Play: Tom, Dick & Harry

This morning, my final interview for that contract I'm up for. At 9am. Mostly, I have to say, I'm utterly sick of interviews. What a year of them. As for this morning's, it went OK - apart from one of them wanting to delve into how much physics I knew. For Chrissake, the last time I did anything physics-related was at least 14 years ago! No, if you want me to know about physics, I can stop you there - if I need to revise it, I can, but the number of equations I can remember is minimal. It's not really like riding a bike. Anyway, we'll see.

In the evening, I had already booked for Tom, Dick & Harry at Alexandra Palace. This is the story of the POW camp escape, during WWII, which was fictionalised in The Great Escape. ("Tom", "Dick", and "Harry" were the names of the escape tunnels.) I got my ticket from London Theatre Direct. And then, wouldn't you know it, Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) decided to go the same night! So I went with them. Sadly, I missed out on the deal they snagged from TodayTix, which is even cheaper..

O' Neill's first for a bite to eat - they're starting to get to know me there now, of course! Had one staff member just start chatting to me as he passed.. I took buses to Ally Pally, I had the time - but the event's organiser had warned us that Alexandra Palace Way was closed for roadworks, so the W3 bus wasn't going that way. (Wouldn't you know it, it's all this week!) Ah well, I said I'd go as far as it took me - trekked the rest of the way, which at least gave me a bit of exercise! Memories of climbing up Montjuïc to the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona for U2 concerts - well, it wasn't as bad as that..!

After that, I needed a drink - of lemonade, for once! Joined the others, when I spotted them behind a screen. Unfortunately, I was sitting in a different section of the theatre to them.

The seats in the front row, where I was, were made to look like they were fashioned from American Red Cross crates. And despite the upholstery, they were kind of hard - happily, we were each supplied with two cushions, and well advised to use one at our backs, and one to sit on. Now, I was pretty much right beside the stage - which proved interesting, as I kept hearing curious noises. Turns out that one of the tunnels ran right beside me.. no wonder I could hear digging in the first half!

This production truly has an inventive stage design. They make the best use of what little they have - furniture is propelled in and out to suggest different settings, they have trapdoors for the odd depiction of tunnels: and there's a wonderful running gag about the non-existent doors that the camp commandant keeps making his subordinate mime knocking on, opening, and closing. All to the appropriate sound effects, of course. Also spot-on is the "translation button" that they use to switch between English and German - which, of course, explains why the German officers are speaking in English! Duh..

Watch out if you're in the front row - you might be called upon to Do your Duty! Although they tended to pick on men, over the other side they were equal-opportunity employers, picking one woman. In fact, the guy sitting beside me was chosen as a German-language expert! (There was also a plan to get the prisoners out once they'd escaped, and those who could speak German were to sneak out as first-class train passengers, able to blend in most easily.) At the interval, we were all given raffle tickets - don't worry, as she said, you don't have to come on stage. In fact, they determine who gets to go in the first wave of escapees..

The story itself is absolutely ingenious, with the "escape committee" covering all aspects - three tunnels, because while they'd surely find one, and might find two, finding all three was unlikely. Where to put them. How to dig them. How to shore them up. How to get air down there. Who was to do each job. How to get the men through the tunnels when it was done. And a whole department to fashion realistic-looking disguises out of whatever they could find, as well as false identities. Truly fascinating!

As well as being a fascinating true story, this is great fun! The actors give it gusto, and you do feel very close to the action - being in the round helps, of course. The actual escape is truly thrilling - and the Gestapo, with black coverings on their faces and, as one character remarks, the black leather overcoats, are as chilling as anything I've seen. Again, this production designer is a genius. Runs until Sunday - and if you have even a passing interest in the story, I have to recommend it! It's hard to imagine a better production.

On the way back, one of the group who had a car was kind enough to drop a few of us down the hill, which made my journey that much quicker. Half the time it took me on the outbound trip, roughly..

Tomorrow - well, with a dearth of alternatives, I'm thinking of Soho Comedy Factory Shows and Socials again.

