Reading: Across the Bridge

This evening, headed for The Astronomer again for dinner. Google Maps said it was busier than usual, and bookings weren't available, but hey, I was lucky before! Sure enough, what with all the rain today, the courtyard was empty - inside wasn't really crowded, but all the tables were occupied. Except for one ledge, complete with high chair, which I noticed had a table number. Which meant I could order from it! So I sat, and ordered the chicken again, and that delectable New Zealand white. The chicken was good, although perhaps not of the spectacular quality of before - they hadn't really made an effort with the puree, and the chicken itself was a little tough. No, carrots - which tasted honey-roasted - were, would you believe, the highlight of the piece! Checking my blog, I discovered I hadn't been terribly impressed with the ice cream, so I had another glass of wine instead. All delivered with impressive promptness. And meantime, booked my movers for Sunday..

Was back in plenty of time for an online talk by Guided Walking Tours in Brighton and Sussex. They're starting a Short Story Tuesdays series, where the host reads a short story by a selected author (fee £3) - and this week's author is Graham Greene. We weren't sent the link until yesterday evening. Curiously, he greeted each of us as we signed in, but refused to unmute us, so we couldn't respond.. Anyway, most who had booked showed up (at the last minute), and the story turned out to be Across the Bridge. Predictably, a combination of the wine and the narrator's soothing voice served to send me rapidly to sleep.. I was woken by silence, half an hour later, when he ended the session! Ah well, at least it was recorded, so doubtless the link is to be distributed later..

Tomorrow, back with Civilised London for an Italian meal - this is in Terra Rossa, meeting beforehand in The Crown, as usual. Picking up the keys to my new place beforehand. :-) And I can walk from there to the pub!

On Thursday, I finally get my postponed meeting with two of my ex-coworkers (one suddenly can't make it, he's dog-sitting) - and after my glowing reports of Bill's on Clink Street, we're heading there! Optional drinks beforehand, I've suggested The Old Thameside Inn.

On Friday - taking advantage of the bank holiday, I booked something that's been heavily advertised. At £60, it's not cheap, but I really fancied it, so I'm headed to The Gunpowder Plot, an immersive, combined VR and real-life experience at the Tower. You can get a themed lunch with that, but I passed. Earliest date now available is the 8th, at a minimum price of £50 (last few available) - the price increases as you get closer to the date. And ironic how these two events are closer to my old place.. So I'll stay there until after this.

And on Saturday, booked with Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts again for A Nosey Around Soho. In association with London Guided Walks as usual, a £3 discount for using the code MEETUP3, which at least covers the booking fee. Looks like Hazel herself is running this one - if so, it'll be the first time I'll have seen her in years. Assuming I'm not a couple of minutes late, and miss her. Well, if I do get to go, I hope she doesn't spam me, like she still is after the last one, with constant ads for her podcast and requests for reviews! Of course, if you go on her site, there seems to be no way to leave a review.. AND I see she advertises these on TAC now, with a £3 cash charge on the day to the guide - still, this would be the cheaper option. (and ACLUB also gets you a £3 discount on the full price..)

Storytelling: Astray

Tonight, I headed to the Crick Crack Club (CCC) again, for Astray, at Rich Mix. A storytelling double bill, both Irish ladies telling Irish myths! I can walk there, of course, from my current place - thought I'd try The Astronomer for food en route, although after last time, I wasn't optimistic about getting a table.

There was a huge crowd outside, in the warm weather - I wasn't optimistic, but lo, as I looked in the door - was that a free, small table?! I grabbed it. Sure enough, it was a bone fide table, complete with number. Thank goodness for the ordering from the table - I'd never have dared to leave this table, having found it, and it would have taken me ages to queue and order at the bar! As it was, it can't have taken more than five minutes after my order before my wine arrived - a nice Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

Not long more before my main arrived. I was a bit dubious about this - I'd ordered the chicken, but wasn't at all sure what exactly I'd ordered. It's a complicated dish (although not expensive) - chicken stuffed with tarragon and mushroom, accompanied by carrot, onion puree, and potato cake. Is what it was. And TBH, when it did arrive, I wasn't at all sure what was what! The potato cake looked like a slice of pie, cut in a triangular shape, and was a little salty - but the rest was seriously delicious. I think they use chicken thighs - tricky, but tastier. Man, it was gorgeous - highly recommended. I gushed about it to the lady who cleared the table. Some chocolate ice cream for dessert - not the best, but after that chicken, I wasn't complaining. Seriously, if you get the chance of a table here, have that. Done and dusted, with plenty of time to stroll the rest of the way.

At Rich Mix, I was waved upstairs without anyone checking my credentials - upstairs, they checked my name off a list. I got another glass of wine at the bar. Lovely, relaxed atmosphere, Martin Shaw and Ben Haggarty mooching around - and I was talking to him, briefly! We went in early, and I got my usual front and centre seat. No rush on people coming in - indeed, I had time to get a refill, although it was already showtime!

