Ah, finally I got to see We Are Many! Seriously, it's been the top-rated film on my list for ages, and I was to see it last week, but then an ex-colleague swung by and I ended up going for drinks instead. But last night, I took myself along to the Odeon Panton Street to see it.
There was a slight delay on the District Line (when is there not?), but I wasn't worried, as this was a regular cinema showing and there'd be trailers beforehand. When I exited at Piccadilly Circus, it was to the strains of a bagpiper at the side, with a sign in front of him that said he was saving for an engagement ring! Aww.. and as I made my way down Haymarket, before he faded out of earshot, his repertoire ran through the Star Wars theme, Happy Birthday, and Thunderstruck (AC/DC). Nothing if not versatile.
This cinema is definitely one of the cheapest in London - tickets for all shows now only £6 Mon - Thu. I seemed to be just in time for the trailers, which is fine. Took a seat at the side - the cinema was mostly empty, this has been out for a while - and waited for it to begin.
Well, We Are Many deserves its high rating. It's a fabulous film - from the very start, the score and the camerawork let you know you're in for a treat. Some films just are good. This is a documentary about the Stop the War coalition's worldwide campaign against the Iraq war in 2003. But no staid presentation of facts, this - no, it's really moving, packed with interviews with organisers, protesters, demonstrators, politicians.
Many interesting points raised, of course. The first thing that really struck me was an Evening Standard headline from the time, trumpeting that Iraqi missiles were "45 minutes" from the UK. Then, of course, you had a plethora of experts interviewed, saying that was nonsense. Worth remembering that there are sections of the British media you just can't trust - of course, they're not alone in that. Of course, these were the WMDs that didn't even exist! There was an extensive interview with one of the weapons inspectors, who describes sitting opposite Colin Powell, incredulously listening to him describe how intelligence predicted that there were weapons. "Seriously?" he was thinking to himself - because they hadn't been able to find any. Consensus was that Powell really believed this, and was fed misinformation by those pushing for war.
Watching these fervent campaigners enthuse about the excitement of mobilising a campaign against the war brought a tear or several to my eye. I wasn't alone - they were crying on screen as well, as they described how the protests spread to every continent on Earth - even Antarctica! Yep, they had a protest down there, if you recall. They interviewed a couple of the people who took part - one of whom remarked that he hadn't known you could lose your job for that. Which he did. But if he had known, he'd have done it anyway.
They were overwhelmed by the support they received. They set out to raise £4000 for an advertising campaign - they raised £40,000. A stunning sequence in the film shows the spread of the marches as they moved with the sun - New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe, North America. There's a funny piece about the guys who painted "No War" on the roof of the Sydney Opera House! Also a funny interview with an Egyptian who, with his countrymen, was very mad that they could protest in the rest of the world but not there - as he puts it, the attitude was "these white, whiskey-drinking infidels are campaigning on our behalf and we can't!"
Rome - they were in a huge group, met another huge group at a junction and wondered who they were, and realised they were there for the same thing! Madrid - as she said, you could call it a march, but you couldn't march! There were too many people, you couldn't move. London - 1.5 million people marched, and as they described it, there rose the sound of a feral howl. In New York, they described how they just couldn't wait for it to be their turn!
And all the while, they were all thinking - surely, with all this support, the politicians would have to listen. Surely, democracy would count for something. And, as we know, that's not what happened - cue footage of Blair ignoring all protests as he sticks to his guns, and Bush joking about the missing WMDs. And so the war started.. and there are films of bombings, and protesters looking sad. And plenty of stuff about how it was not sanctioned by the UN - even footage of Kofi Annan, interviewed saying that it was a war crime. Despite what the British government has to say.
Now, of course, the war inspires disgust. There's a statistic that the residual radiation in Fallujah is more than was in Hiroshima. One anti-war campaigner describes how people tell her, oh, we didn't know! Had we known what the truth was, we wouldn't have supported the war. She calls them liars. Everyone knew the truth, everyone knew that the war was started on a lie. And yet, there's no Nuremberg trial.. no accountability, no justice. Mind you, there is a really interesting woman, interviewed at points throughout the film, who is also shown at a couple of functions. See, what she does is to follow people like Donald Rumsfeld around and shout to all and sundry that here is a war criminal! Unpunished! and give a list of his crimes. She keeps getting dragged out of places, shouting all the while..
But you know, they may not have stopped the war, but that doesn't mean they didn't achieve anything. One of the protesters, interviewed, explains how he was moved to found 38 Degrees. They point out how, 10 years on, the House of Commons voted against war with Syria - the first time they'd voted against war in 231 years. They put that down to the vehement opposition to war with Iraq. There's footage of American veterans of the War on Terror, throwing away their service medals at a public rally. Then there's a big piece about how the years after 2003 led to a groundswell of public discontent in Egypt, that ultimately led to the revolution there. Mind you, I guess the film was made before that started to turn sour..
Fabulous film, go see. Of course, it was too late to blog last night - late showing of the film - so here we are.
Well, that London for Less Meetup group seems to have the same eclectic taste that I do! Tonight, they're headed to King John at the Globe, and tomorrow night to see the Circus Geeks show, Beta Testing, at the Udderbelly festival. Both - as with many London for Less events - are sold out: but that needn't stop me! Although tickets are cheaper with the group - as the name implies - I can of course buy my own. Having said that, tonight's was also sold out on the official website - but I nabbed a ticket on LoveTheatre: and my experience of them is that they provide excellent seats! They have a sale running on this show till Sunday. I've also got the organiser to tell me where they're meeting afterwards, so I can maybe join them for a drink. Tomorrow night's doesn't seem to be selling out, so although the intention is to get a ticket from the official vendor, I haven't committed myself yet.
Tuesday, 9 June 2015
Sunday, 7 June 2015
Film: Insidious: Chapter 3
Now, there are many people who know me, who would say that this was a foregone conclusion. But to be fair, I did give it a fair bit of consideration. Seriously!
For a start, I was up too late to avail of most of the things happening today. That Meetup group I applied for membership of - Free London Events and Talks - did confirm my membership this morning (while I was still asleep), but I still wouldn't have been out in time to go on their tour of "fire, pestilence and plague". Which was a pity, because I would've been interested.
That brought me to films - top of the list was Terminus, showing as part of the SciFi festival in Stratford East Picturehouse. But I wouldn't have been in time for the only showing of that, either! So I made my way down my film list, and came to Jurassic World. Fair enough, I said - and it was listed for my local Vue cinema.
Now, last time I went to the Vue, I got a deal with Yplan. I also remembered getting a £5 discount code from them recently - I checked, and it was only valid for 36 hours, but I'd only got it yesterday, so it was fine. I made a note of it - LIVEYOURCITY16 - and booked my ticket. I was not expecting to go through the whole booking process without a chance to enter the discount code! which is exactly what happened.
Oh well, it was still better than buying from the cinema. I now had my ticket - I suddenly thought to check the film times. Aw no! Turns out Jurassic World isn't showing until Thursday, when it's previewing. Well, now I had my ticket, so was pretty constrained to go to the Vue.. and of course, thoughts of Insidious flashed through my head. I knew it was pretty highly rated, at least.
