Glorious Greenwich Walking Tour (#2), Pub: O' Neill's, & Walk: Deeds Not Words! Suffragettes, Spies & Warrior Queens

Yesterday, well, Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners were back to Greenwich again. Now, I was there with him before.. not sure how "new" this one would be, but hey, it was a great day last time! So I signed up, and dragged myself out of bed to make the long trek. Enjoyed the views from the DLR en route, even if it was a grey day..

Arrived, found the group, went to pay. Now, I'd checked before I came out that I had enough cash - glory, it had disappeared! Had to source a cash machine - which was right across the road. Annoyingly, it's a busy road, so that took a while - as he said, "She's run off without my money!" Made it back before he left, anyway - as usual, he obligingly waited 15 minutes for stragglers. Some no-shows - ah well, can't be helped. Lots of faces familiar to me, anyway - and I see I wasn't away long enough for them to forget me! :-)

We actually started with an audience of pigeons:

Honestly, I appreciated hearing most of the facts of this walk again - many had become hazy. Like the story of Tam o' Shanter, who disturbed a coven of witches - one pretty, young one wearing a short skirt, known as a cutty sark. They chased him as he galloped off, coming close enough that the one wearing the cutty sark ripped a bit off his horse's tail:

It's always good to hear the story of Sir Walter Raleigh, who had a chequered career:

And even on a cloudy day, the views here are expansive:

I'd forgotten how much information is included in this relief! Some details about Nelson's battles - his prone corpse is seen cradled in the centre, and to the right are three figures depicting England, Scotland, and Ireland:

More wide expanses:

Inside, as well as outside:

As the walk continued, we got hungrier.. and finally, it was time to eat. And back to the Coach & Horses (inside, this time). Where I had a decent steak and ale pie - which I didn't quite finish, mindful that I'd be eating out again later. Anyway, Laurence wanted to try out The Gypsy Moth pub, so a couple of us went there with him - but they had no seats. So we ended up in The Spanish Galleon, which was blissfully uncrowded, and where we had a convivial one for the road. They have an interesting, curved bar - which the barman claims to be haunted. "Yes, the drinks slide away from you.." Perhaps it's to recreate the experience of drinking on a ship that's listing to the side!

Glad I came - it was great to see everyone, even if this was a repeat for me. Anyway, he has promised to try and schedule some walks I haven't done for weekends when I'll be available.. watch this space!

Yesterday evening, was to meet Ivan - and another ex-boss with whom I'm still friendly, Martin, for dinner: and wouldn't you know it, I actually managed to book O' Neill's. Wonders shall never cease.. of course, Christmas is over now, so things might calm down. Also, although the Six Nations was on that day, the matches were in the afternoon.. Handily, I just had time to shop beforehand, then scootched up the road, getting there about 5-10 minutes late for the booking. No need to book, really - there were about four tables upstairs that would have done. Unfortunately, Martin couldn't make it, in the end - his wife banged her head in the cab she took home from work, and he didn't want to leave her. Next time, hopefully.

Ivan wasn't too long after me - although, typically, he didn't actually eat. Unless you count Guinness as a food group! Me, I was only delighted to get back to that delicious katsu - it's been so long! I see the buttermilk chicken now comes with twisty fries, by default.. and I barely remembered to order onion rings. But it was delicious, and I scoffed the lot. And plenty of wine. Meantime, happily for me, Ireland won their Six Nations match, and happily for Ivan (whose family live there), Scotland won theirs. We could watch on the three large tvs in the room - they're big on sports in this pub. Upstairs closed at 9.30 - but we were to find that downstairs had plenty of space! So we stayed a while longer there, listening to the live music. It was his first time in an Irish pub, and he was bemused to see the people at a nearby table playing cards.. hey, as I said, that's the thing about Irish pubs, as long as you're not bothering anyone, you can do as you please! With a good playlist as well, it was an excellent night - and he's determined we should go back there, next time.. Naturally, I was too tired to blog last night, though.