On Thursday, I'm back with UITCS - crikey, when's the last time that happened, twice with them in one week! This time, it's for Yeast Nation in Southwark Playhouse. Bless, they always put on something interesting.. Anyway, with my old payg subscription used up, I've taken out another - £60 gets you five tickets, over an unlimited period. Excellent value! and I have such good memories of evenings spent in the bar here. Unlikely to happen this week.

On Friday, I got a cheap ticket with TAC to the Cabaret All-Stars!

Saturday is going to be busy - I'm back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners for a walk called Glorious Greenwich. So popular, he's reached capacity and there are 12 on the waitlist! He's finally found somewhere that can accommodate 20 of us, and is trying to get people to confirm whether they're going to lunch - since 34 have booked for the walk!

That evening, I was supposed to be meeting two ex-coworkers for dinner and drinks. But it turns out one got her wires crossed, and is now doing something else. Unfortunately, the other can only manage central London - Greenwich is too awkward for him. We're going back to Imad's Syrian Kitchen.. perfect location, great restaurant!

And on Sunday, I'm off to Rye. London and Sussex Walking Tours - whom I joined during lockdown - are running a daytrip! called Rye - Pirates, Ports and Jazz (they also have a jazz festival that weekend): and I've never been. It's a bit of a palaver to get to, involving two trains - but well, it's about time I travelled a bit, and it's not too early a start. And the tour itself ends early in the day, so I have plenty of time to eat and explore before my train(s) back.

Ice Skating Display

Today, Funzing advertised an ice skating display in aid of the victims of Grenfell. Via Funzing UK. The usual 10% discount applied.

A funny thing happened on the way to the ice rink.. Now, I know it was past 3 on a Saturday afternoon, but I needn't have been up yet. So it's just as well I was, because in comes a letting agent, trailing a potential renter, with nary a word of warning! Not straight into my room, I hasten to add.. I was in the bathroom when they arrived, and the agent checked politely before entering my room. Still, I had to apologise for the state of the place (actually, I can't do anything about that anyway until I get the keys to the new place and start moving stuff), and explain about the lightbulb that needs replacing (which I could have done). Why they didn't think to fire off an email this morning, at least, to warn me, I don't know! Never mind, she was still impressed at the size of the room - and not impressed by the unwashed plate to the side. Hah! If that bothers her, she'll have trouble in this flat.. at least I keep mine in my room!

Well, after all that excitement, I moseyed off to Tesco to get in food - for later, as it happened, because by the time I got back, it was time to head off again. Today was the first time I was headed to Alexandra Palace! Makes sense - apparently, it's the country's largest indoor ice rink. And it's quite a trek; I had to go to Finsbury Park - second day in a row - and then as far north again. Two buses, then - and as I waited for the first, it was quite a pleasant, mild day.

I was just in time for the W3 at Finsbury Park, as it happened - and gee, "Ally Pally" (as it's called) is on a hill, so I was glad of the bus to get up there. Great views:

Now, Ally Pally is so big that it has several bus stops - one for the garden centre, one for the Palm Court, one for the ice rink, others after. Naturally, I continued to the ice rink - unfortunately, the car park entrance, near the bus stop, is closed, apparently for building works, and I needs must walk back to the main entrance - no path on that side, I had to cross the road and then cross back, California-style. Oddly, the main entrance is near nothing in particular, apart from the above view.

So, I moseyed in - I'd received a email earlier, telling me to proceed through the entrance for the ice rink, and through the cafe to the ice rink proper, where people would be practicing. Gave my name at the desk, where she checked it off a list - and was prevailed upon to buy a programme, which I did. I'd got cash at Tesco. In the cafe, brunch was a packet of Munchies, which I ate before following the lead of some people around me, and heading in.

I was wise to wait, like the others - OH GOD it was freezing! Well yes, it'd have to be - it's years since I'd been in an ice rink, and I'd forgotten. They have to keep the ice from melting, after all. I noticed some of the female skaters wearing chunky socks under their tights. So I picked a seat - open seating - and shivered away merrily. As someone remarked upon arrival, "Where is everyone?" Sure enough, counting the number of people to perform, there were hardly many more than them in the audience - which is a real shame. I skipped the raffle, mind - the prizes were a bit naff.