Higher than that was Spy, though - but I've seen the trailer, and read a review, and neither led me to believe it was very good. So that got removed from my list. Then I was down to the 7.4s (ratings out of 10 on IMDB), where Insidious vied with Danny Collins. Until today, that is, when Insidious started to drop. Nooo!!! And today was the only day I could see Danny Collins in my local cinema. But I checked, and if I want to see it, it's in the Vue Westfield a couple of evenings this week. So I could avoid it in good conscience. And so I took an executive decision to see Insidious, which after all I had expected to see at the same rating as before.
Having sorted that - and battled with my computer to get the ticket printed, because of course the Yplan app doesn't work on my phone - I had just enough time to complain to Yplan. So I fired off an email asking how I was supposed to redeem the code, if I wasn't given the option? An email exchange followed, which did nothing to dispel my belief that people in helpcentres have to take a stupidity test. It's good enough to reproduce:
Me: How am I supposed to redeem this? I just booked something, but didn't see anywhere to enter the code!
Them: You're supposed to upload the credit on to your app before you make a booking. Go to the profile section and then to "My Reward". Hit the "Redeem A Code" button and then type the code into that section.
Let me know if you need anymore help.
For a start, I was up too late to avail of most of the things happening today. That Meetup group I applied for membership of - Free London Events and Talks - did confirm my membership this morning (while I was still asleep), but I still wouldn't have been out in time to go on their tour of "fire, pestilence and plague". Which was a pity, because I would've been interested.
That brought me to films - top of the list was Terminus, showing as part of the SciFi festival in Stratford East Picturehouse. But I wouldn't have been in time for the only showing of that, either! So I made my way down my film list, and came to Jurassic World. Fair enough, I said - and it was listed for my local Vue cinema.
Now, last time I went to the Vue, I got a deal with Yplan. I also remembered getting a £5 discount code from them recently - I checked, and it was only valid for 36 hours, but I'd only got it yesterday, so it was fine. I made a note of it - LIVEYOURCITY16 - and booked my ticket. I was not expecting to go through the whole booking process without a chance to enter the discount code! which is exactly what happened.
Oh well, it was still better than buying from the cinema. I now had my ticket - I suddenly thought to check the film times. Aw no! Turns out Jurassic World isn't showing until Thursday, when it's previewing. Well, now I had my ticket, so was pretty constrained to go to the Vue.. and of course, thoughts of Insidious flashed through my head. I knew it was pretty highly rated, at least.
Higher than that was Spy, though - but I've seen the trailer, and read a review, and neither led me to believe it was very good. So that got removed from my list. Then I was down to the 7.4s (ratings out of 10 on IMDB), where Insidious vied with Danny Collins. Until today, that is, when Insidious started to drop. Nooo!!! And today was the only day I could see Danny Collins in my local cinema. But I checked, and if I want to see it, it's in the Vue Westfield a couple of evenings this week. So I could avoid it in good conscience. And so I took an executive decision to see Insidious, which after all I had expected to see at the same rating as before.
Having sorted that - and battled with my computer to get the ticket printed, because of course the Yplan app doesn't work on my phone - I had just enough time to complain to Yplan. So I fired off an email asking how I was supposed to redeem the code, if I wasn't given the option? An email exchange followed, which did nothing to dispel my belief that people in helpcentres have to take a stupidity test. It's good enough to reproduce:
Me: How am I supposed to redeem this? I just booked something, but didn't see anywhere to enter the code!
Them: You're supposed to upload the credit on to your app before you make a booking. Go to the profile section and then to "My Reward". Hit the "Redeem A Code" button and then type the code into that section.
Let me know if you need anymore help.
Me: Thanks for nothing! You should have made that clear. This is the second time I've used Yplan, and the second time I've had trouble with it. I won't be using that code now, whereas I could have.
Them: Sorry you feel this way. I was just letting you know how the system works. What were you trying to book? Maybe I can help you out....
Me: Yes, you did let me know how the system works - AFTER I needed to know!
I wasn't "trying" to book anything - if you read my first email properly, you'd see that I DID book - a ticket for the Vue tonight. Like any normal discount code, I was expecting to see an option to enter it at time of booking. I didn't, of course. And now the ticket is booked, and I can't use the code.
Them: So - how about I cancel the booking and then you upload the credit and then you rebook?
Me: Too late - I'm on my way to the cinema. And I'm not changing my plans
Them: I'm not asking you to change your plans. I was asking you if I could refund the booking so you can do it again, so I can put right what went wrong in the first place. I am here at customer support and I am supposed to help rectify situations like this.
Me: Your app doesn't work with my phone, so I have to print out the tickets. And I've already left the house, so that's not an option
Them: I am sorry about this
I'll get the technical team to look in to this. I will respond shortly.
Nearly four hours ago, that was. And what were they going to get the technical team to look into? This isn't what I was complaining about at all! (bangs head against wall..)
Well, anyway, I headed off to the cinema - a lovely warm afternoon it was, but I took my coat because the evenings are cold. I presented the girl at the till with the enormous code I'd printed out, and reassured her that it worked for the last guy, who just kept backing away from the scanner till it beeped. She, however, preferred to type in the reference code - so I was glad I'd printed out both (they come on separate pages, which would doubtless be handy for a phone display).
Trailers included one for Jurassic World, which does look good. And then the film started. Now, this is the third in the Insidious series, which concerns evil entities from a plane called the Further, who feed off the souls of the living. Pretty much purely psychological horror this, not a smidgeon of blood or gore. I unashamedly love the series - it taps into a strain of horror that I find particularly affecting.
And it is TERRIFIC! Best of the series so far, beyond doubt. There's less of the silliness that marred the first one in particular. As the Standard review pointed out, it has a lot more of the psychic, Elise, in it, and is all the better for it. Also notable for her acting talents is the young victim, Stefanie Scott. Specs and Tucker make an appearance, and we learn how they came to know Elise. Discussion of Dermot Mulroney, playing Stefanie Scott's father, is probably best avoided.
Horror aficionados such as myself will appreciate the subtle touches to this film - although there are plenty of jump scares, it's much more polished than the previous ones. And although several of the scares are revealed in the trailers, there's enough to keep you on edge - indeed, knowing what's coming sometimes makes you more apprehensive. The logic of some of the effects is maybe a bit screwed - but they're none the less frightening. Recommended, to all fans of psychological horror. I'm delighted I got to see it!
After the film, and after using the slightly whiffy toilets, I headed for food. Now, one scene takes place in a Chinese restaurant, and I said to myself, "ooh, Chinese.." There used to be a Chinese buffet just down the hall from the cinema, but I see it's been replaced now. So I headed downstairs - but Sainsbury's had closed early! So the only thing for it was Taiwan Village. Blessedly, for once they weren't busy - in fact, I was the only customer! The owner explained to me how I was lucky, and how busy it had been earlier. And after a delicious meal, she regaled me with stories of her recent holiday in Malta..
Tomorrow, there's virtually nothing happening on Meetup, so I'm heading to another film - and this time, maybe I will get to We Are Many!
Horror aficionados such as myself will appreciate the subtle touches to this film - although there are plenty of jump scares, it's much more polished than the previous ones. And although several of the scares are revealed in the trailers, there's enough to keep you on edge - indeed, knowing what's coming sometimes makes you more apprehensive. The logic of some of the effects is maybe a bit screwed - but they're none the less frightening. Recommended, to all fans of psychological horror. I'm delighted I got to see it!
