Concert: Iranian Music

Tonight - not so much appealed on Meetup. Free Stuff and Free Events did have Free Community Singing with Ros Hone and the Global Fusion Sound Singers, which you could attend on Zoom, or in person at Fossdene School Community Hall. Which sounded just fine - except that this is the sort of thing I keep cancelling! So I decided not to confirm until nearer the time. Which is just as well, because - pretty last-minute - Eleanor Salter Thorn, from Tuned In London, just a short while ago advertised an evening of Iranian music with Shahab Azinmehr, with the World Music Meetup. I adore this kind of music - and for once, it wasn't all the way out in Rotherhithe! It's just such a trek.. no, this was in St. Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace. Which, ironically, is just down the road from where I last lived.. anyway, much closer to me than usual for these concerts! Refugees and asylum seekers got free tickets.

I ate in The Lucas Arms, being convenient - there isn't much around where I was going. We'd been asked, during the day, to get there early - in the event, I got there before it opened at all! which was a tad inconvenient, in the cold. Happily, they did open for us a few minutes early. And it's lovely - renovated after an IRA bombing, it now boasts many Arabic influences in its courtyard:

Interestingly, they have a yurt behind this wall!

We had to wait a little while, and then we had our names checked, and could get in from the cold! Seating is unreserved:

I was the first of the group there - and when the organiser arrived, she was the last of the group there! Several had signed up to come, but it seems as though I was the only one to realise you had to buy a ticket - and now it was sold out. Happily, it turned out, it was also livestreamed.

As the MC established, the crowd was full of Iranians! Shahab Azinmehr took some time to explain to us some of the principles of Iranian music - but mostly, it was just a lovely, soothing evening of him on the sitar, accompanied by Fariborz Kiani on percussion.. Gorgeous. I don't hear enough of it, and I do look forward to more Meetups like this - so different from offerings by other groups. Nice, spiced apple drink available at the interval too. I hadn't realised, but there is actually a series of concerts here, called Listen to the World.. I can't seem to find information online, but doubtless I'll hear more in due course. And, with buses appearing without delay to whisk me home, I was back nice and early!

Tomorrow - 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. Now, it's been so cold this week that I was worried - especially when I checked tomorrow's weather forecast, which is for unremitting snow! But upon closer inspection, I see it's indoors, phew! They have a gallery, it seems. Gee, I had visions of us all turning into ice sculptures.. Anyway, turns out this is now sold out, too.

On Thursday, my final booking - for the week - with Up in the Cheap Seats, 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. Now that the film listings are finally out for there, at the top of the list is one I hadn't heard of. My Sailor, My Love is an Irish, geriatric love story - a crusty old ex-sailor is looked after by his daughter, who gets in a housekeeper (Brid Brennan, looking a lot older than when I last saw her, in Brooklyn). The last thing she's expecting is for them to fall in love..

Play: Romeo and Julie

Tonight, back with - you guessed it - Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS), for Romeo and Julie, at the Dorfman. The quickest buses I could get to there involved me walking past GBK, so that's where I ate.. and ate well, although now it's repeating on me a bit. Ah well, these things will happen..

The rain held off, pretty much - and apart from the organiser, I was one of the first of our group to arrive. And wow.. having recently come across the most expensive glass of wine ever in central London, here I found the cheapest in ages! At under £9 for a large glass of sauvignon blanc, I wasn't complaining.. I did make sure to get it in plastic, so I could take it in.

The high seats at the back do require some organisation, as you can't reach anything on the floor from your seat, so you have to be careful what you leave down there - but otherwise, it's quite comfortable. And the view is excellent, although - with most of the row in front vacant - one of our group did head out there for the second half. I didn't see the need, though..

Now, this is similar to Romeo and Juliet in that it's a doomed romance, between a boy and girl from opposing families. It is different in that.. it's set in Cardiff - specifically, Splott, the same location as for the fantastic Iphigenia in Splott, which has the same writers. And the genius twist is that the opposition between the families comes from the fact that this Romeo is a single father, raising his little girl alone, with an unreliable, alcoholic mother - this Julie, however, has parents who have pushed and pushed to give her the most she can have in life, and are delighted with her ambition to go to Cambridge. To study physics, in fact - she's into the Theory of Everything, the Holy Grail of modern physics. Fair enough, Cambridge is acknowledged as the place to do that..

