Walk: The Backstreets of Islington

Today, I was back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners. This time, it was a tour of The Backstreets of Islington! Lovely, my neck of the woods - in fact, this was a walk I could walk to. And Helen came too! Which would be nice, and the first time in ages I'd have seen her. The timing was a bit unfortunate, as it clashed with the accession council, which was being televised.. oh well!

I dragged myself out of bed in time to turn on the computer for the accession council - saw the now-Prince of Wales and Queen Consort sign the proclamation. :-) D'you know, apparently it was the first occasion in history on which women were present! With a line of ex-Prime Ministers taking the front row of observers, I had to wonder what Boris was staring at so pointedly, once the signatures were done, and people were making their way to the antechamber to meet the King..

Well, that done, I trotted off and up the hill to my walk. And was the first there, beating even Laurence! We met in The Angel - where, of course, they were showing the proclamation, due at the same time the walk was due to start. With the sound down, grr. As I remarked, what is the point in watching someone silently blow a trumpet..? Never mind, found it online later.

Our first stop was the memorial to Thomas Paine - attracts a lot of rubbish, it seems (note the cans). And I caught the first memorial of the day to the late Queen:

It was fascinating to hear the hidden history of many of Islington's buildings, as well as the reason that Upper Street has a raised pedestrian section - why, to avoid the mud, of course! - but the memorial to the area's most famous cat, subject of the film and book A Street Cat Named Bob, had a special resonance:

We also passed down some lovely, quiet backstreets - Islington has some very attractive bits.

And we were allowed to sneak into the lobby of the local Catholic church, where a baptism was in progress; in fact, the priest bade us farewell as we made our way out!

More unexpected bits of Islington included the waterways:

And gee, I never noticed this, making my way to/from Sadler's Wells..

But wow, was I ready for lunch by the time we made our way back to The Angel! The rain held off until we were headed there, and when Laurence asked, they had no problem seating us at the back. And we were well-fed, on some moreish BBQ chicken (for me and Helen). I found myself in the interesting position of being at the same table as two people with whom I normally share a bottle of wine.. well, the situation was easily resolved - by ordering two bottles! (One at a time, obviously - we only had one cooler, after all.) Each at less than the price of a single large glass, at Sadler's Wells (among other places). The chat was as good as ever - love this group, TBH, one of the friendliest. Hope it isn't too long before I can join them again.

Afterwards, Helen and I headed to see what could be seen at Buckingham Palace - I hadn't headed down there yet, since the Queen's death. Well, there is no shortage of businesses giving tributes:

Well, I don't think we were anticipating the crowds we got:

Unable to get any nearer, people were leaving tributes at the closest trees to the Palace that they could reach:

We ultimately gave up on the Palace, and headed to Oxford Street instead.

After we'd shopped, we headed to the cafe in Marks and Spencer - which is advertised as being on the 2nd floor, but turned out to be on the 3rd.. good cake, though. Terrific day, great to see the group again, great to see Helen again.

Tomorrow, Cultureseekers were heading to Open House London - which used to run over a weekend, and has turned into a fortnight-long extravaganza! This festival, which started on Thursday, allows access to buildings you normally can't see. They were off to the Banqueting House, which I've never seen, and the Royal Opera House, which I have - including on a backstage tour. Just before the world went into lockdown. So, I fancied the Banqueting House - but I didn't fancy accompanying this event, which numbered 202 attendees! I decided to go on my own, thanks. But wouldn't you know it, I just checked - and it's been removed from the Open House list!

Precious little else on Meetup for tomorrow - a few events looked kind of good, if only they weren't so far out! So I turned to the cheap ticket sites - trying carefully to avoid things that are terrible (although they all could be), I've booked with CT for the evening performance (the matinée is sold out, with them anyway) of Hero and Leander, at the Purcell Room at the Southbank Centre. It's a retelling of the myth of two lovers, separated by the sea, by means of different forms of music. I've never actually been in the Purcell Room before, but it seems the entrance is beside the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

For Monday, TAC had tickets to The Two Popes, at the Rose Theatre in Kingston. Sadly sold out of them - as have CT. But I thought it really sounded interesting, and tried to book direct with the theatre - only to discover that my account seems to be suspended! Now, it's nearly seven years since I was last there - so that could be the reason. However, I haven't yet had a chance to call the box office - and they're closed tomorrow. So it'll be Monday before I can clear this up..

For Tuesday, I'm thinking film - and after much consideration (and removal of films from the list), what's coming up is My Old School, a documentary about a student called Brandon Lee, who attended a Scottish school. So far, so ordinary - except he wasn't what he seemed at all! He refused to be filmed for this, and his voice is lip-synched by Alan Cumming. By this stage, only showing in the Curzon Camden. Handy thing is, my Curzon membership is also valid there, and I'm still entitled to free films!

On Wednesday, I'm finally back with London Classical Music and Theatre Group - we're headed to the Barbican, where the London Symphony Orchestra is playing Ravel and Debussy, in the "Half Six Fix". I bought a cheap wildcard, so shall find out my seat on the night - CT subsequently advertised it too, even cheaper, rats.

