Dinner: Bistro1 & Ballet: Jewels

Last night, London Dramatic Arts (LDAM) was off to see The Goat - or Who Is Sylvia? with Damian Lewis, at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. I managed to get a cheaper ticket - however, our team member was visiting from Stockholm, and it was her last night.. and you know, I wasn't that pushed about that play anyway, and trying to avoid those LDAM people who object to members buying their own tickets.. So I hung around the office. Drinks, sensibly, were in the office, which is well stocked - and finally, some of us decided we were hungry, and headed for dinner with no firm idea of where we were going.

Meandering through Soho, we finally lit on Bistro1. Crowded on ground level, but they offered us a table in the basement, which was just fine. Décor is enhanced by these ornate, stained-glass mosaic lights:

We skipped starters. Our visitor and I had beef bourguignon - sadly, I can't remember what the guys had, I was so intent on my own! Besides, I was more than a bit tipsy - I'd imbibed heavily in the office, and we shared a bottle here as well - and for some reason the bottles in the cooler looked rather large to me, I do remember saying that! As I ended up finishing this bottle as well, I decided I'd better order a dessert to absorb it, even though I was the only one having one. And do you know, it was all excellent - the beef bourguignon was tasty and filling, the lemon sorbet I had for dessert really lemony. Fantastic value for central London, for £20 a head including tip! Must remember it for the future.

Today, April started with the Man with the Hat (long time no see!). Both London for Less Than a Tenner and Let's Do London - for less! went to see the ballet Jewels at the Royal Opera House. He's not scheduling so many things lately, and this was something of a rare treat. Anyway, some of us arrived before him - but after directing some to the best lifts to take, I was left to my own devices. Got a glass of wine, took my seat in the slips.

Well, I had planned to dress appropriate to the theme, in something like a jewel colour; how fortunate that the colour I picked was one they also had (I hadn't checked). First up was a ballet called "Emeralds", to the music of Fauré, to be followed by a sassier piece called "Rubies", to the trains of Stravinsky, and finishing off the evening was a piece called diamonds, set to an extravagant score by Tchaikovsky. And despite the lack of story - which did bother some - the whole affair was gorgeous to look at (as you might expect). The dancers for each piece, of course, wore sparkling costumes of the appropriate colour, the sparse stage lined with backdrops of the same colour. It was a lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon, and the final extravaganza sent us away dazzled.

To The Sun Tavern afterwards, where we'd booked most of the first floor, as usual - and unusually, we took up most of it, too! I grabbed a seat at the end, ordered food - tried the onion rings for the first time, they were quite good. Wine was courtesy of the Man with the Hat, who was to be seen measuring out lines of glasses of it at the bar, before taking himself off. The rest of us had an enlightening chat.. Watch this space.

For tomorrow, I booked a guided walk through Islington - Between the Wars - with London for a Tenner or Less. Funzing, so I could cancel, provided I did it in time - and then I decided I'd rather go to a film. Top of the list are a couple of documentaries, and the one I'm more interested in is Tickling Giants, about a comedian and chat show host in Cairo who's always sticking two fingers up to the authorities, and getting in trouble for it. (I've been particularly interested in Egypt since I visited, back in 2000.) It's showing, that day only, in the Curzon Bloomsbury - walking distance from me, nice! Seeing that it was starting to fill up, I booked, and cancelled Funzing. Again - I have a litany of cancelled Funzing events, these days!

On Monday, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club - at Soho Theatre this time, for an evening of Greek mythology entitled Atalanta, brought to us by the able Ben Haggerty. You know, now that I'm a Westminster resident, I have a Westminster card, which - among other things - entitles me to £1 off at this theatre! Pity I didn't yet have it when I booked this..

On Tuesday, Let's Do London - for less! is back at the Opera House, for Madama Butterfly. I'm in the slips, as usual. Was telling this to one of my colleagues - he's seen it, apparently, and was very impressed.

Wednesday - why, it must be summer! Welcome back, London Literary Walks - good to see you. We're on The Composers' Walk - apparently a repeat. And yay, we're meeting in Caffe Nero - I can have a chocolate Milano.

On Thursday, I'm with the World Music Meetup, for a free concert of Iranian music at the Brunei Gallery. It's been a while for me, with both group and venue.. Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again, and a meeting with my birth and adoptive mothers on the 8th. That's assuming we can agree on a venue - we had decided on Greene's, but there's no parking, my mother can't walk any distance, and while she had agreed to take a taxi, she's now gone and changed her mind. I've asked whether the venue can be changed - no word yet; it's more awkward, as we're still communicating through a social worker.

