Film: Elif Ana

Last night, I'd arranged to attend another carol service - at St. Stephen's Walbrook - with an ex-flatmate. As advertised by London Cultureseekers. Started at 6pm. But wouldn't you know it - my blasted, pointless, sales induction meeting ran on till practically then. And while I might not be paying attention, it's another thing entirely to sign off! So, so much for that. Instead, I was at the cinema again - top of the list was a Turkish film, Elif Ana. Based on a book, it tells the story of a little girl who grows up to be a healer. Full of music, by the looks of the trailer - and music that I like. Actually higher rated than Fanny och Alexander, which I'd seen the night before - but I didn't know it was on, not having redone the list yet, when I booked that! Well, last night's film's closest showing is in Cineworld Wood Green - at 8.20, so I was ok. Thought I might get food up there somewhere - there's no earthly point in going to O' Neill's without a booking, these days. And they're booked up days in advance.

I passed The Lucas Arms on the way, but it was full too, so I continued on. Just missed a bus I could have taken - it was a very cold wait for the next! And all the way up, I saw icy pavements - the snow we had on Sunday never melted, you know, and bits are treacherous. I prayed that when I had to get off, it'd be on a clear patch - and mercifully, it was! Apart from when I had to change buses on the way up.. I'd just figured out that my stop for the next bus was right beside where I'd got off - and lo, the next bus appeared! Had to park behind another - and right in front of a big patch of ice. Happily, I found a wee clear patch, so had no accidents, and made it to the cinema safely.

Yeah - there just isn't much to eat around there, apart from a Five Guys, which I didn't fancy. So I bought a bag of Maltesers in the cinema. And when I found out the screen wasn't cleaned yet, I opened them.. and having heard nothing more by the time I finished them, I bought another! both from a very smiley lady at the till. I'd booked a good seat, in front of the aisle that runs across, so there was no-one in front of me, and I had a rail to put my feet on. Recliners, how are you! This was just as good. Now, come start time, nothing had started showing - an usher came in to tell us that there wouldn't be any ads (!) but we'd be told when to turn off our phones. And at 8.45, she finally did tell us to turn them off - and bless, she did try and wait for us to do it. Some did.. you'll never get everyone to cooperate, though.

And so to the film, at last. Based on a true story, it seems! It's an odd beast - the title character is an old woman, having an eye operation - she says something about how you don't need eyes to see the truth, and then it flashes back to her childhood (she was born in 1908), and her mother's death. Her mother, dying, removes her amulet and places it around her daughter's neck - and lo, also passes on her gift of foresight. Elif Ana also grows up to be a healer - has an annoying habit (to her family) of running off into the mountains on her own, where they're all afraid she'll be eaten by a wolf. As she grows up, though, her reputation as a healer and clairvoyant grows, and people start to seek her out.

It's lovely, actually. Elif Ana is played rather dreamily, especially in young adulthood - smiles at people rather than talking to them, spends more time talking to the animals, all of which obey her. Her marriage is arranged to a childhood sweetheart, who idolises her - and through her life story, we see the fractious history of her tribe (I think she's Kurdish), who are always afraid of raids. Ottoman soldiers also pass through, and there are sporadic episodes of fighting - later in the film, we meet her son, a musician who has joined the army, but refuses to shoot a gun! Also some troubling scenes of persecution of non-Muslims.

It's set in a picturesque mountain region - and yes, it's full of music. Some people don't like this particular kind of music - me, I love it. For her wedding, for funerals - throughout so much of the film, music for all occasions. There's a curious local guru-type, who has a habit of sitting on the train tracks and playing his flute.. Well, I just thought it was delightful to watch. And apart from a gang of youngsters, who left early, the audience seemed to agree - they seemed mostly Turkish, from what I could hear of what they were speaking. I joined them in a round of applause. Recommended, if you get the chance to see it.

Another cold wait for the bus back - and again, I had to catch two. On the first, I found myself sat beside an elderly Irish lady - one of those who never. stops. talking. Her brand of talking was to ask questions - oh yes, this is the sort of person who'd have your whole life story by the time you parted. Kind of a relief when it came time for me to change buses, before I gave away everything! On the second bus, light relief was provided by the two young girls who got on, the first flouncing past the driver without paying, calling back to him "My card is in the post!". As they sat at the back, she giggled to her friend - "He didn't know what to say to that!" Ah, the trials of a bus driver..