Both Northern Islanders, it turned out - one retaining her original accent, despite - as she said - living here for most of her life! The theme of the evening - "astray" - comes from the Irish, "ar strae" - translated as "lost". First up was Cath Heinemeyer, breathing new life - and much energy - into the old tale of Sweeney, the Irish king who went mad and grew feathers! Ah, that's what you get if you diss the clergy.. Now, as it happened, I do believe I was seated beside Laura Sampson, a longtime CCC afficionada, who spent some time taking notes during this talk. Lord knows what, she was most careful to hide what she was doing! But I don't blame her for note-taking - this was a most original performance, the storyteller challenging us to step into the mind of the lead character. Suitably mad, as Ben remarked at the interval..

The second half saw Lara McClure tell us the tale of Barry Lyndon, an 18th-century rogue who flitted from pillar to post, never quite becoming what you might call settled. Her method was more conventional - less hopping about, and a more defined style. It's one of the more entertaining accounts I've heard of that fellow - and she managed to squeeze a fair bit of Anglo-Irish politics in there, including a bit about exporting "Irishness", which seems a theme of hers, from the conversation I overheard her having before the show. Most entertaining, all the same. And the whole was over nice and early! Always good for getting home.

Tomorrow, headed to Marys Seacole, at Donmar Warehouse. Based on a true story. I've heard mixed reviews - we shall see. They were good enough to email me a link to my ticket.

And on Saturday - well Lordy, I've booked for the Roman London Walk, with Walk About London (also advertised on Walks, Talks & Treasure Hunts - both linked to London Guided Walks). Now, I missed the last two I was booked on with this company - third time lucky? Got reminders yesterday.

Pub: The Astronomer

Yesterday, I booked another Zoom talk - Quakers at War was the story of the Quakers and their pacifism. Courtesy of Surrey History Meetup. But then, I suddenly heard that Mary - who moved out of London a few years ago - was going to be in town last night, and staying just down the road from me, at The Bull & the Hide, handy for getting a train today from Liverpool Street! Well, no contest.. I could always get a recording of the talk if I wanted.

I needed to eat - so since she'd reminded me of The Astronomer, I suggested we meet there! I remembered the food being good. So I headed there first, and just handily managed to score a central table with room for both of us, and another that said he could make it. She was to remind me later that this was where we sat the first time we were here!

They have the QR code on the tables - so, so handy for when you're alone, and want to hold a table! so you don't have to go to the bar to order. Decent, free WiFi as well - so I ordered a glass of a nice New Zealand sauvignon blanc, and an East London meat pie. The wine came immediately, complete with salt, pepper, and cutlery nicely folded in a napkin. The pie arrived literally five minutes after I got the confirmation email - I timed it. And yes, happy to report that their pies are still excellent - although I wasn't completely gone on the chips. I decided on ice cream for dessert.. they serve by the scoop, but I wanted two scoops. So what happens is, you have to order it twice. And this is what you get:

Yeeah. Anyway, it was delicious. And a while after I'd finished, in walked the third of the group, and decided to order the same pie - and finally, Mary arrived, having checked in first. And wow, was it good to see her again - it's been years! We nattered away the whole evening, and could have done with as much time again. She declared that she must visit London more - I really hope she does. The nostalgia was plentiful.. why, even the ladies' loos hadn't changed:

We stayed till they chucked us out, and I walked her back to where she was staying - I was headed that way anyway. Thanks Mary, that was a great way to start my week! I was too tired to blog though.

Tonight.. I'm booked for Dear Evan Hansen, at the Noel Coward Theatre! Finally - I'd booked for this before lockdown, and of course it got cancelled. Cheapest tickets from the official site.

Tomorrow, back with Civilised London (CL) - back at Le Sacré Coeur, meeting beforehand at The Crown, as usual.

On Thursday, back with TAC for Avocado Presents - Improv, at Etcetera Theatre. Eh, I think it's a jazz concert? 

Failing any information from my new job, have provisionally booked for Friday - Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners are off to see Elegant London!

Anyway, then back to Ireland for the weekend again, and on Saturday, now that the listings are finally up, I've booked to go see The Batman at the Omniplex. It's free to book, and handier when you get there. And gee, I've heard great things about this! A very dark take on the story, it seems - has Andy Serkis as Alfred, and Peter Sarsgaard as the DA.

On Monday, going to see Daddy at the Almeida. Having never seen a bad production here, I have high hopes.

Next Tuesday, finally going to see Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella! I hear good things.. it's playing at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, which is new to me - Seatplan was invaluable in choosing the best seating option. What's On Stage provided the cheapest price for that seat, though!

On the 30th, back with CL - for a play this time. This is The Fever Syndrome, at Hampstead Theatre.

On the 31st, back with TAC for One Night With Robbie Williams. This is at The Courtyard.

On the 1st, back with the Crick Crack Club (CCC) for - The Grand Annual Lying Contest! at Rich Mix.

