Film: Rye Lane

This evening, I booked with The London Palestinian Rights Meetup Group for Taking Sides – A Conversation about Love, War, and Changing the World. Happening at Amnesty International UK. But you know, I thought I might just go to a film instead.. When the listings came out, top of the list was Rye Lane, a romcom set in South London. The trailer looked hilarious - this looked like much more fun than that talk, and since it was free, I had no problem in cancelling my attendance. Nearest place to me showing the film today was the Vue Islington (which, ironically, I passed yesterday evening) - which now has theatre-style pricing, with different seats at different prices. So I booked, to get a decent seat at the cheapest price possible..

No rain this evening - and it's a bit closer than the Almeida, so I had no excuse not to walk. Which meant I passed The Lucas Arms - so went in there to eat. I thought it'd be a disaster though - there was a crowd at the bar, and then the barman lost track of who was next. It was fully five minutes before I was served - and then, with a continuing crowd, no sign of him coming down with my cutlery. Which was fine, except that I had left it a bit tight.. I had a ticket for the early evening showing. Bless though, the kitchens here work speedily, and I had my dinner in no time - cutlery delivered at the same time. I gobbled it down a bit quicker than I'd have liked, and was glad of the excuse to walk it off!

At the cinema, where I arrived five minutes after the scheduled time, I figured I'd have time to grab some chocolate, which I fancied. The ads would still be showing. I picked up a bag of Maltesers, and queued. And queued and queued. A great, long queue, and only one person on the tills. As if they were listening to me, they belatedly opened another till. And another. It was still another five minutes before I got served, what with all those people wanting complicated foodstuffs that needed sauce pouring on them, or popcorn to be scooped from a machine..

Never mind, I still arrived in time for the trailers. Nice seat I had as well, at the front of the raised section, no-one in front of me - this was, mind you, as far back as I could get for the cheap price. I did notice that some cheap seats were still available - so, not everyone wants the cheapest price!

And so to the film. Well, it's as much a love letter to London as a romance between the two main characters. Mostly set in South London, it also has a brief foray to the centre, on a lovely sunny day. The South London bit is full of characters, OTT outfits, cool venues, lovingly portrayed as our characters weave their way through them on their business. Central London, when we see it, is about tourist boats and the lovely Thames-side vistas that I'm so familiar with.

The love story has its hilarious moments, as per the trailer - the main characters are adorable, and the chemistry between them really works. The writers and director - as well as the actors - are absolute stars at bringing out the comedy, which is perfectly timed. It's not quite a laugh-a-minute, but it is very funny, and very sweet. And I'm sure that was Colin Firth I saw, selling burritos.. Yep, I enjoyed it - go see for yourselves, if you get the chance.

Back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for the next two days - tomorrow, it's for comedian Rosie Holt at the Leicester Square Theatre.

On Thursday, I'm at Further Than the Furthest Thing, at the Young Vic. Then back to Ireland for the weekend again. Might get to see Scream VI at last, if it's not gone already..? Full listings not out yet, but what is there isn't encouraging..

On Monday, I booked with the Happy Positive Group! For their weekly Monday trivia night! They seem to be completely online. But wow, looking at it lately, they seemed to have switched that week to the next day! Although, having cancelled my attendance, I then noticed that all Meetups were displaying in the wrong time zone, so were shown as starting five hours later than they actually were.. I complained, and they did fix it. Well, I probably wouldn't have gone anyway. The best Meetup left for that day is with the Shanty Singers Colliers Wood. This is another of those things I once booked and ended up cancelling, so I'll hold off on booking that till nearer the time. As is becoming usual.

Next Tuesday, I've booked for Phaedra, at the National.

On the 29th, I'm going with UITCS to Sadler's Wells - first time in an age - for Creature, by Akram Khan! I absolutely love his work. Handily enough, I used my latest Theatre Token for this - would have used it for Phaedra, but while neither theatre takes them online (you have to phone if you want to use a token), the National charges extra for phone bookings. So I used it for this instead.

On the 30th, back with the London European Club, at somewhere called the Ugly Duck, for Synchrony, a female 12-piece string ensemble. Tickets from Eventbrite. As hosted by Eleanor Salter Thorn again! So glad to see her hosting events in more central locations..

I was keeping the 31st free because Ivan is feeling thirsty again. :-) And for once, he seems to be sticking to the date, having booked us a table at The Lucas Arms (which, as he pointed out, has a smoker's area). We're hoping to have Martin - my other friendly ex-boss - join us, but he has more family commitments, which he's trying to juggle - we've told him to join us whenever. And this looks like turning into the first zapoi in a while - Ivan is talking about booking a studio, where we can drink overnight. Oy ve, watch this space.. So, not pushed about doing anything extra on the 1st.

And on the 2nd, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club, for Orpheus Dismembered, at the British Museum, courtesy of Ben Haggarty. The event there that I'd already heard of..

Film: Joyland

Tonight, it was film again - this one was a BFI presentation of Joyland, an Indian film about a young man who joins a burlesque show, and becomes infatuated with the trans lady who runs it. I'm normally suspicious about Indian film, having had some bad experiences - but this trailer looked excellent, so I said I'd risk it. Showing in the Vue Islington - which I booked, for once, as they now have theatre-style seat pricing, different seats in different locations at different prices!

Best place to eat en route seemed to be The Lucas Arms, so I did. Funnily enough, as I waited, the lady behind the bar warned me that they could only take cash at the moment - which was fine, when I do take it out, I take out plenty, for convenience. However, the errant card machines were fixed by the time I actually came to pay! and the food was delicious as ever. The pie crust was strangely soggy, mind - but that didn't affect the flavour.

Of course, I walked it off on the climb to Islington. It's sad, how that walk still reminds me of Civilised London, who host so many dinners up this way - the name, I've since discovered, is a misnomer, of course. The way they treated me, in the end, was hardly civilised at all. But anyway.

