Pub: The Lucas Arms

I was keeping tonight free because Ivan was feeling thirsty again. :-) And for once, he seemed to be sticking to the date, having booked us a table at The Lucas Arms (which, as he pointed out, has a smoker's area). We hoped to have Martin - my other friendly ex-boss - join us, but he was, as he said, knackered, after the week. Still, we had an excellent evening - Lordy, it'd be great to be working together again, but doesn't really seem like it. But the odd evening out together is still good..

He ordered far too much for himself, and I didn't fancy them. But apparently lovely..

I hadn't booked anything for tomorrow. Just as well - Martin is keen to come along to whatever we're doing. Ivan isn't sure when he'll be free.. but I'm sure we'll manage something. 

On Sunday, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club, for Orpheus Dismembered, at the British Museum, courtesy of Ben Haggarty. The event there that I'd already heard of..

Monday is film, so I was waiting for the film listings - and I was delighted with what came up. Top of the list was Tetris, would you believe! Now, this is a game I used to love - and it seems it also has an interesting backstory! The chameleon-like Taron Egerton plays the American businessman who wants the rights, but it seems the inventor is actually a programmer in Soviet Russia. Cue lots of Cold War-style intrigue - right when the USSR was collapsing, in 1989. So, also looking forward to sights and sounds I remember from then! Also stars Toby Jones. Seems the real story wasn't quite as exciting as depicted - but you know what they say about not letting the truth get in the way of a good story! Anyway, the trailer looks fantastic. Streaming on Apple TV+, if you have it.. In cinemas, it seems to be exclusively in the Everyman - not all of them though, and the closest showing to me is in the Screen on the Green. I'm too damn interested not to see this.

And then its rating fell. :-( Now, top of the list is Mrs. Chatterjee Vs. Norway - based on the true story of an Indian woman, living in Norway, whose children were taken into care. Differences in perceptions of how children should be raised, apparently. Only showing in Cineworld Wood Green at a time I can manage - but do you know, I'd much rather watch Tetris. Watch this space..

Tuesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for The Unfriend, in The Criterion Theatre. A comedy about a British family that befriend an American lady while on holiday over there, and agree to keep in touch. Now she's on a plane over to see them - and they've discovered a terrible secret about her! How to they get rid of her - politely..? Sounds excellent. My though, I had terrible trouble trying to find a decent seat - everything left that was cheap seemed to be behind a pillar! and they aren't small pillars, as I discovered thanks to Seatplan. I finally plumped for something in the back row of the Dress Circle, where the pillars are thinner. Hey, you never know, I might be upgraded..

On Wednesday, back with the Horror Book Club, at the Prince of Wales in Drury Lane, as usual. And wow, this month's book is a doozy - House of Leaves is a massive tome, which I started reading years ago and never did get finished. I couldn't find that copy, so ended up buying it again - but am I finding the time to read it? Well, I'm doing my best, and it is a cracking read. Here's hoping I get it finished in time, as it's quite dense.. I'm still only about 120 pages through a nearly 700-page story..

On Thursday, with a bank holiday next day, flying back to Ireland. Aer Lingus, because I left it too late to book with Ryanair, and the evening flights were gone. Now, I have an old friend, Vicki, in Cork, whom I usually go down to see once a year, staying the night - usually at Christmas, but she was too busy for me last Christmas. So we've arranged for me to go and stay on the 11th this year, coming back the next day. Now, that realistically means I can't fly to London before the 13th - but with nothing unmissable on the 14th, I'm flying back that day instead. I finally got my holiday request in - no word yet.. Well, if I am denied the holiday, I'll just have to take the laptop with me. Which could get interesting, as I'd have to have it on in the car on the road to Cork..

I definitely have to be back for the 15th though, when I'm booked on another walk with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners! This one is A City built by a Genius - Wren's London. And as of now, he's scheduling walks I haven't done for days I can make them! Very cool.. because I do love his walks. And lunches.

Now, I'm not exactly clear on what's happening on the 16th, when my boss suggested - quite a while ago - that we might have a jaunt to the head office in Tel Aviv! I haven't heard anything since, though - I must get around to asking him. The dates suggested were out on the 16th, back on the 21st. But that was when there were two writers - we lost one, and they still don't have a replacement. Perhaps he wants to wait until that happens.. Watch this space..

Anyway, I have to go back to Ireland the following weekend. On the 24th, back with UITCS for The Secret Life of Bees, at the Almeida - no seats left in the stalls! Seatplan made me wary of the cheapest seats, so I'm in the next bracket up..

And on the 25th, back with Over 40 Living the Life, for dinner at the Greenwich Yacht Club again. Well, it was good last time - good food, cheap prices, good company. Only me and the organiser so far - I'm sure there'll be more!

Concert: Synchrony

Tonight, back with the London European Club, at somewhere called the Ugly Duck, for Synchrony, a female 12-piece string ensemble. Tickets from Eventbrite. As hosted by Eleanor Salter Thorn again! So glad to see her hosting events in more central locations..

Now, I know there are plenty of good places to eat around that part of town. Looking around on Google Maps, I suddenly came up with the Dean Swift.. I hadn't eaten there before, but I'd had a great drinking session there! At under 10 minutes' walk from the venue, it was in an OK location - I filled out the form, and the manager got right back to me to confirm the booking. Excellent! Mind you, this was one of those busy afternoons.. I should have had time to get the bus all the way, but I ended up leaving late, so it was Tube. Followed by bus! Happily, I got an earlier Tube than I needed, and the bus was right along - so, even though it was diverted (burst water main), I got to the pub just in time for my booking.