On the 10th, I'm back at the Wanamaker Playhouse - always a favourite - for The White Devil, a Jacobean tale.

On the 11th, I got a cheap ticket to the Caine and Kane comedy show, in Brixton.

On the 12th, I'm with LDAM to see Don Juan in Soho, with David Tennant, in Wyndham's. Just down Charing Cross Road - nice!

Then I'm back to Ireland for Easter - on Good Friday, my (adoptive) mother and I are off to La Bohème, at the University Concert Hall.

On the 18th, back in London, and back with Funzing - London Speaks Sessions, LDN Talks @ Night, and London for a Tenner or Less, for a talk on the Science of Paranormal Activity. Unless I get a better offer, in time - it'd have to be a good one, I'm interested in this!

On the 19th, London Literary Walks is off down Brick Lane - and so am I.

On the 20th, I have 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.

Ditto the 21st - or I may go to the cinema that day. As usual, watch this space..!

On the 22nd, I'm off to see the Naked House Cleaner! Venue to be revealed just the day before.. ooh!

On the 23rd, 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.

The 24th, another summery treat! The Man with the Hat is taking both groups 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.

The 25th, London European Club again - it'll have been a while! They're off to an informal evening of classical music, in Peckham.

The 26th, London Literary Walks is doing the Sloane Ranger.

The 27th, 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 LDAM, at the Royal Court.

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

Ballet: Sleeping Beauty & Film: Manchester by the Sea

And so yesterday saw my second viewing of the Sleeping Beauty, at the Opera House. Easy to happen - the Man with the Hat advertised a repeat date, and I checked I could go, and booked it - forgetting I was already seeing it that week. Hey-ho, the Man with the Hat was still a better option than not - and the ballet is beautiful. I was happy to come again.

Although the office is on my way, I'd had a late night, and only just got myself up and ready in time to head straight to the Opera House. (Damn these matinees!) No coaches in extremis this time, and I was there in no time, seeing familiar faces even as I approached. I was to be delighted I'd come, actually, to catch up with them.. but as ever, it was nice to have some first-timers too.

Amphitheatre this time - Let's Do London - for less! exclusively - and I had to agree with the Man with the Hat, it was a good production to see face-on. The visuals are just so beautiful! I don't have much to add to my post of Tuesday's performance - again, my favourite scene was that of the boat drifting magically through the mist, floating on stage. Gorgeous costumes, beautiful choreography, dazzling sets. This time, the auditorium was more conspicuously peppered with children, who adored it - clapping and cheering, which is quite a feat after a ballet that's lasted for three hours (including intervals). Definitely a hit with old and young. Runs until the 14th, but now seems to be completely sold out..

And so to The Sun Tavern - and a decent crowd of us, for once! So many, in fact, that we took up all the spare seats, and the poor Man with the Hat, seatless, had to make his way home. After distributing some complimentary wine. Well, much appreciated, Sir! A few of us were hungry, and ordered food - I had the London pie, a simple one of just minced beef, onions, and gravy: tasty, but a small portion, and I followed it with some crisps. A couple of others had cheesy fries - in contrast, huge portions! A while later, some others were heading to a Thai restaurant, and invited us, but we passed - too full, now.

No, a couple of us had other plans. My companion had it in mind to see Manchester by the Sea - and I hadn't seen it, and said sure, I'd accompany her! so I checked where it was on, at a decent time - and we decided on the Curzon Soho. We hung on in the Sun until it was a reasonable time to leave, and moseyed off, stopping off in Caffe Nero to pick up a couple of Chocolate Milanos. Wanting to sip it a bit faster, I took off the top of the takeaway cup and ended up spilling chocolate all over my fingers - well, a tasty mess.

We got two seats, but not together - we were told there weren't any pairs left. Ok, we sat in the same row, at opposite ends - perhaps the people who were supposed to occupy the various empty seats dotted about just hadn't managed to make it. The screen gradually filled up (mostly), and after some trailers, this two-Oscar-winning film started.

Casey Affleck is a disaffected loner, working in Boston - but he comes from a town an hour and a half's drive away, and when his brother, Kyle Chandler, dies an untimely death, he has to return to his hometown to pick up the pieces. Along the way, he has to deal with his ex-wife, Michelle Williams, the nephew he now has to take care of, Lucas Hedges, his awful aunt, Gretchen Mol, his nephew's girlfriend's mother, Heather Burns, who fancies him, and his late brother's ex-wife's fiance, a good Christian who has put her back on the straight and narrow: a very stiff cameo by Matthew Broderick.