After the film, and after using the slightly whiffy toilets, I headed for food. Now, one scene takes place in a Chinese restaurant, and I said to myself, "ooh, Chinese.." There used to be a Chinese buffet just down the hall from the cinema, but I see it's been replaced now. So I headed downstairs - but Sainsbury's had closed early! So the only thing for it was Taiwan Village. Blessedly, for once they weren't busy - in fact, I was the only customer! The owner explained to me how I was lucky, and how busy it had been earlier. And after a delicious meal, she regaled me with stories of her recent holiday in Malta..
Saturday, 6 June 2015
Concert: London Concertante
I don't know how I missed the Meetup group London for Less! before - but there are so many groups. Anyway, with none of my Meetup groups having anything today that appealed, I had a look at what else was going on - and this group was running a trip to a candlelit classical concert in Southwark Cathedral. Well now, that sounded like the business - I joined and booked.
So I headed over there today - I had to run to Westfield first, and coming from that side, the engineering works on the Tube didn't affect me. I was looking up on Google Maps how to get from London Bridge station to the cathedral, and it's interesting to note that they completely ignore the fact that there's a flight of steps leading down from the street. I complained - again - and again, we'll see whether they do anything about it.
Our organiser had given really detailed instructions, so it was hard to get lost. Well done there! I rarely come across that level of attention to detail, to be honest. Anyway, for once I was early, and slightly beat him to his setting up. He gave us our tickets, and complementary programmes - what a luxury! I hardly ever buy a programme. And he instructed us to take our seats in the near side aisle, near the front for the best view.
I found myself sitting with some friendly folks from the group, and we chatted for a bit before the concert - we were in good time. The girl beside me didn't join in the conversation, but when there was a pause, she asked me whether we were a Meetup group. "Yes." She asked me which one, and I told her - she thought for a moment, and decided that wasn't one of hers. As she remarked, there are so many it's hard to keep track.. I think she'd come on another offer scheme; I saw a large table of envelopes near the entrance as I came in, and I think I caught sight of a Groupon logo. (Which reminds me, I really must check those more often.) Everyone around me who wasn't with my Meetup group had one of these envelopes. Jeez, was everyone there on one offer or other?!
They started in due course. First, though, they had to light the candles - because, of course, it was candlelit. Now, candles are very pretty - especially against stone, and indeed the cathedral was beautiful. But these candlelit concerts are a bit of a faff. It'd all be more authentic if they turned off the spotlights.. at least in the main part of the nave, for atmosphere.
The ensemble duly filed on. It was the London Concertante, and their designated speaker was a born comic, entertaining us before each piece as he explained to us the significance of what was to come. We started with a lovely bit of Mozart - and the audience applauded merrily after each movement. I know you technically shouldn't, but I've never agreed, really. There is a real break between movements, and it feels more natural to applaud. Anyway, this was followed by some Elgar (more applause between movements - my favourite was the Larghetto), and then the sublime Adagio for Strings, by Barber. The constant applauding became a nuisance here, where it became obvious that many of the crowd had never heard this piece before, and didn't realise that there's a silent bit before the end..
And then a cat passed by. Just as the guy was talking about the next piece. "A cat!" he exclaimed. Later reports had it that the cat started coming down the steps of the altar, where they were playing, and froze when it saw all the people. (I couldn't see - my view was partially obstructed by pillars.) And then it carried on.
A Holst piece took us up to the interval, where I went in search of a bottle of water - I was parched - only to discover that the café was closed. Bah humbug. I had a look around outside, but there was nothing. Getting a bit chilly now, though.
After the interval, they had Spring and Summer from the Four Seasons. The soloist, while no Nigel Kennedy, was very enthusiastic, with a fair bit of jumping around. You might consider these pieces overplayed - but when you listen to the sublime piece that is Summer, you realise why they're played so often. Unfortunately, these pieces were interspersed with pieces by Piazzolla, which were inspired by them. I don't think they won many fans - I saw a couple leaving after the first Piazzolla piece. In other news, the cathedral cat returned - round our side this time, to say hi.
Afterwards, some of us went to the nearby Old Thameside Inn. Predictably, it was crammed - but we managed to find a corner, and seats. It was very noisy though. Still, a good time was had, and the wine tasted much better after a few sips - as with most wines. Mind you, we were a bit shocked when last orders were not called, but the bell simply rung to denote the end of serving, with no prior warning. Beware.. the bell rings at 11, and that is that.
Great night, I'd love to join the group again - though I see their next few meetups are full up. Well, we'll see. Meantime, for tomorrow, nothing is enthusing me much. It's now too late to go to anything in the morning, if I'm to have a full night's sleep. There's an afternoon tour about "Fire, Pestilence and Plague" with the Free London Events and Talks group, but it turns out membership has to be approved - so I'm waiting on that. I doubt I'll get approval in time to go on this tour. Film-wise, top of the list is a film in the SciFi festival that's on at the moment - Terminus. However, it's only on at the Stratford East Picturehouse! An hour to get to, and it's only on at 2:30. Hmm.. watch this space!
So I headed over there today - I had to run to Westfield first, and coming from that side, the engineering works on the Tube didn't affect me. I was looking up on Google Maps how to get from London Bridge station to the cathedral, and it's interesting to note that they completely ignore the fact that there's a flight of steps leading down from the street. I complained - again - and again, we'll see whether they do anything about it.
Our organiser had given really detailed instructions, so it was hard to get lost. Well done there! I rarely come across that level of attention to detail, to be honest. Anyway, for once I was early, and slightly beat him to his setting up. He gave us our tickets, and complementary programmes - what a luxury! I hardly ever buy a programme. And he instructed us to take our seats in the near side aisle, near the front for the best view.
I found myself sitting with some friendly folks from the group, and we chatted for a bit before the concert - we were in good time. The girl beside me didn't join in the conversation, but when there was a pause, she asked me whether we were a Meetup group. "Yes." She asked me which one, and I told her - she thought for a moment, and decided that wasn't one of hers. As she remarked, there are so many it's hard to keep track.. I think she'd come on another offer scheme; I saw a large table of envelopes near the entrance as I came in, and I think I caught sight of a Groupon logo. (Which reminds me, I really must check those more often.) Everyone around me who wasn't with my Meetup group had one of these envelopes. Jeez, was everyone there on one offer or other?!
They started in due course. First, though, they had to light the candles - because, of course, it was candlelit. Now, candles are very pretty - especially against stone, and indeed the cathedral was beautiful. But these candlelit concerts are a bit of a faff. It'd all be more authentic if they turned off the spotlights.. at least in the main part of the nave, for atmosphere.
The ensemble duly filed on. It was the London Concertante, and their designated speaker was a born comic, entertaining us before each piece as he explained to us the significance of what was to come. We started with a lovely bit of Mozart - and the audience applauded merrily after each movement. I know you technically shouldn't, but I've never agreed, really. There is a real break between movements, and it feels more natural to applaud. Anyway, this was followed by some Elgar (more applause between movements - my favourite was the Larghetto), and then the sublime Adagio for Strings, by Barber. The constant applauding became a nuisance here, where it became obvious that many of the crowd had never heard this piece before, and didn't realise that there's a silent bit before the end..