On the 2nd, I had booked with WTTH for a Regent's Canal Walk. Different guide. But yay, Laurence and the 45+s then advertised another walk for that day, which is pretty much guaranteed to be superior. So I've booked it. This is Scandals, Scriptwriters & Sumptuous Architecture - and of course, it being a London weekend, I can go!

On the 3rd, the CCC again! Emily Hennessey and Sheema Mukherjee are at the British Museum, with Holy Cow! Tales from the River of Life. Unfortunately, the London Landmarks Half Marathon is also that day, so I'll probably be on the Tube, at least getting to the museum. 

On the 4th, I'm back at the Park Theatre for the first time in nearly three years! This is for Clybourne Park, a comedy about a white family moving into a predominantly black neighbourhood.

On the 5th, I'm headed to But I'm a Cheerleader, a musical comedy at the Turbine Theatre.

On the 6th, back with Up in the Cheap Seats at Southwark Playhouse, and another free ticket for me! This time, it's for Anyone Can Whistle, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

On the 7th, Tommy Tiernan is playing at the Hammersmith Apollo! Now, I failed to get a ticket for this the first time around. Then it was rescheduled because of Covid.. and I got a ticket for the rescheduled event! Then that was rescheduled.. third time lucky?! Love Tommy Tiernan. The show is called Tomfoolery. And then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.

On the 11th, I've booked for The 47th, at The Old Vic. Written by Mike Bartlett, this imagines the American presidential elections of 2024. I am really looking forward to this play..

On the 12th, I'm finally going to Six, the Musical! Based around the story of the six wives of Henry VIII (very loosely, I'd say), it's playing at the Vaudeville and I hear good things. Cheapest tickets from Leicester Square Box Office.

On the 13th, back with CL, who are off to the opera at the Southbank Centre. The show in question is The Paradis Files. Next day, I'm back to Ireland for Easter - but left it so late to book, I could only get an afternoon flight, and will have to start my new job (whenever) by asking for that day off work!

Well, my friend got back to me - they're away in the middle of Easter week, back on the 21st, so the most sensible thing to do seemed to be to visit on the 22nd of next month, which I've now arranged with her. Whether I take that week as holiday, or take the laptop there and work from Ireland, remains to be seen. Anyway, I'll fly back to London on the 24th of next month. And on the 25th of next month, I'm off to The Corn is Green, at the National.

Walk: Heart of the City

Tonight, London Literary Walks (LLW) advertised a walk called Heart of the City. Wouldn't you know it, it went from practically outside my office.. to practically outside my flat! Couldn't refuse that, now could I?! Why, they'd just be walking me home from work.. and while rain was predicted again, it proved a much better day than yesterday. Besides, it's more pleasant if you're on the move, even in wet weather.

We started just down the road from the office, under five minutes' walk - so, of course, I was slightly late. In my defence, another of the group who works locally was one of the last to arrive! The Paternoster is our office pub, the first stop for work-related drinks - but I hadn't been there before. We were to spend a lot of the evening in the shadow of St. Paul's, and it's certainly evident here:

Famous people were mentioned. Did you know that around here is the highest point in the area?! Doesn't feel it - but it makes sense, given that Marconi decided to put his transmission mast here!

Heavens, the amount of things I pass every day without knowing their significance. For instance, this tree seems to have been mentioned by Wordsworth, and might be the oldest in London!

We also came across some interesting statues:

We talked about the remains from the Temple of Mithras, discovered locally.. and how so much was discovered from digging the foundations for new buildings!

Plenty of financial stories too, of boom and bust, in this area. But we finished the walk near where Shakespeare first lodged in London - just down the road from me!

And just a few of us finished the night back in The Astronomer, where someone new to the group kindly stood us a round, and we talked of this and that. Jeez, it's so seldom now that I go for a drink after a Meetup.. makes a nice change. And it's not exactly as though I had far to go to my bed.. another excellent evening, in excellent company. May there be many more. Oh, and yes, the rain held off!

Tomorrow, attending a performance of Hamlet by Shit-Faced Shakespeare at Leicester Square Theatre, with Civilised London (CL). Apparently, the idea is that one cast member performs while, well, shitfaced drunk. The organiser scored us some cheap tickets.

On Friday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Barber Shop Chronicles at the Roundhouse. A National Theatre co-production, apparently.

On Saturday, a group called Get Out of London is off to Stratford-upon-Avon. Ooh, I thought, that sounds nice - but they're leaving ridiculously early, and coming back the same evening. It being a Saturday, I thought it'd be much nicer to head off at a more civilised hour and stay the night! So that's what I'm doing. Booked a nice, cheap advance train ticket and a night at the Doubletree by Hilton - and because I booked with Expedia, I got a nice discount, on account of all those U2 trips I've been booking with them lately! It's very near the station, which will be convenient. Handily enough, my guide book to England didn't get thrown out in the recent move - and reading it, I might have missed a trick; seems the Shakespeare Hotel is an olde-fashioned type of establishment, and might have been nice. Never mind, it might just be noisy. Only thing is, I just on Monday got a delivery slip for a missed delivery, which I have to pick up at the sorting office - which isn't close to me! And the only real window I have to pick that up - is on Saturday morning. Just as well I didn't book too early a train - for that price, I have to take a specific one!