I was a bit apprehensive, considering the number of reviews I've read that said this film was just plain depressing. It's not. Casey Affleck, who won the Best Actor Oscar for it, gives an understated performance as the man hiding an inexpressible grief, who can only communicate with his fists. And that's what the whole film is like - understated. There's a pivotal moment, somewhere in the middle of the film, where we discover the terrible secret that this angry man is hiding: and it's a magnificent 5-10 minutes, no dialogue, just classical music soaring over the scenes unfolding in flashback. I had tears streaming down my cheeks.

And that's it, then. As my companion remarked, there's a trend in film at the moment to tell ordinary stories - and she finds them the most powerful. A couple of tragic things happen in this film - but most of the film is just people dealing with the day-to-day practicalities that result. And honestly, much of it is hilarious, as he finds himself the reluctant carer for a teenager, with all the adventures that entails. It rings true - it's not a bit mawkish. Plus, there are scenes of real beauty, as the camera pans across snow-covered fields to the sound of an acapella choir.

A beautiful, beautiful film. The other Oscar it won was for Best Original Writing, and that's just fine by me. Recommended.

Well, the Curzon Soho is on my way home, so there didn't seem much point in returning to the office - plus, it was late. So I just headed home to bed - and was delighted to find the Tesco on Dean Street now has extended opening hours, so I could get some stuff.

Today, London for Less Than a Tenner advertised "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, I booked, but it seems not enough of us did, and he's cancelled the event. The walk is still going ahead though - check out Back in the Day Walks for more details. However, I'm going to a film - since John Wick Chapter 2 doesn't appeal (still highly rated!), Rogue One: a Star Wars Story is it, and with it only showing in Odeon Studios, I kept an eye on it, and seeing it was filling up, I just booked.

Tomorrow, I'm off to see Russell Howard at the Albert Hall.

Tuesday, 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, 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 London Dramatic Arts at the Royal Court, for The Kid Stays in the Picture.

That rescheduled talk on Brexit Vs. Trump from a couple of weeks ago 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.

On Wednesday 15th, the Man with the Hat is taking London for Less Than a Tenner to Top Secret.

Thursday 16th, he's back to the Opera House for the opening night of a mixed bill of ballet. As usual, he's in the slips with London for Less Than a Tenner, and in the amphitheatre with Let's Do London - for Less!

Friday 17th, I got a cheap ticket to a very topical version of Twelfth Night, in the Drayton Arms. Ah, I remember when I was walking distance from there..

Saturday 18th, I'm back with Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts for an Oliver Twist walk. Back with Hazel, excellent!

Sunday 19th.. not a Man with the Hat event, but one he's advertised. One member of his group plays Spanish guitar, and is giving a concert that night - so I've booked a ticket. Well hey, I do love Spanish music..

Monday 20th, I'm off to a Funzing talk on The Science of Psychedelics. Courtesy of London Speaks Sessions, LDN Talks @ Night, and London for a Tenner or Less (nothing to do with the Man with the Hat). Unless I think of something better up to 48 hours beforehand..

Tuesday 21st, I'm with London European Club (LEC) for Carradine's Cockney Singalong, at Hoxton Hall. Had some fun with this last week, when I noticed another group member had confused it with something at a different venue, and thought it wasn't now happening..

Wednesday 22nd, I'm headed with LEC again - with a different organiser - to see 2 Cellos in concert in the London Palladium. Cool - never seen them before, never been there before, and I can probably walk there!

Thursday 23rd was another Funzing talk, with the same three groups, on The Science of Hypnosis. And then, wouldn't you know it, Henning from the LEC advertised.. Hypnosis - Altering Consciousness! With Pint of Science. (What is it about that day and hypnosis?!) Anyway, I do enjoy events with Henning, and as I say, I can cancel Funzing up to 48 hours in advance without penalty. So I did, and booked the other instead. And then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again..

MwtH Double Bill: Ballet: Sleeping Beauty & Play: Roundelay

The Man with the Hat has rarely had a more varied week. Following the naked raucousness of Monday's performance (which, mind you, we all enjoyed very much), on Tuesday we headed instead with Let's Do London - for less! to the plush surroundings of the Opera House for Sleeping Beauty.

Heading there on foot from the office.. a funny thing happened on the way to the theatre. I swear, I had to drag myself away.. imagine the spectacle of a 60-seater coach trying to make a right turn into Short's Gardens. See, he was coming from Endell Street - and had he been able to carry on - in the direction I was walking - he'd have come to the Opera House, which may have been his destination. However, there were roadworks straight ahead, so he had to turn. Now, for those who don't know the area around Short's Gardens - well, it's all narrow streets and tight turns. He didn't have a hope, what with posts at the pavement edge, and lamp posts - and the several people trying to help direct him had their work cut out. Spectators were having great fun, and it was a shame I had somewhere else to be, really.. I'd have loved to see how long it took him to get out of that fix.

