Reading: Across the Bridge

This evening, headed for The Astronomer again for dinner. Google Maps said it was busier than usual, and bookings weren't available, but hey, I was lucky before! Sure enough, what with all the rain today, the courtyard was empty - inside wasn't really crowded, but all the tables were occupied. Except for one ledge, complete with high chair, which I noticed had a table number. Which meant I could order from it! So I sat, and ordered the chicken again, and that delectable New Zealand white. The chicken was good, although perhaps not of the spectacular quality of before - they hadn't really made an effort with the puree, and the chicken itself was a little tough. No, carrots - which tasted honey-roasted - were, would you believe, the highlight of the piece! Checking my blog, I discovered I hadn't been terribly impressed with the ice cream, so I had another glass of wine instead. All delivered with impressive promptness. And meantime, booked my movers for Sunday..

Was back in plenty of time for an online talk by Guided Walking Tours in Brighton and Sussex. They're starting a Short Story Tuesdays series, where the host reads a short story by a selected author (fee £3) - and this week's author is Graham Greene. We weren't sent the link until yesterday evening. Curiously, he greeted each of us as we signed in, but refused to unmute us, so we couldn't respond.. Anyway, most who had booked showed up (at the last minute), and the story turned out to be Across the Bridge. Predictably, a combination of the wine and the narrator's soothing voice served to send me rapidly to sleep.. I was woken by silence, half an hour later, when he ended the session! Ah well, at least it was recorded, so doubtless the link is to be distributed later..

Tomorrow, back with Civilised London for an Italian meal - this is in Terra Rossa, meeting beforehand in The Crown, as usual. Picking up the keys to my new place beforehand. :-) And I can walk from there to the pub!

On Thursday, I finally get my postponed meeting with two of my ex-coworkers (one suddenly can't make it, he's dog-sitting) - and after my glowing reports of Bill's on Clink Street, we're heading there! Optional drinks beforehand, I've suggested The Old Thameside Inn.

On Friday - taking advantage of the bank holiday, I booked something that's been heavily advertised. At £60, it's not cheap, but I really fancied it, so I'm headed to The Gunpowder Plot, an immersive, combined VR and real-life experience at the Tower. You can get a themed lunch with that, but I passed. Earliest date now available is the 8th, at a minimum price of £50 (last few available) - the price increases as you get closer to the date. And ironic how these two events are closer to my old place.. So I'll stay there until after this.

And on Saturday, booked with Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts again for A Nosey Around Soho. In association with London Guided Walks as usual, a £3 discount for using the code MEETUP3, which at least covers the booking fee. Looks like Hazel herself is running this one - if so, it'll be the first time I'll have seen her in years. Assuming I'm not a couple of minutes late, and miss her. Well, if I do get to go, I hope she doesn't spam me, like she still is after the last one, with constant ads for her podcast and requests for reviews! Of course, if you go on her site, there seems to be no way to leave a review.. AND I see she advertises these on TAC now, with a £3 cash charge on the day to the guide - still, this would be the cheaper option. (and ACLUB also gets you a £3 discount on the full price..)

Film: An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl)

I felt like film again today. What came top of the list was The Quiet Girl, ironically - an Irish film, mostly in the Irish language, in which a little girl from a dysfunctional family is fostered out to another (Carrie Crowley, famous to us in Ireland from years of TV work, plays the foster mother, cousin of the girl's actual mother; Michael Patric plays her father). Was supposed to be really good - the little girl is played by Catherine Clinch, whose first film it is, and who won an IFTA for her performance. First feature film for the writer / director, too. Closest showing to me was in the Curzon Bloomsbury.

Got the bus there - had a good choice of them - and remarked to myself, as we came into Holborn, how much nicer it's going to be to live there - leafier, more restaurants, people a bit more relaxed. My new place is under 10 minutes' walk from the cinema I was in tonight - which might make it my closest, but I'll have to check. Meantime, I got absolutely soaked on the walk from the bus to the cinema! Dripped into the lobby, where the guy asked whether I had membership (it entitles you to some free films). No, but you know what, it might be an idea.. I'll have to see whether it's worth my while. For this evening, I went on something of a shopping spree - a ticket for the film (which was nearly sold out, I was lucky!), a tub of what turned out to be very moreish (chocolate-covered) honeycomb bites, and a lovely glass of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. The screen was open already, so I went straight in - and wouldn't you know it, the only two people there were at the edge of my row, and I had to disturb them to get in. That done, I tucked into my stash - and that decently large tub lasted most of the film!

So, for those of us who grew up in rural Ireland, this is a real nostalgia-fest. It looks very 70s or early 80s - and if the clothes don't completely confirm that, the cars definitely should.. or you can wait for the dead giveaway, when they're shown watching Quicksilver on the telly! (That ended in 1981.) A chamber-pot under the bed, no mobiles, no electronic gadgets, and by and large the loudest thing in a room is the ticking clock.

Young Cáit is growing up in this world. Unfortunately, her large family isn't the most supportive, and she turns into a troubled young girl, always running off. Her beleagured mother is constantly pregnant, too busy to be bothered with her; and with never enough to make ends meet, and another baby on the way, packs Cáit off for the summer to her cousins - a middle-aged couple who live in a large farmhouse on their own. You'd be amazed at the difference a little care and attention makes..

So, no wonder she's quiet. They do say that 90% of communication is non-verbal, and I can see why she won an award for this - she has a terrifically communicative face. I love films that can do without dialogue - for all that most of the dialogue here is in Irish, there's precious little dialogue anyway, so much being told in images. Visually striking, and unexpectedly moving: highly recommended. And the rain had stopped when I got out! The bus back took an interesting detour, for entertainment..

Tomorrow, attending an online talk by Guided Walking Tours in Brighton and Sussex. They're starting a Short Story Tuesdays series, where the host reads a short story by a selected author (fee £3) - and this week's author is Graham Greene. We weren't sent the link until this evening.