And then a cat passed by. Just as the guy was talking about the next piece. "A cat!" he exclaimed. Later reports had it that the cat started coming down the steps of the altar, where they were playing, and froze when it saw all the people. (I couldn't see - my view was partially obstructed by pillars.) And then it carried on.
A Holst piece took us up to the interval, where I went in search of a bottle of water - I was parched - only to discover that the café was closed. Bah humbug. I had a look around outside, but there was nothing. Getting a bit chilly now, though.
After the interval, they had Spring and Summer from the Four Seasons. The soloist, while no Nigel Kennedy, was very enthusiastic, with a fair bit of jumping around. You might consider these pieces overplayed - but when you listen to the sublime piece that is Summer, you realise why they're played so often. Unfortunately, these pieces were interspersed with pieces by Piazzolla, which were inspired by them. I don't think they won many fans - I saw a couple leaving after the first Piazzolla piece. In other news, the cathedral cat returned - round our side this time, to say hi.
Afterwards, some of us went to the nearby Old Thameside Inn. Predictably, it was crammed - but we managed to find a corner, and seats. It was very noisy though. Still, a good time was had, and the wine tasted much better after a few sips - as with most wines. Mind you, we were a bit shocked when last orders were not called, but the bell simply rung to denote the end of serving, with no prior warning. Beware.. the bell rings at 11, and that is that.
Great night, I'd love to join the group again - though I see their next few meetups are full up. Well, we'll see. Meantime, for tomorrow, nothing is enthusing me much. It's now too late to go to anything in the morning, if I'm to have a full night's sleep. There's an afternoon tour about "Fire, Pestilence and Plague" with the Free London Events and Talks group, but it turns out membership has to be approved - so I'm waiting on that. I doubt I'll get approval in time to go on this tour. Film-wise, top of the list is a film in the SciFi festival that's on at the moment - Terminus. However, it's only on at the Stratford East Picturehouse! An hour to get to, and it's only on at 2:30. Hmm.. watch this space!
Friday, 5 June 2015
Performance: Desvalidas
I was all set to go to a film tonight.. but then I checked a site Helen had put me onto - Londonist - and came across something that sounded fantastic. A place called Shop Revolution Marketplace was holding a Spanish evening called Desvalidas, with guitar music, poetry, and tapas. I was so there! I was delighted to get a pretty immediate response from the venue that yes, they still had tickets.
Turned out to be a 'mare to get to. It's far enough away - about an hour, whatever way I travel - that there are several travel options. The first problem I had was the address - Sydenham Road: but there are two of those! both on the south of the city. I spent a considerable amount of time on the wrong one. When I finally realised my mistake, I had to start planning all over.. well, at least I was doing it in advance!
The simplest option seemed to be a train from Victoria. After this, Google Maps and I disagreed - but not at first. No, I faithfully recorded their instructions to take a Southeastern service to Penge East, and wind my way through housing estates for 15 minutes until I came to Sydenham Road. When I checked the way back, however, they were sending me on a Southern service from the (much closer) Sydenham station, further up Sydenham Road. Huh? Did this train line not work both ways? I checked their website: yes, they did. I made a note of the times, and determined to come that way. I've complained to Google Maps - which may or may not do any good.
In the event, it was as well I recorded both routes. I left a bit late for the train I wanted, and although the Tube did an unusually good job of getting me to Victoria quickly - arrived just as I did, no hanging around at Earl's Court for once - I was just too late for the train I'd planned to get to Sydenham. Faced with a half hour wait for the next one, I perused the departure boards - and remembered my alternative route, for which a train was leaving in five minutes! And so I took the Southeastern to Penge East, after all.
It was a scorcher of an afternoon, and all the carriage windows were open, which provided a nice breeze. As we left town, the countryside got greener, until we arrived in Penge East, with rolling green hills on the horizon. I swear, the air was fresher too! Well, that wouldn't be hard. I made a note of the names of the roads I had to take, and after my thorough research earlier, it was all quite easy. Along the way, I noticed advertising for properties for sale in the area. Lordy, so much cheaper than I'm used to..
I was early, so decided to find Sydenham station first, so I wouldn't have to be searching for it late at night. I trudged up the hill of Sydenham Road, and was despairing of it until I checked the maps app on my phone and saw it was literally around the next corner. It's not far at all really. When I was happy I knew where it was, I turned around and down the hill I went again, in search of this venue.
I'd have been in some confusion if I hadn't had my confusion earlier on. See, I couldn't find it on Streetview. So I did an image search for the name, and discovered a photo that included the two shops on either side. Which were on Streetview - obviously, this one was a new addition. So I came to it eventually. It looks just like a café - which is what it is - and I wasn't sure where the gig was on. I entered with some trepidation through the open door, sidestepped some people chatting in front, and approached the till at the back, where I guessed the boss was. Sure enough, there she was behind the till, took my money, and indicated that I should take a seat at the nearby table.
Seriously, it was in this tiny space? Well, ok - so that lady with the guitar was actually the entertainment, and it seemed I was the first to arrive. There was some crusty bread on the table, and she promised we'd get tapas later. Then the young person she'd been chatting to approached me with a programme, and a small brown envelope, which it turned out contained a nametag. I was rather pleased to get "Ernest Hemingway".
Other people gradually arrived and were given nametags. I must say, my table were a lovely, friendly bunch, and included one Spaniard. Also at our table was the boyfriend of the person who'd given me the programme and envelope - who turned out to be a boy, with an appearance feminine enough that I'd thought it was a girl. And this lad was, apparently, going to provide "interruptions". We were promised more envelopes, and told that they would contain instructions, which we must follow!
Mind you, that was all to come - we were being fed first. It was all taking so long that I began to get worried about my train home. I started on wine, but as the other women at the table were having cava, so did I. The tapas themselves were nothing special, but ok. The drinks were served by an enthusiastic and amused-looking lad, who looked too young to be allowed to drink them himself.
Finally, finally, the music and poetry started. We got to listen to a bit of it before yer man came around with another batch of envelopes and started handing them to people. Each contained an instruction. "Cover your ears with your hands." What?! Well, that was just lovely. My hands were getting numb by the time he gave me another instruction, and a pen - which I was to click continuously. As the lady beside me remarked, it was like being a tester in a pen factory. Then they started blowing bubbles. Bloody performance art.
The one activity I did enjoy was to screw up a sheet of blue paper and throw it across the room. I got piles of it! The one I really didn't enjoy was when I had to cover my eyes, so I didn't know what was going on. And I got left like that for ages - when he did come around, he apologised. As the evening progressed, the instructions got progressively more rowdy - people had to shout, people had to "use the objects on the table to distract the performers".
What did they perform? (There was a performance of music and poetry as well, you'll recall.) I have the programme to tell me - otherwise, I'd have no idea. I could hardly hear any of it. As the lady beside me remarked - we could have been at the pictures, instead of this! Nether of us had had any idea what was going to happen - there was nothing about it in the ad. At least, at the end, the poet explained that the idea was to mimic the Spanish Civil War, which degenerated from harmony into disharmony. Oh right, I get it now. I feel so enlightened.