Instead, I moseyed on down, got my ticket and took my seat. It's a long show, this one, and suitably lavish - and as I watched, it occurred to me that this is one of the iconic things to do in life. You could easily include this on a bucket list - watching a full classical ballet production at the Royal Opera House. It opens with the most gorgeous tableau, which looks as though it comes straight out of a Ladybird children's book, what with a baby in an ornate cradle at the side, nursemaid to hand - the king and queen on their thrones - and gorgeously dressed courtiers milling about. Quite stunning.

Two intervals, timed to coincide with the passage of time in the story - the first covers the 16 years during which our title character is growing up, the second the 100 years that she's asleep (ironic then, that it's shorter than the first). The prologue having taken place before the first interval, we re-enter to the first act - her 16th birthday party, where the costumes are carefully chosen to represent the passage of about that amount of time, being slightly more modern in style. And this is where we get the iconic ballerina pose, reproduced in so many music boxes, and sustained for some time as the princess takes the hand of one suitor after another. Well done, madam - no wonder they get through so many shoes! And cue much appreciation from the audience when the Maleficent-inspired bad fairy escaped through a trapdoor!

The final part sees a terrific set piece, the prince - who is to wake the sleeping beauty - gliding through a misty sea on an ornate boat, guided by the good fairy. (I did think he could have done more for himself, mind - heavens, even when he finds the chamber, she has to show him where the girl is that he has to kiss!) By the end of the night, I had a terrible crith in my neck - being in the slips (I could have chosen the amphitheatre) - but if you're flagging by this stage, Tchaikovsky's marvellous score will revive you. Including that piece that everyone knows. A memorable production - Tuesday was sold out, and although it runs till the 14th, it seems the rest of the run is sold out as well. But it's worth checking out whenever you do get a chance..

Hardly anyone came to the pub after (tsk!), but those few of us who headed to The Sun had an interesting chat, ranging from mice to kings to the mysteries of the universe. And so home - too late to blog.

Yesterday lunchtime, we went out for lunch to celebrate the return to work of someone who's been ill. Someone suggested Mexican - oh dear, never been one of my favourites. Anyway, we had quite a trek to Cafe Pacifico - have to say, I loved the decor.

In common with a couple of others, I had a chimichanga - two of us had beef, one chicken. I think neither of us was happy with the beef - the chicken seemed to be a better bet, or perhaps the chicken enchiladas. What the hey, I still can't say I'm a fan of Mexican food - although the fresh lemonade was lovely.

All of yesterday was taken up with doing my film list, which was just finished in time for me to head down to Southwark Playhouse, to join the same group for Roundelay. Somewhere I've been many times, but not from this starting point - so I had to research bus routes. Google Maps gave me a choice of two - the stops in completely different directions. I figured the nearer stop was a better bet - unfortunately, I got there just in time to see the 176 sail past! Which wasn't a surprise, as the stop was closed for yet more roadworks. Best option was just to schlep off down the road to the next one - which happened along fairly quickly, and despite heavy traffic on Strand, after we crossed the bridge it was much lighter, and I got there in plenty of time.

When I'd looked up the attendance list, I was surprised to see how many familiar faces were coming - and sure enough, when I got to the bar, there was a sea of them. "Hello", "hello", "hello".. Sadly, with so many, I was never going to have a chance to chat to them all, although I managed at least to say hello. I see they've redecorated since we were last here:

And we were dispersed a bit throughout the theatre, which was in the round for this, a play based around the idea of life as a circus show. The ringmistress (as she described herself) was an absolute revelation, gloriously OTT, stalking the stage in a red top hat, fishnets and heels. With a whip, which she threatened to use on us if we weren't enthusiastic enough. Her function otherwise was to introduce to us the seven interconnected stories of love in its different forms, each linked to the last by one character. And yes, the circus props decorating the theatre were used on occasion.

I loved the concept - but the scene-switching seemed a bit cinematic to me, and I'm not sure it transferred entirely successfully to the stage; apart from the ringmistress, no other part of the production really grabbed me, and I couldn't really engage fully with it. What the hey, it's interesting, and well-played - runs till the 18th. Afterwards, it was great to hang with people again - and of course, Mary and I were the last to leave (well, of our group). Outside, the wind was strong enough to knock you over unless you walked into it. The 12 got me home - too late to blog, again. And I was glad to get in from that wind.