I arrived at the cinema in good time, but the screen was already open - in fact, I was the first in. My row did eventually fill up, though - others, like me, taking the furthest seat back for the cheapest possible price. The screen was mostly full, in the end.

And wow, did this film deserve it. It's actually Pakistani, mea culpa.. and this is set in a conservative Muslim family. The younger son, the main subject of the film, feels emasculated - he has no job, but his wife does, and they have no children: unlike his brother and his wife, who have their fourth at the start of the film. All daughters, by the way - ah, the disappointment.. And then his cousin gets him a job in the local "erotic dance" theatre. Ashamed to tell his family he's a dancer, he pretends he's the theatre manager. Unfortunately for his wife, she now has to give up her job - as her sister-in-law complains, who's going to help her with all the housework? They all live together, you see, along with the brothers' father.

To Western eyes, this is going to be infuriating, of course. Religious conservatism abounds - the men are supposed to be the breadwinners. Marriages are arranged, and as mentioned in the film, "it's easier for the boy to say no" [than for the girl]. It's shocking for a woman to spend the night in the house of a family other than her own - regardless of her age. When a widowed neighbour comes to spend time with grandad, and everyone else is out, so there's no-one at the end of the night to walk her home.. what's a widow to do? As she complains to her son, when he comes to see his family's honour restored - well, he didn't exactly notice she was gone till morning, now did he?!

And into all that, we see injected a transsexual dancer. Brave woman. As the relationship between her and our hero grows, she asks him what would happen if he told his family what he really wanted? He replies, "My dad would be planning my funeral. Would you come?" Those are words that will come back to haunt him..

This is a very real, very raw film. Very moving - the trailer didn't offer any false promises. Honestly, this is better than some of the Oscar offerings this year - frankly, it's a travesty that it's not up there. Truly, if you get a chance, go see - this is a film that will haunt me.

Tomorrow, back with TAC for Feel More X Lately, showing at the Lion and Unicorn. This is actually a collection of four short plays, it seems.

Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend. Where the choice of films is very limited. Mostly kids' films, in fact. Best for me seems to be What's Love Got to Do with It?, a romcom in which Emma Thompson plays the mother of a young lady whose good friend (of Pakistani heritage, as it happens) decides enough is enough, and he's going to let his parents arrange his marriage. She's a budding filmmaker, and decides this would provide excellent footage for a new documentary. No prizes for guessing how it turns out, I suspect - but it seems harmless enough.

There follows a mostly Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) week. On Monday, back with them for Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, at the Harold Pinter Theatre. This is a rom-com about a couple living in a dystopian state, which limits the number of characters they can speak. Lots of body language then, I guess! Frankly, I was delighted to see that, by the time I booked, the Balcony was sold out - the legroom there is woeful, and good luck to those who've booked up there. The cheapest price bracket left when I booked included some in the Dress Circle - and thanks to Seatplan, I seem to have identified a decent seat among them. Watch this space.. cheapest tickets from the official site, but I booked with From the Box Office, which had tickets at the same price, but without the booking fee.

On Tuesday, my one non-UITCS day next week - back with Over 40 Living the Life, for a dinner at Greenwich Yacht Club. Ooh la la..

Next Wednesday, back with UITCS at the Arcola for Afghanistan is Not Funny, the true story of a British comedian and photographer in war-torn Afghanistan.

On the 2nd, with them again at the Peacock (think I can walk to that!) for Bat Out of Hell, a musical based on the music of Meat Loaf. Awesome - just a pity it isn't one of the singalong nights..

On the 3rd, ending a run of UITCS with Lucrezia Borgia, by the English Touring Opera Company, at the Hackney Empire.

On the 4th, back cat-herding - Ivan suggested that whole day for, well, a lot of drinking. And food - he wanted to go back to O' Neill's. Well, he must have been reading the blog - because the other day, he got in touch. To say that, unfortunately, he can't now make it. My other coworker from that company still can, though - as they've both said, it's been so long since they actually met each other! They can never seem to coordinate..

On the 5th, back with Discover London at last - she does excellent walks, but sometimes they clash, and sometimes they sell out before I get to them! This one is Discover Historic Chelsea: From Quaint to Quant - 1660s to 1960s.

On the 6th, back with - you guessed it - UITCS, for Romeo and Julie, at the Dorfman.

On the 7th - not so much appeals on Meetup. Free Stuff and Free Events does have Free Community Singing with Ros Hone and the Global Fusion Sound Singers, which you can attend on Zoom, or in person at Fossdene School Community Hall. Which sounds just fine - except that this is the sort of thing I keep cancelling! So I'm not confirming until nearer the time.

On the 8th - back with the Crick Crack Club, woohoo! for Goddesses in the Garden, at the Chelsea Physic Garden. Features my favourite, Clare Murphy, along with Sarah Liisa Wilkinson, Laura Sampson, and Xanthe Gresham.

On the 9th, my final booking - for now - with UITCS, for Brilliant Jerks at Southwark Playhouse. And wouldn't you know it, I still had credit on my Pay as you Go subscription, so got it for free! And then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.

University of Limerick PhD Alumni Reunion and Tour & Films: The Menu & Triangle of Sadness

Spent the weekend in Ireland again. On Saturday, UL hosted a PhD reunion, with a tour of the campus and, crucially, free lunch. And I intended to use the occasion to catch up with an old friend and, hopefully, find out what finally prompted him to quit lecturing at last, more than 10 years after I did, considering he was bullied even worse than I was! The event started in one of the newer buildings, which I looked up on the campus map - and shared with my friend. Not easy to find - I had to Google it!