A smiley lady at the bar spotted I wanted to talk to someone - I told her I had a booking, she checked my name, and told me my table was upstairs. Which turned out to be almost empty - apart from a long table of Americans, sounding like army guys (to my untrained ears). I found the table with my "Reserved" sign on it, and the same lady took my drink order. When she took my food order, she was unsure which dish I wanted - I showed her on the menu, she apologised for her ignorance; seems this was only her third day! Ah, she was lovely, though.

I had the "marinated sirloin boccadillo" (steak sandwich, to you and me). Sounded good, marinated in red wine and onion as it promised to be. And OMG it was.. too messy to pick up and eat though, I had to use a knife and fork. She had given me a steak knife, fortunately. The accompanying chips were gorgeous too, if a bit salty - excellent, I've found another good eatery! I had a second glass of wine, while I worked my way through the sandwich - would have liked to try the churros you can have for dessert, but I didn't really have time. Raincheck..

And so to the venue, which turned out to be a warehouse. The guy checking tickets gave mine a cursory glance, and directed me to the bar - where the group was hanging out and chatting. Now, they were only serving non-alcoholic drinks - but I have to say, their "noughty" white wine was very tasty! Club Soda is the name, it seems..

When the time came to go upstairs for the concert, I was relieved to see that seating was laid out for us! and Eleanor had thoughtfully saved us some seats in the front. As there'd been no seating in the bar, I'd had visions of us standing..

You know, it's a curious thing - this is the first time I've attended a concert in a warehouse, but not the first time I've seen one; the Irish-language TV channel, TG4, has had lots of series about Irish music, where Irish traditional musicians collaborate with musicians from Brittany, or Newfoundland, who have the same musical traditions. And they're always hanging out in warehouses! The acoustics, perhaps..?

Well, the sound tonight was top notch - just as well, as they were recording. The programme threw up a few surprises - we were given free programme fliers on the way in, which detail what it is we were to listen to: but I'm not sure that the first piece, Ramifications by Ligeti, managed to convey the complex themes described in the flier.. it did vaguely remind me of a swarm of malevolent insects. Mind you, we had been warned. We were on safer ground with Stravinsky, which took us to the interval.

During the interval, I finally took the opportunity to resolve outstanding issues with my flat's water bill (yes, this is the level of detail my life has, these days). Sorted now - for the moment..

After the interval, we had a completely new piece - and the composer in the audience, which was nice. She herself described this as "heavy metal Persian" or some such.. Anyway, I fancied I could hear some Persian influences, and this was the first new piece I've heard in ages that I actually liked! Probably my favourite of the night, in fact. We finished with Bartók's Divertimento - and it was lovely to see accomplished artists in such an intimate setting. Really, a lovely concert - as all of Eleanor's are!

Bus all the way home, and as I was changing buses, I gave directions to a Spanish-speaking family looking for the Tower. In the night..? Anyway, they were glad to hear they could walk - less complicated than buses, when you're not familiar with them. And of course, it does look even more spectacular, floodlit..

I was keeping tomorrow free because Ivan is feeling thirsty again. :-) And for once, he seems to be sticking to the date, having booked us a table at The Lucas Arms (which, as he pointed out, has a smoker's area). We're hoping to have Martin - my other friendly ex-boss - join us, but he said he'll be late - he'll join when he can. And this looks like turning into the first zapoi in a while - Ivan is talking about booking a studio, where we can drink overnight. Oy ve, watch this space.. So, not pushed about doing anything extra on Saturday.

On Sunday, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club, for Orpheus Dismembered, at the British Museum, courtesy of Ben Haggarty. The event there that I'd already heard of..

Monday is film, so I was waiting for the film listings - and I was delighted with what came up. Top of the list was Tetris, would you believe! Now, this is a game I used to love - and it seems it also has an interesting backstory! The chameleon-like Taron Egerton plays the American businessman who wants the rights, but it seems the inventor is actually a programmer in Soviet Russia. Cue lots of Cold War-style intrigue - right when the USSR was collapsing, in 1989. So, also looking forward to sights and sounds I remember from then! Also stars Toby Jones. Seems the real story wasn't quite as exciting as depicted - but you know what they say about not letting the truth get in the way of a good story! Anyway, the trailer looks fantastic. Streaming on Apple TV+ from Friday, if you have it.. In cinemas, it seems to be exclusively in the Everyman - not all of them though, and the closest showing to me is in the Screen on the Green.

And then its rating fell today. :-( Now, top of the list is Mrs. Chatterjee Vs. Norway - based on the true story of an Indian woman, living in Norway, whose children were taken into care. Differences in perceptions of how children should be raised, apparently. Only showing in Cineworld Wood Green at a time I can manage - but do you know, I'd much rather watch Tetris. Watch this space..

Tuesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for The Unfriend, in The Criterion Theatre. A comedy about a British family that befriend an American lady while on holiday over there, and agree to keep in touch. Now she's on a plane over to see them - and they've discovered a terrible secret about her! How to they get rid of her - politely..? Sounds excellent. My though, I had terrible trouble trying to find a decent seat - everything left that was cheap seemed to be behind a pillar! and they aren't small pillars, as I discovered thanks to Seatplan. I finally plumped for something in the back row of the Dress Circle, where the pillars are thinner. Hey, you never know, I might be upgraded..

