Yesterday, flew back to Ireland for the weekend. As usual, that wasn't so easy a process.. for the rest of the month, the Stansted Express is out of operation - no, not for strikes this time (for once) but for engineering works. Now, they offer a rail replacement service - but as that takes half an hour extra, I prefer to take the bus the whole way. Might take as long, but at least you don't have to change.
Well, I got to the stop 15 minutes before it was due - at 4.10pm - to see a bus pulling in! Wow, that was early.. I scurried to meet it, and then I saw the queue. Or scrum, as you might call it, with people queueing from two different directions, and each branch accusing the other of queue-jumping. It finally transpired that this was the 4pm bus, whereas mine was the 4.25. And they were strictly only taking people with confirmed bookings for 4pm - in the end, the bus actually left with empty seats as a result, even people with open tickets refused permission to board! The same thing happened with my bus, when it arrived - 15 minutes late, but I was in plenty of time. I'd gratefully settled myself on board, but before we left, the driver hailed us, wanting to know who'd left a case at the door! Of course, it was mine - I identified myself, and he said he'd put it in the hold. Well now, the National Express employee shepherding us on board had specifically said to do that.. not my fault..
It's a comfortable journey, and I napped - and, of course, our flight was delayed, as usual, so I had time for dinner in Pret - not enough time for anything more substantial. At the other end, I was to find the weather much colder, and wetter, than where I'd left!
This weekend's film was A Man Called Otto, which suited just fine! Based on the Swedish comedy, A Man Called Ove, it stars Tom Hanks as an old grump whose wife has just died, but who meets his match in the fiesty young family that moves in next door. And, interestingly, its IMDB rating just keeps rising.. Showing in Ennis, handily. But oh, what a cold day to head out.. I nearly froze on the way to the cinema! And then got stuck behind someone buying a gift voucher, which took forever.. by the time I got in, the film was on the point of starting. I never pay any attention to the specific seat I'm allocated, here - nor does anyone else. So I sat in front of the long row of people all in one group.. shortly after I got there, a couple arrived, and I guess were supposed to sit inside them, because he excused himself past every single one! His companion, more sensibly, sat on the other end of my row instead, where he duly joined her..
I have to say, the things Otto is grumpy about, I sympathise with him on. He can't buy exactly the quantity of rope he needs at the store, cars continually drive down his restricted road.. and as the film progresses, we all find ourselves turning more to his point of view about things. Partly, this is because, as the film progresses, we learn more about his back story. Early in the film, we see his truly horrendous retirement do at work, but mostly, the film concerns itself with his wife: how they met, and what happened with them.
It's a Tom Hanks film, so as I kept saying to people beforehand, you're in safe hands. It's hilarious, as you'd expect. The family that moves in next door is endearing, and Otto is adopted by a stray cat. But oh, it's heartrending.. his backstory has unexpected depth, and there's a poignant side story with his old friends, also neighbours. This is a real tearjerker. Approach with caution.. those who brave it, however, will be well-rewarded.
Walked right out into the most horrendous hail shower:
Tonight's film on tv was Peterloo, which I hadn't seen, and ended up watching most of - directed by Mike Leigh, it stars Rory Kinnear as Henry Hunt, the MP who spoke at the gathering. This is the story of the Peterloo massacre, as it came to be known (it took place at a place called St. Peter's Field, and reference was made in the name to the recent Battle of Waterloo) - a group of factory workers and their families met at a political gathering to discuss parliamentary reform. Unfortunately, as someone recently said, the British government is not known for its restraint, and overreacted, in typically brutal form, with the military brought in and attacking and killing innocent people.
Most of the film is a bit dry, honestly - lots of political discussion in backrooms, women relegated to the position of serving drinks and food, or other menial tasks. The film only hots up when the violence starts, and that is suitably horrible. A scene of gaudy decadence is thrown in shortly afterwards, for contrast, where we see a ghastly made-up and out-of-touch Prince Regent cavorting with his mistress and complaining about the pesky poor. Of course, as I was watching British soldiers impaling countryfolk with their swords, it did occur to me to wonder whether today's British government thinks of the general populace any less a herd of cattle than they did then.. Anyway, an event I'd recommend finding out about, but not a film I'd recommend watching.
On Monday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for The Art of Illusion, at Hampstead Theatre. Award-winning, it seems..
On Tuesday, I'm headed to Chicago Blues Explosion in the January Blues Festival at the 100 Club. Just a shame their early bird tickets were sold out.
On Wednesday, with TAC for a classical concert at King's Place (nice and close). This is the Kirckman Society for young artists, presenting Connaught Brass.
On Thursday, Ken's Green Walks for Health (aka Ken's Events, to those of us who know it from before) is off to see the Winter Lights at Canary Wharf. Now, I wouldn't go with them in a fit - but there's nothing to stop me seeing the lights myself for free, eh? I don't see the point in paying Ken £5 to lead a group around.. Mind you, the lady that sold me my ticket for Mandela was in touch afterwards to say that the theatre is offering a free link to a livestream of the full show! and she was asking me what day would suit. This being one of the options, I figured it'd be a good way to avoid the cold of Canary Wharf..
On Friday (unusually, it's usually Thursday), back with Watkin's Bookshop for a book launch. This is Fifty Forgotten Books by R. B. Russell. Occult theme, as usual. Let's see whether I can avoid falling asleep this time!
Next Saturday, back at King's Place - this time it's the Crick Crack Club, with Stories in the Dark. Told in darkness, by the sound of it - sounds divine!
On the 22nd, back with Cultureseekers for the Hieroglyphs: Unlocking Ancient Egypt exhibition at the British Museum. Assuming it's not curtailed due to transport strikes - there is a warning on the museum website that galleries might have to close early!
On the 23rd, I've finally booked for Best of Enemies at the Noel Coward Theatre. This play concerns a series of debates on US television between liberal writer Gore Vidal and conservative William F. Buckley in 1968 - the interesting twist here, given the time and place we're talking about, is to cast William Buckley as black! Had my own seat review on Seatplan to guide me in picking a seat - this is one of those restricted view/legroom theatres. And despite all the theatre offers flooding my inbox, I found the cheapest tickets for this on the official website! Mind you, what with See Tickets doing the selling, I found myself with a second, unexplained, booking fee..
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