On Wednesday, back with Civilised London for an Italian meal - this is in Terra Rossa, meeting beforehand in The Crown, as usual. Picking up the keys to my new place beforehand. :-) And I can walk from there to the pub!

On Thursday, I finally get my postponed meeting with my ex-coworkers - and after my glowing reports of Bill's on Clink Street, we're heading there! Optional drinks beforehand, I've suggested The Old Thameside Inn.

On Friday - taking advantage of the bank holiday, I booked something that's been heavily advertised. At £60, it's not cheap, but I really fancied it, so I'm headed to The Gunpowder Plot, an immersive, combined VR and real-life experience at the Tower. You can get a themed lunch with that, but I passed. Earliest date now available is the 8th, at a minimum price of £50 (last few available) - the price increases as you get closer to the date. And ironic how these two events are closer to my old place.. So I'll stay there until after this.

And on Saturday, booked with Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts again for A Nosey Around Soho. In association with London Guided Walks as usual, a £3 discount for using the code MEETUP3, which at least covers the booking fee. Looks like Hazel herself is running this one - if so, it'll be the first time I'll have seen her in years. Assuming I'm not a couple of minutes late, and miss her. Well, if I do get to go, I hope she doesn't spam me, like she did after the last one, with constant ads for her podcast and requests for reviews! Of course, if you go on her site, there seems to be no way to leave a review.. AND I see she advertises these on TAC now, with a £3 cash charge on the day to the guide - still, this would be the cheaper option. (and ACLUB also gets you a £3 discount on the full price..)

Restaurant: Cote Barbican

So, back to London today - and was hungry, and the nearest sensible option was Cote. Well, they had no problem seating me, and I had some lovely calamari to start. For main, I'd chosen the chicken. And I had my usual chardonnay, which is very nice.

Which is just as well, considering it was all I had to occupy me for a VERY LONG TIME! Had that glass finished, and was on my second by the time the chicken eventually appeared. My sarcastic remark was lost on the waiter. Anyway, also just as well I'd paid extra for mushroom sauce, it needs something. But it was nice and moist. Mainly. As usual, the ice cream was the best part of the meal. I won't be sorry when this is no longer local to me, imminently.

I feel like film again tomorrow. What's coming up is The Quiet Girl, ironically - an Irish film, partly in the Irish language, in which a little girl from a dysfunctional family is fostered out to another (Carrie Crowley, famous to us in Ireland from years of TV work, plays the foster mother). Supposed to be really good - the little girl is played by Catherine Clinch, whose first film it is, and who won an IFTA for her performance. Closest showing to me is in the Curzon Bloomsbury.

On Tuesday, attending an online talk by Guided Walking Tours in Brighton and Sussex. They're starting a Short Story Tuesdays series, where the host reads a short story by a selected author (fee £3) - and this week's author is Graham Greene. No link yet, I notice.

On Wednesday, back with Civilised London for an Italian meal - this is in Terra Rossa, meeting beforehand in The Crown, as usual. Should be able to pick up the keys to my new place beforehand. :-)

On Thursday, I finally get my postponed meeting with my ex-coworkers - and after my glowing reports of Bill's on Clink Street, we're heading there! Optional drinks beforehand, I've suggested The Old Thameside Inn.

On Friday - taking advantage of the bank holiday, I booked something that's been heavily advertised. At £60, it's not cheap, but I really fancied it, so I'm headed to The Gunpowder Plot, an immersive, combined VR and real-life experience at the Tower. You can get a themed lunch with that, but I passed. Earliest date now available is the 8th, at a minimum price of £50 (last few available) - the price increases as you get closer to the date. And ironic how these two events are closer to my old place..

And on Saturday, booked with Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts again for A Nosey Around Soho. In association with London Guided Walks as usual, a £3 discount for using the code MEETUP3, which at least covers the booking fee. Looks like Hazel herself is running this one - if so, it'll be the first time I'll have seen her in years. Assuming I'm not a couple of minutes late, and miss her. Well, if I do get to go, I hope she doesn't spam me, like she did after the last one, with constant ads for her podcast and requests for reviews! Of course, if you go on her site, there seems to be no way to leave a review.. AND I see she advertises these on TAC now, with a £3 cash charge on the day to the guide - still, this would be the cheaper option. (and ACLUB also gets you a £3 discount..)

Film: Top Gun - Maverick

The film for the weekend - was Top Gun: Maverick! in which Tom Cruise reprises his fighter-pilot role of so many years ago. Also stars Jennifer Connelly as his love interest, who owns the local bar (how else could they meet? as the US Navy disapproves of work relationships), Val Kilmer back as Iceman, now an admiral - a significant decision, given that throat cancer has left him unable to speak, and his lines are read by an AI program. Ed Harris is the rear admiral. Love song by Lady Gaga. Now, I couldn't really miss this. And indeed, a flattering review in yesterday's paper was written by someone who hadn't expected much from it at all.. as she says, "The bastards. They got me."

With plenty of time to spare, of course I ended up tight for time. Got myself an ice cream on the way in, it being so warm and sunny outside. The trailers were on when I got to the screen - Screen 1, the largest, although at this matinée there were only maybe half a dozen of us. And I discovered that it's a little complicated to eat ice cream in the dark, when you can't see whether it's fallen off the spoon..

And so to the main attraction - and oh YES, they start with Danger Zone. Perfect - and combine that with lots of shots of fighter jets taking off, and it's a real nostalgia-fest. Which is exactly what fans of the original want. So, the basic story is that Maverick (Tom Cruise's callsign) pissed off the wrong people, and got kicked out of Top Gun, the elite fighter pilot school. He's now a test pilot, still pushing the envelope - until he gets recalled to Top Gun, courtesy of his now-VIP friend Iceman, to teach a group of students to fly a desperately difficult mission.