Today, for ages, nothing on Meetup appealed massively - I thought I might go for a walk along the Ken's Events route, if I felt like it! (on my own). Or Over 40 Living the Life advertised a walk along the New River.. I'd have to see, as I'd have to pay to sign up (refunds given to those who then came). And I might well change my mind.. which I did, when Free Stuff and Free Events advertised a blues concert at the Earl of Chatham, Woolwich. It was a way out, is all - but then, it was free, if I wanted to cancel. And.. finally I did, because London Herstory Guided Walks! finally advertised a walk I could go on. I was recommended this group by someone a while ago - they run guided walks with a female theme. Today's was Deeds Not Words! Suffragettes, Spies, & Warrior Queens. Delighted to be able to go on one of theirs, at last - they're usually on during working hours. Only thing is, they didn't specify how to pay - cash on the day, I guessed, as they didn't take payment on booking. Mercifully, it was in the afternoon - I needed the rest, after yesterday!

Still, I left it tight - ended up on the Tube, rather than bus. Which was just as well, really - made it a lot easier to find our guide, Mandy Morrow, who was stood right in front of one of the exits! So all I had to do was stand there and have a good look around before I moved - frankly, the easiest walk I've ever had to locate! And she turned out to be lovely and friendly - three others joined, all regulars as well, apparently, and one of whom I knew from Discover London. A good sign, repeat business. Anyway, we had one no-show - Mandy seems quite reasonable about latecomers, as long as they message her to let her know what's happening.

We started with the women who worked as spies during the Second World War - but much of the walk was concerned with the Suffragettes, so it's handy that I saw Sylvia - about Sylvia Pankhurst - just during the week, and had some context! Anyway - we had a look at Caxton Hall, where they held many meetings:

(There was some confusion over the statues - turns out that they depict Queen Victoria and Edward VII.)

And so to Christchurch Gardens, and the Suffragette Monument:

In due course, naturally, we came to the monument to Emmeline Pankhurst (and her daughter Christabel, the only one who did something of which she approved!):

She wasn't the only one whose statue we saw:

And particularly evocative was the prison in which they were housed - the original building is still there! And wow, would you believe, they used lapdogs to carry messages to prisoners, training them to take the messages to the windows:

I got to see St. John's Smith Square from the other side:

I see the scaffolding has finally come down around Big Ben! and how it glistens in the sunlight:

And we had a lovely view of Westminster Abbey:

Our last famous, historical, woman of the day was Boadicea:

On Whitehall, as usual, there was a demonstration - today, it was in support of Ukraine. With a strident speaker, not short of things to say. And we finished with the monument to the women of WWII:

Small nugget of info for you - did you know that Waterloo Bridge is also sometimes known as the Ladies' Bridge? Because it was built by women during WWII!

Anyway, afterwards we repaired to the Crypt Cafe in St. Martin in the Fields - after we successfully navigated the chaotic queueing system, I discovered that their hot chocolate is excellent! For future reference. Closes at 5 on Sundays, but we had time for a lovely chat. Really hope I get to do something else with them before too long.

Afterwards, I needed a proper meal. Tried The Chandos first, but their dining area was closed! And so to Prezzo, which was fine - I had garlic bread, and chicken in marsala and mushroom sauce, which comes with fries. All of which was good, but maybe short on flavour. Friendly and efficient service though - and I was to discover that was partly down to their online payment system! So, you order with a waiter, as traditionally: but when it's time to pay, you scan the QR code at your table, and pay online! Smashing, saves all the waiting for the bill - plus it frees up the waiting staff to take orders and serve food. Smiles all around - excellent idea.

Got the bus home. Oh, and remember that cash that went missing? Yes, predictably I'd stuffed it in amongst my Euros.. duh..

Tomorrow, my first actual event with the Over 40s. We're off to How Not to Drown at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East - the first event of theirs for which I couldn't get a cheaper ticket! So I decided, if I couldn't beat them, I might as well join them. True story of an unaccompanied, 11-year-old asylum seeker.

On Tuesday, excited to be headed to see Derren Brown in Showman, at the Apollo Shaftesbury Avenue. Cheapest tickets with Official London Theatre again.

On Wednesday, off to The Lehman Trilogy, at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. Based on the true story of the bank that collapsed. Got the last £39.50 ticket!

On Thursday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Winner's Curse, at the Park Theatre - an interactive show about a peace negotiation. Turns out North London Friends are headed to it the same night - what, are they now copying this group, as another group did some time ago? (since closed down). And then I'm back to Ireland again.

And on the 13th, I'm headed to Allegiance, starring George Takei in a musical based on the true story of his time in an American internment camp during the Second World War. Showing at the Charing Cross Theatre.

