These few days, I booked Funzing, and the weekend was entirely with Look up London - excellent! She's so friendly, and always finds the most interesting tidbits for us. Both starting at midday. Today, I did The Greenwich Walk: Heroes and Villains. And yesterday evening, she helpfully messaged to clarify that we'd be meeting at Greenwich rail station, not the DLR station.
After yesterday's exertions, I slept soundly - and long, waking about an hour later than intended. It really took more out of me than I anticipated. Oops! So I scrabbled to get out - didn't have time to eat beforehand, but I did make the Tube with a minute to spare. Arrived at London Bridge at 11.20, with the train due at 11.33 - and wouldn't you know, I literally just made it! It takes so long to wend your way from Tube to train station - and of course, my platform was nowhere near me. Thank goodness that Google Maps had told me which one to go for! The train was waiting patiently for me at the platform as I trotted up the stairs - I barely had time to get on.
After all that, I alighted at Greenwich five minutes earlier than expected - and she wasn't there.
More photos here. Mooched around for a while. Saw on the maps that the DLR station was nearby, so I went looking for that, and by the time I'd returned, there she was. I was still the first.. a much smaller group today, and mostly foreigners, with a German couple and a Dutch guy. Anyway, the station itself was the first point of interest - as she pointed out, it doesn't really look like a train station! but then, being one of the first built, in 1836, the builders had no idea what a train station should look like.
So we meandered off down the backstreets of Greenwich, under very grey skies, but the rain thankfully holding off. Plenty of interesting snippets - like the monument to a milkman!
Finally, we hit the tourist spots, with a few art stops around the Naval College, and a peek at the Cutty Sark. And of course, that iconic Greenwich view:
You can just see the observatory in the background, on the hill, whose ball drops at 1pm. And yes, we were there for it! A bit anticlimactic, as she remarked..
Much of the talk for the day was about Nelson:
(Rather short, on the basis of this statue, as she pointed out.) Well now, I'm afraid that my opinion of Nelson will forever after be tainted by the play I went to a while ago, based on a book by an Antiguan writer, who had cause to mention him several times. And every time she did, she suffixed "war criminal" to his name. As Katie pointed out today, he was vehemently anti-abolitionist, and a keen slave owner - which I guess makes him today's villain - but he did boost the power of the British navy, which had positive effects. As well as negative ones. Anyway, as she said, not all black and white.
She recommended the Cutty Sark pub as somewhere to eat - it's certainly well advertised, with signs along the roadside far in advance of getting there. However, the Midpoint is a Turkish restaurant right next door, and after some pondering, I chose that. Had the lamb special, which was ok - I think I could have chosen better. For one thing, there was far too much cheese dip with it, which swamped the plate! (Good idea to present on two plates, one under the other, so you don't get burnt carrying it!) But the house white was excellent, and the brownie really good, so I'd be willing to try it again. Service was quick, and prices reasonable. They also have free WiFi - password @midpoint1 - but gee, it took forever for me to connect to it!
Once I finally did, I could confirm that I'd now walked far enough to travel back from Maze Hill station, which I did, on one of the half-hourly trains. Wow, it was good to get in to the warm! And now that's it for guided walks for the foreseeable future.
Tomorrow, I booked with London Speaks Sessions, for a talk on Interviews With a Serial Killer. Funzing now have an Unlimited Talks option, where you can get unlimited talks for a month for £11.99 - however, not seeing anything else I fancy coming up this month, I left it. As it was, I got a spectacular loyalty discount for this one! ..and then I got a better offer. St. Martin-in-the-Fields (which I haven't been to in over a year!) sent an advertising email - and I rather fancied tomorrow's offering, an Arab Christmas. Of course, you can cancel Funzing up to 48 hours beforehand - so I did, and am now going to that instead.
On Tuesday, it's cinema - first in a while. Top of the List came King of Boys, a gangster Nollywood film, of all things. Closest showing is in the Odeon Greenwich - so I booked, which works out cheaper. It'll be my very first Nollywood film - and it's on really late. I'll have to ring my mother beforehand and pretend I've already been..
On Wednesday - back for the New Year with the Crick Crack Club! They're doing a new series on archetypes - Wednesday's is on Wise Ones Wild Ones, in Rich Mix. We're spoiled with the lineup - the night's storytellers are Ben Haggerty, Jan Blake, Daniel Morden - and Laura Sampson, who used (nominally) to run their now-defunct Meetup group. Never mind, for once the London European Club is going, under the stewardship of Henning! It'll be good to see some friendly faces there - and it's been ages since I saw these people! About time. And it'll be my first proper Meetup of the year.