The Top Gun films work with the Navy, you know - they need to, to get access to these incredibly expensive pieces of equipment. And despite the side stories to get us interested in the characters, it's really the flying that we're there for. Which is spectacular - no lesser word will do. I spent much of the film with my hands to my mouth - this is exciting, thrilling to watch: and when they get to do the mission for real at the end of the film, you get spectacular scenery to match. Speaking of the side stories, they have someone playing the son of Goose, who was killed in the first film - and did a good job of finding someone who quite resembles him! Anyway, look, you know what this film is about - you'll be interested or not. Let me just reassure you, if this is your thing - this is exactly what you'd hoped for, and more. And if this is your thing - get out there and see it!

Afterwards, to Jade Cottage again, and consulted my blog to find out what was good to eat. She remembered me, and correctly predicted what I'd have to drink! For main, I had the kung po chicken. Now, it has the advantage of not filling me up - but it's a pity, because I really didn't feel like it, and would have preferred General Tso's chicken. Which does fill me up. So I can't win.. Might be rethinking where I eat, next time.

Was too tired to blog last night. So, back to London today - and I feel like film again tomorrow. What's coming up is The Quiet Girl, ironically - an Irish film, partly in the Irish language, in which a little girl from a dysfunctional family is fostered out to another (Carrie Crowley, famous to us in Ireland from years of TV work, plays the foster mother). Supposed to be really good - the little girl is played by Catherine Clinch, whose first film it is, and who won an IFTA for her performance. Closest showing to me is in the Curzon Bloomsbury.

On Tuesday, attending an online talk by Guided Walking Tours in Brighton and Sussex. They're starting a Short Story Tuesdays series, where the host reads a short story by a selected author (fee £3) - and this week's author is Graham Greene. No link yet, I notice.

On Wednesday, back with Civilised London for an Italian meal - this is in Terra Rossa, meeting beforehand in The Crown, as usual. Should be able to pick up the keys to my new place beforehand. :-)

On Thursday, I finally get my postponed meeting with my ex-coworkers - and after my glowing reports of Bill's on Clink Street, we're heading there! Optional drinks beforehand, I've suggested The Old Thameside Inn.

On Friday - taking advantage of the bank holiday, I booked something that's been heavily advertised. At £60, it's not cheap, but I really fancied it, so I'm headed to The Gunpowder Plot, an immersive, combined VR and real-life experience at the Tower. You can get a themed lunch with that, but I passed. Earliest date now available is the 8th, at a minimum price of £50 (last few available) - the price increases as you get closer to the date. And ironic how these two events are closer to my old place..

And on Saturday, booked with Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts again for A Nosey Around Soho. In association with London Guided Walks as usual, a £3 discount for using the code MEETUP3, which at least covers the booking fee. Looks like Hazel herself is running this one - if so, it'll be the first time I'll have seen her in years. Assuming I'm not a couple of minutes late, and miss her. Well, if I do get to go, I hope she doesn't spam me, like she did after the last one, with constant ads for her podcast and requests for reviews! Of course, if you go on her site, there seems to be no way to leave a review..

Concert: London Philharmonia

Yesterday, back with London Classical Music and Theatre Group - this time, we were at the Royal Festival Hall, where the Philharmonia was playing Mozart and Bruckner. Which made this my best week for Meetup since lockdown, the only non-Meetup day being Tuesday! The last time I saw this organiser was even longer ago than I saw Didi, the organiser on Sunday! (She's a classical guitarist - I just found her page..)

So. Here, the best choice for food has to be The Archduke, and off I went. I didn't need a reservation before, and chanced my arm again, walking in and asking whether they had a table for one. "We do," he said, "but I need it back by 7/7.10." No problem, I had to meet the group by 7.15 anyway! So he showed me to a table right at the end of the conservatory, round the back.

Lovely, friendly servers.. and this time I decided that, being that it's a steakhouse, I should finally have a steak! Now, they ain't cheap here, but I don't make a habit of it. Went for the fillet - which isn't quite the most expensive, they also have some massive concoction that they suggest be shared! They have quite a range of sauces - I fancied some kind of butter, of which they have three; I chose the garlic and herb. And a carafe of New Zealand wine - which it turned out they didn't have, but she suggested an alternative.

Yeeah. Guess what? I was underimpressed with the steak! It was ok, but honestly, back in the day when I cooked steak, I did it better. And I am no cook, although I could cook a mean fillet. And the mushrooms I ordered as a side were not worth the £4 charged. I'll say this though - the garlic and herb butter was spectacular! I mentioned it to the waiter, and she got me a second pot (it comes in a separate pot, and I also got a couple of extra pots, one with ketchup, one mustard, for the fries - which are supposed to be bottomless, with steak). Gee, I'd nearly have another steak, just to have that garlic and herb butter! Cheapest is the steak frites.. might consider it next time. I could order dessert straight away - I know the ice cream sundae is gorgeous, and I had plenty of time for it.

Headed up to the hall early - and it was great to see people! Not everyone gathers for a chat, of course - interestingly, Didi passes this group's events on to the Classical Music for Those in their 20s and 30s group, and someone from that group happened along. And was suitably confused - but hey, I think we're just as interesting! And we chatted away until it was time to head upstairs.

I had so many free seats in front of me, I should definitely have moved down - but I didn't. The royal box was occupied, I noticed - couldn't recognise any of them, though. And so to the music. First up was Mozart - and I always love Mozart, thought it was gorgeous.

After a blissful half hour or so, down to meet the others again at the interval, then back up for some Bruckner - a surprisingly modern-sounding piece. Happily, the house never was fully darkened, and I had enough light to read the free programme I'd picked up on the way in (when I wasn't busy imbibing the lovely paper smell, so unfamiliar to me these days)! So, in summary, a lovely programme, and an excellent way to spend an evening.

Afterwards, most of us who met stayed on in the bar for a drink, and much of the chat related to the advanced age of both the conductor and the piano soloist! Truly, 90 seems to be the new 60.. Anyway, we had a lovely time, and I was delighted to meet the group again at last. Sometimes it just happens that I don't see people for a while..

