The bus dropped me across from King's Cross, and as I passed I saw a most enterprising busker, playing what sounded like an Irish jig on his fiddle, while simultaneously tapping his foot, to which was attached a tambourine. Haven't come across that before. I subsequently had an interesting time picking up my ticket at the box office, where it turned out they had - not my last postcode, nor the one before, but the one before that! She asked whether I remembered it - not a chance. She finally dug me out on the system, and gave me the ticket when I could confirm my email address. Lordy - but you see, some websites just don't let you change your address! She's now done it for me.
The bar has completely changed since the last time I was there. Gone are the parallel, high tables - in their place, arced tables follow the line of the bar, and behind them, smaller, standard tables and chairs. Now an impossible place to meet people. The section down the back is now reserved for food, and the bar section was absolutely jammed! Passing back through, I spied the organiser with her well-advised Meetup sign - everyone should have one. I got a glass of wine, and we chatted - when another arrived, it was obvious that they knew each other well. Unfortunately, I was somewhat excluded from the chat at this point, not being the jazz afficionado that they both obviously are - but I have always found the members of this group lovely, and once they'd got the important topics related to the jazz festival out of the way, they switched to topics I'd be more interested in.
A couple more arrived just as we were planning on heading down to the hall, and we all went down together - several more had signed up, but, as so often happens, left the organiser hanging. Most rude. A good job we moved when we did - a queue had already formed by the time the doors opened, and when we went in, we could see that seating was extremely limited! Half the seats had been replaced by standing tables - we dashed for seats, and were lucky to get seated all together, on the far side. I did get a bit of a crith in my neck, looking across the stage to the piano, but never mind.
They started late. During the first couple of numbers, I had to fight the urge to doze off - in my defence, I didn't get enough sleep last night, and it was a busy day. I woke myself with a moderate coughing fit - jeez, is this going to happen at every show now? At least it's not as severe as it was, and it subsided after some minutes. I was awake enough for the rest of the show to notice the interesting, Middle-Eastern vibes tinting the melodies from the piano. Unfortunately, for most of the numbers, the piano was pretty much drowned out by the drums, which I was closer to. I wasn't too upset when they finished, after about an hour.
The others dispersed, mainly, afterwards, with the organiser heading off to buy a cd. I made my way home. Tomorrow, with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) at the Garrick for Don Quixote, with the RSC. The only cheap tickets left for this were terrible, so I went a bit upmarket. A bit - I'm still behind a pillar!
On Friday, I'm on a Paranormal Activity Tour - ooh! Now, for this one, we get ghost-hunting equipment, which could make it interesting - I don't fancy the dowsing rods, myself, but we'll see. Walking in London, again. Therefore Funzing, so discounted by 20%, again, with the code Funzing_Fb20. And this was after my loyalty discount - so I got it at better than half price! which is good, considering the price.
On Sunday, back at last to Winter Wonderland! That evening, I'm off to Cirque Berserk - an annual tradition for me. The latest show is the cheapest, so that's the one I booked.
On the 29th, I'm back with UITCS at the National for Hadestown. Then back to Ireland again for the weekend.
On the 4th, I'm off to the Bush, for Drip.
On the 6th, Hazel of Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts, London Guided Walks (and, indeed, Walking in London) has a Christmas Carol Tour. Now, the last two events I booked with her turned out to be no-shows.. the first might not have been her fault, as she was advertising someone else's event, but the second, she just missed the ball on and left three of us standing on a street corner. Whether this event happens is anyone's guess! Now, it's technically more expensive if you book on Funzing - but if you have my discount ;-) it comes down to the same price she charges on her own site, without the booking fee! So I did it that way. But then Henning, with the London European Club, advertised a Happy Xmaths evening at Imperial College, the same night! Festive fun for maths geeks. Plus it's free - you just have to register with Eventbrite. I thought it'd be great to get back with this group. And since I booked the walk with Funzing, I've cancelled and will get a full refund. And I feel no sadness at missing an evening with Hazel, after what's been happening. But gee, this evening is proving to be one of the more popular- now a colleague has booked it for his leaving do. So I'm now going to that instead. Nibbles arranged at The Enterprise.