Tonight, back with the Crick Crack Club, yay! for The Winner Takes It All at Rich Mix. This, the club's last performance of the year, is performed by a congregation of souls known as Pandvani 108, comprising Ben Haggarty, Emily Hennessy, and Sheema Mukherjee, among others. I'm planning to drop out of today's sales call early, shh.. so I might actually get fed beforehand..

Tomorrow, I'm back to Ireland for the weekend - just worked out that way - coinciding perfectly with a train strike! So I've booked a ticket on the bus - will just have to take tomorrow evening's meeting on my phone! If it even happens.. since I started this job, there hasn't been an evening meeting! Fingers crossed.. And would you believe it, there isn't a single film showing in any of my local cinemas in Ireland at the weekend that I haven't seen and want to see.. Bah humbug! Just have to go Christmas shopping. ;-)

On Monday, back with London Baroque Music Lovers for the first time in months! This time, we're back to see Les Arts Florissants, who are performing Charpentier's Christmas music at the Barbican.

On Tuesday, couldn't see anything on Meetup, again - so I'm with TAC for The Grotto, a Christmas comedy at the Drayton Arms, which was local to me, many years ago!

On Wednesday, back with London Classical Music and Theatre Group - we're going to St. John's, Smith Square to hear the Tallis Scholars. Which should be lovely!

And - last London event of the year, next Thursday, goes to (drum roll).. Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners!! Oh, it'll be so good to see them again - I'm taking the day off specially. It's for Dickens in the City - a Festive Walk. Ah well now, I wouldn't miss the last of the year.. Starts nice and close to me too, at the Shakespeare's Head pub. And it's full, with four on the waitlist. Nice way to finish the year - I can't go on his walks so much now, while I'm working and he's only scheduling them during working hours..

On the 23rd, it's back to Ireland for Christmas. See you on the other side..! Have a very merry one.

Film: Hawa (Wind)

Today, I planned to go virtual again - this is a new group, called London History & Culture, and the talk was on Jack the Ripper and Victorian Times, courtesy of Heygo, who seem to do a lot of these. I had to register separately with Heygo for the talk, but hey, they're free! Jeez though, this felt like lockdown again..

And you know what? I've heard quite enough about b****y Jack the Ripper! So I ended up turning to film, redoing the film list late last night - and after eliminating the stuff at the top of the list I had no interest in.. what was left but a Bangla film, called Hawa (Wind). The trailer stood out amongst all I watched last night.. closest showing in Cineworld Wood Green, which, ironically, was the last place I watched a film from, well, near there, and walked out in disgust after 30 minutes. Better luck this time? Certainly, the trailer looked great, with beautiful music (which will always sell anything to me), and looked really intense. It stayed on the list.

There were two showings, the earlier of which would have clashed with my afternoon call to my mother. So I aimed for the evening show, eating first - while doing so, I happened to check how the film was selling. And on discovering that it was 2/3 full already, I promptly booked myself. Then discovered I could take a combination of buses that would get me there in under an hour - which I had time to do, and that is what I did. They were busy, but I managed, and remembered where the cinema entrance was, this time, when I finally got there. Queued for an inordinate amount of time for chocolate, and ended up being the first into the screen. Which did fill up, some minutes later - with a crowd that felt no real compunction to be quiet. I have experienced worse, mind - but really, people, is it so hard to turn off the phones and STOP TALKING?!

Yes, happy to say that this is good. The cinematography is terrific, the characters well-developed as we follow a boatload of fishermen out on a fishing trip. Things are going well - until they catch a particularly big fish. Well, that's what one fisherman, who's been on the waccy baccy, thinks they have - everyone else sees a beautiful young woman. Who appears to be dead, but then starts breathing. But wow, they have no idea what they have on their hands.. There's much muttering about the bad luck inherent in having a woman on board, and this time they're right - as they discover over the course of the film.