It was still there this morning, less strong, but still enough to make my eyes water. I hope it's died down by this evening - I was thinking of free comedy in Hammersmith, with London Live Comedy, Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith Wimbledon and Farringdon, and Random London. But then Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts (and Walking Victorian London) announced a walk called True Spy Stories! So I thought that sounded more interesting, and booked.

Tomorrow, 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.. unless you search for that specific day. The independent Crick Crack Club website 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, 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. Amphitheatre, this time - it's been a while since I was there.

Sunday, London for Less Than a Tenner advertised "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, I booked, but it seems not enough of us did, and he's cancelled the event. The walk is still going ahead though - check out Back in the Day Walks for more details. Me? I might just go to a film - since John Wick Chapter 2 doesn't appeal (still highly rated!), Rogue One: a Star Wars Story is currently looking like it.

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

Tuesday, 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 London Dramatic Arts at the Royal Court, for The Kid Stays in the Picture.

That rescheduled talk on Brexit Vs. Trump from a couple of weeks ago 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.

On Wednesday 15th, the Man with the Hat is taking London for Less Than a Tenner to Top Secret.

Thursday 16th, he's back to the Opera House for the opening night of a mixed bill of ballet. As usual, he's in the slips with London for Less Than a Tenner, and in the amphitheatre with Let's Do London - for Less!

Friday 17th, I got a cheap ticket to a very topical version of Twelfth Night, in the Drayton Arms. Ah, I remember when I was walking distance from there..

Saturday 18th, I'm back with Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts for an Oliver Twist walk. Back with Hazel, excellent!

Sunday 19th.. not a Man with the Hat event, but one he's advertised. One member of his group plays Spanish guitar, and is giving a concert that night - so I've booked a ticket. Well hey, I do love Spanish music..

Monday 20th, I'm off to a Funzing talk on The Science of Psychedelics. Courtesy of London Speaks Sessions, LDN Talks @ Night, and London for a Tenner or Less (nothing to do with the Man with the Hat). Unless I think of something better up to 48 hours beforehand..

Tuesday 21st, I'm with London European Club (LEC) for Carradine's Cockney Singalong, at Hoxton Hall. Had some fun with this last week, when I noticed another group member had confused it with something at a different venue, and thought it wasn't now happening..

Wednesday 22nd, I'm headed with LEC again - with a different organiser - to see 2 Cellos in concert in the London Palladium. Cool - never seen them before, never been there before, and I can probably walk there!

Thursday 23rd, another Funzing Talk, with the same three groups, on The Science of Hypnosis. Again, unless I get a better offer in the meantime. And then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again..

Ballet: Woolf Works

Must have been quite a while ago that the Man with the Hat advertised Woolf Works, at the Opera House. I do notice that it's available as part of a triple deal.. and funnily enough, he has tickets to both other events in the deal as well. What the hey, it makes for a very good night out. Both London for Less than a Tenner and Let's Do London! for less were going - as usual, I booked the cheap seats in the slips, with London for Less Than a Tenner. Very much not the inferior option, as well as being cheaper, these seats are actually closer to the stage. Suits me just fine.

Well, it was a matinee, and I headed down to the office as soon as I was ready. It's on the way, and has free WiFi and food. No argument. Squeezed through the automatic doors - which aren't automatic at weekends - signed the book, and I was in. Discovered someone there actually doing work, who was surprised to see me. Did some internet stuff, killed some time, had some brunch, and left - still quite early. Ended up in Covent Garden Market, listening to the most fantastic busking opera singer. And finally went to stand in the freezing cold, at the meeting point outside the opera house. On the way, I ended up passing Souk! So here's one photo, at least -

I don't envy the Man with the Hat, who stays at the meeting point until everyone has their tickets - which can take a while. Not on a day like today, I certainly don't, with air that would freeze your face. Anyway, a whole heap of us arrived together, and - having got our pre-allocated tickets - schlepped off upstairs, leaving him to it. In plenty of time to get a drink, of course.

Woolf Works is a triptych of ballets, based on the works of Virginia Woolf. Many thanks to the person who researched her works last night - never occurred to me: occupational hazard of not being able to access the internet at will. Anyway, these ballets were based on Mrs. Dalloway, Orlando, and The Waves.

I think that most people in our group found the first piece, based on Mrs. Dalloway, the most accessible, having an apparently comprehensible storyline. The second piece, in contrast, was pretty abstract, with a dramatic light show. The third was calmer - again, more accessible, with waves crashing in slow motion on a screen behind - but over the three pieces, the common thread was the most beautiful, soothing score. Not always easy to understand, all the same these pieces were beautiful to watch, beautiful to listen to. Runs until the 14th, recommended.

