again, I was unable to get a flight today! Thinking of seeing No Time to Die on Sunday - well, it's the obvious choice, especially with so little choice back there. Lots of showings, everywhere - Limerick Omniplex is the choice, with the lowest price and convenient parking. Working from home on Monday, and flying back to London that evening.

On Tuesday, 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. It is a bit early, so I'll have to see how we go. Especially now that the office has advertised they're bringing in cake that day, in honour of World Mental Health Day. They're making active efforts to bribe us to come in - and indeed, when nothing in particular is happening, it's like a graveyard! So, if that attracts a crowd, you never know - we might head for drinks again.

On Wednesday, we were supposed to be with Civilised London. We were booked for what promised to be another excellent meal, this time at the Korean restaurant, The Petite Corée. Meeting beforehand in The Railway pub. Sadly, got word yesterday that it's been cancelled - the organiser has personal business. So, instead I'm with UITCS for a double bill at the Royal Court - What If If Only (15 minutes long) and Is God Is, later that evening. The short play is only £5 if booked with the other.

On Thursday, back at last with London European Club (LEC)! 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..

Next Friday, 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 with all the cheap shows I'm going to, I can afford it!

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.

On the 17th, I found something interesting with London Walks, Art & Culture Explorers! Yet another new one for me. This is an "Uncomfortable Statues Walk" - statues commemorating controversial people. I can think of a few, and it'll be interesting to see which come up on this!

On the 18th, I'm with London Classical Music & Theatre Group, for a choral performance (annual, apparently) by The Sixteen in Temple Church. Fantastic, and I've never actually been inside!

On the 19th, I'm with Guided Walking Tours in Brighton and Sussex (!). They have an online talk entitled Hallowe'en Penny Dreadful Online Show - The Art of Victorian Horror. I have to say, online has become much more of an option since lockdown.

On the 20th, I booked another walk with Invigorate - this one is a tour of (the outside of) Christopher Wren's churches.

On the 21st, an online storytelling double-bill - I'll have to see how that pans out. First, I'd booked Universe, a Crick Crack show happening in Oxford and live-streamed. Clare Murphy - and I've seen it before, and it was the best show ever! And then I saw that Martin Shaw, another member of Crick Crack, was doing an online show, earlier in the evening.. this one, in association with Watkins again, is called The Smoke Hole, and it's free. So I said, hey, why not?

On the 22nd, back with the LEC for a concert - Balkan Music, courtesy of Raka & Balamuc, in The Post Bar, Tottenham. Sounds like fun. Then I'm back to Ireland - another Saturday flight - and with a few days off, I'm not flying back until the 28th.

But on the 29th, back with that group again, for Carmen - contemporary flamenco at The Place. Funnily enough, someone in the group said there were no individual seats left, and asked whether anyone wanted to double up with her. I offered, if there were no other takers - but she never got back to me. So, since I was now up to that date in my schedule, I decided to check for myself - and got an individual seat! So I've booked it.

And on the 30th, I'm doing something nice and Halloweeny - a ghost story event entitled Night Owl - changed from Scared to Death in the Woods, which they're now doing on Hallowe'en itself, and which has sold out. Tickets from Design My Night. So, an organisation called London Dreamtime is leading us off into a undisclosed location, somewhere around Hampstead Heath.. we're to dress warmly, and bring a blanket to sit on, and a "candle in a jar" - I actually went out and bought an LED flickering candle in a lantern-style holder. Well, thought it was the most practical!