The 12th is our office Christmas party, but Let's Do This has now advertised a Christmas dinner- which sounds a more attractive prospect. So I'm doing that instead.
On the 13th, I'm thrilled to be going to Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, at Sadler's Wells, with UITCS. He's a fantastic choreographer, but I've never before gotten around to seeing this all-male version. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
And on the 17th, the Crick Crack Club is performing Gilgamesh, at Soho Theatre. With Ben Haggerty in the spotlight, this will be a treat! Sold out, of course - you have to book these things early. Meeting Helen for a meal beforehand.
The California boss was in the office this week - not much interest in hanging out with us, mind. I kept Wednesday and Thursday free, just in case - the alternative for Wednesday was London Literary Walks, with Soho Scene. However, I just checked that day and lo, the organiser had to work late, and postponed it to yesterday.
As usual, it started late enough that I got to stay quite late in the office, which is always a good look. Of course, that meant I got into a chat with the London boss - so I left a little later than intended, but knew I was in good time to catch the organiser in the Montagu Pyke - he always stays for half an hour in the pub beforehand, where his walkers can find him. Annoyingly, my bus was terminating before where I needed to get to (so common) - handily, another of the same number was coming right behind, and going the whole way. And lo, when I entered the pub, there he was on the left, just in from the main door.. despite the massive crowds watching the England v Belgium match, I'd had a feeling he wouldn't be at all hard to find.
And there we sat, the two of us, till it was time to leave. The crowds were too massive for me to consider getting a drink, so we occupied ourselves with chatting and looking - in vain - for the newcomers to the group. They never showed - nor did a longtime member, who mind you has a habit of doing that. Nary a message from any of them - what prevented them from politely informing us that they wouldn't be there, as others had done in advance of the walk, I don't know, but it's very bad form to leave us waiting for people that never showed.
Anyway, after fully two groups of people had asked me to take their photo - he remarked that I must have that sort of face - off we went. All of two of us. What the hey, as I told him later, this was the third time that had happened to me! and each time it's been just fine. The Montagu Pyke itself was our first point of interest - why, it's been a nightspot since the 18th century!
After that, the famous-name dropping came thick and fast. London's first proper French restaurant, L' Escargot, was on the menu:
(More photos here.) We moseyed around Soho Square, and past so many places that retain only a hint of their film-making past:
We found Goths:
and more music legends that you can shake a stick at:
And we finished off with a nod to fashion:
So many more famous names, so many stories. All the things that happened here - and looking around, you could still see the same vibrancy that always powered it. I kept sighing - had to reassure my companion that it was nostalgia for when I lived within walking distance of here. Truly, nowhere compares with it. May it never lose that spark.
Afterwards, too late to drink, and again, too late to blog. After all, I was working from home so I could be in the old place in time for the removal guy. As it turns out, I actually wasn't - he bloody rang me as soon as I arrived (I'd just turned on my phone at that point, it needed charging - and discovered he'd rung me half an hour earlier as well). He was around the corner, and could he come now? Er, ok.. cue a frantic day of packing and moving. Fair play to him though, in this heat as well - and a way better price than I got last time! No wonder he's so busy, with that service.
Tonight, I booked with the London Jazz Meetup, for only the second time ever! A Polish one, this - Alicja Smietana is a violinist who combines classical and jazz, which to me sounded like the best thing happening tonight. It was in POSK Theatre, which is associated with the thriving local Polish community - I must have passed it when I was living out that way, I figured.
Well, I set out in plenty of time - would you believe, although I used to be within walking distance of that place, it's over seven miles from where I am now! The only option was to catch a bus to the District Line, and take that for most of the way. I have to say, the District Line was a real pleasure - roomier and airier than most other lines. I got off at Ravenscourt Park - and when I figured my way out of there, it was only a hop, skip and jump to POSK. And yes, I've passed it dozens of times! Never been in before, though.