Play: Home, I'm Darling

Yesterday, I was booked with The London Jazz Meetup, for Janet's Jazz Night with Richie Garrison & Grazina Pukaite, at Jazz Cafe Posk. But you know what? By the time I needed to leave, I was on a roll with work, and really didn't feel like traipsing all the way out past Hammersmith. For something that, to be honest, odds are I'd only be indifferent about anyway. So I cancelled. In fact, realising that I tend to feel that way about this group's Meetups in general, I've now left the group entirely. I don't like going to stuff I'm indifferent about, you know? especially when I have to travel so far for it. Anyway, I got a ton of work done, so am feeling very smug.

Today, I booked - for the first time in ages - with London Social Detours, who had a Plagues, Pestilence, & Pathology Trail. And afterwards, to The George, which is always good. However, this morning, she cancelled, owing to the adverse weather! (To be fair, it is very windy, although the rain has pretty much held off.) Now, she had a plan B, where she was gonna take us to museums and charge us £3 for the privilege. Sorry love, I can go to the museums myself - I cancelled that as well. Payment was supposed to be on the day, so I didn't lose out.

Having a look around for what else was on, I came across Up in the Cheap Seats, who were   headed to Home, I'm Darling, in the Duke of York's Theatre. Well, I had some fun trying to find a decently priced ticket - the venue didn't have any, so I trawled through the resellers. I finally came good with Encore Tickets, with a seat in the very back row! Well, cool - I booked. (By the look of it when I got there, it was completely sold out.) And as it was on a bit later than I'd have had to meet London Social Detours, I went back to bed for a little.

Stopping by the office first - as usual - I microwaved brunch. Which was very nice, except they were testing the blasted fire alarms! So I had that to listen to while I was eating. Never mind, I was on my way out - and that helped me to hurry on my way. Nearly got blown sideways crossing the road, but I made it safely to the theatre, where most of us met in the bar. And I was so glad I'd come - it was great to see people!

My seat was a bit of a clamber, once I got into the Upper Circle:

Mmm yes, fantastic view it was not! although the tall lady sitting in front of me swapped seats with someone shorter at the interval, so it improved. And I have to say, legroom is ok. Now, this is a show about a couple who decide to live by 50s ideals - she quits her job and becomes a stay-at-home housewife, keeping the silverware and taps shining, having his slippers and paper ready for him when he comes home, before his dinner is presented to him. And the stage reflects this idealistic lifestyle, looking like a life-size doll's house, all bright colours and 50s mod-cons. The excellent Katherine Parkinson even opens the front at the beginning, so we can see into the interior! What a shame that people in the back two rows can hardly see anything of the upper floor.. and I heard at the interval that people in the group who were sitting to the left had trouble seeing into the kitchen, where most of the action takes place - especially in the first half. Motto - be careful with sightlines for this play.

Well now, this is a good play! You might predict pretty easily that the 50s ideal isn't going to last - and you'd be right. Sure, she learns to cook, and takes positive pleasure in "cleaning behind things". There's a terrific 50s soundtrack throughout, BTW, and you can see the attraction. (Well, I can't really, because I hate housework.) But the world outside the front door is living quite happily in the present day - and they can't keep it out forever. There's her friend, who doesn't want to do the same, although her husband is keen for her to do so. There's her mother, who is a die-hard feminist herself, and positively ashamed of her daughter! and who has plenty of first-hand horror stories of the 50s to tell her. And there's the question of the mortgage - as we know, you really can't finance a mortgage on just one income, these days.

I can't honestly think of an issue that isn't mentioned in the course of the play, although some are dealt with more thoroughly than others. The contrasts between the 50s and the modern world are constantly explored - hey, in this house, they don't even eat pizza! Feminist themes abound, of course, and it's really interesting to see a young character choose what most feminists would see as a retrograde step. In fact, the first scene of the second half shows how they came to this point - but it is in the second half, of course, that the 50s facade really starts to crumble. Never too serious though, this is excellently played, and I really enjoyed it. Recommended. Running till the 13th.

Afterwards, a small group of us repaired to the Cafe in the Crypt of St. Martin in the Fields! where a few of us had desserts - my chocolate mousse was very nice. And the wine is cheaper - and less insipid - than what I'd had in the theatre. And we chatted while we ate and drank. A lovely time was had by all, in fact!