On Thursday, in contrast, I'm with a completely new group - London Sci-Fi Horror Hide-Out, for their first ever Meetup! Hem - this is Miskatonic LDN - Remakesploitation: The Horror Meme. Fairly trips off the tongue, the whole thing! So it seems that Miskatonic LDN is actually an institute of horror studies, and based at the Horse Hospital. Well now. This specific event is about the many international horror film remakes through the years. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.
And on the 14th, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Pinter at the Pinter again! This is Programme 5 - The Room / Victoria Station / Family Voices. And this evening includes a free Q+A with the cast.
These few days, I booked Funzing, and the weekend is entirely with Look up London - excellent! She's so friendly, and always finds the most interesting tidbits for us. Both starting at midday. Today, I did Unlock the Secrets of Fleet Street.
Ah hell, it was so cold! I was glad, at least, that my bus came straight away - and glad when we waited along the way, to "even the gaps in the service". I was to be early, you see, and this would just use up time. Bus turned out to be the quickest route to Temple, where we were to meet, actually - and as it happened, I was the first to arrive. Tip: she arrived 15 minutes early. Aim for that - especially so you don't have to wait in the vicious cold we had by the river!
Well, she was full of welcomes - and she had a busy time, as we were a large group, and mostly return customers. Each of whom she knew by name, of course. The couple of us that were there when she arrived also got to meet her husband! Anyway, we hung around for a few minutes after start time, for the sake of latecomers, but I was glad when we moved away from the gusts from the water.
And so off we went, eyes peeled. The essential difference between Look Up London and Chronicles, whose Shakespearian walk I went on on Thursday, is that he focuses very much on the history, while Katie simply points out things you can see, but might have missed, and the stories behind them. For example, did you ever notice the stunning architectural features on Surrey Street?
More photos here. Not to mention the "Roman baths" that really aren't, and the "ghost" station now used as a film set. You can do tours of it with the Transport Museum, it seems - subscribe to the TFL newsletter to get priority booking.
And so, up to Strand..
..which leads on to Fleet Street.
Sad that the printing industry, which became synonymous with this street, has now completely left it - probably the rents. Still, there's a fascinating history of the printing industry on the tiles of Magpie Alley - which, at its end, leads to a section of the ruins of a Carmelite monastery.
We spent about 90 minutes wending our way through the side streets off Fleet Street - and it was nostalgic for one of the group, who used to work there. We finished up by St. Paul's - a scenic walk as well as an informative one. I can see why it was her first ever, and why she still loves to do it. What a cross-section of the life of London! Well worth doing - though, as she remarked, with people doing so many of her walks, she'd better come up with some new ones.. Excellent as ever. And as we tended to walk back in the general direction I was headed in, I was now close enough to walk back - and did so. Honestly, I was feeling terribly stiff, after this unaccustomed New Year's exertion, and was glad to loosen up my joints - my back had been killing me for a lot of the day.
Tomorrow, I'm doing The Greenwich Walk: Heroes and Villains. I'll be well exercised at the end of all that. And this evening, she helpfully messaged to clarify that we'd be meeting at Greenwich rail station, not the DLR station. Hey, I believe they're a short walk from each other anyway. And this far away, I doubt I'll be walking back!
On Monday, I booked with London Speaks Sessions, for a talk on Interviews With a Serial Killer. Funzing now have an Unlimited Talks option, where you can get unlimited talks for a month for £11.99 - however, not seeing anything else I fancy coming up this month, I left it. As it was, I got a spectacular loyalty discount for this one! ..and then I got a better offer. St. Martin-in-the-Fields (which I haven't been to in over a year!) sent an advertising email - and I rather fancied Monday's offering, an Arab Christmas. Of course, you can cancel Funzing up to 48 hours beforehand - so I did, and am now going to that instead.
On Tuesday, it's cinema - first in a while. Top of the List came King of Boys, a gangster Nollywood film, of all things. Closest showing is in the Odeon Greenwich - so I booked, which works out cheaper. It'll be my very first Nollywood film - and it's on really late. I'll have to ring my mother beforehand and pretend I've already been..