Finding the bar where we were to meet was a no-brainer. It's just upstairs. Unfortunately, a private party was in progress, and two people in succession saw me looking lost, and thought I was with them but no-one had welcomed me. Bless. I should have stayed with them really, as there was no sign of the group organiser. I left a number of messages on the Meetup page, but she literally only now got back to me, saying how she had looked around but couldn't see me. Feck that, what was she looking for..? I was standing quite obviously on my own, I thought..
When it came time to go in, I presented my Eventbrite ticket on my phone (could just have bought a ticket on the night and saved the booking fee, it wasn't sold out). Only to be told - as were those with tickets they'd printed from the internet - that we had to go down to reception and get another ticket! See, the online tickets had no blasted seat numbers.. Reception told me to go to the box office, although they were sure I needed the jazz club in the basement. At least the organiser did that much for us - she had specifically mentioned that that wasn't the one. And the guy at the box office acted as though he'd never before seen an online ticket, and what was this strange beast..?! At least the guy in front of me had the same issue, so I got it explained for me, I just had to say I had the same as him. Except he'd had a printed ticket - the box office guy was terribly upset that I didn't have one for him to keep as a souvenir. Never mind, he gave me a ticket anyway. With a seat number.
..which, typically, was behind a tall guy. And as for being worried about missing the start - hah! Advertised to start at 8, it finally got underway at 20 past. She had a large bunch of musicians behind her, dressed in black, as typically for a classical orchestra - less typical was the black jumpsuit she was wearing, although I believe they're in fashion.
This is a very talented young lady, that much is obvious. She can play, she can compose, she can rearrange - seems her late father was a famous composer, and lately some of his friends asked her to rearrange a medley of his work in a classical fashion. Now, I've always said I like most kinds of music - however, I'm afraid there will always be some I prefer to others, and predictably, the classical medley was my favourite bit of the performance. My least favourite bit.. was all of the rest. Oh dear. I cringed whenever anyone went into a solo, which of course, being jazz, they were prone to doing - and most particularly when the pianist started to squawk. Seriously, I hated it, by and large - it didn't help that there was no aircon - I don't blame the lady in front of me, fanning herself.
I was so relieved when the interval came. I would've legged it, except that then they announced there was free wine! So I got that - half a plastic cup, thanks, although I suspect you could get refills - and then I legged it. What a relief! Only glitch in the plan was the delay at Earl's Court - which was quickly followed by a 15-minute delay in a tunnel just past Earl's Court. "Red signals." Gee, that's one thing I don't miss about living that side of town!
Tomorrow, I don't know whether I missed it before or just didn't consider it, but ultimately I booked the Dark Side of Docklands Street Theatre Pub Tour - courtesy of Walking in London. Usual 10% discount codes apply. In the evening, so I can get the keys to my old place handed back earlier - have to get them back by 1pm. Today, however, the walk was cancelled.. so I thought "film". Looking at what was on tomorrow, top of the list was an Indian space adventure film - Tik Tik Tik. However, I wasn't quite sure of its focus after viewing the trailer - so I checked for another on YouTube, and what did I discover but the film itself, available online! So I don't have to bother with that, then. Next up was The Bromley Boys - as that's about soccer, it got eliminated fairly quickly.
Next up.. ooh, Hereditary! It's slipped a bit, but still highly rated - and I'm dying to see it. Billed as this generation's The Exorcist, in it Toni Collette plays a woman whose mother passes away, only to have her little daughter start to exhibit some very odd traits. Very spooky traits. They do say it's a masterpiece of psychological horror. So I've booked, it being cheaper to book in Vue. Back in Vue Islington, although it's also in Rich Mix, which is now slightly closer to me - but it isn't showing there tomorrow. I'm not bothering with the midnight showing, mind - I think it'll be quite spooky enough a bit earlier!
On Sunday, I decided to sign up for a new walk by Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts - they were off the radar for ages! However, the discount code for the Bleeding Hearts & Body Parts walk does't seem to be working - I've commented as much, we'll see what happens. If I can't get the discount, I'll pay on the day and avoid the booking fee. Now, two others have commented that they can't use the code either. Dunno what happened to this guide - she used to be on the ball with her group!