And tomorrow - which is Paddy's Day - for the first time since I came to London, I'm hitting the London Irish Centre! Their Big Gig is headlined by Kila, who are excellent.

Concert: Arab Christmas

Tonight, 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 hadn't been to in over a year!) sent an advertising email - and I rather fancied tonight's offering, an Arab Christmas. Of course, you can cancel Funzing up to 48 hours beforehand - so I did, and went to that instead.

Two buses, Google Maps recommended - and to change in Bloomsbury. I got off the first - which was cramped - just in time to miss my second bus: which turned out to be a good thing, when I checked. Because I'd only be going one stop on the second bus, which would let me off at Cambridge Circus. Four minutes, they said it'd take to do that journey. Yeah, right - this is not a journey you should attempt if you're in a hurry. It rarely makes it that quickly, that's a real bottleneck! Anyway, I could walk from there, so I did.

It's just as well I already knew the box office, where I had to pick up my ticket, is in the crypt - there was nothing to tell me! Well, I made it with 10 minutes to spare - seating was unreserved, but pretty sparse by that stage, so I ended up taking an empty spot behind the pulpit. Not too bad - I could peep out under it. Someone in front of me remarked that they should sit in the pulpit - best seat in the house.. and in the second half, someone did!

Ah, I missed this place. Anyhoo, the mc for the night was Reem Kelani, who informed us that this would be an evening of early Arabic Christian chants. First up was an excellent singer - Najib Coutya; it was a pity I wasn't familiar with any of the melodies, and of course I had no idea what words he was singing, but it was most evocative of hot, sandy deserts..

I was more engaged with Joseph Tawadros, who followed him on the oud. A "Coptic Aussie" and four-time award winner, sporting a huge, bushy beard and a fez, he finished the first half and started the second - he was miffed to be given the mic in the second half, when he said his Aussie accent completely destroyed the myth! "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", we got from him. V catchy.

However, the highlight for me was the trio of Shafiq Abouzayd (the senior Melkite Greek Catholic priest in Britain), Merit Ariane Stephanos, and Jon Banks on instrumental. Absolutely mesmerising. And familiar - I know I've seen them before - somewhere..! They could entice me time after time.

And by running, I just caught the bus back! Tomorrow, 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. Would you believe it though, it took a co-worker, today, to let me know that "Miskatonic" is a Lovecraft reference! Well, it's years since I last read him.

Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend. And next Monday, 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.

Concert: Bach Violin Concertos

Tonight, Let's Do This were back to St. Martin-in-the-Fields, where London Concertante was performing Bach Violin Concertos. An easy stroll from the office (in its current location), and I stayed in the office till about 6:50 - the organiser said he'd be outside, with our tickets and free programmes, from 7. Indeed, I nearly made that - we met on the porch, got our tickets and programmes, chatted a bit - and when everyone had arrived, we went inside. It was pretty damn nippy!

We who had side seats were seated in boxes - which meant a side view for me, and my neck stayed twisted uncomfortably for most of the night. And I could've done without the fat lady in the box beside me, who needed so much space for her elbow that I couldn't sit back. Never mind.. I had the best view of the stage (well, altar!) that I've had for years! I mean, I could actually see the harpsichord..

Ah, Concertante. The same old jokes - but they're good ones. We'd miss them, to be honest! And for all the times I've come here, I keep forgetting what a lovely venue it is, with its ornate gilt chandeliers and plastered ceilings, like a wedding cake - and how perfectly it suits the music, which was sublime. Mozart was followed by Albinoni was followed by Bach - and Oblivion, by Piazzolla, as usual, to take us into the interval. For afterwards, more Mozart and Bach. I was truly transported - it's not that often I get to classical concerts, of all the things I go to, and this venue is a treat.

Afterwards, just a couple of us repaired to The Chandos - much busier than the last time we were here, and tables and chairs were prized properties! Our organiser kept a keen eye out, and we were sat before long. A most pleasant chat ensued, putting a fine end to what was a delightful evening. So glad I came..

Tomorrow, I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again. And on Monday, back at Southwark Playhouse with Up in the Cheap Seats - this time, it's for A Day By the Sea.