It's interesting that this seems to have attracted a lot of negative attention - presumably in its native Bangladesh - for bad language and violence. Gee, reminds me of Ireland, back in the bad old days! They have tried to ban it. But this is a really good film - highly recommended for anyone who likes an eerie story.

Tomorrow, back with Civilised London (not Up in the Cheap Seats, mea culpa!) for Eureka Day, with Helen Hunt, at the Old Vic. Oh thank goodness, an in-person Meetup at last!

Film: Posti

Today, I booked with London Guided Walks (LGW) - but, armed with the information that they now advertise through TAC, I booked through them instead! (Sold out with them in due course.) This was the Secrets of St. James Walk, and given how I booked, I'd have to bring £3 cash on the day. I have to admit, the standard of these walks is excellent. And it was supposed to rain again, bah humbug.

Woke a little later than intended, but still in time for my buses - and wouldn't you know it, they were delayed. By a huge amount, in the case of the first bus - so I schlepped around the corner, to a stop that didn't list the bus I was to catch there: and lo, it duly arrived. Yay for Google Maps, it's more up to date than the bus stops! There are lots of ongoing diversions, you see, so you really can't trust the old routes. Anyway, I was optimistic of making it in time - despite heavy-ish traffic in the West End. It was the triple whammy of traffic lights that really did for me, just before my stop, however.. still, it was bang on the hour when I jumped off and made a run to where the walk was to start. I really should have been in time, but I knew what would happen - sure enough, when I got there, there was no sign of anyone. No way do they wait for the appointed time to start - I think they're instructed to make sure to leave early, and hang anyone who isn't there. Thank goodness, at least I paid a lot less than usual - and it all went to TAC; LGW won't have got any of it.

Well, Plan B - as usual - was a film. The promised rain was holding off, so I found a bench and updated my film list. Top of the list were a couple of Indian films - one was 777 Charlie; this is a film about a reclusive guy who is reintroduced to society by a rescue dog. Sounds lovely - except it's nearly three hours long, and was only on today in the O2! which would take the better part of an hour to get to. For goodness' sake, talk about overdoing it - could they not have achieved much the same film with half the length?! I wouldn't be back until after midnight! No, much better to go see Posti, a comedy showing in lots of far-flung places; the closest is Cineworld Wood Green, somewhere I haven't been in 7.5 years..

Well, it was now mid-afternoon, and this wasn't on until evening - and my phone needed charging. So I schlepped home again, with a phone dying so quickly that I had to guess the last part of the journey! Popped it on to charge, and researched where to go, locally, for food. Plumped for O' Neill's, an Irish pub just up the road. Which turned out to be an inspired idea! They had free tables, although it was filling up, so I was delighted to see they also had QR codes, so I could order from the table: and service was as quick as always with this system. Mind you, it was fast and friendly throughout - this place is very well-run. Gaelic football on one screen, and for the others in the crowd, cricket on the other. Irish-language signs on the walls, and a buzzing atmosphere. Yep, this is a good Irish pub.

The menu has everything you might expect - and I had "smothered" chicken (with BBQ sauce and Monterey Jack cheese) for the first time in years, with onion rings on the side. Ooh, and they have Oyster Bay! Yes, I think this is my new favourite local eatery - will definitely look to be back. Unfortunately, I couldn't try dessert - had to schlep home again to ring my mother.

So, this evening I traipsed out again to catch a couple of (very-crowded) buses to Wood Green - was sat upstairs, for the first time in years, on the second! And it dribbled rain the whole time - so I was right to dress for it. Arrived early at the cinema, bought a ticket, headed to the toilet. Handily, the toilets require a code - which is printed on the ticket, or receipt! After that, bought some chocolate, as I hadn't had dessert, and headed in. To an empty screen. Took my seat, ate my chocolate, enjoyed the trailers. An usher came in, scribbled something on a clipboard - I'm guessing he was counting numbers.

I'd about finished the chocolate when the film started. What a load of tosh. There's a warning at the beginning about domestic violence - I stayed that long, and can testify that each blow is accompanied by a cartoonish noise for emphasis. Reminded me of the Marx Brothers. I never really took to the Marx Brothers. The protagonist (Posti) is a buffoon, who spends his time stoned on poppy husks, and acting like one of the Marx Brothers, with an idiot sidekick. There's also a much-laboured love story, with lots of longing looks between an unemployed PhD graduate and his beloved, who lives with her brother, who doesn't want her talking to men, and his wife, who knows what's going on, and keeps looking petulant about it. Seems a lot younger than her husband's sister.