In what we must admit is a very unequal world, we can readily see the problem here. Any middle-class parent would be horrified to see their child - particularly, their daughter - with a chance of going to Cambridge, endangering it by a romance with a local with zero prospects. OK, so that's us set against the romance, then. Except.. he's so responsible, so caring of his daughter, whom his mother wants nothing to do with. And they are truly in love. Oh my..

Given this unconventional take on the classic story, we were all befuddled at the interval, trying to guess what would happen next! I don't know whether anyone predicted what actually would happen - it certainly came as a shock to me. And by the end, we were all in bits. This - like Iphigenia in Splott - is beautifully written, beautifully acted (with a minimal set), and such a moving and original take on the story.. Just like that play, an absolute must-see. Runs till the 1st - go see it, decide whose side you would come down on..

Tomorrow - not so much appealed 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 decided not to confirm until nearer the time. Which is just as well, because - predictably last-minute - Eleanor Salter Thorn, from Tuned In London, just a short while ago advertised an evening of Iranian music with Shahab Azinmehr, with the World Music Meetup. I adore this kind of music - and for once, it's not all the way out in Rotherhithe! It's just such a trek.. no, this is in St. Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace. Which, ironically, is just down the road from where I last lived.. anyway, much closer than usual for these concerts! Refugees and asylum seekers get free tickets.

On Wednesday - 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. Might need to bring something to keep myself warm..

On Thursday, my final booking - for the week - 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. Now that the film listings are finally (mostly) out for there, presently at the top of the list is one I hadn't heard of. My Sailor, My Love is an Irish, geriatric love story - a crusty old ex-sailor is looked after by his daughter, who gets in a housekeeper (Brid Brennan, looking a lot older than when I last saw her, in Brooklyn). The last thing she's expecting is for them to fall in love..

Walk: Discover Historic Chelsea - From Quaint to Quant - 1660s to 1960s

Today, 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 was Discover Historic Chelsea: From Quaint to Quant - 1660s to 1960s.

Ah, TFL and its diversions.. I could get the bus there in under an hour, but they said the second one, the #19, was diverted and wasn't going where I needed. Well, as I got there just in time to take it, I said I would, and would see what happened. What happened was, it terminated early, and the driver told us all to get on the #38, right behind us. Which goes to Victoria. And as that was the closest I could seem to get to Sloane Square on it - which was where I needed to be - that was where I got off! Naturally, I headed the wrong way out of the station - London stations are designed to be confusing - but I ended up walking the rest of the way. In bitter cold.

I arrived a bit early, and seeing a place, beside Sloane Square Station, selling hot drinks, decided a hot chocolate would be just the thing! And it was - piping hot. Warmed the hands, warmed the insides. "Chocolate" might be something of a misnomer though - I dropped two sachets of sugar into it, and it still didn't taste of anything much. Hate it when that happens.

Our guide was there early too - and as we waited, the others gradually arrived. Some of them, anyway - most didn't show, probably because of the cold weather, we figured. Funny how many no-shows you get for events you don't have to pay for in advance - which is as it is, but strikes me as rather unfair to all the people on the waiting list (this was booked out for a while), as well as to the guide, who might feel obliged to wait for people who haven't confirmed that they're not coming. It only takes a few seconds to say you can't make it..

Meantime, Chelsea residents were as colorful as ever!

We walked pretty briskly, which helped to warm us up a bit - still, it was painful to be out. As we roamed the backstreets of Chelsea, we came to..

Yes, this is the site of the original Chelsea Bun House, famous for its Chelsea Buns! The owners apparently closed it down because it got too successful!

Now, I've been to the Royal Hospital Chelsea before - but had missed the ironic fact that, while it was built by Charles II, its first inhabitants were those who fought against his eldest son in a battle for the crown!

Plenty of famous inhabitants of Chelsea, over the years - I was intrigued to notice that Bram Stoker's old house has a skull over the door! Someone offered the opinion that it was there to ward off evil spirits.. (wouldn't they have done better with garlic? ;-))

And just around the corner, his pal, Oscar Wilde:

We came to the Chelsea Physic Garden, where I'll be on Wednesday - Lordy, if we're going to be outdoors, and the weather continues this cold, I might want to bring a throw!