And on Monday, 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..! I see the same group is going to the double-bill tomorrow - ah well, I've booked this now.
Tonight, I was finally back with The London Jazz Meetup, to see Ben l' Oncle Soul at Cadogan Hall. Really, I'd go with them much more often, but there's so much else on..! Much more relaxed today, the flat-hunting being sorted. We were to meet beforehand at The Antelope - and, of course, now I don't have to view any more flats! Unfortunately, wouldn't you know it, there was another late meeting at work, so my time in the pub would be cut short. Bah humbug.
I was also doing my film list - and so it was a little after 6 when I left, taking the Tube to be as quick as possible. All the same, it was after 6.30 when I arrived at The Antelope. With no hope of getting a seat, I gave up on the pub idea, and headed straight to the venue, where I had a drink, taking a seat on a bench to the side of the main bar. As I remarked to the lady sitting beside me - didn't there used to be a bench through the middle, with high stools at it? "Yes, indeed!" she replied, and we agreed what a very bad idea it was to take it out, thus removing much-needed seating. Not nearly enough seating, here. They were selling Jazz Festival t-shirts behind the bar - no way was I sacrificing my seat to have a look, though!
Upstairs, I was led down the sloping gallery - carefully - by an usher, and was sat near my group, and somewhat over the stage - which suits me just fine. Some would complain about the safety rail, which cut through my view - nonsense! I could easily lean forward, or peer under it to see whatever I was missing. The bench seats are supplied with thick cushions, and are quite comfortable.
We did wonder about the amount of smoke on stage as we came in - as the guy to my right remarked to his companion, "maybe it's just on fire!" There was so much that we could barely see the mc come on to introduce the support act. You could hardly miss her name - she (or someone very loyal to her) had taken the time to put a flier on every single seat, advertising Julia Biel. What a shame, then, that her act bored everyone in my row to distraction. Well, except the folks to my right, who kept clapping quite enthusiastically. Maybe they scattered the fliers. Anyway, I was glad I'd brought the paper, which I read while the lights were bright enough. At the (long-awaited) interval, the lady beside me informed her that I'd made her husband laugh - apparently, he'd also been rather unimpressed and suggested to her that he could spend his time doing the crossword in my paper!
I needed the loo, so my time with the group at the interval was necessarily short as well. We met in the bar just down from the main one - the Oakley Room, a nice little bar that provides a less crowded alternative. Now, the concert had started late, and the support act had finished late - but that didn't stop them starting the second act bang on time, so I'd barely arrived down there when the call came to retake our seats! By the time we got all the way back up those stairs, the mc was already introducing him. I was glad to see the smoke had gone.. and sorry to see that the couple to my left hadn't returned. They did miss a great show.
Well now, Ben wasn't exactly lonely on stage. He had a trumpeter, a saxophonist, a guy playing (five!) keyboards, a guy at the back with a mixing desk, a drummer, and two guitarists. Sorry, I don't remember any of their names, although he did introduce them. You couldn't mistake him, though - with the hat, the sunglasses, the swagger.. Of course, as a practically lifelong U2 fan, that was what I was comparing him to. And it was an interesting comparison - he seemed, certainly for this crowd, to be the jazz/blues equivalent, and I have to say, he's a good showman. He's no Bono, but does share his love of interacting with the crowd.
This was kind of a Sinatra tribute. Well, he was doing Sinatra songs - just unrecognisable as such, apart from the lyrics. Definitely put his own spin on them. And although he had us on our feet at the start, I soon sat down - as a U2 fan, I'm used to standing, but also used to a more intense impact from stage, and this was a bit relaxed for that kind of thing, I thought. Having said that, he has a rocky sound that appeals to me, and gave a beautiful, solo rendition of Moonlight Serenade. But it was his performance of My Way, which led into a short break, that confirmed why all these people are so crazy for him. Crazy strobe lighting combined with him leaping into the audience - no crowdsurfing here, he was after hugs!