Well, I found it - something of a trek across the far side of the campus: they certainly have loads of space! Parked behind the building, only to get a message from my friend to say all he could find were changing rooms - yes, that's on the ground floor. I had seen this one before, knew the cafe was on the first floor. So, I decided to go straight up, figuring he might have found his way in by now - and he had. I found him in the lunch room, gazing at the slideshow of PhD conferrings. I don't think he came across either of ours - he'd have said.

We chatted for a bit, and then people started to queue up for lunch, so up we went. There was rice, and a choice of chicken or beef - I enquired as to the sauces, and was told it was chicken curry or beef stroganoff. I love a stroganoff, so had that - was just sorry the portions weren't larger! To drink, we had water - tea and coffee were brought around after a bit, but I don't drink either. After lunch, we were brought out plates of biscuits. The place wasn't overcrowded - the event was free, and as we discovered afterwards, 70 had registered, but only 40 showed up. Which the organisers thought was a pretty good turnout, for a free event! At the end, we were introduced to our volunteer guides - who, I must say, were friendly and professional all day - and in what was a well-organised move, we were told that we'd be led to our next stop, but then, if we had cars, we should park them at the Kemmy Business School, where a bus would take us around the rest of the campus.

Walking to our next point of interest, I remarked to my friend how all these buildings were new since I'd last been here - UL is sure expanding massively! We identified what we thought was a new student residence, beside which stands the Graduate Medical School - a brilliant UL innovation, entry to this is restricted to people who already have a degree. It's designed to avoid the tremendous pressure of coming to medicine straight from the school system, with so much competition, and teenagers not even sure whether this is truly what they want to do. It's also a secondary route into medicine for those who are not successful straight out of school. And crucially, the students are more mature than the regular medical student intake - making for a better experience all round, methinks!

Anyway, across from that, UL now has the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. This used to be housed in another building, and itself was a new innovation when I was here - established by the late, great pianist and composer, Micheál Ó' Suilleabháin. Well, it now has its own building! and we were sat in one of its theatres to listen to a speech about the academy, and watch a presentation on the music therapy programme - another UL initiative that's unique in Ireland.

Most impressive. We then drove our cars down - I wasn't sure of the parking around the Business School, so parked in front of the Computer Science building instead and walked across - fortunately, not a long walk, as the weather was dreadful! And we piled onto the bus, and were taken the short distance to the Bernal Institute. You guessed it - another completely new development since my time. Someone asked the presenter what was there before that building - he had a think, and came up with - a bus stop. Figures. And the most enthralled of our group were the people who'd graduated the longest time ago - the place certainly has come on by leaps and bounds. This instute, FYI, concerns itself with material science - the development of composite materials, ever lighter, ever stronger: for use in aeroplanes, for example. And it was great to hear about their collaboration with other university institutes around the country, each of which specialises in a different area.

And so on to the library - the organiser was wondering about the wisdom of taking the bus, when it's only a short walk, but as I pointed out, people do have a tendency to wander off if unsupervised! So instead of the short walk, we drove out of the university by the back gate, in the main one again, and around. Then straight up to the top floor (happily, there's a lift), where we were led into the Law School (never been up here before, myself):

And while sat here, we were given a fascinating presentation on research that UL is doing into rugby injuries! Apparently, they're the only ones in the world conducting research into injuries sustained by female rugby players - it was interesting to see the differences in types of injury. And the crowd was never so animated as in this talk, firing questions - plenty of rugby fans! (Well, Limerick is the home of Munster rugby..)

On our way out, we happened past the space-age book retrieval system. As someone said, hey, who's going to order a book, so we can see it in action..?

Reminds me of Star Wars! Our final stop was to be back at the Business School, where we were fed tea, coffee, water, and pastries - and when we'd had our fill, filed into a lecture room for a series of presentations by Limerick PhDs about the kind of thing they'd learned during their PhDs, and also how they'd used them afterwards. Last speaker of the evening - was Bill Whelan! A Limerick native, and recipient of an honorary doctorate from UL, he composed the music for what became the behemoth that is Riverdance! Plenty of other anecdotes from his career too.. mind you, his wife, sitting at the back, didn't look too impressed. Doubtless she's heard them too many times!

The evening ended with an interesting discussion with the organisers, and whoever wanted to stay - they were curious about whether people had ideas of how to reproduce the day! Well, it was an excellent event - kudos to them, and here's to more interesting events in the future. I won't be taking them up on any opportunities to describe how I used my PhD though - I don't think my story is quite what they're looking for!

And so, my friend and I repaired to the Kilmurry Lodge Hotel for dinner. Or at least, he did - I always have trouble finding that turnoff, and wouldn't you know it, got myself trapped in the Johnson & Johnson campus in the technology park! It's massive, it's one-way - and they don't seem to want to let you leave! Mercifully, I finally escaped and made my way to the hotel. Where, despite having left after I did, my friend had been waiting for me for 15 minutes. Well, he had got menus - it didn't take me long to order, and we were soon fed. I had the stuffed, breaded mushrooms - which were lovely - and the steak sandwich. Sadly, this was not lovely - a bit tasteless, mostly my problem with it was that the steak was far too thick for the sandwich, rendering the whole thing impossible to eat. I managed just over half, and won't be having it again.

Oh, and I might have guessed - he's timed his leaving of lecturing to ensure that his pension won't be curtailed. And will just put up with the atmosphere until then. Well, rather him than me.. Anyway, I was too tired to blog that night.

Planned a film yesterday.. and coming up was Aisha, just released at the weekend, which centres on a young woman in Direct Provision (Ireland's asylum processing system). Looks like a hard watch, focusing as it does on a severely criticised system, which can see asylum seekers stuck for years in limbo, while their claims are processed.. Ennis only.

But wouldn't you know it - I checked on Saturday night, and its ratings had plummeted! Right, recalculation - and the highest rated, showing in the afternoon, was The Menu. Also in Ennis. This has Ralph Fiennes as the head chef of an exclusive restaurant. Anna Taylor-Joy is a reluctant diner, invited along but not enthused by the excessive luxury and gourmet dining that the evening entails. And the trailer looked dark and interesting..