Speaking of what happened to our group member on Wednesday, I saw an interesting WhatsOnStage article about it today! OMG, he's become famous..

Today, back to Ireland for the weekend - finally, with a delayed flight. And an English couple in front of me in the queue to board wondered why we had been sent to a locked door - as I explained to them, this was the door into the corridor where the disembarking passengers would pass, and we had to wait for them to do that before we went out the same way. And that's why they block off the escalator - it's too dangerous to have people coming down that, facing a locked door. Ah, I've become such an expert.. On board at last, it was lovely to see the first flight where we weren't obliged to wear masks! I saw all of one passenger that did. And in Shannon, I know the customs guys are unusually friendly - but really, the guard I got this evening outdid himself in chatting to everyone!

The film for the weekend - is looking like Top Gun: Maverick! in which Tom Cruise reprises his fighter-pilot role of so many years ago. Also stars Jennifer Connelly as his love interest, Val Kilmer back as Iceman, now an admiral - a significant decision, given that throat cancer has left him unable to speak, and his lines are apparently read by an AI program. Ed Harris is the rear admiral. Theme song by Lady Gaga. Now, I can't really miss this. And indeed, a flattering review in today's paper was written by someone who hadn't expected much from it at all.. as she says, "The bastards. They got me."

Musical: Bonnie and Clyde

Tonight, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Bonnie and Clyde, at the Arts Theatre. Now, most of the group going booked this ages ago - I just booked recently. And I noticed that all the cheapest seats were bench seating, which didn't sound terribly comfortable. But for under £2 more, so £25, I managed to get a ticket in the next band up - in the rear stalls - from Todaytix! See, they have this great £25 ticket offer until Sunday. This offer is highly recommended!

Took myself off in time to eat, optimistic of getting a table somewhere about. Well, my option last time - P. F. Chang's Asian Table - was full: but hey, right across the street was Sartori, and they had no trouble seating me! Now, this isn't the place to come for quiet conversation - or contemplation - but what it is, is a buzzing joint, packed to the gills, run by an Italian, and on the ball when it comes to dealing with crowds. I have to say, they managed very well - the manager, in particular, is on top of everything.

I didn't fancy a starter, so had to wait a while to get fed - had an excellent sauvignon blanc to keep me company, mind. And I had no phone reception, so that was a bit tiresome. But it actually wasn't so long before my food arrived - a scrumptious chicken with mushroom, and a very long Italian name! Yum. I was served, and ate, fast enough to have dessert.. and then I was asked whether I wouldn't mind having my dessert in the window! Eh.. OK. I was offered a limoncello to ease my discomfort. Eh.. OK.

So, I was now sat in sight of the theatre, with phone reception. Gee, such hardship. Sure enough, it transpired that they needed my table to push together with others for a large group. Meantime, for dessert, I ordered a lemon cake.. a light concoction, with, apparently, the flavour of the zest of lemons from the Amalfi coast. Hmm.

I am seriously impressed with their ability to produce high quality food with such a press of people! Also impressed that I got a second free limoncello.. following which, I took myself all the way across the street again, ordered a drink at the theatre bar, grabbed a table, and awaited the others. And we had a great old chat, trying to remember who was in that film we all saw about Bonnie and Clyde, and wondering how they could make such a dark story into a musical. And when we headed down to the stalls, someone had to make an announcement so we didn't all join the queue for the ladies' toilets, whose door is right beside the stalls entrance!

The set is riddled with bullet holes, previewing the story. But oh man, what a show! We had asked how they'd pull it off - we found out! After all, this was a terrific era for music - jazz, ragtime, gospel: and if that isn't enough, we got some hard rock for the hard-hitting prison scenes. Terrific performances, show-stopping songs. We were all completely carried along - just like the entire house, proven by the sound of the enthusiastic applause throughout!

At the interval, those of us with drinks couldn't go outside, where most of the group had congregated. Ah well. The second half started dramatically, when part of the set seemed to collapse, and some hit one of our members, in the front row! (I tell you, the perils of sitting in the front row..) The show stopped, the fellow playing Clyde popped over to ask whether he was OK. He had to be led out, sadly, and missed the second half - happily, he doesn't seem to have been too badly injured, and they gave him a complimentary ticket to come again: and a ride home, I believe! Well, I sure hope he does get to see the rest - it's a fantastic show! just maybe don't sit in the front row..

Highly recommended! Booking until the 10th of July.

Tomorrow, back with London Classical Music and Theatre Group - this time, we're at the Royal Festival Hall, where the Philharmonia is playing Mozart and Bruckner. Which makes this my best week for Meetup since lockdown, the only non-Meetup day being yesterday! The last time I saw this organiser is even longer ago than I saw Didi, the organiser on Sunday! (She's a classical guitarist - I just found her page..)

And then back to Ireland for the weekend. The film for the weekend - is looking like Top Gun: Maverick! in which Tom Cruise reprises his fighter-pilot role of so many years ago. Also stars Jennifer Connelly, Val Kilmer back as Iceman, Ed Harris as the rear admiral. Now, that should be fun!

Play: Henry VIII

Tonight, woo! back at Shakespeare's Globe - for Henry VIII, which I'd never seen. And it's years since I was last here.. and what a shame the weather report was bad. Never mind..

It lashed at lunchtime - just as I was headed out for food. Lovely. Thunder too, and cold.. I put something a bit warmer on when I got back. Deciding on food, I suddenly thought - why not Bill's? Not far from me, not far from the Globe - I could walk to both.. so that's what I did. Happily, the rain had stopped, it was lovely and sunny, and a bit warmer.

And it was an inspired choice! No need to book, I was seated without trouble. Service was quite quick, and I see they're dog-friendly! (Well, I heard as much, from a loud-mouthed canine at a nearby table.)