On Wednesday - back for the New Year with the Crick Crack Club! They're doing a new series on archetypes - Wednesday's is on Wise Ones Wild Ones, in Rich Mix. We're spoiled with the lineup - the night's storytellers are Ben Haggerty, Jan Blake, Daniel Morden - and Laura Sampson, who used (nominally) to run their now-defunct Meetup group. Never mind, for once the London European Club is going, under the stewardship of Henning! It'll be good to see some friendly faces there - and it's been ages since I saw these people! About time. And it'll be my first proper Meetup of the year.
On Thursday, in contrast, I'm with a completely new group - London Sci-Fi Horror Hide-Out, for their first ever Meetup! Hem - this is Miskatonic LDN - Remakesploitation: The Horror Meme. Fairly trips off the tongue, the whole thing! So it seems that Miskatonic LDN is actually an institute of horror studies, and based at the Horse Hospital. Well now. This specific event is about the many international horror film remakes through the years. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.
And on the 14th, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Pinter at the Pinter again! This is Programme 5 - The Room / Victoria Station / Family Voices. And this evening includes a free Q+A with the cast.
Well firstly, I went to bed a bit too late last night - I blogged nice and early, but by the time I'd done that, Half of a Yellow Sun was about to come on telly. That was on my film list, but not sufficiently highly rated to get me to go see it. Set in 60s Nigeria, it's the story of two sisters, from a privileged family of the Igbo tribe, and how their lives progress as their community secedes to form the Republic of Biafra. The older sister is played by Thandie Newton, who's in a relationship with Chiwetel Ejiofor. John Boyega is his servant. Absolutely fascinating topic, but I did find the film left me rather cold - with all the action, there's little time to develop empathy with the characters. Still, better than your average tv movie.
So, I was to be glad I'd set my alarm - I needed it. Managed to check out in time, and even took the earlier train. I did my now-regular thing of sitting in an unoccupied "reserved" seat - this seems to be a good option if it's nearly departure time, and seating is limited. I can only imagine that these seats are booked for free, and the people responsible just don't manage to catch the train. Or perhaps they find a better seat. Daft system, if all of these "reserved" seats are left empty, with such a seat shortage - certainly, no-one came to claim mine. And if I wanted quiet, of course all I had to do was connect to the train's WiFi - the signal is so poor that nothing can get through! If I actually wanted to do anything online, I had to turn off WiFi..
Just as well I caught that train, as it was delayed. And then, of course, I was just in time to miss my bus. Ran home to drop my luggage - I didn't even have time to go to the loo before setting off again! I arrived, panting, with minutes to spare, and joined the small group outside the Barbican for the Smithfield & Clerkenwell Walk: Guts & Glory. This was with Walking in London - but more specifically, with Katie of Look Up London! Excellent - I was booked for this in July, but she had to cancel. She's one of the best around. And it being a Funzing event (like all of Walking in London's) I scoured my old Funzing discount codes, and discovered that Funzing_Fb20 seems to be working again - for all of them I've recently booked! So, a 20% discount - better than any recently offered on their Facebook page.
Hell, I've missed this woman's enthusiasm! She so obviously loves what she does - and it's always worth doing her tours, as even on a path I've trodden so often before, she finds so much new! For instance, I hadn't known that 9,000 people live in the City, and 5,000 of those in the Barbican.. We soon made our way to Charterhouse Square, and paused outside "Poirot's building" (used in the tv series). Mostly, however, we spent a long time in front of the Charterhouse itself - I've never heard so much of its history. The first of the "guts and glory" here, as she described how the monks stood up to Henry VIII. Not to mention the brief lecture on the plane trees that fill the square.
On to St. Bartholomew's. I've been in this churchyard on many's the walk, but only once inside, back when I saw Richard II played along the main nave. This is probably because there's an entrance fee - included in the price of today's walk. They actually have a list, at the cash desk, of the films shot here - it's certainly photogenic, and very good value for the £5 they charge:
More photos here. On then, past the memorials at Smithfield, and into the market itself - where we were educated on the developments in phonebox technology!
And I bet you don't know what this really is..
We finished up in Clerkenwell, where Knights Hospitaller gave way to coffee-house revolutionaries:
Always a pleasure to go on her walks - I hope there are many more. I see she also has her Blue Badge for guiding now - well done! Delighted I rushed back for it. Mind you, afterwards, I was too tired to walk back - took a bus instead.