On Thursday, Over 40 Living the Life is - again - headed to the Vauxhall Comedy Club, on a "special deal for regulars". And I am - again - headed there on my own. Because, if you book direct, tickets are cheaper than the price quoted for this group - regardless of whether you're a regular. Now I just need to figure out how to access the online loyalty card I got from them, last time.. and I should probably donate something, this time! They're very good at guilting people.

And then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

Dance: Nederlands Dans Theater Mixed Bill

I love going to Sadler's Wells - don't do it nearly enough. So when the London European Club suggested a Meetup there, last Thursday - I immediately booked. Decided to work from home that day, as Sadler's Wells isn't the quickest to get to.

We were to meet beforehand in The Angel, a short walk from Sadler's Wells. A train and two Tubes got me to Angel Station, across the road from the pub - when I went in, I scoured the place for the organiser, who saw me first and waved a long arm in the air so I could see him. Just a few of us came to the pub beforehand, and had drinks before heading down - a tempting menu on the table advertised "The Nation's Biggest Curry House", specific to Thursdays, which would've been nice: but I'd eaten at home, and we didn't have very much time for eating, anyway.

It was a cool evening, but not unpleasant as we made our way down the road. We'd bought our own tickets, but all in the Upper Circle - good exercise, as ever, climbing all those stairs. While the organiser hung around in the lobby so people could find him, we made our way up, a couple of us buying crisps. And so to our seats.. d' you know, pretty soon after the performance started, my back was killing me. I think it's a result of sitting so high up and having to look down at the stage - I'm often in the gods, but notice this effect more here than elsewhere.

The performance was a mixed bill by Nederlands Dans Theater. Now, I hadn't bought a programme, and the website gave no more than cursory information - titles, a brief description. We were told there'd be two intervals, and I knew that the set up to the first interval would comprise a triple bill. No idea what the story was, mind. But I have to say, it was beautiful to watch - the backdrop panels moved around the stage by individual dancers, invisible behind them, were a nice touch, and the musical accompaniment was a perfect fit.

At the first interval, most of us convened in the upstairs foyer. Some were confused about what they'd just seen, but one - a former dancer - said something that made me think. "There doesn't have to be a story," she said. "There can be, but that's not what's important. Just watch the form." Which was when I realised - I was watching something in a different language. A lot of what I go to is pretty wordy - hey, just the night before, I was at storytelling! (In fact, the stamp still hadn't quite worn off my hand.) But this was a different beast - where words and story didn't really matter: or, perhaps, the story wasn't the kind we were used to hearing, but rather one whose theme was movement.

With that in mind, I went back in determined just to enjoy what I was seeing, not looking for a plot. I particularly enjoyed one piece danced to Bach's Violin Partita, obviously choreographed to complement the flow of the music. I've always loved it when they do that! But the popular hit of the night was the very last piece, Cacti, which rapidly developed a sense of humour - and with a nod to those who'd like to be told what was going on, for heaven's sake, they added a narrator for the last bit!.. who pompously told us how this was an expression of post-modernism (or something). And finished by adding the dancers' thoughts. And - a dead cat.

Hilarious! and a great way to end the evening - as I told the guy taking vox pops in the lobby. The organiser had an early start, so we went our separate ways, the night having turned to light rain. A 38 to Victoria approached the bus stop shortly after - I'd have preferred the 341, which would have taken me to Waterloo, but said what the hey, and hopped on. It was a Routemaster, which handily meant I didn't have to queue at the front door, but could board in the middle. What with the traffic, it took us about an hour to get to the station - but it was lovely to go down Shaftesbury Avenue again, and through the bright lights of Piccadilly Circus - it's been a while! At the station, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the departure boards weren't quite as incomprehensible as I remembered - there were boards telling me when the next departures were to Clapham Junction, and I made one shortly after.

And now I'm in Ireland, in the midst of torrential rain. My blog's been somewhat delayed (apologies if you were looking for it!) by the fact that I decided to go to a film on Monday, so I had to do the film list! Having rejected Captain America: Civil War on the grounds of sheer lack of interest, I'm happy to say that the winner was Sing Street, which I've booked for in my local cinema - 'coz it's cheaper if you do. Yes, it's another story of musical ambition in run-down Dublin in the 80s. And written and directed by the high priest of the subject, John Carney. But you know, he does know his subject - and this one promises to be a more pop-oriented offering than what he's done previously, which will make a change. Should be a blast from the past. And I've been missing the cinema, and the convenience of driving - so, looking forward to that!

Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras

Ah, deep joy when I discovered the London European Club was off to see some flamenco last night - and at Sadlers Wells, too, which kind of guarantees quality! But frankly, it'd take a lot to convince me that flamenco wasn't worth going to - I immediately booked. We were all booking our own tickets (oh, how much less hassle that is!) and sat separately, but met both before and after..