And then we got a rather tasty cake, and as soon as I'd paid for my drinks I got the hell out of there. It was such a relief not to have to smile any more - they were such sweet and lovely people, and I hated it all so very much. The time I left at, I knew I'd be waiting for a train - but it was a mild night, and I was desperate to get away. Ironically, as I sat on the platform, the performers passed me on their way to the other platform, and thanked me profusely (again) for coming. Yeah, good night, and goodbye.
The train was full of drunks, late on a Friday night. One guy started lurching around the seats, introducing himself drunkenly to the lone female passengers, so at the next stop I hopped out and into another carriage, before he got to me. And when I disembarked, it was quite chilly. I pitied the girl walking in the opposite direction, who from a distance looked naked from the waist down (turned out she was wearing quite short shorts). I was glad to get home.
For tomorrow, I found a new Meetup group - I'm amazed I wasn't already a member. London For Less! is offering discounted tickets to a candlelit classical concert in Southwark Cathedral. Ah, that's better! And hopefully, not a bubble in sight.. the organiser seems quite conscientious - the only thing I have to watch for is planned closure for engineering works. I think I'll manage.
Turned out to be a 'mare to get to. It's far enough away - about an hour, whatever way I travel - that there are several travel options. The first problem I had was the address - Sydenham Road: but there are two of those! both on the south of the city. I spent a considerable amount of time on the wrong one. When I finally realised my mistake, I had to start planning all over.. well, at least I was doing it in advance!
The simplest option seemed to be a train from Victoria. After this, Google Maps and I disagreed - but not at first. No, I faithfully recorded their instructions to take a Southeastern service to Penge East, and wind my way through housing estates for 15 minutes until I came to Sydenham Road. When I checked the way back, however, they were sending me on a Southern service from the (much closer) Sydenham station, further up Sydenham Road. Huh? Did this train line not work both ways? I checked their website: yes, they did. I made a note of the times, and determined to come that way. I've complained to Google Maps - which may or may not do any good.
In the event, it was as well I recorded both routes. I left a bit late for the train I wanted, and although the Tube did an unusually good job of getting me to Victoria quickly - arrived just as I did, no hanging around at Earl's Court for once - I was just too late for the train I'd planned to get to Sydenham. Faced with a half hour wait for the next one, I perused the departure boards - and remembered my alternative route, for which a train was leaving in five minutes! And so I took the Southeastern to Penge East, after all.
It was a scorcher of an afternoon, and all the carriage windows were open, which provided a nice breeze. As we left town, the countryside got greener, until we arrived in Penge East, with rolling green hills on the horizon. I swear, the air was fresher too! Well, that wouldn't be hard. I made a note of the names of the roads I had to take, and after my thorough research earlier, it was all quite easy. Along the way, I noticed advertising for properties for sale in the area. Lordy, so much cheaper than I'm used to..
I was early, so decided to find Sydenham station first, so I wouldn't have to be searching for it late at night. I trudged up the hill of Sydenham Road, and was despairing of it until I checked the maps app on my phone and saw it was literally around the next corner. It's not far at all really. When I was happy I knew where it was, I turned around and down the hill I went again, in search of this venue.
I'd have been in some confusion if I hadn't had my confusion earlier on. See, I couldn't find it on Streetview. So I did an image search for the name, and discovered a photo that included the two shops on either side. Which were on Streetview - obviously, this one was a new addition. So I came to it eventually. It looks just like a café - which is what it is - and I wasn't sure where the gig was on. I entered with some trepidation through the open door, sidestepped some people chatting in front, and approached the till at the back, where I guessed the boss was. Sure enough, there she was behind the till, took my money, and indicated that I should take a seat at the nearby table.
Seriously, it was in this tiny space? Well, ok - so that lady with the guitar was actually the entertainment, and it seemed I was the first to arrive. There was some crusty bread on the table, and she promised we'd get tapas later. Then the young person she'd been chatting to approached me with a programme, and a small brown envelope, which it turned out contained a nametag. I was rather pleased to get "Ernest Hemingway".
Other people gradually arrived and were given nametags. I must say, my table were a lovely, friendly bunch, and included one Spaniard. Also at our table was the boyfriend of the person who'd given me the programme and envelope - who turned out to be a boy, with an appearance feminine enough that I'd thought it was a girl. And this lad was, apparently, going to provide "interruptions". We were promised more envelopes, and told that they would contain instructions, which we must follow!
Mind you, that was all to come - we were being fed first. It was all taking so long that I began to get worried about my train home. I started on wine, but as the other women at the table were having cava, so did I. The tapas themselves were nothing special, but ok. The drinks were served by an enthusiastic and amused-looking lad, who looked too young to be allowed to drink them himself.
Finally, finally, the music and poetry started. We got to listen to a bit of it before yer man came around with another batch of envelopes and started handing them to people. Each contained an instruction. "Cover your ears with your hands." What?! Well, that was just lovely. My hands were getting numb by the time he gave me another instruction, and a pen - which I was to click continuously. As the lady beside me remarked, it was like being a tester in a pen factory. Then they started blowing bubbles. Bloody performance art.
The one activity I did enjoy was to screw up a sheet of blue paper and throw it across the room. I got piles of it! The one I really didn't enjoy was when I had to cover my eyes, so I didn't know what was going on. And I got left like that for ages - when he did come around, he apologised. As the evening progressed, the instructions got progressively more rowdy - people had to shout, people had to "use the objects on the table to distract the performers".
What did they perform? (There was a performance of music and poetry as well, you'll recall.) I have the programme to tell me - otherwise, I'd have no idea. I could hardly hear any of it. As the lady beside me remarked - we could have been at the pictures, instead of this! Nether of us had had any idea what was going to happen - there was nothing about it in the ad. At least, at the end, the poet explained that the idea was to mimic the Spanish Civil War, which degenerated from harmony into disharmony. Oh right, I get it now. I feel so enlightened.
And then we got a rather tasty cake, and as soon as I'd paid for my drinks I got the hell out of there. It was such a relief not to have to smile any more - they were such sweet and lovely people, and I hated it all so very much. The time I left at, I knew I'd be waiting for a train - but it was a mild night, and I was desperate to get away. Ironically, as I sat on the platform, the performers passed me on their way to the other platform, and thanked me profusely (again) for coming. Yeah, good night, and goodbye.
The train was full of drunks, late on a Friday night. One guy started lurching around the seats, introducing himself drunkenly to the lone female passengers, so at the next stop I hopped out and into another carriage, before he got to me. And when I disembarked, it was quite chilly. I pitied the girl walking in the opposite direction, who from a distance looked naked from the waist down (turned out she was wearing quite short shorts). I was glad to get home.
For tomorrow, I found a new Meetup group - I'm amazed I wasn't already a member. London For Less! is offering discounted tickets to a candlelit classical concert in Southwark Cathedral. Ah, that's better! And hopefully, not a bubble in sight.. the organiser seems quite conscientious - the only thing I have to watch for is planned closure for engineering works. I think I'll manage.
Wednesday, 3 June 2015
Restaurant: Taiwan Village
Yeah, the plan tonight was to go to the pictures. But then I found out that an ex-colleague was in the area, and some of us went for drinks, and so much for the pictures! We Are Many shall have to wait for another while.
It was a gorgeously sunny and mild day, and we drank outside - but when the sun went in, and it started to get cold, we headed off for something to eat. The plan was Pizza Express - but they were closed for a private function. Plan B was the Hare & Tortoise, nearby - but they had a long queue. So then one guy remarked that he was tired, and we all went our separate ways.