On Wednesday, back with the Horror Book Club, at the Prince of Wales in Drury Lane, as usual. And wow, this month's book is a doozy - House of Leaves is a massive tome, which I started reading years ago and never did get finished. I couldn't find that copy, so ended up buying it again - but am I finding the time to read it? Well, I'm doing my best, and it is a cracking read. Here's hoping I get it finished in time, as it's quite dense.. I'm still only about 120 pages through a nearly 700-page story..

Next Thursday, with a bank holiday next day, flying back to Ireland. Aer Lingus, because I left it too late to book with Ryanair, and the evening flights were gone. Now, I have an old friend, Vicki, in Cork, whom I usually go down to see once a year, staying the night - usually at Christmas, but she was too busy for me last Christmas. So we've arranged for me to go and stay on the 11th this year, coming back the next day. Now, that realistically means I can't fly to London before the 13th - but with nothing unmissable on the 14th, I'm flying back that day instead. I finally got my holiday request in - no word yet.. Well, if I am denied the holiday, I'll just have to take the laptop with me. Which could get interesting, as I'd have to have it on in the car on the road to Cork..

I definitely have to be back for the 15th though, when I'm booked on another walk with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners! This one is A City built by a Genius - Wren's London. And as of now, he's scheduling walks I haven't done for days I can make them! Very cool.. because I do love his walks. And lunches.

Now, I'm not exactly clear on what's happening on the 16th, when my boss suggested - quite a while ago - that we might have a jaunt to the head office in Tel Aviv! I haven't heard anything since, though - I must get around to asking him. The dates suggested were out on the 16th, back on the 21st. But that was when there were two writers - we lost one, and they still don't have a replacement. Perhaps he wants to wait until that happens.. Watch this space..

Anyway, I have to go back to Ireland the following weekend. On the 24th, back with UITCS for The Secret Life of Bees, at the Almeida - no seats left in the stalls! Seatplan made me wary of the cheapest seats, so I'm in the next bracket up..

And on the 25th, back with Over 40 Living the Life, for dinner at the Greenwich Yacht Club again. Well, it was good last time - good food, cheap prices, good company. Only me and the organiser so far - I'm sure there'll be more!

Dance: Creature

Tonight, I was back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) to Sadler's Wells - feels like ages, but it's not that long - for Creature, by Akram Khan! I absolutely love his work. Handily enough, I used my latest Theatre Token for this - would have used it for Phaedra, last night, but while neither theatre takes them online (you have to phone if you want to use a token), the National charges extra for phone bookings. So I used it for this instead.

Again, to The Lucas Arms - and I notice the first time I went here was the last time I was in Sadler's Wells! It was busy, but mercifully, not as much as last night, and I got a better located table. And the dinner was excellent - happily, accompanying the pie, they seem to have swapped out the cabbage for peas, which I much prefer! Still quite busy, mind - I got the impression the staff were eyeing my table, although they didn't try to hurry me. And as I was packing up, a group of three approached to ask whether I was leaving. So, business continues to boom..

As I was walking along Acton Street afterwards, would you believe, as I approached each of the two bus stops, a bus pulled up to it! Lordy, I wouldn't have such service if I needed it..

My, but it's a taxing walk from there to Sadler's Wells, a substantial amount uphill - and, as usual, I had the stairs to climb there. I certainly worked off that dinner! Got myself an interesting pinot grigio from the bar - yes, I generally prefer sauvignon, but I wasn't sure the one they had was worth it, so I just went with this. Which was cheaper, and fine. Better queue management than the National last night, I might point out - I neglected to mention it in last night's blog, but our queue was cut in on last night, and neither queue-jumpers nor the barman paid the slightest attention to the apoplectic reaction of people on all sides of me.. you have been warned. Much more civilised here. And we all chatted happily until it was time to go in - no problem taking my glass in, either.

I was in one of those handy seats to the side, one with no other seats beside it (N30):

Wow. After tonight, yes, I still love Akram Khan. The booming score is compelling, the imagery striking. Basically, some kind of creature is experimented on by an openly agressive regime - we are left in no doubt about the regime's ferocity, nor the creature's essential humanity.. The vision of the synchronised marching of the regime's soldiers bearing down on the creature is absolutely overwhelming. And as someone remarked, kudos to the dancer portraying the creature, who works visibly harder than anyone else on that stage! The set falling to pieces at the end is a nice touch.. you can kind of see how the structure lends itself to that.. Mind you, again as someone remarked, we were lucky to be sat up high, what with the live orchestra - it was loud enough for us, but must have been deafening to be closer to the stage!

Runs until Saturday. V highly recommended.. Contains strobe lighting.

Tomorrow, back with the London European Club, at somewhere called the Ugly Duck, for Synchrony, a female 12-piece string ensemble. Tickets from Eventbrite. As hosted by Eleanor Salter Thorn again! So glad to see her hosting events in more central locations..

I was keeping Friday free because Ivan is feeling thirsty again. :-) And for once, he seems to be sticking to the date, having booked us a table at The Lucas Arms (which, as he pointed out, has a smoker's area). We're hoping to have Martin - my other friendly ex-boss - join us, but he has more family commitments, which he's trying to juggle - we've told him to join us whenever. And this looks like turning into the first zapoi in a while - Ivan is talking about booking a studio, where we can drink overnight. Oy ve, watch this space.. So, not pushed about doing anything extra on Saturday.