After the previous day's spat with London Dramatic Arts, who no longer like me either buying my own tickets for their events, nor linking to my blog - and hence potentially mentioning ticket resellers (shock horror!) - on their pages, I was up very late that night, trying to bite my tongue in the latest blog post, for fear of inflaming things further. So I woke very late yesterday.. at least there were no further comments in the fray. Sadly, the day kind of escaped from me, and I didn't have time to eat properly before I left..

I decided on the fastest way in, which was train to Vauxhall, Victoria Line to King's Cross, Northern Line to Angel - we were to meet at The Angel, across the road from Angel Tube Station. Wouldn't you know it, for once my luck was in and I just caught a train to Vauxhall as it was about to depart! After that, my journey was smooth enough - as it turned out, I beat everyone else to The Angel, and not finding anyone else, was on the point of leaving when the organiser showed up. So we convened at a small, free, table in this busy pub, and drank and chatted until it was time to go.

Sadlers Wells is really only a short walk away, straight down the road and take a right when you see the sign for it. So we hung out in the lobby for a while, where I ran into people I haven't seen in an age! In due course, we made our way upstairs - most of us were in the Second Circle, and boy, do those stairs test your fitness! And yes, when we made it to the right level, there were more steps to climb..

Someone had guessed beforehand that there'd be a lot of Spaniards in the audience - I think they were right. As usual, we started a bit late.. to a full house, it's been sold out for days, at least. The first piece, I wasn't so keen on - the guitar was overpowered by a secondary music track I found unnecessary, and the formation dancing reminded me of Riverdance - which is fine, but gee, I've seen it before. They even have a flamenco section.

I needn't have worried - the rest was spectacular. This was ballet flamenco, and I did wonder what that would mean - in practice, it meant, it seemed, that you got everything you might want from flamenco (olé!) but with a nod to the way it looked - so, some pieces were more consciously balletic, there was plenty of attention to costume and lighting, all movements were choreographed. It looked incredible! Some of the staging was absolutely epic - I particularly noted one scenario with three flamenco dancers in red.

The flamenco itself, of course, was superb. As the evening progressed, it got ever wilder, and the (extremely noisy) crowd picked up on it. Plenty of "Olé"s! The lead dancer (Sara Baras) got a separate standing ovation after an extended solo, some time before the end - but she wasn't the only one worthy of applause. A fantastic night, whether you've seen lots of this before, or it's your first time. This is part of their Flamenco Festival, and I really recommend it if you can swing both the time to see it, and a ticket.. jeez, sometimes I really miss Spain.

Afterwards, our organiser led us to a little place just around the corner, called The Shakespeare's Head. It's been described as "the pub that time forgot" - well yes! Someone remarked that it didn't feel like we were still in London - I remarked that it felt as though we were in a time machine. Call it what you will - it's definitely retro. Service was a little slow, but prices reasonable and the atmosphere was great! A jukebox included modern hits, but the preference of the clientele tended towards the earlier stuff, and it fitted perfectly! Towards the end of the night, what with the heat, the (too-heavy) coat I was wearing, and the lack of food, I was feeling a bit faint; after a short sit-down, I called it a night, and a couple of us made it to the bus stop, just in time for the bus to Waterloo.

A great night - this is a group I enjoy meeting people from, there's quite a variety of people coming to different things, and they're always open to new people and ideas. Now, I was supposed to go to a free gig at the Finsbury tonight - but you know, I'm quite run down, pretty exhausted in fact, what with quarrels and all, and I ain't going anywhere tonight. Particularly with the wind that's been howling outside all day! I've spent the interim revising my film list, ranked in order of IMDB ratings, and the grand winner for tomorrow is.. drum roll please.. Neerja! Yes, it's another Bollywood film - the true story of an Indian flight attendant who gave her life to save her passengers when her plane was hijacked by terrorists, in 1986. I'm sensing a theme of sorts in the Bollywood films I've seen lately, the last being Airlift.. Anyway, it's in my local cinema - which is quite good for Bollywood - and in the evening, so I can drive (they validate parking from 7). I'll work from home next day, so it doesn't matter that it finishes a bit late.

On Tuesday, I'm back with one of my favourites - Let's Do London - for less! is off to see Orphans, at Southwark Playhouse. On Wednesday, the Crick Crack Club scheduled another storytelling session, in The Forge - and next thing I knew, The London European Club were coming too! I'd already booked my ticket - so now I've signed up with both groups. This one, I'll definitely go to.. and it'll be nice to have the LEC there, I'll know some people; the Crick Crack Club don't put much emphasis on meeting. On Thursday, I'm back with London Dramatic Arts, with whom I'd booked a ticket to Battlefield, at the Young Vic, before all this trouble started. It's based on the Mahabharata, apparently. And that won't be a bit awkward, now will it..? Somehow I don't think I'll be hanging around for long after. Back to Ireland at the weekend, then on Monday of next week I'm back with Let's Do London - for less!, who are off to Soho Theatre for What I Learned From Johnny Bevan.