Tomorrow, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club for Buddha Babies, again at Soho Theatre. Naturally, not advertised on their Meetup group. I wonder whether that's now defunct, as they have advertised no upcoming events.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, I don't have to travel so far to see U2 - they're playing the O2 in London. These tickets, I got my address changed in time for, it seems - they've just arrived. Helen is going on Tuesday.. sat in the corporate box, poshly! Nah, I'd rather be closer and sweatier, thanks! I wonder how many of them stand during the show.. I am absolutely mithered with Twickets alerts for ticket offers for these shows!
Thursday is my colleague's last day before he quits for a new life in Stockholm - we're headed out that night. Amazing that I still had that day free when we arranged it!
On Friday, I fly to Belfast. Yep, U2 again. I get busier when they come . Staying in the Crescent Townhouse, walking distance from the SSE Arena, where the concerts take place on Saturday and next Sunday. On the 29th, I'm taking the train down to my mother for a week - makes more sense than jetting back and forth to her!
On the 5th, I'm back up to Dublin. U2 again, dont'cha know? Staying in the Clayton again, which is a hop, skip and jump from the 3Arena, where there are concerts on the 5th and 6th. Would you believe, not even I could swing a ticket for the 5th - well, I'll just rock up on the day, and hopefully I can get something at the box office. I have heard of such things happening. I've had stranger things happen!
On the 7th, I fly back to London (BA) - purely so I can work on the 8th, before flying back to Dublin that night! Was supposed to be Cityjet, but they've now ended their flight schedule after this month - so now I'm going Ryanair. Same hotel, same venue, same band - on the 9th and 10th. I fly back on the 11th, exhausted, and finished with U2 concerts for the year!
On the 12th, I booked for Macbeth, at the Wanamaker Playhouse. And then Let's Do This finally posted that date for the Shirt Tail Stompers at Wilton's - well, I couldn't miss that! Eh, anyone want a spare ticket for Macbeth?
On the 13th, we have our monthly team outing - probably just the two of us, but hey.
On the 14th, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) at last for Love Lies Bleeding, at the Print Room at the Coronet. Got my ticket from London Theatre Direct.
On the 15th, I'm going to try the Seven Deadly Sins Pub Naughty History Tour. Walking in London again, so discounted again! Then I'm back to Ireland again for the weekend.
On the 19th, News of the Strange, from the Crick Crack Club, at Soho Theatre.
On the 20th, back with UITCS for Pinter at the Pinter - Pinter plays at the Pinter Theatre. Two long ones on this occasion - this is Programme Four: Moonlight & Night School.
On the 21st of next month, back at last with The London Jazz Meetup, who are off to the London Jazz Festival for a concert by the Faraj Suleiman Quartet at King's Place. UK premiere, apparently!
On the 22nd, with UITCS at the Garrick for Don Quixote. The only cheap tickets left for this were terrible, so I went a bit upmarket. A bit - I'm still behind a pillar!
On the 23rd, 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. Discounted, again. And this was after my loyalty discount - so I got it at better than half price! which is good, considering the price.
On the 24th, I'm off on my own to see A Small Place, at the Gate.
On the 25th, 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 26th, I'm back with UITCS for Programme Three of Pinter at the Pinter - Landscape / A Kind of Alaska / Monologue.
On the 27th, I'm going to see Company, by Sondheim, at the Gielgud. No tickets available for the upper levels on the official site - they must all have been bought up by resellers! Cheapest I found was with OfficialLondonTheatre, run by See Tickets.
On the 28th, I'm with Walking in London again (and the same discount) for the Haunted London Pub Tour.
On the 29th, I'm back with UITCS at the National for Hadestown. Then back to Ireland again for the weekend.
On the 3rd of December, I'm back to the National for I'm Not Running.
On the 4th, I'm off to the Bush, for Drip.
On the 5th, LDN Talks @ Night and London Speaks Sessions (both Funzing) advertised a "Winterville" talk on The Science of Santa, where we get the scientific explanation of how he does it. Taking place at The Windmill. However, seems they meant the day before, when of course I'm busy. So instead I'm going to True West, with Kit Harington, at the Vaudeville. Cheapest tickets from the venue.
The 6th could be interesting - 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. We shall see whether this event happens, I 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.
On the 7th, back with UITCS at the Royal Court, for The Cane. Got the very last ticket, phew!
On the 8th, with them again at the Orange Tree Theatre for The Double Dealer.