It's an historic borough:

And I never realised that Scott's team were the first to discover Antarctic fossils:

This wasn't my first guided walk in the area, but I was pleased to learn several new things - and fair play to us all, and in particular to our guide, for braving the cold! Delighted I made it, this time.

Afterwards, I fairly ran to get a bite to eat, and to get in from the cold - Cote, in Sloane Square, fitted the bill perfectly. Ah, they had such a blast of hot air as you went in.. got me a table without delay, and service was prompt. I felt so much better for the meal, and for the heat - and it was interesting that Google Maps gave the correct, diverted, bus route on the way home.

Tomorrow, back with - you guessed it - Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS), for Romeo and Julie, at the Dorfman.

On Tuesday - not so much appealed 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 decided not to confirm until nearer the time. Which is just as well, because - predictably last-minute - Eleanor Salter Thorn, from Tuned In London, just advertised an evening of Iranian music with Shahab Azinmehr, with the World Music Meetup. I adore this kind of music - and for once, it's not all the way out in Rotherhithe! It's just such a trek.. no, this is in St. Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace. Which, ironically, is just down the road from where I last lived.. anyway, much closer than usual for these concerts! Refugees and asylum seekers get free tickets.

On Wednesday - 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. As I say, might bring something to keep myself warm..

On Thursday, my final booking - for the week - 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.

Pubs: O' Neill's King's Cross & The Lucas Arms

Today, back cat-herding - Ivan suggested the whole day for, well, a lot of drinking. And food - he wanted to go back to O' Neill's. Well, he got in touch. To say that, unfortunately, he couldn't now make it. My other coworker from that company still could, though - as they've both said, it's been so long since they actually met each other! They can never seem to coordinate.. The third person I invited finally let me know he can't make it either, so it was just the two of us again, as so often.

He's good to come, you know - he lives the furthest out of any of them, but is the only one without family commitments. And yes, we met, we ate - as he remarked, the downstairs was crazy, packed with people watching the match. It is a sports pub. Delish, as ever - and for once, I had dessert! Their salted caramel choc ice is very nice - about time I tried it. After that, he suggested we go elsewhere - so I led us down to The Lucas Arms. Where we had several more drinks, and to finish - what with everyone around us having food - a couple of portions of yummy chips. And he was chuffed that, whenever he approached the bar, they remembered his order! Me too - they're good, here. Great to see him again, too - roll on the next time. This event took most of the day - it's as well I didn't book anything else.

Tomorrow, 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 Monday, back with - you guessed it - Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS), for Romeo and Julie, at the Dorfman.

On Tuesday - not so much appealed 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 decided not to confirm until nearer the time. Which is just as well, because - predictably last-minute - Eleanor Salter Thorn, from Tuned In London, just advertised an evening of Iranian music with Shahab Azinmehr, with the World Music Meetup. I adore this kind of music - and for once, it's not all the way out in Rotherhithe! It's just such a trek.. no, this is in St. Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace. Which, ironically, is just down the road from where I last lived.. anyway, much closer than usual for these concerts! Refugees and asylum seekers get free tickets.

On Wednesday - 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 Thursday, my final booking - for the week - 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.

Opera: Lucrezia Borgia

Tonight, ended a run of Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) with Lucrezia Borgia, by the English Touring Opera Company, at the Hackney Empire. I thought I'd get a meal up there - but I left it a bit late, and as I waited interminably to cross the road - the traffic lights taking much longer than usual to work in my favour - lots and lots of buses I could have taken sailed by. So, by the time I finally got across, it would have taken ages to get a bus up there. Given that I wanted to eat too, I decided on Tube + bus.

Then, wouldn't you know it, the bus stop I wanted was closed! Or at least, had all sorts of signs on it, saying it was - so I walked on to the next. I'm not actually sure that stop is closed - it says nothing about it online. I've complained - I'll get a reputation with TFL, I've complained so much! Anyway, at least my bus didn't pass me on the way.

