Vespers

This evening, back with Bucket List London (BLL) - who obligingly was doing something midweek! I had to skip off work early - this was for vespers in Westminster Cathedral, and we were to meet at 4.30. He was actually in Westminster all day, attending Ministerial Question Time earlier - but not only do I (for the moment) have a job to go to, but jeez, I do believe this would just infuriate me! So that, I didn't attend.. I did have to be up early though, to get in early, to justify the early departure.

Well, off I trotted, heeding the organiser's dire warning to be on time, or risk missing him! The bus that Google Maps promised would get me there did indeed get me there on time! and I schlepped over to the cathedral.

Nice, sunny day. As I waited. Not like him to be late, TBH. I thought I'd give him five minutes - when that was up, I thought I'd give him five more - there was supposed to be another person too, and it was just weird not to meet either of them! No messages on the event page. But I said to myself - I really must go in after 10 minutes if I'm to see anything of the place before Vespers actually starts at 5! Well, I was seconds from going in - and there he was, with a companion from the previous event in tow. Turned out they'd overrun - which is fair enough. Should've taken a minute to message that he was running late, is all.

Never mind - in we went. It's decades since I was last here, and I hardly remembered anything..

Like that there's a chapel dedicated to Irish saints:

(Note the snakes on the altar; St. Patrick is said to have banished snakes from Ireland, you know..)

Well, Vespers - when our organiser asked someone - turned out to be in a side chapel. It transpired that this was the Lady Chapel, which was being dedicated this evening! So, something of a grand occasion:

We couldn't sit as far forward as we'd have liked, what with all the clerics bagging the front pews. The chap in the grey mozzetta, seated at the front of the photo, was the celebrant - the rest were in the congregation with us. The choristers were adult, not choirboys, as you might expect - unusual in our experience, but they were beautiful singers. More of a problem was the disconnect between the songbooks, in English, and the hymns as sung - mostly in Latin. Do you know, though, this was the first Catholic service of any kind I've attended in years.. the heady smell of the incense really brought me back. Not that I've experienced a Damascene conversion - no, quite happy to stay an outside observer, thank you.

Really nice event, though - unusual for me. And a beautiful setting. That's typical of this group - events of a sort that wouldn't normally occur to you, but which turn out to be really worth doing. I find. Roll on the next unexpected destination! Also great to see familiar faces - and a new one.

Our free lunch at work didn't enthuse me today - so I was a bit peckish, and fancied food afterwards. And what should there be, right across the road, but a Bill's.. Well, despite my last time at Bill's, my experience with them has been generally positive. So I said I'd give them a shot. I was initially phased by the large queue - but somewhat reassured to discover most of them were in the same group. When the maitre d' finally reappeared and I asked him about the availability of a table for one, he looked nonplussed for a moment, then asked whether I'd mind sitting at the bar - that was about all he could offer before 7. I said, sure, as long as I could get fed there! No problem - he took most of my order himself.

I have to say, maybe being at the bar - in the centre of things - helped, but I wasn't short on service. Sure, there were some pauses - but they were insanely busy. Indeed, they had run out of wine glasses, and were serving in whatever would do - my wine came in beer glasses. But I never felt neglected, like my last time in a Bill's - it really must depend on the particular location. Had the calamari, as usual - delish. Had the half chicken this time - wow, the equal of that time I was so impressed with the chicken in The Archduke! served with slightly spiced, diced potato. And a very moreish brownie for dessert. The put-upon lady behind the bar was a bit less busy by the time I asked her for the bill. Have to say, this was a much more positive experience than my last time at Bill's.. will remember that in future. Still dubious about that branch in Clink Street, mind.

It had the cheek to rain on me on the way home - quite unexpectedly!

Tomorrow, back with Civilised London (CL) for dinner at Caravel. Terrific reviews.. Meeting at The Narrowboat. Now, this is closer to my flat than to the office - but really, for the sake of having to take a bus, I didn't want to have to drag the laptop with me this evening and home tonight: not to mention back in on Monday, because the office will be handier again. No, I'll just bus it to the dinner tomorrow.

At the weekend, I'm back with the man with the famous name - Dr. Stephen King (not the writer) is guiding a couple of walks for London Guided Walks (courtesy of Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts). Both topics / areas I've covered many times before, but gee, he's such a great guide! So I hope I make these - early. On Saturday, it's his Southwark Walk. Sadly, although it's now advertised on TAC, I booked it through the official site (discount of £3 with the code MEETUP3, as usual).