Of course, I've been busy booking other things too - such as a "full-story" ticket to all the five houses associated with Shakespeare (much better value than individual tickets: I pick it up when I get there - valid for a year); a couple of them are a bit far-flung, but I believe the hop-on, hop-off city sightseeing bus covers them all. So I've booked a 24-hour ticket for that too - cheaper on that website. (Valid for three months after booking, and for 24 hours after first use. Cancellable up to 48 hours beforehand. But I had to get a co-worker to print it for me - they only accept paper confirmations! and I still can't get the office printer to work.) And, of course - considering what I'm like - I've booked myself into an RSC production that night, at the Swan. It's not Shakespeare, but it is a period play; Venice Preserved is a Restoration thriller.

I'll come back on Sunday evening. On Monday, back with UITCS for Pilgrims, at the Orange Tree Theatre.

On Tuesday, I'm off to the Bunker..  they have a program of plays by black writers, called This is Black, and that day, I'm seeing Double Bill 2 (they run on alternate days).

Next Wednesday, LLW has a walk called Moby Dick (ahoy!). It's around Greenland Dock.

On the 8th, I'm at a UITCS double bill at the Orange Tree! The Mikvah Project and Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography! (ahem..) Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

On the 12th, I booked for This is Black, Double Bill 1. But gee, today, CL advertised another night at Wilton's - featuring, on this occasion, the Lucky Dog Jazz Trio. Now, that'll be a blast! So I'm going to that, instead.

On the 13th, back with Anthony's Cultural Events and Walking Activities Group - they're at a free outdoor concert in Canada Square Park, called the Magic of the Movies. Again, I'll be watching the weather.

Now, UITCS is at Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet the same night, at Sadler's Wells - and I was gutted not to get a ticket. But guess what - I got one for the next night! Last seat in the house, in fact.. love Matthew Bourne.

On the 15th, back with The Embers Collective, who are performing Full Moon Stories at Cafe Cairo.

On the 16th, I'm back with the Best Authentic Walking Tours in London (aka Funzing) - for the Sex, Drugs, Sausage Rolls Tour. Unusual for me to find a new walk!

On the 17th, going to see The Doctor, with Juliet Stevenson, at the Almeida. Now, I'd originally booked for this for the 15th, forgetting that The Embers Collective were meeting that day. Can happen when I'm booking lots of stuff. When I realised my mistake, I thought I just wouldn't bother with this - then saw that London Dramatic Arts are going on the 17th! So I switched my ticket to that night, and let them know I was coming too. Now, the organiser is selling tickets for this, and doesn't appreciate competition - or anyone advertising another way to get tickets. Which might be why she deleted the comment I left to explain that I'd be there that night too! I haven't had a message from her either - so I suppose she'll be ignoring me, then. Wouldn't be the first time.

On the 18th, going with CL to the Cartoon Museum - with optional dim sum afterwards. Yes please!

On the 19th, I'm finally going to see Evita, at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Never have seen it.

On the 20th, with the London European Club at the Globe - we're going to risk The Comedy of Errors.

And on the 21st, I'm seeing Showtune - an evening of Jerry Herman music - at the Union Theatre.

Rest of the week (again!)

So, my boss was scheduled to come over this week - but, given that the VP is coming next week, he decided to accompany him then. Cue much frantic booking on my part for this week! Happily, I came up with some good stuff. On Wednesday, London Literary Walks was off on Pop the Weasel, and I was delighted to be able to accompany them. Local again, I see. Yet another attendee once Mary signed up, yay!

It was all of a five-minute walk to The Eagle - so I worked nice and late again. When I got there, a pub quiz was in progress - I eased my way around it to find my companions at a table at the back, quiz papers in hand, although it turned out they'd arrived late, and weren't officially participating. And yes, there were only the three of us - again! So we sat and attempted to answer what we could - not easy, the questions were quite devious. We did get a few. Meantime, we were being stared at by the most adorable dog:

More photos here. Well, when the quiz ended, and we tore ourselves away from doggie, we started our walk, as generally happens, talking about the pub itself. For instance, there's a sign on the side, with apparently the original words to Pop Goes the Weasel! (Hence the name of the walk:)

As usual, we couldn't get away from football:

Anyway, off we went, around my neighbourhood - and what would I do, without this guide to show me what's on my very doorstep! For instance, I didn't know that Bruce Springsteen recorded in St. Luke's, which I pass most days.. we heard plenty about the outside, although I've been inside for a few concerts, and can tell you it's just a shell really, not worth it for sightseeing. Good music venue, though!