Oh gawd. I finally gathered my things and left - probably had been there less than half an hour. Passed the usher on the way out - I wonder whether he recognised me.. Out of curiosity, before I left the cinema, I checked what else was on - but nothing enthused me; it was mostly Indian films, and I'd had enough of those for a night: so I schlepped home again. In the rain. On, thankfully, less-crowded buses. Ah well, I tried..

Tomorrow, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Jitney, at The Old Vic. I didn't fancy the cheapest seats - but gee, SFF had seats in all but the most expensive price bands, for very little more! So I now find myself in the central Stalls for this..

On Tuesday, I'm at the Royal Court for That Is Not Who I Am, a play about identity theft, from a mysterious writer about whom we have few details, except that he has worked most of his life in the security industry. Ooh..

On Wednesday, back with TAC for The Lark Ascending and Piano Quintet, a classical concert at St. Giles' Cripplegate, a church I've often passed but never been in! Part of the City Churches Music Festival.

On Thursday, back at the same festival - with CT, this time, for a concert of English Song at the lovely church of St. Bartholomew the Great. It's been too long.. Then back to Ireland for the weekend again.

On the 27th, booked with TAC to hear an interview with Chris Patten, the last UK governer of Hong Kong before it was handed back to China. Happening at Conway Hall.

On the 28th, back again with Free Stuff and Free Events, for their Free Tuesday Sing-a-Long for Health and Pleasure. Online, and one where you're muted, so you don't even have anyone hear you sing! Great for the shy.

On the 29th, I'm finally succumbing to Anything Goes, at the Barbican. Now, I got my ticket for this from Time Out, which is the first place I saw the offer - but it turns out that any number of outlets have £25 tickets! If they're all for the same seats as Time Out, then I'd have to feel sorry for people that bought tickets for £38, which is cheaper than the original price of £45 for the seats on offer! Assuming anyone did. Anyway, with no bad seats here, you'd have to be crazy to pay more.

On the 30th, back with Bucket List London - who obligingly is doing something midweek! I'll have to skip off work early - this is for vespers in Westminster Cathedral, and starts at 4.30. He is actually in Westminster all day, attending Ministerial Question Time earlier - but not only do I have a job to go to, but jeez, I do believe this would just infuriate me! So that, I'm not attending..

On the 1st, back with Civilised London for dinner at Caravel. Terrific reviews..

That weekend, I'm back with the man with the famous name - Dr. Stephen King (not the writer) is guiding a couple of walks for LGW (courtesy of Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts). Sadly, not as yet advertised on TAC, so I booked them through the official site (discount of £3 with the code MEETUP3, as usual). Both topics / areas I've covered many times before, but gee, he's such a great guide! So I hope I make these - early. On the 2nd, it's his Southwark Walk.

On the 3rd, it's his Royal Coronation Walk. I just bet he comes up with something I didn't already know..

On the 4th, I'm headed to A Doll's House Part 2, at Donmar Warehouse - sequel to the famous original, where the wife leaves an unhappy marriage; this sequel examines what happens when she returns.

On the 5th - well, I finally saw UITCS' ad for Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch, at the Underbelly Festival! A parody musical, right up my street - I hate how Meetup so often doesn't show me the events I really would enjoy! Just as well I saw this in time, before I booked anything else.

On the 6th, back with CT for a concert by the Royal College of Music Brass Ensemble, at the college on Shelton Street.

On the 7th, back with Guided Walking Tours in Brighton and Sussex, for The London Necropolis Virtual Tour. I pointed out to him that the registration link had the wrong date, and he said it was outdated, and he'd replace it and send me the new link - well, he's removed it, but no new link yet.

And then - you guessed it, I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again!