On Sunday, it's his Royal Coronation Walk - not advertised on TAC yet. I just bet he comes up with something I didn't already know..

On Monday, I'm headed to A Doll's House Part 2, at Donmar Warehouse - sequel to the famous original, where the wife leaves an unhappy marriage; this sequel examines what happens when she returns.

On Tuesday - well, I finally saw Up In The Cheap Seats (UITCS)' ad for Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch, at the Underbelly Festival! A parody musical, right up my street - I hate how Meetup so often doesn't show me the events I really would enjoy! Just as well I saw this in time, before I booked anything else. So it'll be a hectic evening, with an interview scheduled for 5.30! I'd better quit work early I think, and head home for that - I can't guarantee quiet in the office.

On Wednesday, back with CT for a concert by the Royal College of Music Brass Ensemble, at the college on Shelton Street.

Next Thursday, back with Guided Walking Tours in Brighton and Sussex, for The London Necropolis Virtual Tour. I pointed out to him that the registration link had the wrong date, and he said it was outdated, and he'd replace it and send me the new link - well, he's removed it, but no new link yet. And then - you guessed it, I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again!

On the 11th, I'm going to Favour, at the Bush Theatre - after much effort, as their website wasn't working for days! In fact, it seems to go down sporadically. I chose an unreserved seat, will be allocated one on the day. Anyway, I see TAC has now started selling tickets for this - gee, might be not only the cheapest, but the easiest way to book! Only up to the 6th, however. Wow, was only there once before, 3.5 years ago..

On the 12th, I'm going to The Southbury Child, at the Bridge Theatre. I noticed that UITCS is going, later in the week - ah well.

On the 13th, back with CL for dinner - this time at The Crown itself, where we usually meet for drinks before heading somewhere else for dinner. Excellent choice. Which marks the beginning of a whole spate of Meetups in a row! When's the last time that happened..?

On the 14th, back with The Garden Talks - this online talk is How Do Languages Evolve?

On the 15th, back with the London Classical Music and Theatre Group for the opera Otello, at the Royal Opera House.

On the 16th, which is a Saturday, I had booked with Discover London for a trip to see a cart making ceremony - and then Eleanor, organiser of TunedIn London, advertised a concert through the World Music Meetup, for that evening, at City Hope Church. So now I'm going to both.

On Sunday the 17th, back with BLL - this time, it's a trip to Sandown Antiques Market. Well, I've never been to Sandown, so this could be interesting.

On the 18th, back with North London Friends! for the first time since before lockdown. This is for an Edinburgh Comedy Festival preview, at the King's Head in Crouch End, featuring Lucy Porter and Rachel Fairburn.

On the 19th.. I'm taking a punt that I won't actually be employed that day, and have signed up again - at last - for a walk with Laurence and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners. This is The Magic of Midtown - and as I said to him, it finishes very near my new home! I also promised to let him know if I can't actually make it - although, even if I have started work by then (which would be surprising), perhaps I could take a day off.

On the 20th, I finish my Meetup run with a trip with UITCS to Leicester Square Theatre to see Frankie Boyle, who has a work in progress show.

On the 21st, I'm thinking of heading - at last - to Summer by the River at More London. This is for a free evening of music, curated by Soho Radio. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

On the 25th, I'm headed to see The Throne, a comedy about to open at Charing Cross Theatre, in which the Queen gets locked in a portaloo with a staunch republican. Time Out has an offer of £10 tickets for the cheapest seats for this - a saving of more than 50%!

On the 26th - tan-ta-ra! I finally managed to get a decently priced ticket to Jerusalem, at the Apollo. I have heard so much about this, and it's always at the top of the Time Out listings - nearly as hard as Hamilton to get a reasonably priced ticket for, so I'm delighted to get one, if only not to have to look any more.

On the 27th, back to Summer by the River again.. for Bumper Blyton: Improvised Adventures for Grown-Ups! Improvised comedy in the style of Enid Blyton books.. sounds jolly good!

And on the 28th - another UITCS event that Meetup finally decided to flag to me. So I've booked to go with them to see Briefs Factory's show, Bite Club! at Queen Elizabeth Hall. Drag, burlesque.. should be fun!