On the 9th, the Crick Crack Club is back at the British Museum for I Know Not, an afternoon of Sufi legend.
On the 10th, I'm off to the Bridge Theatre for A Very, Very, Very Dark Matter, by Martin McDonagh. Starring Jim Broadbent, this is a dark take on Hans Christian Anderson!
And on the 11th of December, I'm going with North London Friends to The Convert, at the Young Vic. Discounted top-price seats, it seems!
Tonight, more Christmas walking with Walking in London, this time with Katie of Look Up London, and her Alternative Christmas Lights Tour. Best discount I could get was the standard 10%, using "crazy_fun". Delighted to give her the business, and it promised to be fun! It was supposed to rain, but not until later - clouds had been lowering ominously all day.
I knew I wouldn't have much time to spare, but I should make it to Bond Street Tube in time. I'd looked it up on Streetview. Although I'd left early, what with having to weave through all the crowds, both on Charing Cross Road and on Oxford Street, I just made the entrance on time. Now, I know what Katie looks like - but nowhere could I see her. Took me five damn minutes to get the Funzing page to load on my phone, so I could get her number (yes, I could've done this in advance), whereupon I texted her. Turns out there are two Oxford Street entrances, and they were at the other.. my bad. Anyway, when I did make my way to them, she offered me a mince pie. (I hate mince pies, so demurred. Unfortunately, she was as bad as Mrs. Doyle in this respect, and I had to demur several times throughout the night.)
Well done Katie, you did it again! I've seen most of these before, but never quite in this light. We got a lecture on Selfridges..
..and saw gorgeous Christmas lights.. (more photos here..)
But what made the walk unique was the history she enlightened us about! Some I knew - but she had quirky stories about several of the shops that I'd never known. For example, have you ever noticed the Egyptian bust over the door of Sotheby's? Did you know it's actually the real thing? Someone bought it and never claimed it, so they stuck it over the door! It's made of basalt, so is quite robust against the elements.
Speaking of elements, we were buffetted by strong winds around every corner, and were delighted when she took us to a "traditional" English pub, halfway through - the Coach & Horses apparently started life in the 1770s, but what you see now is more 1930s. We weren't complaining - it was gorgeous, and she treated us to a drink.
After a chat there, we somewhat reluctantly went back out into the elements. Still, there was more to come - seems the Queen was born just down the road. No plaque to commemorate it. Anyway, we passed through everybody's favourite Christmas lights district - New Bond Street, with its gorgeously bedecked jewellers!
And so, as on Monday, we finished in Carnaby Street, and bad the lassie farewell. Really hope to be on one of hers again - quite unique tours, and she has a great personality! Well worth the price.
Tomorrow, 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 Monday, 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 Tuesday, 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!
Next Wednesday, 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 recently, 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, 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, my annual trip to La Soirée! "Posh new venue", as they say - they're now in the Aldwych Theatre. Cheapest tickets at Amazon tickets - you save on the booking fee.
The 6th 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, for a trip to Nuremberg Christmas market with London European Club! 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, and on the 11th - having taken the day off work (I'll be exhausted) - I'm off to the Barbershop Chronicles. At the National.
On the 12th, 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, 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, my friends who came to Soho last week 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.
On the 15th, 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, 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.
Flying back to London on the 2nd of January, and on the 3rd I've booked to see Stewart Lee at Leicester Square Theatre. Determinedly not in the front two rows - not for a comedy show!
On the 4th of January, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats (Happy New Year to them!), who are off to see Hanna, at the Arcola.
On the 5th of January, I thought Time Out threw me a curiously interesting event - so I'm going on this Space Descent VR experience, at the Science Museum. I'll have to leave work early for it - there are timed slots, and it consists of wearing goggles, and living the experience of a descent to earth, with the astronaut Tim Peake narrating in your ears.
On the 6th of January, Crick Crack is back! Happy New Year to them too. The story of When Time Began is being told at King's Place. Creation myths. And wouldn't you know it, we're being treated to a host of performers - the husband and wife team, Emily and Nick Hennessy, and co-founder of the club, the amazing Ben Haggerty. Accompaniment provided by the wonderful musician, Sheema Mukherjee.
On the 7th of January, another Happy new Year - this time to LDT, who are off to an art exhibition. Gilbert & George: the Beard Pictures and their Fuckosophy. Sorry, but that is the title. Showing at the White Cube Gallery. Honestly, but for the group that's hosting, I wouldn't bother..