Concert: Vivaldi Concertos

Last night, I was to be with North London Friends, and another talk on Fake News - different speaker from the last I was at, mind! This was the Fulbright Commission annual lecture, at the British Library. However, much more attractively, Let's Do This were reviving what used to be a regular Man with the Hat event - we were off to St. Martin-in-the-Fields, for some Vivaldi concertos. With a discount, yet! London Concertante, as usual.

It's only about a five-minute stroll from the office, so I was pretty relaxed about getting there. "Stroll" is perhaps not the right word, given all the swerving I had to do around slow-moving tourists, and people who just stopped randomly in my path - this is a busy part of town! Saw the church in the end, up the steps, and there they were. I was almost the last to arrive, but still in time, and we soon went in - gratefully, as it was chilly!

We were all downstairs this time - unusually for me.

The program - their first of the season - was pretty standard. Jokes n all - hey, if it ain't broke.. The crowd was certainly appreciative, giving thunderous applause and a standing ovation at the end. We started, as before, with Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Violins in A Minor, then had a new piece - La Follia, which contained a foretaste of The Four Seasons. And what a joy it was - it's been far too long since I heard such beautiful music in such a beautiful setting. Appropriately, we then had Summer, from the Four Seasons - and more appropriately yet, considering that more modern music was seeping through from somewhere outside, and was quite distracting. Just as well this is the loudest of the Four Seasons pieces.. We also had an extra harpsichord piece, and they finished the first half with Oblivion, by Piazzola.

The second half brought us Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Violins & Cello in D Minor. And then they figured they'd given us enough Vivaldi, and finished with some Bach. And a fun piece, which, as usual, they let us record if we wanted. Afterwards, we met outside, and about half of us repaired to the pub - The Chandos, first time in an age! It's just up from the church, but the Man with the Hat used to go to the Amba, in preference - he did have a bigger group, and The Chandos can get quite packed. Anyhow, we had a most excellent evening, and a lovely chat there - it was their three-month anniversary, you know, and their 20th event! Worthy of a small celebration - and a most convivial time was had.

The group is going from strength to strength - I believe they have secured some contacts from the Man with the Hat for discount tickets. Fair play, and more power to them, as they say in Ireland! I look forward to seeing what they come up with next. It's just a pity that so many of my old friends from the Man with the Hat's groups are excluded from membership of this one, with their stringent membership criteria..

Tonight, until the other day I was still technically booked for free comedy in Hammersmith with DiscoverLDN.UK. But, as I say - good atmosphere, but the comedy is usually pretty bad. I was saved - again - by Up in the Cheap Seats, who are off to see Doubt, a Parable, in Southwark Playhouse. Aww.. it's so long since I was there, and I have so many good memories of it from my time with the Man with the Hat!

Tomorrow, Helen and I have our 25km sponsored walk, in aid of Haslemere's Cat Protection Society. We're going as Dick Whittington and his cat, respectively, and the route is the Thames Bridges Trek. You can donate here.. Got a pair of Skechers Go Walk 4s last week, woo! Dying to try them out on the walk. I can register early this evening, which I'll do, to avoid getting up quite so early in the morning.

Which will tire me out nicely, just in time for my flight to Prague on Sunday morning! I'm at a conference there, Sunday to Tuesday. (What a nice company I work for!) Gee, but I love Prague - most beautiful city I've ever seen, and I've seen a few. They're putting me up at a nice hotel too, just down the road.

So, I fly back on Tuesday, and on Wednesday I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats, at Sadler's Wells, for the Hofesh Schechter Company grand finale.

On Thursday, I was at another talk with Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts - this one, at Southwark Cathedral, is about the River Effra, South London's Secret Spine. Another free Eventbrite event, this is to publicise a book about the subject, and the talk is again given by the author. Another thing that had no tickets, then it did (no notification)! Now I've changed though, and will be off with Up in the Cheap Seats to Loot, at the Park Theatre. Got the last £20 ticket, yay! Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

On the 18th September, I was off to Showstopper! at the Lyric. Ticket courtesy of From the Box Office again. I have actually seen this before - but, being an improvised musical, it literally is different every time! But you'll never guess - the Crick Crack Club finally announced their autumn schedule recently, and now, that night, I'm off to Eaten Father, Eaten Mother by Ben Haggerty. In Soho Theatre, first time in ages. Finally advertised by their Meetup group, jeez!