Google Maps estimated I'd still make it in time to eat - I didn't. Blame it on terrible traffic in Shoreditch. Meanwhile, en route, a guy got on with the cutest little Yorkie dog, complete with a little topknot, staring eagerly at everyone.. aww. Which was just fine, until the elderly lady sitting in front of me spotted it. She was sitting just beside the wheelchair area, where dog and companion were standing. "OH NO!", she exclaimed, "Don't let it bite me!" whereupon the person attached to the dog obligingly backed off - as much as he could; the bus was crowded. As soon as a seat came free further back, she dashed to it - just in case the tiny creature mauled her. Honestly, I sympathise in that I guess she might have once had a traumatic experience with a dog - but could people with dog phobias not recognise them as the unrealistic fears they are, and stop making things harder for dogs and their accompanying humans? The dog could honestly hardly have been less threatening. Really, I'd be more scared of the old lady..

As I say, I didn't have time for a proper meal - and the area is shockingly bereft of cafes. I ended up heading into a local supermarket and grabbing a snack - which I hid on myself as I went in, although, as it happened, there was no bag check. Lots and lots of stairs followed, to the Upper Circle - I got a drink, and propped myself against the shelf in front of the bar, where I met the others. Some of whom I hadn't seen in ages! and we chatted until it was time to take our seats.

Mine was a peculiar seat - I ended up swinging my legs, feet well off the floor. Which, again, was fine, except that the hard edge of the seat kind of cut into my legs.. I was a bit stiff by the time the interval rolled around, and glad to move again. Same when I was leaving - I can't fault the legroom, really, with space to swing your legs - but neither did I find the seat properly comfortable. Ah well..

I was glad I had glasses on - you see the teeny screen in the photo? That's what the captions were displayed on - and all they were displayed on. The singing, however, was gorgeous, the music and sets lovely - and how lovely that it starts in Venice, giving them the excuse to wear masks as they go about their nefarious doings. And what a tale of dodgy dealings this is, with people being assassinated right, left, and centre - ah yes, the reputation of the Borgias precedes them. Having said that, it's perhaps somewhat exaggerated - and certainly, that of Lucrezia, who probably suffered by association with the sort who would give the Mafiosi pause for thought.. Mind you, I kept remembering the Showtime series on the family, which I enjoyed greatly, and can highly recommend.

Anyway, this was one night only, I'm afraid. But I was very glad to catch it! Got buses back home, with less drama.

Tomorrow, 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 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.. The third person I invited finally let me know he can't make it either, so it's just the two of us again, as so often.

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

On Tuesday - not so much appealed 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 decided not to confirm until nearer the time. Which is just as well, because - predictably last-minute - Eleanor Salter Thorn, from Tuned In London, just advertised an evening of Iranian music with Shahab Azinmehr, with the World Music Meetup. I adore this kind of music - and for once, it's not all the way out in Rotherhithe! It's just such a trek.. no, this is in St. Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace. Which, ironically, is just down the road from where I last lived.. anyway, much closer than usual for these concerts! Refugees and asylum seekers get free tickets.

On Wednesday - 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 Thursday, my final booking - for the week - 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.

Musical: Bat Out of Hell

Tonight, with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) again at the Peacock (I can walk to that!) for Bat Out of Hell, a musical based on the music of Meat Loaf. Awesome - just a pity it wasn't one of the singalong nights..

Of course, walking south means I pass GBK, so I popped in there for one of their delicious burgers. And a glass of the cheapest wine in the city centre. And then walked on, meeting the others in the circle bar - two of us were in the circle, two in the rear stalls. And wow, I have seen a new high price for a glass of wine - they charge £14.50 for a large glass of sauvignon blanc! So I had pinot grigio. The chat, mind you, was excellent - and it was great, in particular, to get to talk to one of the group, whom I have hardly seen since the pandemic..

Now, what can I say about this? You're either a rocker, or you're not - if you're not, you know to stay well away. If you are, however.. oh man, this is fantastic. It's so long since I had an evening of rock - as I explained to the guy beside me, I was never a huge Meat Loaf fan, but I am a rocker. And it might not have been a singalong evening - but I challenge any rockers to resist the big numbers. The stage effects are excellent, with jets of flame - also a fair bit of strobe lighting. And it was funny - for the first half, the guy on the end of the row was jiggling, so the whole row was shaking. For the second half, it was the guy on my other side.. Fair play to them, the more action the better. As remarked by one of the group, the story isn't much - but it's fine, and who cares anyway?! Plenty of merchandise available as well, for those who want it.. So, if this is your thing.. what the hell are you waiting for? Runs till the 1st. And as the Meat Loaf fan amongst us pointed out, all actually written by the incredibly talented Jim Steinman. Go see.