And finally, more art on the 8th of January, which I'll probably enjoy more. I'm taking the day off to go see Reflections at the National Gallery - an exhibition of Pre-Raphaelites, which, with a free day, I can peruse at my leisure. As inspired by a walk by the excellent London Literary Walks - roll on the summer, and a return of those!
Today, I was with Walking in London (a Funzing group) for Southwark's Saucy Secrets.. Now, the last time I was booked for a walk in that part of town - also with Funzing - I missed it, so was paranoid about doing the same this time. Happily, I headed out in plenty of time to catch the bus. It also helped that, on this occasion, I had the guide's phone number - unlike the last time.
Again, despite not being listed on the departures board initially, my bus did happen along quite quickly. Whatever route I took, if it was to be by bus, would involve a change - so I got off near Angel to change to the 43. I was supposed to catch it at the same stop I got off at - oh here we go again, it isn't listed at that stop!! I have, again, complained on the TFL website, for all the good it'll do. With a sizeable walk to the stop that was listed as having buses going to London Bridge, I gave up and took the Tube, which was a shorter walk. Thanks again, TFL, for costing me more - not for the first time.
At London Bridge Station, I'd hoped to catch somewhere I could get a hot chocolate - I'd got up late, as usual, hadn't had breakfast, and it was cold out. This would do perfectly. Sadly, on the short trip to the Duke Street Hill exit, I saw nothing that would sell me anything. There was a small coffee shop outside - "My Tea and Coffee Shop", with workers in high-vis jackets sitting outside with their purchases, so probably a good choice. Sure enough, for the princely sum of £2.50 (and no card fee), I got a hot chocolate that's one of the more decent I've had. Recommended, if you're around those parts.
Our guide was stood across the road, underneath the "pointy sculpture", as she described it. The Southwark Gateway Needle would be a more official way to do so, but less informative! She didn't have a sign - as she explained, she was asked for directions enough without drawing attention to herself! And we gradually accumulated there, waiting for the inevitable latecomers and the one that got lost. What the hey, they were prompter than other tours I've been on, and it wasn't long before we were off.
Into a stiff breeze, which, honestly, has gotten stiffer since. Now, I've been on many walking tours of London - not so many of Southwark - and the real test for me is whether I knew it before. I'm delighted to say that this personable guide managed to wend her way through several parts of town I hadn't seen. Like, for instance, Guy's Hospital - which you can use as a shortcut, if it helps - and which contains this interesting sculpture, which, it transpires, is one of the arches of the old London Bridge!
That, by the way, is Keats, sitting in it - used to work here as an anaesthetist, it seems. More photos here.
We passed old breweries, and heard much about the naughtier side of town, what with bear baiting and the Bishop of Winchester's Geese..
And despite nearly becoming icicles with the force of the wind, we had an excellent 90 minutes! Well done, that lady - her walking company is actually called Look Up London, it seems, from the very good advice to raise your eyes from the pavement, as there's so much to see above your heads. I'd be delighted to go on another of her tours.
Afterwards, desperately needed a Tesco, and Google Maps kindly directed me to the nearest one. And then directed me to where I could get a bus - which was along shortly. Tomorrow, back with the Crick Crack Club - at Soho Theatre this time, with Nell Phoenix telling us all about Tricksterland: a favourite theme of hers!
On Tuesday, the London European Club (first time in ages!) - we're off to the Barbican for a dance production by the Michael Clark Company.
On Wednesday, Walking Victorian London is doing a walk called Alexander Pope's The Dunciad.
On Thursday, Up in the Cheap Seats is off to Albion, at the Almeida. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again - hopefully, by that stage they'll have cleared the roads following Storm Ophelia. And Storm Brian.
On the 30th, I finally get to see Apologia, at Trafalgar Studios - London Dramatic Arts was going to this a while ago, but it was far too expensive on that occasion. Well, that's what you get for having Stockard Channing and Laura Carmichael in it! Amazon Tickets again.
And finally, I'm hoping for a nicely scary Hallowe'en.. when I heard that they were doing the first-ever stage production of The Exorcist - and what's more, it's on in the Phoenix Theatre, right behind the office.. well, that was fate, wasn't it?! I jumped to get a ticket for that, as soon as they went on sale - after all, Hallowe'en has to be its most popular night! Jenny Seagrove plays the mother of the demonically possessed teen..
