Prom 7: Dido and Aeneas

Today.. I took a punt that I still wouldn't actually be employed, and 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 couldn't actually make it. Another day predicted to be scorching.. shade recommended! And wouldn't you know it - he postponed it, as a result. So instead, I headed with London Baroque Music Lovers to a late-night gig at the Albert Hall - Prom 7 was Dido and Aeneas.

All afternoon, I crouched in front of my fan and sweltered. I was so glad he had cancelled that walk! Anyway, with this concert on so late, it was a bit cooler by the time I headed out for something to eat. Mindful of the trouble I had finding food near the Albert Hall before, I looked it up in advance, and identified somewhere I might like to eat. I didn't want to eat in the hall itself, given that the organiser had said she'd meet us outside.

Well, heading down that direction meant Tube.. and while it was hot, it was bearable, and I'd thought to bring a bottle of chilled water with me. Announcements were being made about severe delays, and advising not to travel on the Piccadilly Line, because of speed restrictions because of the heat.. I half thought about travelling another way, but it turned out they were all "severely delayed". Anyway, it just seemed to mean that there was only one every few minutes. We all had our ways of cooling down:

This little fellow was panting up a storm, but cheered up mightily when his mummy gave him something to chew on. They got off in Knightsbridge, presumably for some late-night shopping!

I got off in Gloucester Road. Where I witnessed a group of (I guess Canadian, by their luggage straps) girls with more than one large case each, who had just rounded a corner to discover, with some horror, the long flight of steps they had to climb with them. (On a side note, this reminds me of that problem with a boat crossing a river, which can only take so many things at a time. But anyway.) They did manage, the first emerging into daylight to exclaim in delight - "Guys, I can see road!!" But it brings up a point I have before - try not to travel by Tube with heavy luggage. Most stations are not step-free, and those flights of steps can be huge. If you must travel with luggage, say from Heathrow, plan your journey around stations that are step-free, and if necessary, complete the trip by taxi or bus - buses are much better with luggage, as long as they're not too packed.

Off I went in search of food, soon coming across the Light of India - part of the Montana Hotel. Figured I'd give it a go. The smiling receptionist showed me to a cramped table in a corner - hmph. Anyway, service was unfailingly quick throughout. They have two choices of half bottles of wine - one red, one white. And my goodness, he really wanted me to go for the tasting menu. I persisted, and got my usual.

The samosas were nice. The butter chicken was, as usual, butter sauce with a hint of chicken - passable, nothing special. The rice was decent. The peshawari naan was a delight. If I went back - which I'm unlikely to do - I might go for the tasting menu, which seems good value. And they seem to have a good dessert list. But in this heat, I don't actually think Indian food was the wisest choice - afterwards, standing outside the Albert Hall and chatting to the organiser, I felt quite faint and had to sit for a minute. That chilled water came in very handy!

Leaving the restaurant - o no! Unpredicted rain! A downpour, in fact - which wasn't predicted until tomorrow - we were given a 0% chance of rain this evening! Blast. I stood in the porch for a minute and researched how to get to the Albert Hall with the least amount of walking. Found a bus, rode it for two stops, sheltered under a stop with a couple of other blokes, and headed for the hall once it finally stopped. Where the organiser and I had some trouble finding each other, but did manage it in the end, and had a nice chat. It was just the two of us - the heat issues, combined with the lateness of the hour, meant that most people cried off.

She was in the stalls, I was upstairs - except when I got upstairs, a nice lady was blocking people's way and saying they were doing upgrades, and did we want one, and how many tickets? What a shame she hadn't been blocking our way on the stairs.. So I took my ticket from her and headed back down. Turns out they were upgrading everyone in the circle. Hah! Again, the vindication of buying cheap tickets.

Had a brief chat with the guy beside me, who'd been upgraded right in front of me! And Oh, this was a lovely performance. I had never seen the full thing, but the heartbreaking aria "Remember Me" was familiar. As our organiser had highlighted in the event details, they used no fewer than four theorbos, which looked spectacular and helped with the sound in this large venue. The audience also appreciated the comic turn of the dancing sailors (two topless), who lightened the proceedings. Yes, typical proms - always entertaining, beautiful music in a lovely venue.

Afterwards, walked out with her - once I remembered where we were supposed to meet! And wouldn't you know it, my bus stop was closed, and I needs must walk to the next - but it gave us a little more chatting time. Must try and get back with this group again. I even got my mother called while I waited - and she never did figure out where I was, just enquiring at one point what the noise was - she could hear someone speaking.. interestingly, Google Maps' advice changed en route, and had me change at a different stop: and while I waited there, another woman and I admired the accuracy of our bus apps, which predicted the many buses with precision. And I duly alighted into a stiff breeze - why, by now it was almost cold..!

Tomorrow, I finish my Meetup run with a trip with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) to Leicester Square Theatre to see Frankie Boyle, who has a work in progress show. The weather app can't seem to decide whether it'll rain.

On Thursday, I'm heading - at last - to Summer by the River at More London. This is for a free evening of music, curated by Soho Radio. Meeting someone for this, we are getting food beforehand at Wawa - she's keen on ramen. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend. Unlikely to get to a film at the weekend, as I need to get my car serviced for its NCT - sooner the better, and I couldn't last time I was back.

On Monday, I was 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 had an offer of £10 tickets for the cheapest seats for this - a saving of more than 50%! Sadly, yesterday evening I got word that remaining performances of this production have been cancelled, due to covid. Still with nothing on Meetup that appeals, I'm back with TAC for a classical concert - Mario Brunello is playing Bach on on the violoncello piccolo, at Wigmore Hall. He's playing in the evening as well, but cheap tickets are available for the matinee.

Next Tuesday - 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!

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!

On the 29th, I was thinking about the National Theatre's River Stage 2022. This will be the first night of the Hackney Empire's Young Producers Weekend, and there'll be some dance and some music. But now, Civilised London has organised an Ecuadorian meal at El Inca Plebeyo - so I'm going to that instead. His choices are always good. Meeting beforehand at The Canonbury Tavern.

On the 30th, back in Greenwich with Bucket List London - we're starting with the Old Royal Naval College and National Maritime Museum. Was originally supposed to be the Queen's House to finish, but turns out they're booked out all day for a wedding, despite not having clarified that on the website! Then in the afternoon, we're headed to Eltham Palace and Gardens. Quite the packed day..

On the 31st, back with TAC for the opening night of I'm Not Myself Today: A Villainous Cabaret at the Bread and Roses in Clapham. An hour in which someone discusses with us why we all love the villain!

On the 1st, I'm going to the Kiln Theatre for The Darkest Part of the Night. Another troublesome website - I tried for days to get it to work..!

And on the 2nd, thinking vaguely about the Camden Fringe, which runs all next month - there's, for example, an interesting audio event called A Little Drape of Heaven, where you hold a precious item of clothing to your heart, then press play to access a YouTube link that you've paid for. Hmm.. Meantime, Laurence has postponed that walk to this day. Which I can go on as well, assuming I'm not gainfully employed yet..!