I headed for food in Taiwan Village, near home. They were packed, and asked whether I'd mind sitting downstairs. Not at all! Except when I got down there, the tables weren't set and it felt like I'd been left in a storeroom. After about five minutes, someone came down, apologised for the delay, said there'd be a table free upstairs soon - they were just finishing - and here was a menu while I waited. So I briefly perused the menu - I already knew what I wanted - and read my paper until someone else - 10 minutes later - finally came to tell me the table upstairs was free now.
I quickly ordered, and unusually, they brought me a basket of prawn crackers while I waited. Much appreciated - I was starving! When my food arrived, I realised I hadn't asked for a fork - but she was gone already. It was faster to get it myself - I know where they're kept. The service here is woefully inadequate for the volume of customers, but the food is always delicious, and I was glad I came.
I have leaving drinks for another colleague tomorrow evening, and I might head to the pictures on Friday. When We Are Many might finally feature! or perhaps not..
It was a gorgeously sunny and mild day, and we drank outside - but when the sun went in, and it started to get cold, we headed off for something to eat. The plan was Pizza Express - but they were closed for a private function. Plan B was the Hare & Tortoise, nearby - but they had a long queue. So then one guy remarked that he was tired, and we all went our separate ways.
I headed for food in Taiwan Village, near home. They were packed, and asked whether I'd mind sitting downstairs. Not at all! Except when I got down there, the tables weren't set and it felt like I'd been left in a storeroom. After about five minutes, someone came down, apologised for the delay, said there'd be a table free upstairs soon - they were just finishing - and here was a menu while I waited. So I briefly perused the menu - I already knew what I wanted - and read my paper until someone else - 10 minutes later - finally came to tell me the table upstairs was free now.
I quickly ordered, and unusually, they brought me a basket of prawn crackers while I waited. Much appreciated - I was starving! When my food arrived, I realised I hadn't asked for a fork - but she was gone already. It was faster to get it myself - I know where they're kept. The service here is woefully inadequate for the volume of customers, but the food is always delicious, and I was glad I came.
I have leaving drinks for another colleague tomorrow evening, and I might head to the pictures on Friday. When We Are Many might finally feature! or perhaps not..
Tuesday, 2 June 2015
Presentation on The Falling
Well, I let myself be persuaded into seeing The Falling with Film Nite, so I figured I might as well let myself be persuaded into seeing the talk about it tonight. Meetup wasn't throwing up anything that particularly grabbed me, anyway, and the company is good with Film Nite. Naturally, the organiser of Film Nite was as disorganised as ever - actually, slightly more so - and didn't put up a PayPal link at all this time. But I know him, I know the venue, and I figured I could just pay in cash anyway.
Unsurprisingly, I was the only Meetup member to sign up for this; well, hardly anyone came to the film, and I doubt many liked it - if anyone. Fair enough - Film Nite has a life outside of Meetup, so there were likely to be others there. I stayed late at the office to finish something, so ended up heading straight into town - I got cash on the way.
The Piccadilly Line was reasonably crammed and I didn't get a seat.. then, arriving at Leicester Square, I had a slightly hurried dash to get to Soho House in time, pushing through the crowds of Chinatown. And then there are all those stairs.. I was quite winded by the time I entered the cinema. I took a seat, and it was lovely to see people I knew, greet them and be greeted by them. That's what Meetup should be like. Of course, I needn't have rushed - it was ages before they started.
What followed was an interesting talk, starting off by focussing on The Falling, of course. Sadly, the presenter was much more enthusiastic about it than were any of us, and found it hard to engage us much. She had all kinds of theories about the themes demonstrated in the film. She emphasised, for instance, the symbolism of the moon.. gosh, I hadn't noticed it that much but I guess she was right, it was there. She highlighted the emphasis on hairstyles in the film - which was interesting, I hadn't picked up on that. And she related it to older films - quite effectively, I thought. Picnic at Hanging Rock is the obvious one, with strange things happening to pupils at a girls' school, en masse - but mass hysteria does crop up elsewhere, as in The Devils. We got clips of those, and others.
Also interesting was the information about the writer/director herself, Carol Morley, whose troubled background may have provided the basis for the film. She also wrote and directed Dreams of a Life, for which she is most famous, and which we saw the trailer for; it's a documentary about a young woman that died in her flat and whose remains weren't discovered for three years. I gathered the impression that Ms. Morley is perhaps better at making documentaries than fiction.
Afterwards, some of us headed back to The Spice of Life again - we didn't stay till closing this time, though! They're good company, and I look forward to meeting them again. Sadly, they're disbanding for the summer, but a couple of meetings are planned before then.
There's a lot on with Meetup tomorrow, but I think I'll head to a film - on my own. We Are Many has been sitting at the top of my film list for a while, and it's time to get it off of there. Closest cinema showing it is the Odeon Panton Street.
Unsurprisingly, I was the only Meetup member to sign up for this; well, hardly anyone came to the film, and I doubt many liked it - if anyone. Fair enough - Film Nite has a life outside of Meetup, so there were likely to be others there. I stayed late at the office to finish something, so ended up heading straight into town - I got cash on the way.
The Piccadilly Line was reasonably crammed and I didn't get a seat.. then, arriving at Leicester Square, I had a slightly hurried dash to get to Soho House in time, pushing through the crowds of Chinatown. And then there are all those stairs.. I was quite winded by the time I entered the cinema. I took a seat, and it was lovely to see people I knew, greet them and be greeted by them. That's what Meetup should be like. Of course, I needn't have rushed - it was ages before they started.
What followed was an interesting talk, starting off by focussing on The Falling, of course. Sadly, the presenter was much more enthusiastic about it than were any of us, and found it hard to engage us much. She had all kinds of theories about the themes demonstrated in the film. She emphasised, for instance, the symbolism of the moon.. gosh, I hadn't noticed it that much but I guess she was right, it was there. She highlighted the emphasis on hairstyles in the film - which was interesting, I hadn't picked up on that. And she related it to older films - quite effectively, I thought. Picnic at Hanging Rock is the obvious one, with strange things happening to pupils at a girls' school, en masse - but mass hysteria does crop up elsewhere, as in The Devils. We got clips of those, and others.
Also interesting was the information about the writer/director herself, Carol Morley, whose troubled background may have provided the basis for the film. She also wrote and directed Dreams of a Life, for which she is most famous, and which we saw the trailer for; it's a documentary about a young woman that died in her flat and whose remains weren't discovered for three years. I gathered the impression that Ms. Morley is perhaps better at making documentaries than fiction.
Afterwards, some of us headed back to The Spice of Life again - we didn't stay till closing this time, though! They're good company, and I look forward to meeting them again. Sadly, they're disbanding for the summer, but a couple of meetings are planned before then.
There's a lot on with Meetup tomorrow, but I think I'll head to a film - on my own. We Are Many has been sitting at the top of my film list for a while, and it's time to get it off of there. Closest cinema showing it is the Odeon Panton Street.