On Sunday, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club, for Orpheus Dismembered, at the British Museum, courtesy of Ben Haggarty. The event there that I'd already heard of..

Monday is film, so I was waiting for the film listings - and I'm delighted with what's come up. Far ahead of anything else on the list at this point - and rising in ratings - is Tetris, would you believe! Now, this is a game I used to love - and it seems it also has an interesting backstory! The chameleon-like Taron Egerton plays the American businessman who wants the rights, but it seems the inventor is actually a programmer in Soviet Russia. Cue lots of Cold War-style intrigue - right when the USSR was collapsing, in 1989. So, also looking forward to sights and sounds I remember from then! Also stars Toby Jones. Seems the real story wasn't quite as exciting as depicted - but you know what they say about not letting the truth get in the way of a good story! Anyway, the trailer looks fantastic. Streaming on Apple TV+ from Friday, if you have it.. In cinemas, it seems to be exclusively in the Everyman - not all of them though, and the closest showing to me is in the Screen on the Green. 

Tuesday, back with UITCS for The Unfriend, in The Criterion Theatre. A comedy about a British family that befriend an American lady while on holiday over there, and agree to keep in touch. Now she's on a plane over to see them - and they've discovered a terrible secret about her! How to they get rid of her - politely..? Sounds excellent. My though, I had terrible trouble trying to find a decent seat - everything left that was cheap seemed to be behind a pillar! and they aren't small pillars, as I discovered thanks to Seatplan. I finally plumped for something in the back row of the Dress Circle, where the pillars are thinner. Hey, you never know, I might be upgraded..

Next Wednesday, back with the Horror Book Club, at the Prince of Wales in Drury Lane, as usual. And wow, this month's book is a doozy - House of Leaves is a massive tome, which I started reading years ago and never did get finished. I couldn't find that copy, so ended up buying it again - but am I finding the time to read it? Well, I'm doing my best, and it is a cracking read. Here's hoping I get it finished in time, as it's quite dense.. I'm still only about 110 pages through a nearly 700-page story..

On the 6th, with a bank holiday next day, flying back to Ireland. Aer Lingus, because I left it too late to book with Ryanair, and the evening flights were gone. Now, I have an old friend, Vicki, in Cork, whom I usually go down to see once a year, staying the night - usually at Christmas, but she was too busy for me last Christmas. So we've arranged for me to go and stay on the 11th this year, coming back the next day. Now, that realistically means I can't fly to London before the 13th - but with nothing unmissable on the 14th, I'm flying back that day instead. I haven't yet had a chance to put in a holiday request though, and now the system security isn't letting me in! Honestly, you couldn't make it up.. Well, if I am denied the holiday, I'll just have to take the laptop with me. Which could get interesting, as I'd have to have it on in the car on the road to Cork..

I definitely have to be back for the 15th though, when I'm booked on another walk with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners! This one is A City built by a Genius - Wren's London. And as of now, he's scheduling walks I haven't done for days I can make them! Very cool.. because I do love his walks. And lunches.

Now, I'm not exactly clear on what's happening on the 16th, when my boss suggested - quite a while ago - that we might have a jaunt to the head office in Tel Aviv! I haven't heard anything since, though - I must get around to asking him. The dates suggested were out on the 16th, back on the 21st. Watch this space..

Play: Phaedra

Tonight, I booked for Phaedra, at the National. Stars Janet McAteer. Google Maps said the fastest route there was to take a bus from Acton Street - so, past The Lucas Arms again. But when I went in.. Lordy, I've almost never seen it so busy! Certainly not when I was last here, a week ago.. Well, I scouted the pub, and there were exactly two tables free - one of which was reserved. So I grabbed the table for one, near the Ladies' toilet. Which was fine, really! The lady at the bar confirmed that this was unusually busy - and warned me that the food might take a little longer, because they had other orders to get out before mine. I tell you something, they know what they're at in that kitchen - even with a table of six to be served, right beside me, mine still only took 10 minutes. And was perfectly cooked.

So, having gobbled it down, off I went, figuring the earlier the better. And as I was crossing the road - the nightmare scenario, a bus I could take was just pulling in! So I started to run off my dinner.. the lady who got off the bus smiled at me as I ran past, and bless the driver, he was one of those that wait! So I made it. Sadly, Google Maps still doesn't seem to recognise that the stop they tell me to get off at has been closed for ages for road works - happily, it doesn't make much difference, except that I still have to cross the road, and the next stop is nowhere near a pedestrian crossing! Happily again, there was actually no traffic, for once.. and the next bus was right along. So I made the theatre in plenty of time.

The house, BTW, was packed - and the row, two rows in front of me, was what looked like a school group. Lucky beggars - I never got to anything this cool when I was in school.. You can see some of them in this shot, leaning over to talk to each other.

The actors play in a box, essentially - perhaps a strange choice, but I got used to it. The set, you see, is a large, enclosed, glass box that can revolve, and which has different sets within it at different points of the story. One of the (many) trigger warnings for this production is that there are many sustained periods of darkness - that's when they're changing the set. Indeed there are - during a couple of which, a man's voice narrates words in a foreign language, whose translation in English is projected onto the safety curtain. Turns out the language is Arabic - I don't speak enough of it myself to have realised that until the story progressed a bit.