A real fans' performer, he spent the whole show bonding with the front row, and I remember one guy who'd brought an LP, and, pushing to the middle, proffered it to him along with a pen, while he was actually performing. And fair play, he had no qualms about signing it! Man, the look of delight on that guy's face - he'll be smiling for months, I think.. So, with a delightful mish-mash of jazz, rock, rhythm n blues, he really rocked the house. He did run over time - and I think he'd have liked to go on much longer, except that a determined usher over the side kept making a variety of urgent (and distracting) arm movements, very obviously designed to convey to him that he needed to FINISH! Hey-ho, a great night. Recommended..
Afterwards, I was hungry, so skipped heading to the pub, and just headed to shop, then home to eat. Bless us, Julia Biel was flogging cds near the exit - uhh! Tomorrow, I'm back at Sadler's Wells with Up in the Cheap Seats, for Hunted Maud Le Pladec / Okwui Okpokwasili. Shame, from that respect, that I won't have access to my new flat yet - it's just down the road from there!
On Friday, I'm off to see Young Frankenstein, at the Garrick!
The weekend is Funzing, with Walking in London. On Saturday, A Secret London Tour - I've had my eye on this for a while, it sounds interesting. And on Sunday, I'm finally doing Murder Mile Walk.
On Monday, I was off to This Beautiful Future, at the Yard Theatre. And then it turned out that a couple of guys from the North American training team in our company are visiting the office for a couple of days! Team dinner that night. Well hey, I wasn't that pushed about the play anyway. Not everything I book for is a must-see.
Next Tuesday, my annual pilgrimage to Cirque Berserk at Winter Wonderland! Whee..
On the 22nd, back with Walking in London, this time with Katie of Look Up London, and her Alternative Christmas Lights Tour. Delighted to give her the business, and it should be fun!
On the 23rd, back with Up in the Cheap Seats - this time at the newly opened Bridge Theatre, for their first show, Young Marx. Delighted to make this - I had booked it for the 20th October, then the Crick Crack Club got in the way, as they often do! The theatre charged me a nominal fee to change it to this date. So this'll now be the first play I'll have gone to in a while! And then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.
On the 27th, I'm headed to see Follies at the National - one that London Dramatic Arts (LDAM) went to a while ago, expensively. What with their ticket prices, and other things getting in the way, I really don't know when I'll be with them again..
On the 28th, back with Let's Do This! (LDT) at a place called The Fiddler's Elbow, for a Blues Club & Jam. Be good to see them again!
On the 29th, the Crick Crack Club has their long-awaited 30th birthday party at Rich Mix. Finally advertised by their Meetup group, I see, months after tickets went on sale. A friend is going to this, and Helen is thinking about it. Oh, and the crazy lady is supposed to be going - may she not dare to cross my path! I'm perfectly capable of throwing a drink over her. If the need arises.
On the 30th, LDT is off to.. Saint George and the Dragon, at the National! Now, when this was advertised, I remembered having booked it already. Checked, and discovered that was during my week in Stockholm - so I was happy to book it again. Completely forgot, of course, that I was already booked for last week, with Up in the Cheap Seats. But then, of course, I couldn't go to that either.. third time lucky, I hope! Mind you, consensus seems to be that it drags - never mind. Then I'm back to Ireland again.
On the 4th of December, I'm finally seeing Heisenberg: the Uncertainty Principle, at Wyndham's Theatre. Another that LDAM saw before I have, and another I rescheduled - this from the 16th October, when I was with Up in the Cheap Seats. Another nominal fee to change. And they posted me physical tickets - how retro!
On the 5th of December, my annual trip to La Soirée! "Posh new venue", as they say - they're now in the Aldwych Theatre. Cheapest tickets at Amazon tickets.
The 6th of December sees our office Christmas party! Mercifully, I've just found out it's not black tie this year - don't have to buy a new outfit, then! It's at Bounce - a pub with ping pong tables, wouldya believe?! We have a private room, with three such tables and a karaoke machine. I foresee a noisy night..!