Monday, 1 June 2015
Talk: Stand Up for Truth: Whistleblowers Speaking Tour
I hummed and hawed about what to do today. All my Meetup groups had to offer was an "intimate" evening with David J. I wasn't at all familiar with him, but checked him out on YouTube - he was listenable-to, but when I listened a bit closer, I found his lyrics a bit weird, and passed. So I did a broader search on Meetup - and came across this Whistleblowers talk, on the Open Rights Group (ORG) page. So I hummed and hawed a bit more, and decided to join and book (tickets were free, but required booking).
Although I just missed the first train, I was in good time, and wasn't worried. It was as crowded as ever on the Piccadilly Line, and I had no chance of a seat until Leicester Square - by which time I was 70% of the way there, and figured it wasn't worth it. But at least I finally got to one of the standing areas where there's a padded bar, which you can lean against - so I had my hands free to eat my dinner of M&Ms. Alighting at Russell Square, you have to take a lift; I seriously doubted we'd ever move at all, the doors were so concerned about us being trapped in them, and kept opening!
When I looked up directions earlier today, I saw it was just past the Brunei Gallery. Well and good, I remembered how to get there - it hasn't been so long. Then the trick was to continue past the gallery entrance, and turn right at the end of that lane. I was looking for Birkbeck. Now, I knew I was to go to the Torrington Square entrance, and I could see that road on the map - but Streetview doesn't go there, so I couldn't see what I was really dealing with, and I got confused. So I turned right, up Torrington Square, found myself in front of a building marked "Birkbeck" and waited for the organiser to show up with a sign, as promised.
There was a guy waiting there as well, but he turned out to be waiting for someone. And someone else happened by and asked me for directions, but I was no help. After I'd been there for five minutes, I decided to have a look around.. which is how I came to see the main entrance (with BIRKBECK carved in the stone) to a building on the other side of the "square". I hadn't been able to see it before, with the trees in the middle. And it turns out that Birkbeck owns all the buildings around this "square" - so they're all "Birkbeck". Aargh!
So I wandered over that way - there was a chap taking photos at the entrance. Still no sign of this lady with a sign, but I remembered that these Meetup people sometimes wait inside. So I went in - and phew! there she was. With a sign. And no time even to say hi, because she was being completely monopolised by a woman who was asking her all about the organisation. Anyway, I stood there for a while, rictus grin on my face and completely ignored, until a chap happened in and straight asked her where the talk was on. (Downstairs, and right.) He decided that she was busy enough that he'd head straight down there - and I decided, of course, to follow him.
It was supposed to be in B35, but there was a crowd outside B34, next door - and when I finally caught a glimpse of the door between people holding it open to go in, I saw a sign for the talk. Ah, ok. So I then also ran the gamut of people handing out fliers - they love doing that, these folks. I took a seat - as I did so, the host asked people please to sit near the walls, we were going to be more than full. So I did, and perused the several fliers and the booklet I'd been given. And noticed that the room contained a strong smell of what seemed like fly spray..
There were sundry fliers for events happening to protest against the various wars, and for the closure of detention centres. There was also a small booklet about Julian Assange, which, while it contains many interesting facts, is rather undermined by its trashy, sensationalist presentation. As it happened, the ORG people (sans organiser) chose to sit beside me, and the one next to me was vexed that she didn't know who the speakers were. "Ah!" I said, "that I can help with!" and produced my printout of the Meetup event page, which had a list of them. This also proved useful to the fellow on my other side, who used it when compiling his notes during the talk.
The speakers were a bit late - we were told they were having dinner. While we waited, I noted all the cameras - at such an event, there were so many I got a bit paranoid. There was also something that looked like an isolation booth of some kind, over the side.. Anyway, the speakers eventually took their places and the event began. There were seven speakers - one more than on my list. And apparently, this was one of four stops they're making on a limited European tour - we're lucky.
On the far left was a Birkbeck lecturer, who's written about such things. Beside him was the woman not on the list - Eileen Chubb, who lost her job and pension when she spoke out about abuse in a BUPA care home. She had plenty of interesting things to say, about how, if you're attacked on the street, at least a policeman might come along; if you're attacked in a care home, you are, as she put it, "buggered". She absolutely rubbished the Freedom to Speak Up Review and PIDA, saying a bad law is worse than none, and pointing out that there's no way of enforcing this law. She told us how Des Kelly of BUPA, who covered up the abuse that she highlighted, is now advising the government on care of the elderly. Mind you, when one audience member asked where the police were in all this, she defended them, saying it can be difficult, when you know you'll lose your livelihood for speaking out. She even brought up the soldiers involved in the Bloody Sunday inquiry a couple of times, how it was recorded that they had pointed out to their superiors that they were firing on unarmed civilians..
The rest of the panel were American. Beside Eileen was Daniel Ellsberg, who served in Vietnam and released the Pentagon papers to the press in 1971. He was charged under the Espionage Act, and explained that he only avoided 100+ years in prison because all the injustices perpetrated on him came out in his trial. He made the point that the intense surveillance trumpeted by the American and British governments as the only way to prevent terrorist attacks is as useless as torture has been proven to be for the same aim. It doesn't provide any protection - rather, it allows the government to control its people. And I felt like I was watching Citizenfour again when he slated Obama's record on civil liberties.
Speaking of Citizenfour - the story of Edward Snowden, who is an American in exile for leaking NSA secrets - it turned out that his lawyer, Jessie Radack, was sitting next to Daniel Ellsberg! She had plenty to say about the Espionage Act under which her clients are charged, and how it's a 100-year-old law that doesn't permit a defence to be mounted.
On her other side was another of her clients - Thomas Drake, also charged with releasing NSA secrets, under the Espionage Act. He explained that yes, he is related to Sir Francis Drake.. and he was the most literary member of the panel, mentioning George Orwell (think 1984) and Aldous Huxley.
Beside him was Norman Solomon, a mature gentleman with the most gorgeous, soft voice, and an activist. He had much to say about the diminution of the American Bill of Rights, and how it was basically thrown away after 9/11. And he pointed out that the definition of democracy as government by informed consent falls down if the consent of the people is not informed. And finally on the panel was a former member of the FBI, Coleen Rowley, who in 2002 leaked information about the organisation's failures in the run-up to 9/11, for which she was named Time magazine's Person of the Year.
Arguably the most interesting exchange of the evening came when the lady right behind me asked the first question of the evening, and openly accused Ms Rowley of supporting strikes against President Assad's opponents in Syria, citing his human rights abuses, as exposed by NGOs such as Amnesty and Human Rights Watch. To which Ms Rowley responded by quoting Hilary Clinton, who apparently once described "soft power"; you start soft, then you can get harder and harder until you end up with the hardest, military option. A "soft" place to start might be with an NGO.. the implication being that you get the NGOs to feed the public whatever information you want..
Even more thought-provoking than last week's talk. Several people around me were taking notes, one in front of me was tweeting her opinion. Questions were taken in batches of three, then of four. They tried to finish by 8.30, but ran over by 20 minutes - there was just too much to say. There was no attempt afterwards by our Meetup group to meet up - mind you, the people sitting outside me (and blocking my exit) were in such deep discussion that I thought I'd never get out of there. And when I did, it was FREEZING! I trotted back to the station, pausing at the pedestrian crossing as usual, and admiring the great bulk of the Russell Hotel, on the corner, which I can never get a photo of, because by the time I can get my phone turned on, the lights have changed and it's time to cross.