Wow, the dialogue in this is fast-paced - I had trouble keeping up, particularly in the opening scene, when we meet "Phaedra" - here called Helen - and her husband, grown-up daughter, son-in-law, and teenage son, who have gathered for a meal in the well-appointed living room of their London home. The lady beside me had similar problems - and I can only feel for the poor sign language interpreter, stood outside the box for the whole thing, translating vigorously as people speak over each other! 

So. In the original myth, Phaedra's husband is away at war, hasn't been heard from in years, and is presumed dead. She proceeds to fall madly in love with her stepson - only to have her husband return! To deflect criticism from herself, she accuses her stepson of forcing himself on her, he ends up dead, and she commits suicide.

Here, she's a successful politician; the choice of "Helen" as her name isn't accidental, and is confirmed when, at one point, her husband draws a comparison between her and Helen of Troy. She might now be comfortably married, but back in the day, she had an affair - it is revealed - with a dashing young Moroccan musician, who ended up dead in a car crash. And now his son is in the UK, and has come looking for her.. and you can guess what happens next. Now, I have to say, I can't blame her - they cast this role carefully, and I think, very successfully. I can quite believe this guy as a lothario! He is dark, handsome, sultry.. has a deep, sensual voice.. seems sensitive and caring..

I did not expect this play to be as hilarious as I found it. It's kind of like a comedy soap opera; as the plot twists and turns, the audience shrieks in disbelief, and we get to laugh as various characters react to the news. The trigger warning of nudity is a bit OTT - nobody appears completely nude, they always have underwear on! It's all quite comical - until it isn't. Finally, in the last, snowy scene, we get to the tragic Greek conclusion, where the mood changes completely. Trigger warnings perhaps appropriate here, as the story is finally and dreadfully resolved.

I loved this - unless you have a particular sensitivity to the themes covered, this is a must-see, and provides a terrific evening of enjoyment! Runs till the 8th.

Tomorrow, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats to Sadler's Wells - first time in an age - for Creature, by Akram Khan! I absolutely love his work. Handily enough, I used my latest Theatre Token for this - would have used it for Phaedra, but while neither theatre takes them online (you have to phone if you want to use a token), the National charges extra for phone bookings. So I used it for this instead.

On Thursday, back with the London European Club, at somewhere called the Ugly Duck, for Synchrony, a female 12-piece string ensemble. Tickets from Eventbrite. As hosted by Eleanor Salter Thorn again! So glad to see her hosting events in more central locations..

I was keeping Friday free because Ivan is feeling thirsty again. :-) And for once, he seems to be sticking to the date, having booked us a table at The Lucas Arms (which, as he pointed out, has a smoker's area). We're hoping to have Martin - my other friendly ex-boss - join us, but he has more family commitments, which he's trying to juggle - we've told him to join us whenever. And this looks like turning into the first zapoi in a while - Ivan is talking about booking a studio, where we can drink overnight. Oy ve, watch this space.. So, not pushed about doing anything extra on Saturday.

And on Sunday, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club, for Orpheus Dismembered, at the British Museum, courtesy of Ben Haggarty. The event there that I'd already heard of..

Kirckman Concert: Joseph Havlat

Back to London, phew. Just as well I reminded my perenially forgetful taxi driver about the clock change though! But, what with Ryanair's schedule change, I get to fly a bit earlier now, and not on the last flight of the night - so, fewer knock-on delays! and I get in at a reasonable time - and, crucially, in time for the Stansted Express. When it's running.

Today, I initially booked with the Happy Positive Group! For their weekly Monday trivia night! They seem to be completely online. But wow, looking at it lately, they seemed to have switched today's meeting to tomorrow! Although, having cancelled my attendance, I then noticed that all Meetups were displaying in the wrong time zone, so were shown as starting five hours later than they actually were.. I complained, and they did fix it. Well, I probably wouldn't have gone anyway.

The best Meetup left for today seemed to be with the Shanty Singers Colliers Wood. This is another of those things I once booked and ended up cancelling, so I said I'd hold off on booking that till nearer the time. But you know, when I looked more carefully.. this is a big complicated affair, with "warming up exercises", a vocal coach, a "practice session".. for goodness' sake. The more I read, the less enthusiastic I felt.

I finally gave up on Meetup, and booked with TAC, for a Kirckman piano concert at King's Place. Thought it'd be nice, and it is definitely close.

Wow though, the boss found a lot of work for me to do today - I was still working on it after 6! Finished at 6.10 - which was actually fine for the evening, the concert didn't start that early - but I had wanted to shop first. Never mind, off I went. First stop Nando's, of course - I wouldn't eat in King's Place, in preference, the service is terminally slow. So was getting seated at Nando's! Did you know, they have different tables for one than for two?! Seems, if it has a bench on one side and a chair on the other, it's a table for one - the booths are tables for two! 

Well, I did get seated after 15 minutes, finally - and of course, the app makes it all the faster now. And the food was excellent, albeit the chicken was a little chewy today. I seem to have arrived at a bad time, BTW - the crowd waiting completely vanished while I was eating! Sadly, I had no time for a dessert, or a second glass of their excellent chardonnay - one day, perhaps..

A short walk, then, to King's Place, I had my name checked off the list and went downstairs. Where the show in Hall Two was just on the point of starting - I was in Hall One, though. I nipped to the toilet first, where someone urged me to hurry, it was starting! (Something about a rail workers' film..?) Anyway, my business done, I headed for the bar - only to be told it was closed! FFS.. Not worth their while, I guess, certainly once the crowd for Hall Two had gone in.