We saw a plaque to someone remembered by someone other than English heritage.. and passed Wesley's Chapel, hearing about Methodists. But possibly the most appropriate thing we saw that night - for tech central - was the only statue I've ever heard of that depicts a smartphone:

Maybe he was looking for the Coronation ley Line.. We finished earlier than last time.. so we managed to fit one in at the ever-excellent Astronomer. And, being near Liverpool Street, I got to the 24-hour Tesco again! (when I could find it). In the end, I had spectacular luck with my bus timings - my bus came to the stop just as I did. But it still ran too late to blog.

Yesterday had a surfeit of meetings - no blogging during the day, either. In the evening, I was back to Sands Films for Fête de la Musique - Belcirque was performing, and they did sound quirky. London European Club, TunedIn London.

I left the office a bit later than intended.. as usual. I see they've corrected the stop details for the #43! On the way to the stop, I had an abortive dash to the Co-Op (dodging a pavement skateboard display, of all things) - and they didn't have what I wanted, after all. So was I ever vexed to see a #43 leave just as I finally approached! Happily, there was another right along. We then spent almost an hour stuck in traffic.. and when I got to London Bridge, somehow, in this complicated station, I got onto the bridge overhead Tooley Street, where I needed to be to catch my next bus! Happily, just as I found my way down, that one came as well - truly, I've been lucky with buses this week. Even got a seat, despite the large crowd that got on with me.

This turned out to be one I could have done with when my leg was bad - I was dropped just down from Rotherhithe Station. The house turned out to be open early, and I made a beeline for what is now my favourite seat - unfortunately, the comfy armchair tended to encourage the cough that's been bothering me for the past week. Happily, I still had sweets left over, which I ate more of over the course of the evening. Some group members were sat on the other side of the room - but I didn't really get a chance to chat with them beforehand, and wasn't in the mood to mingle at the interval.

Belcirque weren't long in coming on:

More photos - but mostly videos - here. The lead singer (sorry, I can't remember any names!) did most of the talking, thanking us for speaking English - their stuff is written in English and French. That ain't half the story with this quirkiest of groups. Frequently they're surreally silly - but they're also melodic, they're great singers, and their songs are memorable. And catchy - someone near me was whistling the final tune as we reluctantly, finally left. Me, I think Rita is my favourite from what was a great night - trust Eleanor to source the best material! Sadly, I'm not sure I'll be able to make any more of the series - never mind, one day.

Handily, the Nisa beside the bus stop was still open when I was leaving! Checking my bus app, I saw that my bus wasn't due for a few minutes - and so it was that I shopped, and did not starve that night, which is always good. Still too late to blog, of course, and too busy today - this is getting to be a habit! 

Now in Ireland again for the weekend. On Monday, I'm indulging myself with a premium seat to see Andrew Scott perform the one-man show, Seawall, written especially for him. It's at the Old Vic, two weeks only. Now, that wouldn't be a good time to get a cough - luckily, I got a ton of phlegm up last night, and I think I might just be beating this at last.

On Tuesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats, at Sadler's Wells. It's the Nederlands Dans Theater again - I remember good things about them from before.

As I say, the boss is now in the office this upcoming week - well, he'll just have to manage without me, those two nights. I'm keeping Wednesday and Thursday free, just in case - our team lead informs us that they're not staying past Thursday though, so I've booked with the London Jazz Meetup, for only the second time ever, for Friday! A Polish one, this - Alicja Smietana is a violinist who combines classical and jazz, which to me sounds like the best thing happening that night.

Nothing as promising for next weekend, but on the 2nd, back with Up in the Cheap Seats, at the Gielgud Theatre for Imperium I - Conspirator. The first part of a double-bill, but viewable independently, it is told from the point of view of Cicero's secretary, as he watches how his master's work is used to bring about an end to the Roman Republic. I should probably have booked the second part at the same time - there's a discount for that - but well, my schedule is generally so packed..! I see the same group is going to the double-bill on the 30th June - ah well, I've booked this now.

Walk: Sculpture in the City

Last night, I had booked free comedy in Greenwich - London Live Comedy, Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, and London Art, Comedy & Culture Lovers. Then Funzing rode to the rescue, and I booked a Funzing talk entitled "Politics - WTF!" Appropriate, no? Anyway, I booked on a once-only code "iwantfunzingagain". Or you could try "Funzing30" - both give 30% off, but are time-limited. But last week, I checked.. and whoopee, London Literary Walks is back at last, with a Sculpture in the City walk. Thank goodness I can cancel Funzing up to 48 hours beforehand without penalty. So I did.

Yesterday was gloomy.. rain, clouds. Gee, the perfect day for a walk! What the hey, the rain was supposed to clear by evening, and it did - a bit cool, a strong breeze and still overcast, but it was fine. I took a bus to the City, and consulted Google Maps about how to get to the Crutched Friar, where we were meeting. Well now, I do love the City - and one reason has to be all of the weird little passageways, nooks and crannies that come as a consequence of wending your way through, under, and between this hotchpotch of buildings. Google Map did not disappoint, sending me on various odysseys through passageways that I nearly missed, only for the little blue dot showing me I'd passed them!