Well, here we go again, I thought as I meandered round and around Ennis, looking for a parking space. Another GAA match, dontcha know? At least this time, I got parking in the Dunnes multistorey - and only on the first level. And, being Sunday, it was free. I was a bit late though - but it's worth remembering that this is actually closer to the cinema. I'll think about it from that perspective in future.

I galloped along to the cinema - as I climbed the stairs to the box office, I overheard a couple of young ladies telling staff how one of them had just thrown up in Screen 1. Very sorry about it and all. And off they went. As I arrived, staff were just discussing how they could hardly do anything about it until the film finished - and this was the largest screen, too! Wow, was I glad I was in Screen 2..

Sadly, I did miss the start - but not too much, it seems. The restaurant is on an island, the customers are taken out there by boat - I missed that part. When I came in, they were being shown around the restaurant staff quarters, on the island - and the stern-looking maitre-d' was explaining how the long hours made it preferable for staff to live onsite. I did spend a little time wondering whether these people were to be expected to work there - but no, this was just an informational tour.

I'd also missed being introduced to the different characters, but that happens quite naturally through the film, so that's ok. So yes, this is the story of a very exclusive dinner - only 12 guests, each charged a fortune to be there. A famous chef, who runs his kitchen with more than military precision. Most diners are rather blasé about being there - either because they've been before, or because they're, well, jerks. Anna's companion is stoked - he's been trying for months to get a reservation, and here he is! And she just gets less and less enthusiastic as the night goes on.

Oh, this is surreal. You really have no idea, from course to course of this really long meal, what's going to happen next - and it's more outrageous than you can imagine. As Anna's companion says, each meal has a theme - it's not until the end that you figure out what it is. She provides our entry into this world, gaping in astonishment at what's going on around her - incredulous at the chef's pretentiousness, at the staff's superior attitude, at her companion's fawning adulation.

You could call it a scathing indictment of fine dining, and of those who indulge in it. Let's just say this - the chef has chosen this evening's guest list very carefully. He has a bone to pick with each of them. Except Anna - she wasn't on the original guestlist, doesn't appreciate what he's doing, and turns out to be a real thorn in his side. But - how she does it is a stroke of genius. This is very, very clever.. just be prepared for it to be very, very dark, too.

Now, last night, I flew back to London. Ryanair, as usual, flew an hour late - so we missed the train and had to take the bus. Which takes longer. And in London, I was obliged to wait on the never-present #205 for 35 minutes.. so it was after 3am when I got in. Hence the delay in the blog.

Headed to another film tonight - I wanted to see Triangle of Sadness last month, in the BFI Film Festival, but it was sold out. Well, it's made it to the mainstream - and I've just seen it in the Vue Islington, which is the closest venue to me that's showing it. It's a comedy in which Woody Harrelson is a cruise ship captain, cynically presiding over a group of scathingly depicted rich folk - and then they get shipwrecked on a desert island. Oh dear, how shall they fare?! ;-) Yet another scathing indictment of the rich - am I sensing a theme? Cheaper if you buy online, so I did.

Well, this being one of the longer blog posts, I didn't have time to get it finished before I left. Neither did I have time to grab a proper bite to eat - got some overpriced Maltesers at the cinema instead. The cinema was just open for us to take our seats - I had about 10 minutes before the programme started. And after a series of Christmas ads, and trailers of varying interest, off we went..

So, I'd been thinking about this as a film about a cruise - but it actually starts off with the model couple we see in the trailer, who are given the cruise tickets as a present. In fact, the first scene - which appears in the trailer - has the man, Harris Dickinson, at a modelling shoot. We discover that the "triangle of sadness" of the title is not some kind of reference to the Bermuda Triangle, as I thought - nope, it refers to the bit between your eyebrows - the bit that creases when you frown. We are then introduced to his girlfriend - Charlbi Dean, who in real life, tragically died suddenly in August.

Now, if the purpose of this film is indeed to send up the shallow culture of the rich and beautiful, it kind of batters us over the head with it - we see both taking part in vapid modelling shoots, we see her spending more time on her phone than talking to him, we see an intense argument about how she never, ever pays for dinner. Well, he's arguing intensely - she's staring at him as though he's lost his mind.

Cut to the cruise ship, where we have every variety of obnoxious passenger. The beleagured crew are instructed firmly by the steward always to give the passengers what they want! no matter how insane. The captain? He, rather sensibly, has retired to his cabin, where all you can hear is the clanking of bottles. The fun really starts when he decides to hold the captain's dinner - highlight of the ship's social calendar - on the one night when the weather is to be bad. You can imagine the chaos that ensues..

Not all the passengers are shipwrecked - I suppose most drown. Anyway, the motley crew that assembles on the beach of the desert island includes, initially, the model couple, a Russian oligarch, a guy nobody recognises who says he worked in the engine room, and a lady who's had a stroke, and has lost the use of both legs and one arm, and can only say "nein" and "in den Wolken" in German, although she does seem to understand everything that's happening. There's another guy who might be a painter - and one crew member, the steward. Until.. they come across a lifeboat (a proper one, with roof and such), which has a resourceful crew member in it: the toilet manager. Who turns out to be - the only one able to fish, the only one able to gut a fish, the only one able to build a fire, the only one able to cook..

Suffice to say, authority is turned on its head as she now discovers a respect she never had before. She becomes the de facto leader of the group - having previously been the least of them. And it is fascinating to see how their social group restructures itself in this new reality. I tell you though, hilarious as it is, this is also really poignant - particularly at the end. In fact, the actual ending is left really ambiguous.. Well, I do like to be kept guessing. Anyway, this is great fun.. highly recommended. Even with everyone throwing up once the weather hits.