I was the first into Hall One - and had a most decent seat. (I checked afterwards - my £4.50 ticket was face value £25, yippee.. £27.50 with booking fee!)

The crowd was rather sparse.. don't take the photo as a guide to that though, it was taken at the interval! Anyway, the pianist was excellent, as you'd expect - apparently deeply entranced throughout, he threw himself into the expression of the music. The pregnant pauses were maybe a bit suspenseful, mind - he had a habit of sitting, hands still poised over the piano like claws, as if having a mental conversation with the instrument. I took to counting the seconds, towards the end - the last pause lasted about 40 seconds before he relaxed back in his seat, and we knew the concert was over, and we had permission to clap.

As to the material - as I anticipated, a mixture of dissonant modern stuff (yuck) and nice, lyrical, traditional classical. The only ones I half-recognised were some decent Gershwin adaptations. Not, honestly, my favourite musical sojourn, but still, it was nice to get back to classical again! First time in an age.

Oh, and I had time to shop - partially, anyway - on the way home.

Tomorrow, I've booked for Phaedra, at the National. Stars Janet McAteer.

On Wednesday, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats to Sadler's Wells - first time in an age - for Creature, by Akram Khan! I absolutely love his work. Handily enough, I used my latest Theatre Token for this - would have used it for Phaedra, but while neither theatre takes them online (you have to phone if you want to use a token), the National charges extra for phone bookings. So I used it for this instead.

On Thursday, back with the London European Club, at somewhere called the Ugly Duck, for Synchrony, a female 12-piece string ensemble. Tickets from Eventbrite. As hosted by Eleanor Salter Thorn again! So glad to see her hosting events in more central locations..

I was keeping Friday free because Ivan is feeling thirsty again. :-) And for once, he seems to be sticking to the date, having booked us a table at The Lucas Arms (which, as he pointed out, has a smoker's area). We're hoping to have Martin - my other friendly ex-boss - join us, but he has more family commitments, which he's trying to juggle - we've told him to join us whenever. And this looks like turning into the first zapoi in a while - Ivan is talking about booking a studio, where we can drink overnight. Oy ve, watch this space.. So, not pushed about doing anything extra on Saturday.

And on Sunday, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club, for Orpheus Dismembered, at the British Museum, courtesy of Ben Haggarty. The event there that I'd already heard of..

Film: Scream VI

Back to Ireland for the weekend again. And hallelujah praise the Lord, Scream VI is still showing in Limerick! Earlier in the Omniplex, so I booked before they got the chance to &^%^$ change it again.. It moves the action to New York, where survivors have moved to start a new life - still has Courteney Cox, of course, and the classic Scream masks.. Contains strobe lighting.

Had to pick up my mother's pension first, so it was a rush - and wow, traffic in Limerick was dire! Turned out there was a match in town.. Well, of course I was late. Parking at the cinema wasn't hard, but by the time I got in, it had started. Black as pitch in the screen - no chance of finding my seat. I stood by the entrance for what I think was the opening scene - and first kill. I was waiting for the screen to brighten. The title came up - and I realised there would probably be no scenes bright enough. I thought about lighting the way with my phone, but finally just crept my way to the nearest seat, which - mercifully - was empty. (As it happened, I was just across the aisle from the seat I'd booked - close enough.)

Meh, I never was into action films - and gore leaves me cold. But I have to say, after the initial bloodbath, it calms down a bit, and we get a bit of dialogue. As the protagonists realise that the horror has followed them, one comes up with the usual theories that the franchise loves - what makes these films unique, of course, is the fact that we generally have at least one in a film class, and familiar with the classic rules of horror films. Which are then played with over the course of the film. Well, we get them again here.. but as usual, don't expect them to make it that obvious. I was certainly surprised when I found out who the killers are..

Yes, there are jump scares, but they tend to sigue straight into chases, so they're not throwaway. And the chases are terrific - really well-thought out, well developed, unpredictable, and extended. Lots of attractive actors, of course. But this probably won't convert anyone to the franchise - it's only going to appeal to existing fans. High body count, and lots of gore - as to be expected. As for the actors themselves - well, I cared about some of them, at least, and whether they survived.. not all though, which is always a shame. But at least I finally got to see it!

Back to London tomorrow, phew. On Monday, I booked with the Happy Positive Group! For their weekly Monday trivia night! They seem to be completely online. But wow, looking at it lately, they seemed to have switched that week to the next day! Although, having cancelled my attendance, I then noticed that all Meetups were displaying in the wrong time zone, so were shown as starting five hours later than they actually were.. I complained, and they did fix it. Well, I probably wouldn't have gone anyway.

The best Meetup left for that day is with the Shanty Singers Colliers Wood. This is another of those things I once booked and ended up cancelling, so I said I'd hold off on booking that till nearer the time. But you know, when I looked more carefully.. this is a big complicated affair, with "warming up exercises", a vocal coach, a "practice session".. for goodness' sake. The more I read, the less enthusiastic I felt.

I finally gave up on Meetup, and have booked with TAC, for a Kirckman piano concert at King's Place. Should be nice, and is definitely close.

On Tuesday, I've booked for Phaedra, at the National.

On Wednesday, I'm going with Up in the Cheap Seats to Sadler's Wells - first time in an age - for Creature, by Akram Khan! I absolutely love his work. Handily enough, I used my latest Theatre Token for this - would have used it for Phaedra, but while neither theatre takes them online (you have to phone if you want to use a token), the National charges extra for phone bookings. So I used it for this instead.