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

On Saturday, 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 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.. The third person I invited never got back to me, so it's just the two of us again, as so often.

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

On Tuesday - not so much appealed 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 decided not to confirm until nearer the time. Which is just as well, because - predictably last-minute - Eleanor Salter Thorn, from Tuned In London, just advertised an evening of Iranian music with Shahab Azinmehr, with the World Music Meetup. I adore this kind of music - and for once, it's not all the way out in Rotherhithe! It's just such a trek.. no, this is in St. Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace. Which, ironically, is just down the road from where I last lived.. anyway, much closer than usual for these concerts! Refugees and asylum seekers get free tickets.

On Wednesday - 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.

Next Thursday, my final booking - for the week - 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.

Play: Afghanistan is Not Funny

Tonight, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) at the Arcola for Afghanistan is Not Funny, the true story of a British comedian, Henry Naylor, and photographer, Sam Maynard, in war-torn Afghanistan. Heading in that direction, I'd be passing close enough to O' Neill's.. so decided to try my luck at getting in there. Hallelujah - not only did I get a table, but it was the last one on the ground floor! Which has a better atmosphere, and quicker service - on the app. And wow, did the food taste good after what felt like so long, although it was only 10 days since I was last there!

I had a choice of buses - started with the #73, which was crammed; with downstairs full, and since I had a little way to go, I went upstairs. Which turned out to be just as well shortly afterwards, when there was an altercation between the driver and someone downstairs.. I couldn't really hear what it was about, or see it, being on the wrong side. Which was vexing. But I was happy to be out of it. Happier still to be on the less crowded #56 after a bit..

In the theatre bar, there were a few ahead of me.. I had a very nice glass of wine, which I could take in, as it comes in plastic. Sadly, they only do small or medium - the glasses don't come any bigger! But it is tasty. And we chatted away until showtime, my entrance delayed by the ticket scanner being broken! As the lady behind me remarked, "I'm glad you broke it, it's usually me..!"

The show is performed by the writer/comedian himself, and several photos from this trip to Afghanistan are displayed on the screen - this is the view from the side, one seat from the end, which I found fine. The double table-and-chair setup seems to have little function other than to give him space to roam around the stage, moving between them.

Advertised as 70 minutes, it definitely wasn't tonight - more like 90. They also started 10 minutes late. But did I mind?

No, I did not.

Certainly, the start of the play is entertaining - he's a very funny guy, and knows where the jokes lie. At some point in the play, however, he switches seamlessly to a more serious tone - we're taken, blow by blow, through his and his companions' personal experiences. Some are humorous - sometimes, the humour masks a dreadful, underlying truth. The horror of what the locals have to live through is only hinted at.

Some of what he had to say hit home - and in reconstructed sessions with his therapist, he (small spoiler) realised that what he was fighting with this play was indifference. The point, I guess, is to raise awareness. Of the fact that this is still going on, of the fact that there are less fortunate than we are, of the cynicism of armies and the governments that tell them where to go. Oh, he has plenty to say about that. And if it does raise awareness, that is indeed a good result.

I did also find it entertaining. As I say, he's a skilled raconteur. And it's a fascinating story. Runs till the 11th. Contains, as the warnings say, swearing and references to war. (Also had a flickering light, at tonight's performance.) As our group found, it's also a great source of discussion: but as one man said, the only thing worse than being talked about.. is not being talked about. Go see for yourselves..

Tomorrow, with the group again at the Peacock (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 Friday, ending a run of UITCS with Lucrezia Borgia, by the English Touring Opera Company, at the Hackney Empire.

On Saturday, 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 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.. Still have to hear from my other ex-coworker with whom I'm in contact, as to whether he can make it himself.

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

On Tuesday - not so much appealed 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 decided not to confirm until nearer the time. Which is just as well, because - predictably last-minute - Eleanor Salter Thorn, from Tuned In London, just advertised an evening of Iranian music with Shahab Azinmehr, with the World Music Meetup. I adore this kind of music - and for once, it's not all the way out in Rotherhithe! It's just such a trek.. no, this is in St. Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace. Which, ironically, is just down the road from where I last lived.. anyway, much closer than usual for these concerts! Refugees and asylum seekers get free tickets.

Next Wednesday - 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 the week - 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.