More pictures here. Arriving at the Crutched Friar, I found myself lost again - yes, that corridor that looks like a passageway is actually part of the pub! Went in, and spied someone from our group, on the left. We wondered where the others were.. and after a while, I went to look for them. Sure enough, they were over the right hand side.. We waited for latecomers, and finally started off a bit later than advertised.

The walk was an interesting mixture of historical buildings - and weird, modern art. Modern sculpture it wasn't, but one of the most fascinating bits for me was St. Olave's Church, with many interesting features:

There was some interesting modern architecture:

..and some interesting modern art:

But I think this was my favourite:

Most of us repaired thereafter to The Astronomer, where - it being a bastion of pies - I had a very tasty steak and ale pie. Struggled to finish it. Not mad about the chips, mind - but the pie is recommended. And got home rather late. Great evening, lovely to see familiar faces - some of which I hadn't seen in an age! Roll on the next one.

Tonight was free comedy in Hammersmith again. With the first three of the above groups, plus DiscoverLDN.UK. And would you believe it - before I had the chance to cancel, they did! Well, Hammersmith & Fulham Friends did - which I'm taking it applies to all. Maybe not -anyway, it gave me the excuse. So I'll go to a film, as I was already thinking of doing; predictably, top of the list is Dunkirk. Showing at multiple times, nice and close to me.

Tomorrow, I'm off to Amsterdam, for my final two U2 concerts of the year (sniff). On Saturday and Sunday. Really, you have no idea of the organisation that went into all of this, back in January..! These were the only ones I couldn't get tickets for officially - bought them on Viagogo. And I see I booked from City Airport again - lovely!

I fly back on Monday, and saw an interesting Funzing talk advertised for that night - "Are We Living in the Matrix?" Well, I'm well overdue a free talk, with all of them that I've booked (every fourth free), so I contacted them to get a code to get this for free. Still waiting..! Despairing of them, I finally booked it on one of their limited 50% deals. It had been advertised with London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @Night - funnily enough, they've now both cancelled. It still seems to be running, though. No loyalty points for this one, I guess!

On Tuesday, another Funzing talk - I finally get to see Jennifer Rees again, when she's giving a talk on The Psychology of Criminals. With dim sum, great! (Had to stick with a 10% discount for this one - Fun_Day10 or Fun_Week10 are the ones you want for that.) And it's walking distance from me for once, in Covent Garden. She's a fantastic and engaging speaker. Excellent.. and Helen has sensibly decided to come too. On which occasion she'll deliver all the stuff I couldn't fit in my bag, coming back from Twickenham!

I was just looking up what to do on Wednesday - and wouldn't you know it, at that moment the Pop-Up Opera sent me a mail with upcoming events. Une Éducation Manquée is a short, French comic opera, whose run finishes that day. All right then!

Next Thursday, my first Meetup with Up in the Cheap Seats, one of several new groups I've joined to fill the great void left by the sad departure of the Man with the Hat. We're off to see The Tempest, with Simon Russell Beale, at the Barbican. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

And on the 7th, back with Let's Do This for a vintage swing jazz evening at Wilton's.

Talk: The Science of Anomalistic Phenomena, and Walk: Brick Lane

Ah yes, back in London and run-off-my-feet busy. Anyway, on Tuesday, I had this Funzing talk on the Science of Paranormal Activity.. or, as I discovered when I went in, what the speaker prefers to call the Science of Anomalistic Phenomena. Which caused me just a moment's pause, but anyway. Courtesy of London Speaks Sessions, LDN Talks @ Night, and London for a Tenner or Less. So I booked one ticket (on Funzing), and signed up with all of the above for the event.

..Which took place in Clapham. Honestly, it feels like I have had so many events there since I moved away from there! Where were all of these when I was walking distance away..? Anyway, I had my usual, Tuesday evening meeting, but it finished in good time, and I had time to take the bus. Got off at Silverthorne Road, and it was just about a 5-minute walk. Along the way, saw a couple of interesting things.. and had a pang of nostalgia when I passed a car the same make, model, and colour as the one I don't have any more. :-(

Arriving at the Jam Tree - which is more a restaurant with a pub attached than the other way around - I was a bit lost, and asked one of the waiters where the talk was. He pointed me towards the back, and asked me to register at the desk. When I stood myself beside it, the guy checking names did arrive - and joy, they were doing loyalty cards again! So he stamped my card (now full), and explained how I have to take a photo of it and email it to the address on the card to get a free talk. Rather excellent..

And so into the room - which is a rather excellent function room!