Film: Pek Yakinda (Coming Soon)

Went to some effort last night to get this week's film list done, and at the end I noticed that a lot of films had achieved very high scores (so far) - so high that only the 8s and 9s are in contention this week! Two films tied for the top place and a score of 9, but the other was Haider, an Indian adaptation of Hamlet. I'm sure it's very good, but I've always had a problem with the character, and I guessed, from the trailer, that the same would be true of this film. So I decided to go to Pek Yakinda instead, a Turkish comedy about a guy trying to win back his estranged wife by making a film (turns out she's an actor, see, looking for work, and he's a dvd pirate turned would-be film producer and trying to prove he's on the straight and narrow now).

When I checked it today, it had slipped in IMDB ratings - but only slightly, to 8.9. This left it joint top with The Imitation Game, the new biopic of codebreaker Alan Turing, played by the omnipresent Benedict Cumberbatch, with Keira Knightly as his fiancée. Also stars Matthew Goode and Charles Dance. And I'll be very happy to go see it. Thing is, though, it's only previewing this week, and only on Thursday afternoon, when I'll be at work, and Wednesday evening, when I've already booked to see Pitcairn, at the Globe again - a drama about what happened when Fletcher Christian was left in charge. (Got a fantastic deal on that from the Globe website, using the code PCDWRITE, which gave me any seat I wanted for £10. They give these offers occasionally.) Must remember to take my camera that evening - the view as you exit onto Bankside in the dark is stupendous!

Anyhoo. So, The Imitation Game is off my film list this week, and I was back to Pek Yakinda. The nearest place it's showing is Cineworld Wood Green, which, although a long way away, is easy enough to get to - Piccadilly Line to Wood Green, hang a left and walk for a few minutes, past the Vue (they're well served for cinemas there). I would've booked online, but they've now introduced a booking fee, so I decided to get my ticket in the cinema. That meant printing out the voucher. Unfortunately, the first sheet of paper I used was crumpled and the code they need to scan didn't come out right - it required a second run. And the faulty colour cartridge in my seldom-used printer made the code appear rather green. Ah well, better than depending on iffy smartphone coverage, and being able to find the email when I need it, and enlarge it enough to scan..

I was unlucky with the Tube - I decided to take the Tube to Earl's Court, where I had to catch the Piccadilly line, rather than walk. Unfortunately, Chelsea was playing today, as I discovered - and the match must just have ended, because the trains pulling into West Brompton were as crammed as anything you'd see at rush hour. (Chelsea's home ground, Stamford Bridge, is near the next station along, Fulham Broadway.) I had to let the first train go by, there wasn't room. For the next, I made for the back of the train, since the front hadn't done me any good the last time - there was space at the very last door, and I was off at last! and glad to be changing at the next stop. The Piccadilly line was a bit better, and I even got a seat at the next stop after that. The crowds dissipated, finally, at Kings Cross St Pancras.

We eventually rolled into Wood Green, and I found my way without trouble. Damn chilly day though - we're definitely into autumn! I spent longer queueing at the chaotic concession counters - the box office was closed, and that's where you had to get your ticket - than I had walking there. Good job I was early - must have been at least 10 minutes. After an anxious moment, she got the code to scan and I got my ticket - annoyingly, the monitors don't swivel, so she couldn't show me the seat availability as I was choosing mine - I just asked her for an aisle seat in the middle. The screen wasn't ready when I asked, so I moseyed over to the pick n mix, where the queue wasn't as bad. Ages since I've had pick n mix - had forgotten how pricey they are! Ah well, I got the film for free.

Some seats had been prebooked - not many. Anyway, she'd given me a seat in Row G - the stairs start at Row C, so I had to climb a bit, but with frequent wide steps, I was fairly ok. Another horror film trailer to start - again, 'tis the season! The Babadook - sounds half decent. I took my seat and started to pig out on pick n mix.

The film? It's good! Maybe not 8.9 standard - on reflection, I think I'd give it a 7.6 or so. It has a gentle humour - gentler than some foreign comedies, and with a rockin' soundtrack. The characters are sympathetic, and I did really enjoy it. Recommended if you come across it, but don't go out of your way.

I had an uncomfortable journey back, with indigestion partly attributable to pick n mix overindulgence..

Rigoletto tomorrow, in the Royal Opera House. Things left to do: trace my route back to Leicester Square for afterwards - Covent Garden station is exit-only until December.