And gee, there's a lovely, big Sainsbury's across the road! Lovely big supermarkets they have up there. Finally, I got everything on my list.. And dragged it all the way home. And lo - our lift is finally working again! after five months. Well, not half soon enough.

Tomorrow, I'm with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) again, for a double-bill at the Park Theatre. Part of the Make Mine a Double series, where you get a discount for booking two or more, in the same transaction. This week sees a comedy double - Anything With a Pulse, about dating, and Pickle, a Jewish comedy. Some of us will meet there early, to eat.

Wednesday - oh dear, I'm just not sure. There are a few things coming up that I'm iffy about.. at the moment, I'm leaning towards Chess Community Wednesdays, with the London Chess Community (LCC). But I booked with them twice before and cancelled, so am reluctant to do it again - watch this space.

On Thursday, I'm back with TAC for Haunting Julia, at The Questors Theatre, a new one to me. A ghost story, goodee! Written by Alan Ayckbourn.

On Friday, back with the Crick Crack Club for The Beast in Me, by Daniel Morden. At King's Place. Fantastic!

On Saturday, I have my Christmas get-together with Helen! We're planning a Christmas bonanza - first to the Magical Ice Kingdom at Winter Wonderland, where we must also have a stroll around the Christmas markets, and get some alcoholic hot chocolate. Then food - then we're on a Tootbus night-time open-top bus tour. As booked on Wowcher. Now, there is a rail strike that day, but she says it's not yet affecting her - she'll keep an eye on it. Mind you, the Tube strike might - I had her asking me for bus directions this morning!

On Sunday, I'm back with Discover London, for a walk entitled Secrets of the Riverside Part 1: Tower Bridge to London Bridge. These events are good - I'm delighted to be back on one!

The next two days, back with UITCS - for some reason, I only just saw their advertised trip, next Monday, to see Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel, at the Arts Theatre. Awesome! This should be good - title decided by the audience on the night.

On the 29th, we're back at the Park for the Make Mine a Double series - next week, it's Press, which examines the world of journalism, and Tunnels, about two cousins hoping to escape East Berlin. So, darker than tomorrow's.

On the 30th.. same problem as this Wednesday. Again, watch this space..

On the 1st - well, I might be unemployed, as my contract technically ends the day before. If I am, best thing on is an online talk, The Life and Times of Magnus Folk, from the Surrey History Meetup. One of the earliest electrical engineers in England, it seems. Anyway, it's free, if I want to cancel.

Then back to Ireland for the weekend again - flying Aer Lingus for a change! My passport is due to expire, you see - I don't technically need one to travel between Ireland and the UK, but Ryanair demands it. Aer Lingus doesn't.. so, I must get on to that renewal now!

On the 5th - yep, the LCC is again looking like the best option. Hmm.

On the 6th, well, Free Stuff and Free Events are holding another online singalong. Again, I cancelled my attendance at the last of these I booked for, so am reluctant to rush off and book again..

On the 7th, phew, a definite plan! I'm back with UITCS for Baghdaddy at the Royal Court. About a little girl, realising she's half Iraqi, just as the Gulf War is raging.

On the 8th, I've signed up for another Watkin's Bookshop talk! This is Colin Stanley on Colin Wilson's Introducing the Occult. Well, the last talk I was at here was interesting, so..

On the 9th, I'm heading to Lightopia, at Crystal Palace Park. As suggested by Over 40 Living the Life, who are not actually hosting a trip themselves, but just wanted to advertise it. 15% discount if you subscribe to Lightopia's mailing list, 20% discount for purchases of 10 or more tickets.

On the 10th - I've bravely scheduled another meeting of Those who Do Not Come. It's my last weekend in London before Christmas, you see. Well, so far Ivan and my first boss in London are probable attendees, the one person who came the last two times probably not, for once. We shall see - I asked them again today to confirm, and only the one who probably can't make it did so! Nowhere booked yet.

And on the 11th, I'm vaguely thinking of heading to see Carnaby Street's Christmas lights..

Film: Smile & Play: The Prince

Had an interview (well, an informal chat) yesterday! Unfortunately, only a couple of nights ago I finally booked something for yesterday - and wouldn't you know it, it was Walking the Lambeth Walk, which clashed with the interview! Even more annoying, I booked it with TAC to get it cheaper, and therefore had to pay in advance - and it's non-refundable. Nuts.

Well, they're desperate to hire someone, I have to say - NOT, I stress, because they hired me! But she only scheduled 20 minutes - and then only used up 10 of them. And most of it was her telling me what she'd found wrong with other people in the job - none of which, I assured her, I'd do! By yesterday evening, the recuiter was back to me, to tell me I had the job. :-) So, all those companies that kept me hanging - for weeks - can go take a running jump.. And I'm keeping them hanging, too.

Yesterday evening, the outlook was pretty bleak for things to do on Meetup - looked like Soho Comedy Factory again, really! Now, they do have a Meetup group, with no need to buy a ticket - but their attendance was booked up. Still, when I went before, nobody asked me for a ticket, or whom I was with.. Thought I might schlep along there.

Ate in O' Neill's beforehand - well, I fancied something nice and easy. And as I was eating - well, I just didn't feel like heading to the crowded environs of The Blue Posts. Just then - like a sign - a bus passed.. with a sign on the side.. advertising.. Smile. 😀 Well, that was all I needed. You know, when I used to attend pub Meetups with a group called Spooky London Pubs - since defunct - I once met a young man who gave me a business card. He was in this "serendipity" group - as he described it, they'd meet and then spontaneously decide what to do, which side street to go down.. I never did go, but I think he'd have approved of this. Well, I had now decided on horror - and gee, the highest rated horror film on my list was, indeed, Smile! which was showing in the Vue Islington in a couple of hours. I booked it - seeming to remember that's cheaper than paying when you show up, in this chain. Anyway, the Vue Islington is nice and cheap, as they go, too..