Tomorrow, I'm off to the Film Nite discussion on The Falling, the film we saw last week (those of us who stuck it out and didn't leave in disgust). And wouldn't you know it, again there's no PayPal link!
Although I just missed the first train, I was in good time, and wasn't worried. It was as crowded as ever on the Piccadilly Line, and I had no chance of a seat until Leicester Square - by which time I was 70% of the way there, and figured it wasn't worth it. But at least I finally got to one of the standing areas where there's a padded bar, which you can lean against - so I had my hands free to eat my dinner of M&Ms. Alighting at Russell Square, you have to take a lift; I seriously doubted we'd ever move at all, the doors were so concerned about us being trapped in them, and kept opening!
When I looked up directions earlier today, I saw it was just past the Brunei Gallery. Well and good, I remembered how to get there - it hasn't been so long. Then the trick was to continue past the gallery entrance, and turn right at the end of that lane. I was looking for Birkbeck. Now, I knew I was to go to the Torrington Square entrance, and I could see that road on the map - but Streetview doesn't go there, so I couldn't see what I was really dealing with, and I got confused. So I turned right, up Torrington Square, found myself in front of a building marked "Birkbeck" and waited for the organiser to show up with a sign, as promised.
There was a guy waiting there as well, but he turned out to be waiting for someone. And someone else happened by and asked me for directions, but I was no help. After I'd been there for five minutes, I decided to have a look around.. which is how I came to see the main entrance (with BIRKBECK carved in the stone) to a building on the other side of the "square". I hadn't been able to see it before, with the trees in the middle. And it turns out that Birkbeck owns all the buildings around this "square" - so they're all "Birkbeck". Aargh!
So I wandered over that way - there was a chap taking photos at the entrance. Still no sign of this lady with a sign, but I remembered that these Meetup people sometimes wait inside. So I went in - and phew! there she was. With a sign. And no time even to say hi, because she was being completely monopolised by a woman who was asking her all about the organisation. Anyway, I stood there for a while, rictus grin on my face and completely ignored, until a chap happened in and straight asked her where the talk was on. (Downstairs, and right.) He decided that she was busy enough that he'd head straight down there - and I decided, of course, to follow him.
It was supposed to be in B35, but there was a crowd outside B34, next door - and when I finally caught a glimpse of the door between people holding it open to go in, I saw a sign for the talk. Ah, ok. So I then also ran the gamut of people handing out fliers - they love doing that, these folks. I took a seat - as I did so, the host asked people please to sit near the walls, we were going to be more than full. So I did, and perused the several fliers and the booklet I'd been given. And noticed that the room contained a strong smell of what seemed like fly spray..
There were sundry fliers for events happening to protest against the various wars, and for the closure of detention centres. There was also a small booklet about Julian Assange, which, while it contains many interesting facts, is rather undermined by its trashy, sensationalist presentation. As it happened, the ORG people (sans organiser) chose to sit beside me, and the one next to me was vexed that she didn't know who the speakers were. "Ah!" I said, "that I can help with!" and produced my printout of the Meetup event page, which had a list of them. This also proved useful to the fellow on my other side, who used it when compiling his notes during the talk.
The speakers were a bit late - we were told they were having dinner. While we waited, I noted all the cameras - at such an event, there were so many I got a bit paranoid. There was also something that looked like an isolation booth of some kind, over the side.. Anyway, the speakers eventually took their places and the event began. There were seven speakers - one more than on my list. And apparently, this was one of four stops they're making on a limited European tour - we're lucky.
On the far left was a Birkbeck lecturer, who's written about such things. Beside him was the woman not on the list - Eileen Chubb, who lost her job and pension when she spoke out about abuse in a BUPA care home. She had plenty of interesting things to say, about how, if you're attacked on the street, at least a policeman might come along; if you're attacked in a care home, you are, as she put it, "buggered". She absolutely rubbished the Freedom to Speak Up Review and PIDA, saying a bad law is worse than none, and pointing out that there's no way of enforcing this law. She told us how Des Kelly of BUPA, who covered up the abuse that she highlighted, is now advising the government on care of the elderly. Mind you, when one audience member asked where the police were in all this, she defended them, saying it can be difficult, when you know you'll lose your livelihood for speaking out. She even brought up the soldiers involved in the Bloody Sunday inquiry a couple of times, how it was recorded that they had pointed out to their superiors that they were firing on unarmed civilians..
The rest of the panel were American. Beside Eileen was Daniel Ellsberg, who served in Vietnam and released the Pentagon papers to the press in 1971. He was charged under the Espionage Act, and explained that he only avoided 100+ years in prison because all the injustices perpetrated on him came out in his trial. He made the point that the intense surveillance trumpeted by the American and British governments as the only way to prevent terrorist attacks is as useless as torture has been proven to be for the same aim. It doesn't provide any protection - rather, it allows the government to control its people. And I felt like I was watching Citizenfour again when he slated Obama's record on civil liberties.
Speaking of Citizenfour - the story of Edward Snowden, who is an American in exile for leaking NSA secrets - it turned out that his lawyer, Jessie Radack, was sitting next to Daniel Ellsberg! She had plenty to say about the Espionage Act under which her clients are charged, and how it's a 100-year-old law that doesn't permit a defence to be mounted.
On her other side was another of her clients - Thomas Drake, also charged with releasing NSA secrets, under the Espionage Act. He explained that yes, he is related to Sir Francis Drake.. and he was the most literary member of the panel, mentioning George Orwell (think 1984) and Aldous Huxley.
Beside him was Norman Solomon, a mature gentleman with the most gorgeous, soft voice, and an activist. He had much to say about the diminution of the American Bill of Rights, and how it was basically thrown away after 9/11. And he pointed out that the definition of democracy as government by informed consent falls down if the consent of the people is not informed. And finally on the panel was a former member of the FBI, Coleen Rowley, who in 2002 leaked information about the organisation's failures in the run-up to 9/11, for which she was named Time magazine's Person of the Year.
Arguably the most interesting exchange of the evening came when the lady right behind me asked the first question of the evening, and openly accused Ms Rowley of supporting strikes against President Assad's opponents in Syria, citing his human rights abuses, as exposed by NGOs such as Amnesty and Human Rights Watch. To which Ms Rowley responded by quoting Hilary Clinton, who apparently once described "soft power"; you start soft, then you can get harder and harder until you end up with the hardest, military option. A "soft" place to start might be with an NGO.. the implication being that you get the NGOs to feed the public whatever information you want..
Even more thought-provoking than last week's talk. Several people around me were taking notes, one in front of me was tweeting her opinion. Questions were taken in batches of three, then of four. They tried to finish by 8.30, but ran over by 20 minutes - there was just too much to say. There was no attempt afterwards by our Meetup group to meet up - mind you, the people sitting outside me (and blocking my exit) were in such deep discussion that I thought I'd never get out of there. And when I did, it was FREEZING! I trotted back to the station, pausing at the pedestrian crossing as usual, and admiring the great bulk of the Russell Hotel, on the corner, which I can never get a photo of, because by the time I can get my phone turned on, the lights have changed and it's time to cross.
Tomorrow, I'm off to the Film Nite discussion on The Falling, the film we saw last week (those of us who stuck it out and didn't leave in disgust). And wouldn't you know it, again there's no PayPal link!
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