Wow, terrific food. I had calamari, which was delicious (Moo Cantina, take note) - and minute steak, which was like how it used to be like at Cote. And they were both off the set menu. The wine was lovely. I'd taken the precaution of checking the dessert menu as I was waiting for my order to be taken, so knew I wanted ice cream and could give her that order straight away. Excellent meal, I really should come here more often!

A short walk then to the Globe. From dodging rogue cyclists, north of the river, I went to avoiding gangs of joggers, south of the river.. was in good time, and queued for wine at one of the stalls. I see they offer 500ml portions of wine now! so I asked for white, was given a choice of pinot grigio, chardonnay, or sauvignon. I chose the latter. Turns out that the 500ml comes in a screwcap. plastic bottle.. she asked me how many glasses I wanted, and I told her "one!", and assured her I'd drink it slowly.. and as I turned away, struggling to get my card back in my wallet while holding the drink, I was assisted by an usher. V friendly here!

Had to laugh at the content advisory.. as usual..

Seriously - people need to be warned about blood and executions, in a play about Henry VIII? The gun, I grant you, is anachronistic - although they might have had muskets, but the one used in this play is modern.

Oh man, it was so, so good to be back here at last!

I was doing so much gawping that the usher you can see in the front of this picture came and asked me whether it was my first time! No, I told him, just my first time since lockdown.. Anyway, the large crosses and preponderance of gold on stage (ingots and gold backdrop) give an indication as to the themes of the play. Religion and money, hey? My, my.

Oh, and the quirkiness you'd expect from the Globe:

That is a seat for commentary (one of two).

This was the first evening since lockdown that I really recognised the London I love, the one that keeps reminding me why I stay here. Mind you, not everyone was so enamoured.. three middle-aged ladies took the seats beside me, and the one next to me wouldn't stop glaring at me! Now, I think at first she took exception to my bag and drink, which I'd left on the bench beside me. There is plenty of room, but I put them on the ground anyway. Didn't stop her, she just kept glaring - I can only assume that she wanted my seat! I was at the end of the row, you see, which is to the side of the stage - and the end has the best view. Mercifully, they all left at the interval - I guess it was their first (and last) visit, and they hadn't realised the sightlines would be restricted.

Interesting play. Henry himself is a bit too old, as played - this guy has grey hair and looks in his 60s, while the play runs from 1526 (he meets Anne Boleyn) to 1536 (Catherine of Aragon dies). So he'd have been aged between 35 and 45. But anyway. Catherine is beautifully played, trying to defend her position against a hostile English clergy, that declares for Henry, and pleading her cause with him, as he ignores her. Torn from her only daughter, she is a tragic figure. Anne, mind you, is very dubious about becoming the next Queen - and who could blame her? Wolsey is another one you feel sorry for - yes, he feathered his own nest: but we know several others such, and his precipitous downfall seems too harsh a punishment. The only one who really comes out of it well is the baby Elizabeth - born at the end of the play, her adult self comes on in magnificent garb in a kind of preview of what is to come. Runs till the 21st of October.

So, a lovely evening! Until, wouldn't you know it, as I came out, it was to the sight of yet another cycling hooligan terrorising a pedestrian. Bloody typical - I've said it before and I'll say it again, CYCLISTS SHOULD BE BANNED FROM CENTRAL LONDON. They obey no laws, and there is no regulation of them. It's an utter disgrace.

Tomorrow, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Bonnie and Clyde, at the Arts Theatre. Now, most of the group going booked this ages ago - I just booked recently. And I noticed that all the cheapest seats were bench seating, which didn't sound terribly comfortable. But for under £2 more, so £25, I managed to get a ticket in the next band up - in the rear stalls - from Todaytix! See, they have this great £25 ticket offer until Sunday. Whatever about the show, the offer is highly recommended!

On Thursday, back with London Classical Music and Theatre Group - this time, we're at the Royal Festival Hall, where the Philharmonia is playing Mozart and Bruckner. Which makes this my best week for Meetup since lockdown, the only non-Meetup day being today! The last time I saw this organiser is even longer ago than I saw Didi, the organiser on Sunday! (She's a classical guitarist - I just found her page..)

And then back to Ireland for the weekend. The film for the weekend - is looking like Top Gun: Maverick! in which Tom Cruise reprises his fighter-pilot role of so many years ago. Also stars Jennifer Connelly, Val Kilmer back as Iceman, Ed Harris as the rear admiral. Now, that should be fun!

Talk: Anglo-Saxon Surrey

Today, I had yet another viewing. Now, this is an interesting one - I'd asked to see the room ages ago, he didn't get back to me - then got back to me the other day and said the room was available again, and did I want to view?! Ooh, yes please - and unless something unexpected cropped up during the viewing, I was taking it on the spot - it's big enough, I think, it has a good big wardrobe, it's walking distance to work. The only one of those on the horizon. And it has its own, private balcony!

I started work early this morning so I could get off early - and was on a crowded, noisy bus when the agent rang me. Never fear, he was just confirming I was still coming! I made it 15 minutes early actually, and lo, he was outside, on the phone. And showed me the flat - there's a step just inside the door that could literally trip me up, and the toilet is separate from the bathroom (which I find annoying) - and the balcony runs under the window of the room next door. So, no wild parties. That's it then for minus points.. as for plus points, there's a lift, there's plenty of shelving in the wardrobe, a shelf that I hadn't noticed runs around the back of the bed, and apart from the size of the room, and the fact that I have a balcony - I've been told I can have the small fridge in the kitchen for my own use! Well now. So, I've paid the holding deposit (a week's rent, which I think is quite reasonable), and I can move in on the 1st. Now, that is a weight off.

So, I celebrated with a meal at the Indian Lounge, which was on my way home, and where I had the usual. Had two glasses of wine, because the manager suggested it. They left the door open, because it was nice and mild. Unfortunately, there was far too much food for me - I couldn't finish the chicken, made my apologies and left.