Really, really slow quques at the concession stands. It was quite full, as it happened - I, handily, found a seat with a spare seat beside it, so I wasn't sitting right beside anyone. And Lordy, that girl two seats away, who never turned off her phone, but kept looking at it and messaging on it throughout. Seriously guys, this is an addiction you need to quit - not least because the screen is so distracting to those of us trying to concentrate on the film! Plus, you're spoiling the experience for yourselves. As pointed out during the "turn your phone off" ad before the feature started. During which ad, she was, of course, messaging someone. Interestingly, she took a screenshot of the censor's certificate, and shared it with someone.. I guess she doesn't get to many horrors.

Now, I didn't need to research this, apart from the rating - I had a pretty good idea what I was dealing with. I watch a lot of short horror films on YouTube - it's a great way to pass a few minutes - and the "grinning man" (it's usually a man) is a common trope. Basically, someone with a rictus grin, and some kind of evil intent - looking manic, they are never good news. And so it proves in this film, with an unfortunate psychiatrist, who has a patient kill herself in front of her - with a rictus grin on her face - and seems haunted by it ever after.

I have to say, this is a genuinely good horror film. I was actually jumpy on the way home - hell, it's a long time since that happened to me. They succeed in creating a truly creepy atmosphere - yes, initially by means of maybe too many jump scares, but they do the job. It's damn creepy, when you catch sight of somebody, grinning manically for no apparent reason - especially if their attention is fixed on you. Simple, huh? Combine that with a sinister soundtrack, dizzying, upside-down camerawork - reminiscent of another excellent horror, Midsommar (which I notice also had the jangly music) - and a very effective transformation of the lead character, from the calm and collected doctor, to someone who looks truly like she is a danger to herself and others. And you have a horror film that started with a high rating (for a horror film) and has since climbed in ratings. Not that it's to everyone's taste, for sure - the initially verbal crowd got very quiet as the film progressed, and I overheard one guy remark to his companion that "that was twisted". In rather a shocked voice. Well, it is an R.. So, in short, highly recommended to those who appreciate the genre.

Last night, was busy reworking the film list - and too tired to blog when that was finished. Today, was thinking film again. A few Indian films at the top - which, of course, I'm very wary of. I rejected one romance - but had trouble deciding on the next on the list, Dhokha. This is a thriller, in which a cop's wife is taken hostage by a terrorist. Has a twist, though - she's got mental health issues. Something along the lines of - which reality should we believe? So, thought I might give that a whirl - would have to traipse all the way up to Wood Green again, is the only thing.

Having spent so long on the list, I'd forgotten that others might have things on - and when I looked, I decided I'd rather accompany Up in the Cheap Seats to The Prince, at Southwark Playhouse. Happily, I still had credit left on my PAYG subscription! So I booked that, late last night.

Got to bed really late, then was woken too early by a series of messages from people requiring me to sign things, send them copies of things, fill out forms - I was at it for hours, by which time it was time for me to get up! I've been wrecked, all day. Now, for this theatre, I really should have headed to Mercato Metropolitano for food - it's just across from the theatre. But, tired as I was, I just couldn't face it - traipsing from stall to stall for food, a different stall for wine, then searching for a seat. No, I fancied something easier, so just went back to O' Neill's. Where I ordered from the table and had everything brought to me, and got to watch Sky News tell us how dreadful the UK economy is.

When I was finished, I headed straight to the theatre - was the first of our group there. They're requiring paper tickets, unusually - problems with people getting in without a ticket, perhaps? We weren't sat together:

A minimalist stage, divided into black and white squares - two raised platforms, which turned out to house boxes. We are plunged into Henry IV Part I, the King complaining that his ne-er-do-well son and heir, Prince Hal, is no match for the splendid, warrior son of the Earl of Northumberland, Harry "Hotspur" Percy. Into the scene, enter two incongruous characters - dressed in modern clothes, speaking in a modern way - as the play continues, it transpires that they have been trapped in this alternate dimension, full of Shakespearian characters. One of the newcomers is newly arrived, so we get exposition when the one who's been there longer explains everything. However, the newcomer isn't just content to observe - she has a tendency to get involved. Which leads to climactic consequences for all concerned!

The writer, in fact, plays Hotspur, here. The casting is a bit gender-blind, but for once it works, with people making a real effort to resemble the gender they're supposed to convey. Oh, and it's packed with actual Shakespearian dialogue - which, it seems, left my companions a bit cold! Me, I love a bit of Shakespeare - I also loved the way that the modern characters weave around and through the story, and comment on it after a scene! Oh, and spoiler - you also get a bit of Hamlet, the writer playing the title character. I swear, she only does it to get to perform that soliloquy!

So, as I say, I thought it was excellent - inventive, and with plenty of Shakespearian dialogue. I've always felt a bit funny about standing ovations - are you applauding the actors, or the playwright? No such problems here, as she takes her bows with the others, then individually! Runs till the 8th - very highly recommended!

Back to Ireland tomorrow - and the weekend's film, as of now, is looking like one I'd never even heard of until recently, when someone was talking about it! Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is a comedy about a 50s cleaning lady (Lesley Manville), who dreams of owning a Dior dress - so, off she goes to Paris for it! Based on a book, it seems - and from the trailer, it looks like the absolutely charming story of a middle-aged lady who finally gets the chance to fulfil a few of her dreams! Showing in Ennis, again.

On Monday, I'd booked with 50-50 Trivia again for the afternoon - and have now had to cancel, because of the job, which starts next week! Rescheduled from the day of the Queen's funeral. Then Ivan is supposed to be back, and has suggested going for a drink in the evening - I have to check with him on Sunday, when I'm back from Ireland, though.

On Tuesday, I "provisionally" booked with  Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners again - this time, for Down and Out in Clerkenwell, ironically very near to where I live. Again, I had to cancel this because, as he says, I'll have gone from "provisional" to "professional"!