Afterwards, we were off to the Sun again, same tables booked by the windows upstairs. They hadn't been vacated yet, despite the notes that had been placed on the tables to say they were booked from 4:30. Never mind - what followed was possibly the greatest movement of people since the partition of India and Pakistan. A great horde of people moved out, to be replaced by a great horde of us. Ah, the Power of the Hat, eh? So, he saw us settled, and then off he fecked. We hung on for a couple of hours - pity the only food available was crisps: nothing wrong with them, but I've had better here. And now, having fed myself from the office, I'm off home..


Tomorrow, the ever-busy Man with the Hat is headed (with Let's Do London - for less!) to a dance production - at Sadler's Wells, unusually for him. The Red Shoes, choreographed by Matthew Bourne, is completely sold out for its whole run. Our Man with the Hat has tickets, though.. but he held them back (under his hat, as you might say), with sales starting at 11am on New Year's Day. They sold out in 15 minutes - I checked. That's the speed of U2's ticket sales.. of course, being a seasoned purchaser of U2 tickets, I managed to get one. All he needs now are a stetson and some glasses.. (Mind you, I think U2 broke records this year for speed of selling out. U2 are touring, you see, and I have tickets. Purchasing still in progress. Watch this space..)

On Monday, I've provisionally agreed to go to Cineworld with Mary. She won a couple of Cineworld vouchers in a raffle, you see, and has very kindly offered me one! The nearest to me are the cinemas in Leicester Square and Haymarket, and the best showing in them is La La Land, so that's the rough plan, as it stands.

Tuesday sees me at the Royal Society, for a talk on "Can our immune systems fight cancer?", a Meetup organised by the London European Club.

Wednesday, London for Less Than a Tenner is back at Top Secret.

On Thursday, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club at last, at the Art House Crouch End. First meeting of the year, and not actually advertised on Meetup! I saw it on their flier for Crouch End, and booked. Anyway, the title is Rebranding Beelzebub, which is certainly enough to get me there! And I now live closer to it than I did the last time I was there.

Back to Ireland next weekend, and on Monday 30, I'm back with Funzing UK for Eat Zagi - an immersive dining & theatre experience. I had some fun booking it, when the bank thought it was a fraud and kindly stopped my card, so I had to ring them at 2am.. in the meantime, I did find a discount code, so it wasn't all bad. Try "EnjoyFunzing5". Actually, why not try "EnjoyFunzing10"? That's a code too. Anyway, again, I'm closer to this venue in Finsbury Park than I was before..

Tuesday 31, I'm headed for Sex with Strangers at Hampstead Theatre. First Meetup of the year with London Dramatic Arts. Dunno, I think it was that she had seats at both levels of the theatre, so it would've been too hard to avoid them..

Wednesday 1, the Man with the Hat is starting the month again. Let's Do London - for less! is off to the Opera House for La Traviata.

Thursday 2, he's taking both groups to Cadogan Hall for a concert involving the works of Brahms and Elgar, among others.

Friday 3 promises to be unusual.. the Crick Crack Club is hosting a late-night storytelling event at the Wellcome Collection. Mustn't forget to book tickets for the actual storytelling - they go on sale on the 27th.

And finally, Saturday 4, I'm finally going to the much-advertised British Museum Tour - Ideas That Made our World. A Funzing event, as advertised by two of their Meetup groups - London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night. So I booked with both..

Ballet: The Nutcracker

The day started unusually early, with a room-viewing.. I'll take it! Well, it satisfied the basic criteria, and with that location, it'd have had to be pretty awful not to be acceptable to me. I'd gotten up late - of course - and needed to eat when I came out. I was going to be walking to the Opera House (how lovely is that?!), so decided to eat in the first decent place I passed. As luck would have it, there was a very attractive Italian - Sergio's - at the end of the road. Yep, that'd do.

They were festively festooned with Christmas lights, and when I went in, the place was deserted, but for the manager, doing the books, and a waiter looking over his shoulder. No problem at all madam - which of these tables would you like? So I picked one, nipped downstairs to the loo, came up and chose. Garlic pizza bread - yes please. Eh - why not go for the "pollo sorpresa" (chicken kiev)? And a large glass of chenin blanc.

The complimentary breadsticks took the edge off my hunger, and were yummy. The pizza bread was delish - and that black pepper they always offer did quite improve it! I wasn't finished by the time they brought my main - what the hey, I just pushed it over the side. The waiter took the knife I'd used for it - it was too hot to hold initially - and didn't bring me another. Quite sensible really - the butter knife did perfectly well. And the chicken - piping hot - was also delish. But what with the garlic bread, the chicken, and the sautee potatoes that came with it - I couldn't finish them.