On Thursday, back with the London European Club, at somewhere called the Ugly Duck, for Synchrony, a female 12-piece string ensemble. Tickets from Eventbrite. As hosted by Eleanor Salter Thorn again! So glad to see her hosting events in more central locations..

I was keeping Friday free because Ivan is feeling thirsty again. :-) And for once, he seems to be sticking to the date, having booked us a table at The Lucas Arms (which, as he pointed out, has a smoker's area). We're hoping to have Martin - my other friendly ex-boss - join us, but he has more family commitments, which he's trying to juggle - we've told him to join us whenever. And this looks like turning into the first zapoi in a while - Ivan is talking about booking a studio, where we can drink overnight. Oy ve, watch this space.. So, not pushed about doing anything extra next Saturday.

And on the 2nd, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club, for Orpheus Dismembered, at the British Museum, courtesy of Ben Haggarty. The event there that I'd already heard of..

Play: Further Than the Furthest Thing

Tonight, I was with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) at Further Than the Furthest Thing, at the Young Vic. About six different buses (at least, and that's not counting the ones where I'd have to change) could get me there - I chose the route that got me walking past the recycling bins, having - as usual - business to conduct with them. This route also took me past GBK - so that's where I ate, and boy was it comforting, on such a chilly, miserable, wet evening.

Not too long a walk from the bus stop to the theatre, where the others were stood down the back of the packed bar. I ran to the loo first - where artwork consisted of an interesting green splotch on the wall. And when I came out, we chatted briefly before heading in.

Looks for all the world like an ancient Roman amphiteatre, doesn't it? The stone-effect seats are particularly realistic:

Actually, they're nice and spongy - not hard at all. The first two rows weren't the most comfortable though, having no backrests - many people moved further back, to rows with back support: including two of our group, in the second half. It wasn't too full. Me, hey, I survived..

So - the visuals for this production are absolutely stunning. We go from a mockup of a Roman amphiteatre to - when the lights are down - the middle of the Atlantic, with an incredible light show, projected on the floor, that mimics the ocean, in its myriad colours, the waves pounding. Plus, a really beautiful singer pipes up from the side, evoking island life, I think. All in all, it's a breathtaking experience - and if you focus on the lights on the floor, quite dizzying too, what with the back and forth motion of the waves, and great sweeping motions, like sand being swept aside..

The play starts on a remote island in the Atlantic - presumably the South Atlantic, what with someone visiting from Cape Town. In fact, this is based on real-life events on Tristan da Cunha - the play being built around the true story. So, it all starts when a young man returns to the island after some months abroad. He's been raised by his aunt and uncle, who are delighted to see him back - but he hasn't come alone; he's brought a businessman with him from, as previously mentioned, Cape Town. And of course, he's got a business proposition..

The first half is interesting - we're immersed in a very insular island life, with a most distinctive dialect. They have their own customs - even the recently returned relative finds himself a bit at sea! and as for his guest, well.. he's like a visitor from a different planet. This won't be for everyone - apart from the dialect, not everyone can relate to the parochial nature of life that these characters take for granted.

By the end of the first half, however, events have taken a turn, and the second half is much different - and probably more accessible to most, being more familiar in style to the audience. Having said that, I was fascinated by the whole story - not to the point that I want to move there, mind, but I thought this was good. As I say, stunningly presented too.. quite a memorable experience. Runs till the 29th of next month. Oh, and I took a different bus home! Well, why not..

Tomorrow, back to Ireland for the weekend again. And hallelujah praise the Lord, Scream VI is still showing in Limerick! Earlier in the Omniplex, so I booked before they get the chance to &^%^$ change it again.. It moves the action to New York, where survivors have moved to start a new life - still has Courteney Cox, of course, and the classic Scream masks.. Contains strobe lighting, by the look of one of the trailers.

On Monday, I booked with the Happy Positive Group! For their weekly Monday trivia night! They seem to be completely online. But wow, looking at it lately, they seemed to have switched that week to the next day! Although, having cancelled my attendance, I then noticed that all Meetups were displaying in the wrong time zone, so were shown as starting five hours later than they actually were.. I complained, and they did fix it. Well, I probably wouldn't have gone anyway.

The best Meetup left for that day is with the Shanty Singers Colliers Wood. This is another of those things I once booked and ended up cancelling, so I said I'd hold off on booking that till nearer the time. But you know, when I looked more carefully.. this is a big complicated affair, with "warming up exercises", a vocal coach, a "practice session".. for goodness' sake. The more I read, the less enthusiastic I felt.

I finally gave up on Meetup, and have booked with TAC, for a Kirckman piano concert at King's Place. Should be nice, and is definitely close.

On Tuesday, I've booked for Phaedra, at the National.

On Wednesday, I'm going with UITCS to Sadler's Wells - first time in an age - for Creature, by Akram Khan! I absolutely love his work. Handily enough, I used my latest Theatre Token for this - would have used it for Phaedra, but while neither theatre takes them online (you have to phone if you want to use a token), the National charges extra for phone bookings. So I used it for this instead.

Next Thursday, back with the London European Club, at somewhere called the Ugly Duck, for Synchrony, a female 12-piece string ensemble. Tickets from Eventbrite. As hosted by Eleanor Salter Thorn again! So glad to see her hosting events in more central locations..