The whole thing was organised by the London Adult Figure Skating Club - LAFSC. And it's great to see such a mixture of people on the ice - young and old, skinny and chubby, faltering and expert. There turned out to be one of the teachers sat near me, clapping everything enthusiastically - and complaining to his companion, at the interval, about the absolute beginner classes he has to teach, where some people can't even stand up on the ice! (Yep, that'd be me.) He saw this as something of a humiliation, although he accepted that someone had to do it - rubbish! When I was a lecturer, the junior lecturers were never given the more junior classes to teach - that was the job of the most senior professors, who were considered able to do it because they had a greater breadth of knowledge. He should feel flattered, methinks.

Sadly, we weren't allowed to photograph or film - photos shall appear on the LAFSC website in due course, and videos - for download by friends and family only (I'm guessing they're password-protected). But we were treated to a feast of short pieces, set to popular tunes, danced to by - as I say - performers with a varying range of skills. Some were obviously faltering - one fell, and bravely picked herself up and carried on. Others were more accomplished, and an absolute joy to watch, skimming over the ice in their sparkly costumes, spinning and gliding. Well done to them, by the way, for even being able to walk off the ice on skates - they generally had a protective guard on them when off the ice, but I'd never have managed the balance! A beautiful - if chilly - way to spend the evening, and as someone coming out behind me remarked, definitely a different thing to do!

My nose, which started to give trouble again a couple of days ago, went into full flight in the cold of the ice rink. And the strong, cold breeze outside didn't help - nor did the fact that my bus back departed while I was trying to get across the road, tricky with all the people arriving for the Haim concert. I was in a miserable, snivelling state by the time the next bus arrived, nearly 15 minutes later - and ended up with two of the good skaters sitting behind me! At Finsbury Park, the #4 would have taken me closer to home, but seeing there'd be a 14-minute wait, I hopped on a #19 instead. And that man was in a hurry to get back.. you risked your life, standing while the bus was moving, he took corners at such speed, and braked so suddenly! Never mind, it did get me home quicker - and, of course, I already had food in.

Tomorrow, Let's Do This is headed to the World Illustration Awards exhibition at Somerset House. Hopefully indoors, and warmer.

On Monday, I'm headed to storytelling by Crick Crack again, finally.. I haven't been able to make any of their more recent ones. It's in Soho Theatre, and it's Sally Pomme Clayton, with Crow. Blood. Snow. Oh my God, it's been ages. Naturally, you'd never know from their Meetup group that it's happening at all. Our boss was supposed to be in London that week, so I decided to leave the rest of the week free, for now.

Then he pinged us, last week, to say it'll actually be the week after. Cue me booking things frantically for the week that was now free - happily, I did well. On Tuesday, something very interesting - Up in the Cheap Seats is off to Whist, at Sadler's Wells. Now, turns out that this is an immersive, VR experience! Definitely different.

On Wednesday, London Literary Walks is off on Pop the Weasel, and I'm delighted to be able to accompany them. Local again, I see. Yet another attendee now that Mary's signed up, yay!

On Thursday, back to Sands Films for Fete de la Musique - Belcirque is performing, and they do sound quirky. London European Club, TunedIn London. Then it's Ireland again at the weekend.

On the 25th, I'm indulging myself with a premium seat to see Andrew Scott perform the one-man show, Seawall, written especially for him. It's at the Old Vic, two weeks only.

On the 26th, back with Up in the Cheap Seats, at Sadler's Wells. It's the Nederlands Dans Theater again - I remember good things about them from before. As I say, the boss is now in the office that week - well, he'll just have to manage without me, those two nights. I'm keeping the rest of the week, and the weekend, free, just in case. Hey, I do have to move that week as well, so could probably do with the time! Just waiting on the contract now, which I have to sign before I can pick up the keys.

And on the 2nd, back with Up in the Cheap Seats, at the Gielgud Theatre for Imperium I - Conspirator. The first part of a double-bill, but viewable independently, it is told from the point of view of Cicero's secretary, as he watches how his master's work is used to bring about an end to the Roman Republic. I should probably have booked the second part at the same time - there's a discount for that - but well, my schedule is generally so packed..!