On the 19th September, I was back with the Scarlet Ladies, for a talk entitled 100 Women - Their Breasts, Their Stories. No longer, of course - now I'm joining London Science Talks and Museums Meetup for a talk at the Alan Turing Institute about the future of data in public life. Most pertinent, given the talk I was at last Thursday.

On the 20th September, Funzing (London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night, as usual) and Jennifer Rees again - this time, a fun talk about the Psychology of Batman Villains! The first of hers for which I managed to get a 30% discount.. and it's on nice and close to me again. Seems to be a feature of her talks!

On the 21st September, it was free comedy in Hammersmith - with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, and DiscoverLDN.UK. But yay, I have my alternative at last! Going to some comedy I have to pay for, which will probably be better. Mae Martin is at Soho Theatre. Advertised by a group called Moxie Ladies.. good luck to them, but as they charge extra, I'm going solo.

And on the 22nd September, the same free comedy - with DiscoverLDN.UK. I rather doubt it though - don't you?

On the 23rd September, I was to do the same, but am now headed to the launch of Rob Luft's new album, Riser, at King's Place. As advertised by The London Jazz Meetup. I finally ended up paying their membership fee after booking an event with them the other day, for November, which someone is attending that I know. So I figured it was wiser!

I had booked the same free comedy, with the same group, on the 24th September, 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..

On the 25th September, 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 the 26th September, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats - to see Wings, at The Young Vic. Accidentally booked standing, I think.. :-/

On the 27th September, with Up in the Cheap Seats again - for Jekyll & Hyde, presented by the National Youth Theatre, at the Ambassadors Theatre.

On the 28th September, 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! 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 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.

Concert: London Concertante

Another of the Man with the Hat's favourite venues last night, and ours too. Nice to get back to St. Martin-in-the-Fields, it's been a while. This time, he only had gallery tickets, for London for Less Than a Tenner. Well now, that's not a problem, eh? Also a no-brainer. I booked.

And it was about a 10-minute walk from the office. We were to meet him in the crypt - yes, there he was, and as soon as he saw me, he made for me, brandishing a ticket and then taking off at a gallop to lead me to the seating area at the back of the cafe where the others were sitting. I started the second table, the first being full.. and it was lovely to see some faces I hadn't seen in an age. Wow though, there were so many newcomers last night, of different kinds - people who'd never been to a classical concert before, people who'd never been with this group before, people who'd been with the group but not at this venue.. And what was really lovely about that was that I knew they'd all have a great experience.

Now, I was in need of food, so helped myself to a large slice of chocolate cake. And a glass of wine. And finishing that meant that I was one of the last to head upstairs - many thanks to those who waited for me. Also, many thanks to the kind soul who took it upon himself to hire me a cushion! Very thoughtful. Anyway, as usual we had unreserved tickets, and scattered ourselves amongst the rows - anywhere but he front row, as we were told. It was very full. And those who hadn't been before were to learn that the Man with the Hat was right in his advice just to sit back and listen to the music, eyes closed or admiring the gorgeous ceiling.

The artists, as usual, were London Concertante, who treated us to the usual jokes. Reassuringly familiar. And the program was peppered with popular classics. We started with  some Bach. Following this with some Purcell, they finished the first half - again, as usual - with some Piazzola. They do make a habit of this - but I have to say, of what I've heard of his work, I think this was the one I liked best. The second half started with some more Bach - not J. S. this time, but his son, C. P. E. - more popular at the time, apparently. And then we were in to the perennial favourites, The Four Seasons - Spring and Summer, specifically. Gooddee, Summer's my favourite. They finished with something a bit different - a selfie with the audience, and an extra piece that they encouraged us to go Facebook Live on, the idea being that they could later splice together all the videos to make a professional-looking one. I couldn't get it to work on my phone, but kudos to those who did, and to Concertante for moving with the times.

Afterwards to Amba, and more impressed people, who hadn't been there before. And I ordered some chips, which constituted my main dinner of the evening - and remarked, as I often have before, on the superiority of English chips. And we had a nice chat, before dispersing to our various destinations.

Tonight, I was supposed to go to free comedy in Hammersmith. Courtesy of London Live Comedy, Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith Wimbledon and Farringdon, and London Art Comedy and Culture Lovers. But hey, that guide's voice must have recovered - on Wednesday, she advertised a Sweeney Todd tour for this evening with Walk About London - and I booked. Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts also going.