With its own bar, the room opening onto the kitchen, and French windows that can be completely opened to the beer garden, this would make an excellent party venue. An astroturf carpet and chairs in bright, summery colours complete the summery vibe. Mind you, opening onto the kitchen has its disadvantages, as during the talk we got the constant backdrop of clattering dishes and pots, and people dinging the bell and calling "service!". Terrible venue for a talk - never mind.

The seats were festooned with fliers - you can use the code "SCIENCEPOLITICS30" - for the next 43 days, now - to get a 30% discount on their science and politics talks. I see I also have one of these vouchers for "wellbeing" talks - that code is "WELLBEING30": and since I have dated it on 20 March, that one's only valid until 4 May, by my calculations. Mad keen to give discounts, these people! Anyway, I was to be glad I'd picked up a paper - despite being scheduled for 7, the damn talk didn't start till half past! No explanation was forthcoming - maybe they were waiting for more people to arrive; the room never did fill, although attendance was decent.

Now, there was other stuff I could have done that night, but this topic is of interest to me, as a lifelong horror fan. I was interested to see that the speaker is from Goldsmith's - now, the very first Meetup I ever did was a conference on demonic possession.. at the same place. They obviously have an abiding interest in it - primarily from a debunking perspective, mind. So, this talk was given by a psychologist, who proclaimed that he started off as a believer, and ended up as a skeptic.

As he acknowledged during the Q+A afterwards, he chose easy targets for the talk - but it bears remembering that some apparently paranormal phenomena do have obvious, common-sense explanations; of course, common sense is in sadly uncommon in our world.  He started by explaining to to us the difficulties inherent in replicating "ESP" experiments, and showing us a video of a controlled experiment which completely debunked a group of dowsers. Spent some time complaining about journal publication bias - and then took a break..!

At this point, I was beginning to wonder why I'd come - but the second part of the talk was both longer and more interesting. He described to us the standard "psychic reading" given to a class, each student's reading enclosed in a sealed envelope, and how they each thought it was so accurate - even though they were all identical. Well, of course it was accurate - as he said, it describes the human condition; if you don't agree with it, he joked, you're probably a psychopath..!

He also played for us the "Invisible Gorilla" video. Designed to measure how focussed the subject's attention is, it shows us two teams, one dressed in white t-shirts, one in black, and each with a basketball: and asks us to count how many times the white-shirted team throw the ball to each other. And at the end, we're asked two questions - how many times did they throw the ball, and did we notice anything else..? The point was, apparently those who are more intent on a task also tend to be more credulous of paranormal phenomena.

The Q+A at the end featured a couple of people who wanted to make the point that not everything is readily explicable, which he readily agreed to. However, the woman at the end could have saved her story about taking a photo in which a dead person was apparently captured.. simply, what could this guy have to say about that? He mentioned digital photo trickery, which wasn't a feature in this case, it seemed - he could say little else, he wasn't there. An interesting talk, though.

And so home. Yesterday, I was back with familiar faces - yay! Really, Meetup has got very quiet these days, and most days now I don't meet folks that I know - this was a nice change. London Literary Walks were off down Brick Lane. Sadly, one of my friends cancelled at the last minute though. Anyway, I had meetings, but they were over in good time - I got caught up doing other stuff, as usual, and still ended up rushing. The saving by taking the Tube part of the way was minimal, but I still did it - and was glad to hear that, of the lines disrupted yesterday evening, none were mine!

Central Line to Liverpool Street, from where I could walk or take the bus. I had my usual trouble finding my way out of the station, so ended up checking all the street names on the exit signs against Google Maps on my phone, to see which way was the right one. For future reference, take the Underground exit to the mainline station, then hang a right, because you're facing North. When I got outside, I was looking for Stop F - and wouldn't you know, there it was, right in front of the exit! And doubly lucky, a bus going my way was just pulling up. I could take the 8 or the 388 - Brick Lane was just three stops away, and had I had time I'd have walked - but time was an issue, so I didn't.

Hopped off just past Rich Mix - we were to meet at the Costa across the road. As we pulled up, I could see our organiser standing outside it - what, had no-one arrived?! I was in time, but not that early.. anyway, I crossed the road to him, and discovered that, despite the opening hours listed online, the place had already closed! Boo hiss.. he informed me that one had gone to Pret a Manger, just up the road, for something to eat, but that most had gone to a bar in the other direction, and were sat at a table outside. So I went there. They didn't serve hot drinks inside - so we sat there in the cold, until we decided it was time to gather for the walk, which was to start at 8. And boy, was it cold.. the weather has taken a real turn for the colder, and I was glad I hadn't shown up earlier! I shivered my way around for the rest of the evening. Was also glad to find a pair of gloves I'd left in my coat pocket - and indeed, a packet of Rolos in my bag: I hadn't had time to eat.