I was keeping the 31st free because Ivan is feeling thirsty again. :-) And for once, he seems to be sticking to the date, having booked us a table at The Lucas Arms (which, as he pointed out, has a smoker's area). We're hoping to have Martin - my other friendly ex-boss - join us, but he has more family commitments, which he's trying to juggle - we've told him to join us whenever. And this looks like turning into the first zapoi in a while - Ivan is talking about booking a studio, where we can drink overnight. Oy ve, watch this space.. So, not pushed about doing anything extra on the 1st.

And on the 2nd, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club, for Orpheus Dismembered, at the British Museum, courtesy of Ben Haggarty. The event there that I'd already heard of..

Comedy: Rosie Holt - Women's Hour

Back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for the next two days - tonight, it was for comedian Rosie Holt at the Leicester Square Theatre.

I'd come very close to O' Neill's on my way - thought I'd eat there. And wow, they had tables free! But when I checked the app, to order - no chicken! None at all. Dunno what happened there - but all they had was mac n cheese or steak & Guinness pie. I love a steak & ale pie - but steak & Guinness, I find too heavy. I up and left, said I'd find something where I was headed.

I had some trouble getting the bus(es) there, too - I had to change, fine. But the second bus I got on decided not only to terminate early, but to head in the wrong direction as it was doing so. So I ended up on quite a different route! Thus adding some time to my journey. When I realised I'd be walking through Chinatown, I thought that might be a quick-ish alternative for food. And so, for the first time in over five years (!), I headed to New Loon Fung.

Plenty of seating, and service seems to have quickened up a bit. I always used to have the chicken in honey and lemon sauce here, and did this evening as well. Plus chicken spring rolls to start. And it was all yum! Wine - meh. Not having much luck with wine, this week. I finished just after the time I was supposed to meet the others, and legged it over to the theatre, where I met them just outside the auditorium. Mind you, as was pointed out, the bars are better inside the auditorium - so, in we went. And - joy! A decent wine at last.. as we chatted about the car crash that is Boris Johnson..

First up was Matt Hudson, who warmed us up with a mostly musical act - I particularly liked the bits where he "answered" several popular songs: so, for instance, starting with Delilah's response to the song "Hey there, Delilah".. Brilliant idea, excellently executed.

Rosie Holt felt much the same as we did about the day's events, by the look of it - the show tonight was topped and tailed by her impression of a Tory MP, and she had plenty of jibes about them: making sure, of course, to balance her satire with some jabs at the left! To be fair, I don't watch British TV much - or any TV, in fact, generally, unless I'm in Ireland. So I only had a vague impression of some of the things she was satirising. But what I recognised seemed well-aimed. Only thing I really didn't like was when she dragged a hapless individual onstage. He played along gamely, but I found her lampooning of him quite over-the-top. I don't think I'd have been as obliging, in his shoes..

Afterwards, for once, someone suggested a drink. Whee! So we headed for a nightcap to the Moon Under Water - a Wetherspoon's, so nice n cheap. As one remarked, it's a bit pricey for a Wetherspoon's - but for this part of town, rock bottom prices! And it was lovely to chill for a bit..

Tomorrow, I'm with the same group (mostly different people, though) at Further Than the Furthest Thing, at the Young Vic.

Then back to Ireland for the weekend again. And hallelujah praise the Lord, Scream VI is still showing in Limerick! Earlier in the Omniplex, so I booked before they get the chance to &^%^$ change it again.. It moves the action to New York, where survivors have moved to start a new life - still has Courteney Cox, of course, and the classic Scream masks.. Contains strobe lighting, by the look of one of the trailers.

On Monday, I booked with the Happy Positive Group! For their weekly Monday trivia night! They seem to be completely online. But wow, looking at it lately, they seemed to have switched that week to the next day! Although, having cancelled my attendance, I then noticed that all Meetups were displaying in the wrong time zone, so were shown as starting five hours later than they actually were.. I complained, and they did fix it. Well, I probably wouldn't have gone anyway. The best Meetup left for that day is with the Shanty Singers Colliers Wood. This is another of those things I once booked and ended up cancelling, so I'll hold off on booking that till nearer the time. As is becoming usual.

On Tuesday, I've booked for Phaedra, at the National.

Next Wednesday, I'm going with UITCS to Sadler's Wells - first time in an age - for Creature, by Akram Khan! I absolutely love his work. Handily enough, I used my latest Theatre Token for this - would have used it for Phaedra, but while neither theatre takes them online (you have to phone if you want to use a token), the National charges extra for phone bookings. So I used it for this instead.

On the 30th, back with the London European Club, at somewhere called the Ugly Duck, for Synchrony, a female 12-piece string ensemble. Tickets from Eventbrite. As hosted by Eleanor Salter Thorn again! So glad to see her hosting events in more central locations..

I was keeping the 31st free because Ivan is feeling thirsty again. :-) And for once, he seems to be sticking to the date, having booked us a table at The Lucas Arms (which, as he pointed out, has a smoker's area). We're hoping to have Martin - my other friendly ex-boss - join us, but he has more family commitments, which he's trying to juggle - we've told him to join us whenever. And this looks like turning into the first zapoi in a while - Ivan is talking about booking a studio, where we can drink overnight. Oy ve, watch this space.. So, not pushed about doing anything extra on the 1st.

And on the 2nd, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club, for Orpheus Dismembered, at the British Museum, courtesy of Ben Haggarty. The event there that I'd already heard of..