I can't stay long though - have to be at Stansted at 6 in the morning of the 7th of December, for a trip to Nuremberg Christmas market with LEC! We'll also be doing some travelling in the area. Helen liked the sound of it, and my other friend who's coming to the storytelling is coming too. We'll have a ball! I just bought Lonely Planet's chapter on Bavaria, downloaded it, and have shared it with them - isn't it handy how you can buy individual chapters? Mercifully, although the crazy woman was supposed to go on this, she's pulled out. So, the plan is to stay in the new place, the night before..
Back late on the 10th of December, and on the 11th of December - having taken the day off work (I'll be exhausted) - I'm off to the Barbershop Chronicles. At the National.
On the 12th of December, I've just booked a Funzing talk - Interviews With a Serial Killer, courtesy of London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night. For which, with their new loyalty scheme, I earned £10 credit! Not so shabby..
On the 13th of December, my last visit of the year to Sands Films - finally advertised on Meetup, through the World Music Meetup, TunedIn London has a concert by Plastikes Karekles, a Greek group.
On the 14th of December, my friends who came to Soho on Monday are headed to Wilton's Music Hall, for something called The Box of Delights. And for once, I'm letting them decide for me, and am going myself too.
And on the 15th of December, my final trip of the year to the Crick Crack Club - Jan Blake is performing Masters of Hex at the British Library. Along with Ben Haggerty and TUUP. Same friend going with me as on the 29th of November, and Helen too - and the same lunatic. Well, after the nasty things she had to say about me, I'll be surprised if she dares to approach me at all.
Next day, I'm back to Ireland for Christmas. Farewell 2017 - it's been good! Roll on 2018, and the next U2 tour..
Tonight, I was to do that free comedy, with Discover LDN.UK, but instead headed to the launch of Rob Luft's new album, Riser, at King's Place. As advertised by The London Jazz Meetup. What a joy to have a lie-in.. it's a month since I had nowhere to be until evening on any given day! Spent most of the day reading A Book of Horrors - a really superior collection of horror short stories I just got.
In the evening, I left home a little early to shop for a card and wrapping paper for the present I got for my mother, whose birthday is next month. Handily, there's a Paperchase not 10 minutes' walk away from me! With a great selection, I had little problem finding what I wanted, and attractively wrapped, too; it was as I was leaving the store that I thought - oops, here I am with a big bag, and the venue sent an email not long ago warning that they wouldn't be allowed. Oh well, I was hardly going to trek back home with it - that would make me very late! So I just headed straight for the bus.
I had a choice of two buses - happily, the one that came was the #390, which stops right across the road from King's Place! A short journey then, and I hopped off at a stop that Google Maps has misnamed, but which is actually named for King's Place - I've reported the issue to them. Anyway, there's a pedestrian crossing right in front of the entrance to King's Place, and I was soon across and got my ticket from the box office - who asked me for the first line of my address, but said nothing about my large bag. I made my way into the bar, where the group were to meet - and, joy, this time there was a Meetup sign (unlike the recent event with the London Science Talks and Museums Meetup)
.. it really does make things so much easier.
After an age spent waiting at the bar, where they always seem to be making cocktails (which are, apparently, very good), I came back to my seat with a drink. And was delighted to find a friendly bunch of folks - I would have expected that with jazz, actually. So, we chatted convivially until the evening organiser brought the news that the doors were now open. So I downed the rest of what was a very pleasant wine, and downstairs we went (me nearly forgetting my Paperchase bag on the way). Where they asked just to peek in my handbag - she assured me she wouldn't rummage, and sure enough, she didn't - and they ignored my big Paperchase bag completely! Guess no-one sent them the memo - not that it would've mattered, the adjacent cloakroom was free anyway.