That evening, at any rate, I'm with the 45+s again - this time for a classical concert, at St. John's, Smith Square. OMG it's years since I was last there - and they have discounted tickets!

And on Wednesday, I've "provisionally" booked for the Soho Comedy Factory again.. We shall see.

Film: Jojo Rabbit

Today, of course - not having been mentioned until yesterday - was film. And I finally worked my way down the film list to Jojo Rabbit. Multi-Oscar-nominated (won one, for Best Adapted Screenplay), this is the story of a little boy in Nazi Germany, with Adolf Hitler (played by the writer / director himself!) as his imaginary friend, whose world view is questioned when he discovers that his mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a Jewish girl in the house. Sam Rockwell plays the commander of the Hitler Youth camp he attends, ably assisted by Rebel Wilson. Someone said during the week that he'd found it funny - which kind of disturbed him. Me, I thought the trailer looked quirky, and I was looking forward to seeing it for myself. Showing in the Vue Islington - five times today. So I figured I should be able to find a time to fit. Not wanting to restrict myself, I waited to see how today went before I chose a showing.

I slept deeply and long - so there was no point trying to rush for the first showing: but I made the second. It is cheaper to book with Vue, so I did - although otherwise, there'd have been no need, as it was in Screen 1, and practically empty. Indeed, I was really early, given that I just made my bus perfectly - I'd thought I might grab a bite to eat up there, but the area around the cinema is a virtual wasteland, so options are slim. I ended up having my standard meal substitute - a bag of Minstrels. The screen wasn't open yet, but happily she let me into the corridor outside it - you can sit on the windowledge there, but there isn't anywhere to sit in the lobby. I passed some time stealing WiFi from the Wagamama's across the way.

It wasn't long before the screen opened, and I could take my more comfortable seat, into which I sank gratefully - they are very comfy. Watched the ads, watched some trailers I hadn't seen before. When the ad to keep your rubbish by your seat to aid the cleaners came on, I looked sardonically at the litter-strewn floor - I guess the cleaners then leave it there.

Jojo Rabbit is a very sweet, very funny, very poignant film. It views the fall of the Third Reich through the eyes of a 10-year-old boy, living in a picturesque little German town. His father's location is unknown, and he lives alone with his mother, who disappears for long periods during the day. Which is how he comes to meet the Jewish girl that lives in the wall. Which comes as a huge shock both to him, and to his imaginary friend!

And yes, it is very funny - a lot of visual gags too, keep an eye out for them. Now, I didn't have a problem laughing at any of it - perhaps given that I'm Irish, and Ireland wasn't in the war. So I didn't have any relatives in it, no war stories, nobody that died. Take it at face value, it is very funny. And you'll appreciate that humour more in the second half of the film, when things turn much darker, and a spark of humour is much needed. An unusual view of the war - I highly recommend it.

All next week is Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS)! On Monday, we're at The Sunset Limited at the Boulevard - a new one for me. I booked on Christmas Eve, so in time to get a Roulette ticket - I don't find out out until the night where I'm sitting. Nor do the others!

On Tuesday, off to see a WIP show by comedian Kerry Godliman in 2Northdown.

On Wednesday, we're going to see A Number, at the Bridge.

Really looking forward to Thursday, when we're off to see Endgame, at the Old Vic. Double bill with Rough for Theatre II. I'm a huge Beckett fan. Incidentally, stars Daniel Radcliffe. I hope he does it justice. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend, again - checking my mother's electricity meter, which they persist in over-estimating the usage of.

On the 2nd, back with Civilised London for another of those free jazz nights at Wilton's. This time, it's One Voice, One Cello & a Mad Belgian!

On the 3rd, back at Soho Theatre to see Dane Baptiste's comedy show, The Chocolate Chip.

On the 4th, back with UITCS at Sadler's Wells for a collaboration between Crystal Pite and her company, Kidd Pivot, and Jonathon Young, on an adaptation of a Russian comic play, Revisor (The Inspector General).

And on the 5th, going to see Shoe Lady at the Royal Court.

Film: Knives Out

Tonight was going to be film as well - which is where Knives Out came in. No question I was going to see it - it was just a question of which to see first! This is a classic, drawing-room murder mystery. Daniel Craig is the detective, hired to investigate the murder of Christopher Plummer. Jamie Lee Curtis is the deceased's daughter, married to Don Johnson. Toni Collette is the deceased's son's widow. Each as horrid as the last.. and I booked it, because the closest showing was in the Vue Islington, and Vue are apparently cheaper online.

Damnit, the office is (according to Google maps) within a half-hour's walk. So that's what I did - on a miserable, rain-soaked evening. At least the wind died down. I was a little late, as usual - but of course, that doesn't matter for mainstream films, where all you're missing are the ads. When I finally sploshed into the complex where the cinema is, I came across the most enormous queue, apparently for the O2 Academy!

I discovered that the escalators were out of order - lovely. Climbed the stairs to the cinema, then happily the escalator inside the cinema was working to take me up to the screens. But oops! my film was in Screen 10 - downstairs. Down I went again, forgetting that the door is opened by a code. Back upstairs to ask for the code - which she gave me on one of a pile of little strips of paper. Then back downstairs - where, happily, once inside, I found I was the first to arrive in my row! I also had a broken seat to one side of me, which was handy, as it gave me a bit more space. Sadly, to the other side, someone had some very smelly popcorn..

Comfy, leather seats, with head support - although they don't recline. I was just in time for the trailers - some more attractive than others - before the film started. The plot has the victim as a mystery writer, and one of the cops remarks that the rambling house looks like the set of a game of Clue. Me, it reminded of the Winchester Mystery House! what with the look, and the hidden entrances.. And I loved the opening shot of the house, with two large black dogs running in slo-mo across the front lawn towards the camera - very Hound(s) of the Baskervilles! Although whose idea it was to plonk a chair in the library that is reminiscent of the iron throne.. (nice touch to have all the knives pointing inwards, implying that whoever is sitting in the chair at the centre is under attack!)