Tomorrow, after lunch with Helen - somewhere around Euston - I'm back with London Dramatic Arts (LDAM) for a production of Hamlet, at the Almeida.

Sunday is shaping up to be a busy day. I'd booked to go to a free organ recital, with the London European Club (LEC), at the Methodist Central Hall. Then the Man with the Hat decides that would be the perfect evening to take Let's Do London - for less! to see the Pop-up Opera, with the Barber of Seville, at Charing Cross Theatre! With a 6pm start, I'll have to rush over from Westminster.. have to make my excuses to the LEC. My, what a busy life!

Monday is the only day I have free to use my Wowcher before it expires - it's for the Magic Lantern festival.

Tuesday, unusually, LEC is taking us to some storytelling - up in Cambridge Heath!

Wednesday, I'm headed, with LDAM, to The Cherry Orchard, at the Arcola. And I just caught an interesting conversation in relation to that evening - seems someone who's booked can't go, and posted in case anyone wanted his ticket. Whereupon the organiser was right on to him to explain that that's against the rules. Yes, ok, he doesn't get a refund if the ticket isn't sold on, and he can't sell on the ticket directly - I get that. But me oh my, it seems her anti-blogging page isn't the only page of rules she - or someone she knows - has come up with - take a read of the rules against reselling. I mean seriously - the ticket can't be passed on until the day of the event? And forget about a refund - at best, you can get credit. You have been warned..

Thursday, the Crick Crack Club is back at Crouch End, with The Fate We Bring Ourselves - finally advertised on their Meetup page! Ben Haggerty standing in for Claire Muireann Murphy, who's having a knee operation, it seems. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

Monday 27th, London for Less Than a Tenner is off to Two Man Show at Soho Theatre. I've seen it before, but it's worth seeing again. And so is the group!

Tuesday 28th, Let's Do London - for less! is off to Sleeping Beauty, at the Opera House.

Wednesday 1st March - well lookee that, the same group is off to Roundelay, at Southwark Playhouse. Three in a row for the Man with the Hat - we'll have to carry him off on a stretcher. About time we got back to Southwark though - we've missed it!

Thursday 2nd, I was thinking of free comedy in Hammersmith - this time with London Live Comedy, Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith Wimbledon and Farringdon, and Random London. But then Walk, Talks and Treasure Hunts (and Walking Victorian London) announced a walk called True Spy Stories! So I thought that sounded more interesting, and booked.

Friday 3rd, again, Crick Crack is telling stories - Daniel Morden and Hugh Lupton are performing Metamorphoses at Rich Mix. However, the Rich Mix website doesn't seem to have heard of this.. The independent Crick Crack Club website now has a link to buy tickets from Rich Mix though, and at the moment they're being sold at a discounted preview price. And now that the link is available, their Meetup group is advertising it too.

Saturday 4th, Let's Do London - for less! is back to see Sleeping Beauty - and so am I. Honestly, this was a mistake on my part - I was booking a lot at the time and forgot I was already going - but hell, I'd rather be doing this anyway than not. Amphiteatre, this time - it's been a while since I was there.

Sunday 5th, London for Less Than a Tenner is advertising "Soho: the Roots of the Swinging Sixties - guided walk"! Now, this confused me, before I read deeper.. I do recall the Man With the Hat saying that, while he was interested in guided walks, he wasn't interested in actually guiding them. Turns out someone else is doing the actual guiding.. Anyway, count me in.

Monday 6th, I'm off to see Russell Howard at the Albert Hall.

Tuesday 7th, jeez, the Man with the Hat is back again! Hard to keep up these days - so I'm going with Let's Do London - for less! to The Diary of a Teenage Girl at Southwark Playhouse.

Wednesday 8th, I finally get to go to something with the Post-Apocalyptic Book Club - not a book discussion this time, instead they're off to a play called The Machine Stops, at Jacksons Lane Theatre. Suitably post-apocalyptic. Then I'm back to Ireland for a long weekend.

Monday 13th, I'm with LDAM at the Royal Court, for The Kid Stays in the Picture.

And to complete the tally of a month from now (!), that rescheduled talk on Brexit Vs. Trump from last Tuesday is on Tuesday 14th. Unless I decide to go to a film instead - being Funzing, I can get my money back if I cancel at least 48 hours in advance.