Talk: Aleister Crowley's Four Books of Magick

For tonight, I found a curious thing on Meetup - it seems that Watkins Bookshop has its own Meetup group, where it advertises events, and today there was a talk by Stephen Skinner, about Aleister Crowley's Four Books of Magick. Ok, sounded interesting to me - I signed up. It was a bit early, so I said I'd see how we went. Especially since the office advertised they were bringing in cake today, 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 attracted a crowd, you never know - we might head for drinks again.

Cake, we had - cupcakes and doughnuts. And I scoffed the two chocolate doughnuts that were there, and was then sugar-sated for the day. Sadly, I was the only one to show for the mental health talk, apart from one of the receptionists, who said she'd have to do it anyway. They're trying to recruit mental health first-aiders, which passers-by agreed was a great idea - no-one was interested in participating in any way, though! and wouldn't even go for the cakes and doughnuts until she'd left, in a grump. Ah well. Predictable.

No drinks were suggested, but I still didn't go to the talk - the number that signed up for it was twice the stated capacity of the venue! First-come, first-served, and I didn't fancy waiting for hours in a queue. Anyway, my extended time in the office not only allowed me to get some work done, but also to start flat-hunting.. I'm sick of this shoebox that I'm currently sitting in, and for once, I saw some decent places, slightly closer to the office, much bigger, and not too expensive. Sent out a couple of messages - we shall see. Oh, and I also got some stuff moved - we have to clear out our desks by the end of next week, in preparation for our office move (just downstairs). Anyway, that talk should be posted soon, on their YouTube channel.

Tomorrow, 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 last week that it's been cancelled - the organiser has personal business. So, instead I'm with Up in the Cheap Seats (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 LEC decide to come..

On 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 Saturday, 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 Sunday, 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 Monday, 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!

Next Tuesday, 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. And that'll be another night I can move stuff from my desk!

On the 20th, I booked another walk with Invigorate - this one is a tour of (the outside of) Christopher Wren's churches. Starting even closer to the office than the last one, handily.

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? (And this is realistically the last night I can move stuff from my desk.)

On the 22nd, back with the LEC for a concert - Balkan Music, courtesy of Raka & Balamuc, in The Post Bar, Tottenham. Sounds like fun. Even if I have to bring my work laptop, as we won't have access to our desks by that night. Then I'm back to Ireland - another Saturday flight - and with a few days off, I'm not flying back until the 28th. At least I'm not working from home this time, so don't have to bring the laptop on the flight!

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!