The film declares quite early what the tone is going to be - because this, above all, is a comedy. And a damn funny one - I found myself laughing more than I usually do. I actually found it more enjoyable than the trailer promised.. Frank Oz is the executor of the will, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt has the most subtle cameo of all, as the voice of the detective on a murder film that the sister of the dead man's carer is watching! Christopher Plummer does an excellent job - but the acting is spot-on, throughout.. and the others all look suitably menacing, each having a motive to kill.

The plot is suitably twisted, and throws up enough surprises to keep most mystery fans happy. There's hardly a scene without something to laugh at - watch out, in particular, for the little things. Excellent attention to detail, and recurring, unmentioned, jokes, make this a joy to watch. Only thing is - I could not get with Daniel Craig's southern accent. Agree with "Ransom" on that one - "CSI KFC" indeed! But that was my only blip. Recommended.

Afterwards - who would've thought that the upstairs of the shopping complex has no internet access? While I was waiting for my phone to connect, I was amused by some guy, accompanied by his mate, who seemed to have - eh - lost a shoe?! So he was hopping everywhere, quite spectacularly. I eventually gave up on the internet, which turned out to be much better at ground level, where the patrons of the O2 Academy were making their sweaty way out, stripped down to their t-shirts. And I discovered that any bus that stopped across the road would get me home - happily, it was too far to walk home! Given the still-pouring rain, that was a relief. I was wet enough as it was.

Tomorrow, I'm back to Ireland for the weekend. On Monday, back with Civilised London for another jazz night at Wilton's. This time, it's Uri Sade.

On Tuesday, back for another comedy show at Soho Theatre - this time, it's Hench, by Jessica Fostekew.

On Wednesday, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats for a preview of Aisha and Abhaya, at the Linbury Theatre - apparently a new venue for the Opera House. My first time there.

I hadn't anything definite booked for next Thursday - which turned out to be for the best, as The Embers Collective has finally published their New Year's schedule! Very late notice - I swear this wasn't up yesterday. They have a show next Thursday, called Wild Beasts, in Cafe Cairo - and I've booked. Tickets, as usual, from Design My Night. I just hope I don't have a repeat of the last time I tried to get there, when the Tubes were down..

And on the 24th, I've booked for the Troy: Myth and Reality exhibition at the British Museum. Should be interesting.

Film: The Favourite

Tonight, film again - determined to get all the big hitters seen! So, tonight I finally saw The Favourite - Olivia Coleman plays Queen Anne, with Emma Stone as Baroness Masham, and Rachel Weisz as her cousin, the Duchess of Marlborough, vying for her favour. All three Oscar-nominated. I was going to see this in Rich Mix, but the only showing today was quite early - and the boss moved all yesterday's meetings, including the evening one, to today, following our social. So that was out, in favour of the Vue Islington. I booked, because that's cheaper with them - and was happy, as ever, to donate to the MediCinema charity, which they support, and which brings cinema to hospitals.

..Aand then the evening meeting was moved to tomorrow. FFS.. Well, a longer walk than necessary - in the cold - but the exercise is good for me, and the slightly later start did mean I had a more relaxed dinner. Trotted up the hill as fast as possible, in viciously low temperatures - no actual snow, but I see they've gritted round about quite well. I arrived during the ads but before the trailers - perfect, I do like to see those. And my seat? Not an armchair, not as wide, no cushion or side table. But it was ergonomically curved to provide back support, plenty comfortable, and I had nothing I needed to put on a side table. Plus, I'd chosen the row back a bit, but with no-one in front - unlimited legroom and no-one's head in front of you. And gee, just over 1/3 of the price of last night..!

It was pretty full - surprising, considering how long it's been out, and that it was a Wednesday in January. But anyway. Straight away, you know you're watching something unusual - the camera angles are striking. (Oscar nods for cinematography and film editing.) They're also nominated for costume design - phew, yes! Sumptuous and unusual outfits throughout. Oh, and lovers of stately homes rejoice - it was filmed mainly at Hatfield House, which looks suitably grand. Wide-angle lenses and huge, empty rooms really do help to convey a sense of the loneliness of the main characters, which was deliberate on the part of the director. Yes, he's nominated too.

There are people say they find it odd that this is described as a comedy. Goodness, I chuckled throughout most of it! Don't get me wrong - it's a black humour, and this is patently a court at which anyone not blessed with a sharp wit would not have survived. But I do believe this wasn't the only period in history when that was true.. and it certainly goes to show that the English upper classes were no less daft 300-odd years ago than they are today! Truly surreal court shenanigans - bunny rabbits running around the palace are the least of it (and they're not historically accurate anyway). In a shift from the norm, in this film it's the gents that are painted and powdered - the ladies appear more natural.

As Abigail gradually supplants her cousin in the Queen's affection, the film gets darker - the jokes stop, events take a more serious turn. The closing scene is interesting, as we see what the nature of Abigail's new "friendship" really is. Recommended - definitely one of the quirkiest films you're likely to see, and I enjoyed it v much. For me though, the biggest contender for the prize of Best Picture - of those I've seen now, which is most of them - is still A Star Is Born..

Tomorrow, a break from film - I found a new walk! Courtesy of Walking in London, as usual. The Blood and Tears Walk (I guess there isn't any sweat) has been running for years, it seems. And the guide seems to have a good sense of humour, which should be interesting as he trails us around, looking for serial killers. I just hope it's warmed up a bit by then.

And on Friday, back on my first proper Meetup for two weeks, as I meet Up in the Cheap Seats again, for Cougar, at the Orange Tree. Got one of the last four seats on the lower level.