When our walk started, it was with the story of Rich Mix, just cross the road, which faced having to close right after it opened, after the local council demanded the return of the moneys owed to it. Apparently, it was saved by an online petition. And then the talk turned to matters historical. It's an area that's experienced a great deal of poverty over the centuries, and we heard about Huguenot refugees, about Dickensian conditions, about the necessity of the workhouses. (As the man quite rightly pointed out, a necessary side-effect of capitalism is the provision of social welfare - if you want people to be mobile in their careers, you need to provide a safety net for them for those periods when they have no work..)

More photos available here.

I was wondering why he'd dragged us down a cul-de-sac.. he stopped us in a car park at the end, where he explained to us that there was a school behind that high wall, with the barbed wire. And it's a notorious one - famous for being where the Kray twins went to school, it's also achieved fame for the number of its pupils who fled to become jihadi brides, and for extensive leaking by teachers of exam content just this year. Yes, you might say that the relatively recently named Green Spring Academy has become famous for all the wrong reasons..

It wasn't all crime and misery. Much of the area is now hipster heaven, and we passed many specialty shops, including the Duke of Uke (ukuleles), Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium, the Cereal Killer Cafe (which I agreed could benefit from better signage), and a shop specialising in that essential accessory, the bow tie.

Afterwards, while some headed home, four of us headed to The Astronomer, near Liverpool Street station. Cute little touches abound - like the Hubble Room (plenty of space), and the astrolabe globe on an adjoining table:

Three of us stayed till chucking-out time - and indeed, it was great to see the others again! Tonight, I had my usual placeholder of free comedy in Hammersmith - courtesy of Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith Wimbledon and Greenwich, and London Live Comedy. Of course - much like Funzing - I usually end up cancelling these, when something better comes up. And lo and behold, it did - Walking Victorian London is off to see Six Islington Squares. Did sound better, so I cancelled the comedy - the walk costs £12, but I wasn't charged on RSVPing. So, when I later got an email from ShowFilmFirst, advertising £2 tickets to a concert - Nancy & Beth - at the Royal Festival Hall.. well, that sounded better again, and now I'm going to that. Stars Megan Mullally, from Will & Grace.

Ditto the comedy tomorrow, which I've just cancelled in favour of going to the cinema (spent all day yesterday doing the list). Friday is always a bad day for arthouse - I'm guessing they figure that Friday night audiences prefer populist stuff. So, would you believe, I deleted the top 40-odd films from my list, because they're not showing tomorrow! Top of the list, having jumped to 7.5, is Raw - that's terrific for a horror film rating, and I do feel I have a duty to see this. The newspaper review on Friday described it as something the audience could only watch through their fingers, but said that, for all the gore, they never lost sight of what is a clever plot. Showing only in the Rio tomorrow, at 6.

On Saturday, I'm off to see the Naked House Cleaner! Venue to be revealed tomorrow.. ooh!

On Sunday, I'm on a walk of Hampstead Village Highlights, with Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts. Be good exercise, leading up to my own sponsored walk in September, in aid of Cats Protection.. Helen and I are going as Dick Whittington and his cat. She's the cat.

On Monday, a summery treat! The Man with the Hat is taking both London for Less Than a Tenner and Let's Do London - for less! to the Globe (ah, it's been too long..). For one night only, the Comedy Store Players will regale us with Shakespeare-inspired improv. As usual, London for Less than a Tenner standing in the yard, Let's Do London - for less! in lower gallery seats. Which is where I go - couldn't take standing for that long. Better savour this trip - he only has four more events scheduled, three of which I'm going to, with no word on whether he'll continue longterm. And if he doesn't (Heaven forbid!), that'll leave a huge, hat-shaped hole in my life. Plenty of other stuff to go to, but hardly anything I'll look forward to as much as his events.

On Tuesday, London European Club (LEC) - it'll have been a while! They're off to an informal evening of classical music, in Peckham.

On Wednesday, London Literary Walks is doing the Sloane Ranger.

Next Thursday, Helen and I are on an Underground treasure hunt, courtesy of Walk, Talks and Treasure Hunts. TFL goodies to be won, it seems.. Then back to Ireland for the bank holiday weekend - which I'd forgotten was a bank holiday, or I'd have stayed over an extra day!

Instead, for 1 May, I've booked The Ferryman, with London Dramatic Arts (LDAM), at the Royal Court.

On 2 May, those same three Funzing groups have advertised a talk called Origin of Vampires: Fact or Fiction?

On 3 May, London Literary Walks is off around Gloucester Road.

On 4 May, Let's Do London - for less! is off on its last scheduled trip to the opera house - the occasion is Mayerling, my favourite ballet, and is sold out by now, I see. We have tickets in both slips and amphitheatre, as usual.

On 5 May, I'd bought a ticket to Nell Gwynn, at the Globe - then it turned out that LDAM is going on the same night! (Buy Your Own Ticket.) As the organiser said, it must be fate.. it'll certainly be nice to have company. Odd venue for them, though - I know the organiser doesn't like it.

And on 6 May, I'm joining the LEC for a classical concert at the Royal Festival Hall. Hallelujah, they're playing Beethoven's 9th..