Which left room for dessert, of course; there's a separate stomach for that. And when the passing waiter noticed that my glass was nearly empty and asked whether I'd have another, why, of course I did! I had to ask twice for a dessert menu, but by and large the service was brisk and friendly. And of course, I had the chocolate fudge cake - I consider it a mark of a seriously good restaurant that he asked whether I'd like a scoop of ice cream. It arrived on a nice glass plate, decorated with scoops of cream with hundreds & thousands on top, and a couple of those gorgeous chocolate-lined breadsticks that I used to live on, as a student. Just a pity the cake itself - which was ok in general - was a teensy bit stale.. I think next time, I'd have ice cream. To finish, they brought a complimentary limoncello, in a little glass with a flashing bulb in the base, that stopped when it was empty. Ahh, cute!

Lots of advertising for parties - they have a downstairs area, complete with bar, which is ideal for the purpose. And damn it, they have a £20 voucher on the website, good this month - I could have done with that, it wasn't cheap! Ah well, 'tis only money.. she whimpered.

I was glad to get some exercise, strolling towards the Opera House.

Predictably, I was looking forward to this - the first event of the year with my favourite group! I picked up a free paper, but standing outside the Opera House was a bit uncomfortable, and me still trying to digest. Nearest seating was in Covent Garden Piazza - they've had swing benches there for a while now that don't actually swing, and have had their Christmas decorations removed, but my, they provide a welcome seat! Bit chilly, but worth it, on balance.

When I'd finished my paper, I moseyed back the way I'd come, to discover the Man with the Hat taping a Meetup sign to the construction hoarding. And chatting to someone who'd beaten me to it! Wasn't long, mind, before a swarm of early-arrivers descended upon him. So we all got our tickets, and headed up together, leaving him in the cold. We were early enough to have a drink (my liver was now whimpering, but well, I was driven to it), and early enough even to grab a seat on the sofa in the Amphiteatre bar! Ooh, the luxury - note, you really have to get there more than half an hour before the performance, if you want to get a seat..

They started a bit late, as usual - but how comforting it was to hear the opening strains of The Nutcracker. Seems to be the same production as last year - you won't hear me complaining, I think it really can't be bettered.. What a magical production, snow falling on the stage, the magician scattering gold dust from his flowing cape. As the fantasy sequence starts, the Christmas tree grows - in a shower of gold dust, the mice grow life-size, the dolls come to life. The second act starts with dancers moving through a thick, dreamlike mist.

At the interval, on one of the stalls, I noticed something that called this "the ballet for children" - I agree, it's kind of perfect. What with the familiar music, the short set-pieces in the second half, the fairly simple plot, and Clara sitting at the edge of the stage as an observer, when not actually taking part, and echoing our delight at the unfolding fantasy.. I think it brings out the inner child in us all. I can't recommend it highly enough - and like someone else in the group, if this production is running next year.. count me in! This year, it runs until Thursday next week, but only the next two days still have tickets. Go see.

I only had water at the interval, and a very annoyed stomach meant I couldn't even finish that. Also, we didn't head outside - for one thing, it was quite cold - and the bar was quite warm, so that I started to feel a bit wobbly. A spell back in my seat fixed me, and I was fine by the time we shiveringly congregated outside after the show to find out which pub we were headed to. The Sun it was, and we gratefully hurried up there. Unfortunately, as we were headed upstairs - as is our wont - we were told that the upstairs was closed. Now, the Man with the Hat had booked tables - of which they had no record. Hmph. Well, we were few enough that we just about fitted around a downstairs table, and a rather inapproprately morbid chat was had, amply fuelled by the wine that the Host with the Hat kindly bought for us. And before he escaped, early again (tsk!), he was prevailed upon to buy crisps. So we were well sorted. And yes, I think I did end up drinking most of that bottle of white as well.. And I think it must all have cancelled itself out, because I quite ably walked a straight line to the bus stop.