Seating was unassigned, and we were lucky to get there early, for good seats - the show had sold out. Now, I know little about jazz, and had never heard of this guy before the event was advertised - but I liked what little of him I'd seen on YouTube, and I was to discover that I liked him in person, too. Someone remarked that when he'd seen him before, he had a rockier sound - but tonight, his stuff was quite slow, a lot of it quite otherworldly, with some African influences. Really interesting, really good, and a couple of covers - and some amusing commentary from the man himself - to round it off. Not to everyone's taste - some left at the interval - and not that I felt like buying that album: but I had an excellent time.
Also liked the group, and the way the group owner made it his business, both beforehand and at the interval, to mingle and chat to people. Meetup organisers aren't always so concerned about their members.. I missed them afterwards, but I'm looking forward to the event I have booked with them in November. Outside, with a cardiac arrest-inducing dash, I managed to catch my bus home.. and, catching a whiff of takeaway chips around King's Cross, when I got off the bus, I stopped at KFC, to pick up a portion of fries.. and a double portion of beans in BBQ sauce, 'coz I love 'em! On the plus side, since they didn't have to cook any chicken for my order, I got it in seconds!
I had booked the same free comedy, with the same group, tomorrow, but was again saved - this time, by the World Music Meetup! They're off to see Kefaya, in Nell's Jazz and Blues bar, back in my old stomping ground of North End Road! Happy days, when I was working there.. Sounds livelier than tonight's, which is fine. And I get another lie-in, which is even finer!
On Monday, a group called Theatre and Stuff is off to see Prism, at Hampstead Theatre. They're charging extra to go with them, though - so I happily bought my own ticket. What the hey, odds are I won't know any of them anyway.
On Tuesday, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats - to see Wings, at the Young Vic. Accidentally booked standing, I think.. :-/
On Wednesday, I was with Up in the Cheap Seats again - for Jekyll & Hyde, presented by the National Youth Theatre, at the Ambassadors Theatre. But gee, of course, London Literary Walks is out again - King's Cross and John Betjeman, this one. Likely to be the last of the year - I couldn't miss it.
On Thursday, I was with another new group: London, Surrey and Beyond.. for an event called "A Unique Experience. Olde Pub, Gerry's Private Club, 2 'i's Famous Fish 'n' Chips". Which says it all, really! But then TunedIn advertised flamenco at Sands Films.. irresistible really. So I've booked that instead. And then RSVPed with the World Music Meetup, when they finally got around to advertising it. (I see that London, Surrey and Beyond event has been cancelled now, for lack of interest.) Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.
On the 2nd October, I had booked at Hampstead Theatre, for No One Will Tell Me How to Start a Revolution. North London Friends are attending - and charging extra, so I was going it alone! But now it turns out I'm spending the week in the Stockholm office - back on the 8th.
On the 3rd October, it was free comedy in Hammersmith - nominally. With Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich. So, that was easy to cancel, for Stockholm!
On the 4th October was Up in the Cheap Seats and Labour of Love, with Martin Freeman, at the Noel Coward Theatre. Cheapest tickets from the venue, for once!
On the 5th October, same group - headed to see the Company Wayne McGregor, at Sadler's Wells.
And finally! on the 6th October, headed to see Chekhov's The Seagull, at the Lyric. Third night in a row for that group - almost as busy a group as I am a person! So, four things in all I had to cancel, without refund.. what the hey, I'll doubtless be saving money in Stockholm! Expenses paid, after all.
On the 9th October, I'm finally going to see the show so many people have asked me whether I'm seeing. Ink is showing at the Duke of York's Theatre.
On the 10th October, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Ballet Boyz at Sadler's Wells.
On the 11th October, back with Funzing (London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night) for a talk on Revolution in Iran: Girl with a Gun. This will be an interview with a female Kurdish revolutionary.. on the Battersea Barge, which I believe can get choppy. Never mind. This is one I got for free, for completing a loyalty card with three talks.
On the 12th October, Let's Do This are back to St. Martin-in-the-Fields, where London Concertante is performing Bach Violin Concertos. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
And on the 16th October, back at Southwark Playhouse with Up in the Cheap Seats - this time, it's for A Day By the Sea.