This evening, I was at an online talk - Anglo-Saxon Surrey - with the Surrey History Meetup. Which I was slightly late for - but that didn't matter, they were waiting for latecomers or something! Just as well, considering the palaver I had signing in, with passwords and such. Anyway, while we waited, they were playing - of all things - Mná na hÉireann (Women of Ireland). Not sure what that has to do with Surrey, but hey! Lovely tune.

So, I was slightly early for the lecture. The chap giving it apparently teaches history to kids, and finds visual aids useful - and lo, he pulled them out! So, instead of what I was kind of expecting - a talk with an archeological bent - we got a show n tell, with helmets of different kinds (including what seems to be a perfect reconstruction of the Sutton Hoo helmet), a discussion of what they would have worn (based on the Bayeux tapestry), a suit of chainmail.. must have been the jingling chainmail that attracted the cat, who decided to make a nest in the historical artefacts during the last part of the talk. As he also mentioned, his wife was threatening to divorce hin if he came home with any more stuff..

Pictured is a replica of William the Conqueror's shield. Man, he must have some cool things though - imagine having an excuse to go around buying all this!

(This is a reproduction of a church woodcarving.)

So yeah, a very interesting, high-level discussion of the Anglo-Saxons in Surrey. This group always holds a poll at the end to see what people thought, and the organiser said this was one of the best ratings ever!

Tomorrow, woo! back at Shakespeare's Globe - for Henry VIII, which I've never seen. And it's years since I was last here.. and what a shame the weather report is bad. Never mind..

On Wednesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Bonnie and Clyde, at the Arts Theatre. Now, most of the group going booked this ages ago - I just booked recently. And I noticed that all the cheapest seats were bench seating, which didn't sound terribly comfortable. But for under £2 more, so £25, I managed to get a ticket in the next band up - in the rear stalls - from Todaytix! See, they have this great £25 ticket offer until Sunday. Whatever about the show, the offer is highly recommended!

On Thursday, back with London Classical Music and Theatre Group - this time, we're at the Royal Festival Hall, where the Philharmonia is playing Mozart and Bruckner. Which makes this my best week for Meetup since lockdown, the only non-Meetup day being Tuesday! The last time I saw this organiser is even longer ago than I saw Didi, the organiser yesterday! (She's a classical guitarist - I just found her page..)

And then back to Ireland for the weekend. The film for the weekend - is looking like Top Gun: Maverick! in which Tom Cruise reprises his fighter-pilot role of so many years ago. Also stars Jennifer Connelly, Val Kilmer back as Iceman, Ed Harris as the rear admiral. Now, that should be fun!

Concert: BBC Symphony Orchestra

I had a viewing today, for a room out near Victoria. Location not near enough to work to be ideal, but not a million miles away - and quite close to the West End. And the room didn't look huge - but there seemed to be a massive wardrobe, and shelving, and the fact that there was a sofa was a good sign. Took the bus out there, arrived early - and just as I was about to message the landlady, she rocked up with her husband and a new vacuum cleaner! which he was carrying. She'd said the place needed cleaning..

So, she showed me in, chattering nineteen to the dozen. The room was empty of stuff, just did need a vacuuming and a couple of paint touch-ups where there were marks. Opens directly onto the balcony, but it isn't private, the stairs down to the entrance come up there. Still, nice. The wardrobe is lovely, including a trouser rack - and she told me that there's only one other flatmate, who is a professional chef and has his own fridge, paying for the extra electricity separately. So I'd have a fridge freezer to myself.

But.. as I say, not close enough to work. Also, the room is a little cramped for all my stuff, even allowing for everything that could go in the wardrobe. Plus, a new building is going up across the road, so there'll be a lot of building work.. she checked with me that I'd be in the office most of the time. (Hah! not out there.) The orthopaedic mattress also seemed a bit hard for my liking. I don't think it's a runner, but I said I'd let her know, and wouldn't keep her waiting long. And she certainly was chatty.. very pleasant, in fact.

And so to brunch. I'd researched what was in the area, and came up with the Moo Cantina, a gastropub a short walk from there. I am in luck with food these days - it was terrific! I sat outside, it was such a lovely, warm day - baking hot that side of town, in fact. They have a large amount of outdoor seating - covered, with heaters for when necessary. Service is really friendly. Choosing wine was easy, they only have three whites available by the glass. Food was trickier - I finally went for calamari for a starter, and really considered deeply whether I'd like a steak, finally deciding the day was too hot. Instead, I had the beef milanese, an escalope. He asked whether I'd like it Napolitan, and I had to ask what that was - topped with cheese and tomato. I passed. FYI, I don't think they have a single vegetarian dish - a couple left because of that.

The calamari smelled lovely, but was a bit rubbery. The beef, however, was delicious - the more so when I squeezed the accompanying lemon slice over it! And the fries that come with it were obviously home-made (as is the bread, according to the menu, but I didn't have that). They come skin-on, and in irregular shapes - and they're absolutely divine. Yep, I can happily recommend this as an eatery!

Later this afternoon, London Classical Music and Theatre Group (LCMTG) had a late-advertised event, at the Barbican: the BBC Symphony Orchestra was playing Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6. Oh man, it has been so long since I last met this group! Something has just always gotten in the way.. Anyway, because I was taking the bus there, I had to forego dessert, making my apologies to the lovely waiter. And had a desperately hot wait, in the baking sun, for the first of the two buses I had to take. It arrived early in Aldwych - where there was a nice breeze, and shade from the trees. Just as well, considering my second bus was late!

15 minutes I was there, watching the LED predict it'd arrive later and later.. I was on the bus (finally) when our organiser, Didi, messaged the group to say she was at the concert, if anyone wanted to meet.. well, when I eventually got off (minutes to spare) I hurried down as fast as I could. Made it in, and down the steps to my seat as they were tuning up. Except.. I didn't go to my seat! I was in G4, you see (G was the front row on this occasion) - but as it happened, that turned out to be the seat on the end! whereas I sat in the fourth seat along, which was G7. They'd started by the time I realised my mistake.