Feeling quite fine now, thank you - I credit the consumption of some very vinegary snacks, and apparently vinegar is a fine thing to counteract the effects of alcohol. Looking forward to a nice sleep - after I collect some info for the estate agent; I'd really love to get this sorted and move in before I start work next week. Anyway, not much happening with Meetup at the end of the week - but when has that stopped me going out?! Tomorrow, I'm headed to another festive tradition of mine - I love La Soirée, and the fact that I've already seen it twice - and it's much the same each time - makes no difference. Another Christmas tradition. I see I last saw it last January.. but for the first time, the Udderbelly Festival - which is hosting it - has now decamped to Leicester Square! I also discovered that the official tickets for that night were completely sold out - however, I could get tickets from no fewer than five different sources: ShowFilmFirst, OnlineTheatreTickets, TheatrePeople, LondonBoxOffice, and BestOfTheatre. All for a markup of over £10, at least on the cheapest tickets - whatever, I love the show, and this is near the end of the run. I was delighted to get a ticket at all. Booked with the first on the list - ShowFilmFirst; they were all the same price, anyway.

On Friday, in contrast, I got a cheap ticket (phew! that evens out a bit) - to Antigone, at Theatro Technis, in Camden. Would be lovely to have moved into the new place by then, but it depends on all the red tape being completed.

Saturday has turned out unusually busy. See, a while ago, I saw that the guide on the excellent Christmas lights walk I did was doing a walk of Victorian Covent Garden that day, and I booked. Then the London European Club advertised an "Arab Christmas" - a concert of early Arab Christian chants! Ah well now.. unfortunately, it's on the same day as my walk. Fortunately, the walk is at lunchtime and the concert in the evening! I booked for that as well. Funnily enough, that's in Rich Mix, which is closer to my current flat - I may spend that night there, even if I have the other one by then.

On Sunday, I'm on another walk - again, with Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts - same guide, different group from the Christmas Lights walk. This walk is charmingly entitled Heretics and Horrors - Exploring London's Bloody Past. And although I've heard much about them already, I don't doubt that this guide will shed new light on 'em..

On Monday, I'm with Kensington Classical Music, at Pushkin House, for a piano recital. Oh gosh, I hope I'm in the new flat - it's so close to this venue you wouldn't believe!!

On Tuesday, London European Club has a very interesting evening planned - "Beat the January Blues and Discover the Curse of the Green Fairy". Basically, a lecture about absinthe, with tasting afterwards. Tragically, all tickets were sold out by the time I heard about it.. What the hey, I probably wouldn't like the taste anyway. With the free comedy in Hammersmith cancelled again, I'm with TNT Comedy again that night. Provisionally. But they were friendly folk, it's a lovely venue, and I wouldn't mind at all.

On Wednesday, the Man with the Hat is taking London for Less Than a Tenner to Top Secret - inaugural visit of the year. And walkable from my new office! I'm liking it..

Thursday 12th, again nothing on Meetup - instead, I'm going to the opening night of Amaluna, Cirque du Soleil's latest show, at the Albert Hall! Cheapest tickets from the venue website, as long as you don't mind a slightly restricted view - for my money, a handrail in my sightline shouldn't prove too much of an obstacle. Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend.

Monday 16th, I've booked for Festival of the Spoken Nerd, at Soho Theatre. Yes, it's a comedy.

Tuesday 17th, I had signed up for free comedy in Hammersmith (!) with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith Wimbledon and Farringdon, and London Live Comedy. But.. then I saw that Funzing UK had advertised Rising Stars: East England Burlesque Festival 2017. So I booked that instead - hey, I can get straight there on the Central Line! And I love burlesque. After booking, I got an email from them to point out that there are two events there that night, and that to avoid confusion, the name of mine has been changed to "Star Watch"..

Wednesday 18th, I've signed up with London Speaks Sessions, London for a Tenner or Less (as usual, NOT to be confused with the Man with the Hat), and LDN Talks @Night (or more particularly with Funzing) for a talk on The Science of Psychedelics.

Thursday 19th, free comedy in Hammersmith.. same two groups as above.

Friday 20th, I'm finally headed to The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, at the Criterion Theatre. Same team that did The Play That Goes Wrong - which is excellent - so I'm looking forward to this. Best value tickets from the venue.

Saturday 21st, I'm out with the Man with the Hat again - this time, it's Woolf Works, a Wayne McGregor triptych, inspired by the works of Virginia Woolf and showing at the Royal Opera House. Both his groups are going - as usual, I have a cheap seat.

Sunday 22nd, the ever-busy Man with the Hat is headed (with Let's Do London - for less!) to a dance production - at Sadler's Wells, unusually for him. The Red Shoes, choreographed by Matthew Bourne, is completely sold out for its whole run. Our Man with the Hat has tickets, though.. but he held them back (under his hat, as you might say), with sales starting at 11am on New Year's Day. They sold out in 15 minutes - I checked. That's the speed of U2's ticket sales.. of course, being a seasoned purchaser of U2 tickets, I managed to get one. All he needs now are a stetson and some glasses.. (speaking of which, good news from the U2 camp. Watch this space..)