Storytelling: Day of the Dead

Tonight, back with the Crick Crack Club (CCC) for their annual Day of the Dead event - this one was at Rich Mix, as ever. Starred Daniel Morden, Clare Murphy, Lucy Lill, and TUUP - and all but Clare Murphy, I hadn't seen in an age! I have actually heard Lucy Lill before, but only once, and I'd forgotten..

Well, another of those dramatic evenings started in the afternoon, when I couldn't find my ticket! Rummaged through my inbox in vain - finally checked my account on the Rich Mix website. Sure enough - I'd never booked it! I was so lucky they hadn't sold out.. Tickets must not have been available yet when it was advertised, so I'd put it in my calendar, but completely forgotten to check for a ticket later! So, I bought one this afternoon.

Now, bus routes were handiest from outside King's Cross, so I thought I'd eat in O' Neill's. Chance'd be a fine thing.. downstairs was packed, watching the football - and upstairs, usually dependable, was closed for a private function! Lordy - I legged it down to The Lucas Arms, where they also had the football on, but hardly anyone was interested in it. Secured a table, ordered one of their delectable pies - and why they're still serving drinks in plastic is a mystery to me. Must ask, one day. Anyway, it was delivered to me in no time flat - I got eaten and out in plenty of time.

And that's when the fun really started! I had a choice of two buses - the #205 or the #214. The #205 would be faster - but this, especially from here, is a bus of mystery and fable - its appearance is oft-advertised, but a rare occurrence. So imagine my frustration when, as I waited to cross the road, I saw it had just arrived. Sure enough, by the time I got halfway across, it had escaped. I ended up on a #214.

Except I didn't end up on it - it was only going two stops. Well, I decided, it was going the right way - I might as well be making some progress. Sure enough, when we got off that one, another #214 pulled up right behind - this one was only going another three stops. Well, I was making more progress! Third time lucky - when we got off the second bus, we had a short wait - and the #205 happened along, of all things. So I got there in the end - or well, within about a 10-minute walk. In ever-heavier rain.

I was pretty damp when I got in, at last - we were in the large, downstairs space again, and I queued to have my name checked off the list. Was right behind Martin Shaw, of all people! He was the very first member of the CCC I ever heard tell stories! Anyway, she couldn't find his name, and asked him to check at the box office - couldn't find mine either, among all her sheets! I eventually found it for her, got my stamp and was in. Got a drink (more plastic), and managed to find a decent seat - it was pretty full. Martin Shaw sat over the side.

In short order, all marched in, shaking maracas, TUUP banging his drum, all led by Ben Haggarty, who was MCing. Well, I am delighted to report, we had a cracker of a night of storytelling! Each got to tell two stories - the ladies got three each. Clare reprised her story of the man who waited for Death, which I had heard at the Mexico After Hours exhibition in Kew - but at least this time I got a frontal view, and could hear properly! Other highlights included the story of the four brothers who wanted to prove which had the best education: Lucy's story about the dentures with a life of their own, whose shenanigans get blamed on the cat: TUUP's ever-present, mesmeric drumming: and Daniel Morden, whose gravitas, even when telling a funny story, is remarkable. Small wonder that the lady in front of me on the way out, when she saw her opportunity, congratulated him on his performance! Ah, this was five-star - kudos to them! I've rarely seen better.

Even worth the pouring rain on the way home, which seemed to be in a competition to see just how heavily it could teem down.. Happily, there was no problem getting a #205 in this direction!

Tomorrow,  I was to be back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) - for Noor, at Southwark Playhouse. The true story of a WWII spy - and bought, as usual, on my PAYG subscription - which gives you cheap tickets to five shows, and never expires. Suggestion of eating beforehand at Mercato Metropolitano. But wouldn't you know it, that night's performance was cancelled.. Instead, I'm off to a talk at Watkin's Bookshop (which also has a Meetup presence!). Theme is The First Ghosts, by Irving Finkel - ghost stories have been around for a long time..! He's written a book about the first evidence of tales of the supernatural.. 

Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend. Film for Saturday - now that the listings are finally out - is looking like Róise & Frank. Set in the Irish-speaking Gaeltacht, it's the story of a grieving, recently bereaved woman, who becomes convinced that a stray dog she finds is the reincarnation of her husband, Frank.. Not showing in London at all, it seems, but I can see it in Ennis. Let us pray there isn't a match on..

On Monday, with nothing on Meetup, I thought about heading to see the Carnaby Street Christmas lights, which will be up by then. But I had another look at what's on, and have now booked for Piano Passions at Cadogan Hall - Beethoven and Chopin, gorgeous!

On Tuesday, headed to see John Gabriel Borkman, by Ibsen, at the Bridge Theatre.

On the 9th - originally, nothing better coming up than Soho Comedy Factory, upstairs at The Blue Posts. Now, instead, I've changed my booking for Noor to this night. Sadly, not with the group, who rearranged for a night I can't go.

On the 10th, back - at last! - with London Classical Music and Theatre Group (LCMTG), for Alcina at the Royal Opera House. More Handel..

On the 11th, I was heading to The Horror Show at Somerset House - a horror-based art exhibition - with The Horror Book Club. But then Civilised London popped up with another meal - so I booked that, and we were headed to Champor Champor, a Thai / Malay restaurant. Meeting beforehand at The Rose, nearby. Until he decided, just on Thursday, to cancel it! I supposed he hadn't wanted to do it with only two of us, since I was - unusually - the only one to sign up. But to my further surprise - he kicked me out of the group later that night! No warning, no explanation - not very "civilised". Jeez, I suppose he's had enough of me. And you think you know someone.. 

Killer is, he was such a good reference for good eateries - and the group is private, so without being a member, I won't be able to see where he's going. Ah well, TBH, I was beginning to feel out of place with the people who were attending the meals.. which was pretty much all I was doing with the group, lately. Meantime, I'm back at The Horror Show - at least the ticket won't go to waste!

On the 12th, planning another meal with the people that are harder to herd than cats! As of now, of the four people I've invited, two are pretty certain "no"s and Ivan is as uncommunicative as ever. Jeez.. If it's just the same person that was the only one to make it last time, I think we'll head somewhere different. For variety. On the other hand, Imad's Syrian Kitchen is right off Carnaby Street.. and the lights are probably going to be cool.. Of course, there is the small issue of the irregularity of the wine measures!

On the 13th, back with the CCC at the British Museum, where Daniel Morden and Hugh Lupton are performing The Iliad.

On the 14th, not having been with LCMTG for ages, I'm with them for the second time in a week! Heading to Wigmore Hall this time, for the Takács Quartet, who are playing Beethoven. Now sold out - and I'm not surprised, given that when I booked, I got one of the last three (top price) seats! Ah well, it wasn't astronomical - and I do love Beethoven.

On the 15th, back at the QT Bar - for the RB and Soul Revue. Now, they put on a great show - but, given my experience last time, I'll know to buy my drink at the upstairs bar and take it down with me - better choice! And at least this time, I'll know where I'm going.. Pity I didn't think to check CT first, who have cheap tickets!!

On the 16th, Im back at Conway Hall, for a concert called Sing Like a Vagabond - Shouts and Cries of Victorian London. Tickets are free, but you do have to book.

On the 17th, I'm back with UITCS at the Coliseum, for a performance of Yeomen of the Guard, by Gilbert & Sullivan. And knowing the steepness of the steps in the Balcony - and the irregularity - and what with my stairs phobia - I've done my best to get a seat at the side, so I can use the handrail to get down. Oh, and an aisle seat, what with the restricted legroom..

Then I'm back to Ireland again. And for once, not going to the cinema that weekend - instead, UL is hosting a PhD reunion, with a tour of the campus and, crucially, free lunch. And I'll be using the occasion to catch up with an old friend and, hopefully, find out what finally prompted him to quit lecturing at last, more than 10 years after I did, considering he was bullied even worse than I was!