My mistake was a happy one, as the first half was a set of Brahms choral works, displayed on a surtitle screen that I probably couldn't have seen from the seat I'd actually booked! What the hey, the actual owners of this seat and G8 never arrived, and for the second half I moved to G8 to give the guy beside me more room - like many others, the guy in G9 didn't come back after the interval, so I had lots of space. Could have moved more centrally, except that I was so low down that the performers would probably have blocked my view of the screen.

Ah, this was exactly what I needed! It's months since I was last at a classical concert, and this music was sublime. The Brahms was solemn and powerful, the Tchaikovsky equally powerful, and moving. And what a change from the rapid pace of my life these days, just to slow down and listen to this. The draw for our organiser, though, was the conductor, who was apparently very charismatic - I couldn't really tell, although I could see her head bobbing over the various members of the orchestra. Anyway, we had a lovely time, and met for a drink afterwards in the Barbican Kitchen - with all the other bars closed, this one was severely understaffed, but once we were finally served, it was lovely to sit outside in the courtyard and have a chat - quite a long one, as it transpired, in the lovely sunshine! Great to chat to people again.. it's been the better part of a week since I last sat down with folks!

Tomorrow, I have yet another viewing. Now, this is an interesting one - I'd asked to see the room ages ago, he didn't get back to me - then got back to me the other day and said the room was available again, and did I want to view?! Ooh, yes please - and unless something unexpected crops up during the viewing, I'm taking it on the spot - it's big enough, I think, it has a good big wardrobe, it's walking distance to work. The only one of those on the horizon. And it has its own, private balcony! Watch this space.. 

That evening, I'm at an online talk - Anglo-Saxon Surrey - with the Surrey History Meetup.

On Tuesday, woo! back at Shakespeare's Globe - for Henry VIII, which I've never seen. And it's years since I was last here..

On Wednesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Bonnie and Clyde, at the Arts Theatre. Now, most of the group going booked this ages ago - I just booked recently. And I noticed that all the cheapest seats were bench seating, which didn't sound terribly comfortable. But for under £2 more, so £25, I managed to get a ticket in the next band up - in the rear stalls - from Todaytix! See, they have this great £25 ticket offer until next Sunday. Whatever about the show, the offer is highly recommended!

On Thursday, back with LCMTG - this time, we're at the Royal Festival Hall, where the Philharmonia is playing Mozart and Bruckner. Which makes this my best week for Meetup since lockdown, the only non-Meetup day being Tuesday!

And then back to Ireland for the weekend.

Play: Marys Seacole & Roman London Walk

Yesterday, headed to Marys Seacole, at Donmar Warehouse. Based on a true story. I'd heard mixed reviews. They were good enough to email me a link to my account, where I could access my ticket.

Where to eat beforehand..? Friday night in the West End isn't easy. I had a look at nearby restaurants, and figured I'd have a go with Mon Plaisir - French, naturellement (apparently the oldest French restaurant in London), and right around the corner from the theatre. I booked, for safety, although I think I'd have been OK - careful though, they charge a £20 cancellation fee for no-shows or cancellations within 24 hours of the reservation, or a £10 charge per person for a last-minute change of numbers! They have a 20-minute grace period in which you can arrive after your allotted time, which I think is quite generous. Anyway, duly warned, I made sure to leave in time, and arrived early, Found the restaurant without much difficulty - I'd specified I wanted to eat inside, although there were people at the outdoor tables.

And.. then I couldn't open the door! So, it turns out there are two doors, but only the one on the right can be used for entry! This isn't indicated. The other is (usually) locked. Made my way to the entrance, where a couple were enquiring whether there was a free table.. a little consultation, and there was no problem. When I gave my name and explained I had a reservation, the lady asked whether I was going to a show, and what time I needed to leave. V pragmatic. And then I was led down the back.. through the kitchen (mind the step, and your head on the low doorway!), past the bar, and back into the section of the restaurant with the locked door! Well I never.. anyway, seating is on chairs and comfortable banquettes, plenty of cushions.

I was sat at a table with two settings, and the lady in charge - who sounded French - thought I was waiting for someone. I had to alert her that I was ready to order - whereupon the extra setting was removed, and I did. I enjoyed browsing the menu, with dishes listed in French with English translations - I didn't fancy a starter, just asked for a bread basket. For main, I had seen coq au vin on the menu online when choosing this place, but when I saw duck with honey sauce on the specials, I just couldn't resist. It comes with sauteed potatoes. And of course, a glass of wine - they're all French.

It was fun, listening to the banter of the girls working at the bar - they're definitely English. The bread basket is nothing special, just a sliced white baguette with a little pot of butter: but I was hungry, and it filled a spot. Food arrives in a dumb waiter, and I was halfway though the basket when my duck came. Mesdames et Messieurs, that is definitely a honey sauce! And plenty of it - I was in heaven, scoffing the lot in no time. Dessert after, and they had what in some places is called a Coupe Colonel, and here Le Colonel - lemon sorbet in vodka. So that is what I had too. It comes in two sizes.. and being well early for my play, I had the larger. Which was lovely - but I might go smaller in future, vodka in large quantities doesn't agree with me..

When I was ready to leave, I asked the waiter which way I should go, and he said it didn't matter: in which case, I said, I'll take that door! which he unlocked for me. Well, it was closer.

My phone had no reception in the restaurant, so I was glad to have it restored outside. And so to the theatre, where I was in the Circle - and they advertise a bar on each level, but the Circle bar was closed. Mind you, for once I passed - I was feeling a little the worse for wear after the vodka. Nice, central seat - I did have to lean forward from time to time, to see the action at the front of the stage:

The show starts to tribal drumming, and we are introduced to Mary Seacole herself, in Victorian garb, telling us how she grew up in Jamaica and learned to be a healer. And then - she steps out of the dress, to reveal a modern nurse's uniform, and we are treated to a modern hospital scene, an old lady with dementia being visited by her daughter and granddaughter, until she soils herself, they exit stage left, and the nurses are left to clean it up!

?

So, I guess this is meant to hammer home to us the caring nature of the nurse's profession. And before we know it, we're catapulted back into Mary Seacole's life, and then back into modern times, everyone wondering what is going on. This next bit seems to be to emphasise how annoying Americans can be (she lived in Central America for a while). And then back to Mary, now helping out in the Crimean war, and at loggerheads with Florence Nightingale. And lo, we're back to the present day, for a bewildering segment about people acting injured, so trainee nurses can learn triage. And then it all sort of gets mashed together..

Now, the modern segments are quite funny. But what you could not call this play is coherent, and by the end, when they're all gathered on stage, yelling apparently random bits of dialogue from different parts of the play, it's just chaos. Might suit some, didn't suit me - and I have a high tolerance for weirdness. Had I been at the end of the row, I'd have walked out. Anyway, should you be curious, it's on until the 4th.

Didn't have time to blog last night, because - well Lordy, I booked for the Roman London Walk, with Walk About London (also advertised on Walks, Talks & Treasure Hunts - both linked to London Guided Walks). Which was on early. Now, I missed the last two I was booked on with this company - third time lucky? Got reminders a few days beforehand.

Under 15 minutes to walk there from where I currently live. Handy.. but when I got to the exit of Tower Hill Station, there were a couple of groups in the plaza outside. I couldn't see any obvious signs of where I was to go - I checked, and yes, I was in the right place. I was looking for a guide wearing an orange lanyard, and a sign - nope, couldn't see them. I did see a large orange umbrella - turned out to belong to a Spanish tour group. Finally narrowing it down to that group and another, I peered at the various members of the group, and finally spotted the most discreet guide I've ever seen, lanyard mostly hidden by his jacket, sign securely tucked under his elbow. I joined the circle, and when a couple of Americans asked me whether this was the group, I said, "I think so!" whereupon we all queued to check in.

He had a mic - just as well, given our proximity to the others, at least at this point. And over the next 90 minutes+, he was like a walking history textbook. We knew we were in the presence of someone with an in-depth knowledge of the subject, and there were some serious history buffs in the group who were delighted. We started, of course, with that large section of Roman wall just near the station:

Can you see the horizontal lines of red running through the wall, on the lower half? That's brick, and it was used by the Romans to strengthen walls. The reason the bit above it doesn't have this feature is because it dates from mediaeval times! Also, ignore that statue - although, as he says, tour guides always cheat and use it in their promotional photos.. this is Trajan, and he had absolutely nothing to do with Londinium.

The clock was made to stick out like this so that it could be seen from Fish Street Hill! This was originally a Roman road, leading north from the original London Bridge.

Round by other Roman sites, such as the bathhouse, and the Temple of Mithras. As we wound our way through the City, we came ever closer to my home - and so into Leadenhall Market, which I've hardly ever been into. Used to be the Roman forum - and housed the largest basilica north of the Alps, which stretched from the centre of Leadenhall Market.. to Moorgate! Crikey, that's nearly 3/4 of a mile!

And so, eventually, with the poor guide losing his voice (apparently he's allergic to plane trees), to the Guildhall, where the tour finished, looking at the outline of the Roman amphitheatre. And a round of applause was well-earned. Definitely the tour to go on if you really want to learn about Roman London. As ever, £3 off with the code MEETUP3 - which covers the booking fee.

Me, I wanted food - and the nearest place (open at weekends) turned out to be The Globe: which turned out to be a pub I have passed so often! but never gone into. I headed in and asked for a white wine - gave the poor guy a headache by asking whether they had anything from New Zealand. He thought they didn't - then pulled out a bottle of Oyster Bay! which I love. And had to go to the cellar for another bottle to top it up, since I wanted a large. For food, I had the garlic chicken schnitzel - which was gorgeous, with a scrumptious garlic mayo dip. Oh man, another heavenly meal, and with friendly service too.. I sure am eating well these days! And a lovely, summery day it's been..

And so home. For a while, because I had an appointment with City Rooms, later in the afternoon. Now, he didn't have anything that enthused me - but that doesn't really bother me right now. Because he did assure me that, should I choose something that's not quite right, they have a relocation service whereby I can change to another room in their portfolio! Jeez, I'd forgotten that. And more to the point (not that I told him), I have a viewing tomorrow, for something at least as good as what he was showing me..

Later tomorrow, London Classical Music and Theatre Group (LCMTG) have a late-advertised event, at the Barbican: the BBC Symphony Orchestra is playing Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6. Oh man, it is so long since I last met this group! Something has just always gotten in the way..

On Monday, I have yet another viewing. Now, this is an interesting one - I'd asked to see the room ages ago, he didn't get back to me - then got back to me yesterday and said the room was available again, and did I want to view?! Ooh, yes please - and unless something unexpected crops up during the viewing, I'm taking it on the spot - it's big enough, I think, it has a good big wardrobe, it's walking distance to work. The only one of those on the horizon. And it has its own balcony! Watch this space.. so I'll be leaving tomorrow's landlady dangling until this viewing..

That evening, I'm at an online talk - Anglo-Saxon Surrey - with the Surrey History Meetup.

On Tuesday, woo! back at Shakespeare's Globe - for Henry VIII, which I've never seen. And it's years since I was last here..

On Wednesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Bonnie and Clyde, at the Arts Theatre. Now, most of the group going booked this ages ago - I just booked recently. And I noticed that all the cheapest seats were bench seating, which didn't sound terribly comfortable. But for under £2 more, so £25, I managed to get a ticket in the next band up - in the rear stalls - from Todaytix! See, they have this great £25 ticket offer until the 29th. Whatever about the show, the offer is highly recommended!

On Thursday, back with LCMTG - this time, we're at the Royal Festival Hall, where the Philharmonia is playing Mozart and Bruckner. Which makes this my best week for Meetup since lockdown, the only non-Meetup day being Tuesday!

And then back to Ireland for the weekend.