Tonight, I'd originally booked for free comedy in Hammersmith, with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, and Random London. Also advertised with Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, and Discover LDN.UK (twice). Instead, I was back with Funzing - London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night had a talk on Urban Legends of the Tube. I got this one for free, for filling a loyalty card for LDN Talks @ Night, having been to three talks (more, but anyway).
I was glad that they bumped the time by half an hour - I could have made the earlier time, but 6:30 is very early! So, at my leisure, I schlepped along to the nearby bus stop - the 19 or the 38 would do equally well. Wasn't long till one arrived, and despite heavy-ish traffic, I had plenty of time. Made my way to the Old Queen's Head - and it wasn't until I was inside that I recognised the unique decor! Ah, memories of happier times with the Man with the Hat - comedy that night, and a whole group of people I know.. otherwise, the place was pretty much the same.
(No queens among the above heads, methinks.)
Well, I was well early - whatever the advertised start of Funzing events, they always start half an hour later. So I got a drink and mooched around downstairs until 7, then carefully climbed the stairs - with my somewhat less-full glass - to the well-signposted function room. The guy crossed off my name and gave me another loyalty card, since I couldn't find mine (did later), and I was in time to get a comfy sofa seat to the side. A guy who asked whether he could share it with me then asked about Funzing in general, so I regaled him - and another guy who overheard - with tales of the great stuff I've been to.
They showed a slide of Funzing talks for the month, to start - pity the month they were showing was May. Then the speaker came on. Let me cut to the chase, as with last night - he was good, the talk was awful. At least I got it for free. See, he was entertaining enough - a bit soft-spoken, but hey. It was the material. He had pretty much two stories - the first, he did to death, which I might say could have been shortened, except then there wouldn't have been much of a talk at all. Still, it was interesting to hear how the "story of the corpse on public transport, that you don't realise at first is dead" dates right back to the days of stagecoaches. All about a fear of public transport, apparently, and how you don't know your fellow travellers.
That was it then, apart from rumours of plague pits. There are some plague pit sites around London, of course - naturally, in this talk he spent more time talking about the fake rumours. Boring.. I was embarrassed to have recommended Funzing to these people, after this talk, and as soon as he announced the "comfort break" before the Q+A (which seems to be becoming a feature, obviously to encourage spending), I legged it. He has a book, apparently, about this topic - my, I hope there's more in it than this!!
My bus, mercifully, came straight away, and I have my laptop at home these days, since discovering that I can now make video calls on Skype from my phone, so don't need to lug the laptop into the office. Hence the early blog! Tomorrow, I'm back to Ireland for the weekend (15 degrees cooler, yay!), and on Saturday my mother and I are off to the Limerick Sings International Choral Festival - always worth a look, and the gala concert takes place in the University Concert Hall that night.
On Monday, I'm headed to some comedy for £3.60 - this one's at The Tabernacle. Gosh, that's quite close to the site of the dreadful fire last week - I might take a wander up that direction.
On Tuesday, I'm back with the London European Club (LEC) at last - an evening of Welsh stories and writing at the London Welsh Centre. Be lovely to see some familiar faces!
On Wednesday, I had booked with Random London, Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich and London Live Comedy (again) for free comedy in Greenwich (again). And then I switched to West London Improvised Comedy Nights, who have a show at The Lillie Langtry, which is closer - indeed, very close to where I've lived longest in London. However, some more folks I haven't seen in a while - a couple of members of the Man with the Hat's old groups - are headed to a concert at the Royal Academy of Music, with London Social Detours. The concerts are free, but the group is charging a Meetup fee, so I'd normally just go on my own - but I want to meet these folks, so I'll stump up.
Next Thursday, yes, once again I'd booked for free comedy in Hammersmith - with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, and Random London. Also advertised by London Live Comedy, Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, and Discover LDN.UK (again, twice). But then I'd booked to go with the LEC to a talk on the relationship between Britain and France, at the LSE. Would've been interesting, but sod it, I then realised I have a late meeting that day, and with the talk starting quite early, it's a non-starter. Didn't want to rebook the comedy, having cancelled it. So I had a look at what else was on Meetup - and discovered something interesting. I hadn't been getting a wide variety of things on the main Meetup site - but they've mercifully improved the app. Which is what I happened to consult when I realised I'd have to cancel the talk, since I didn't have a laptop to hand. And lo, the app had LOADS more events. Seriously, there's a real disconnect between the app and the main website. Tons of interesting stuff. And on the app - well, a group called Ealing Ladies Social Group was headed to Terror, at the Lyric Hammersmith. Which sounded the most interesting of all. Not the group, mind, which has far too many rules and regulations for my liking - and they're closed to new members anyway. Nothing to stop me going myself, though..
Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again! Not usual for me to go two weeks in a row.. more details below. On 3rd, London Dramatic Arts is off to see The Mentor, at the Vaudeville Theatre. Expensively, as usual. I'm going as well - cheaply, courtesy of Amazon Tickets. Sat in the Grand Circle, I should be able to avoid them.
On the 4th, I cancelled more free comedy in Hammersmith (Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, London Live Comedy, and Discover LDN.UK) for another Funzing talk - The Psychology of Dreams. As advertised by London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night. Cancellable, but I'm so far unlikely to do so.
On the 5th, back with the LEC, for a concert of Greek music at Sands Films. Looking forward to that - I love the venue, but haven't fancied the last couple of concerts they've had there.
On the 6th, I was booked for free comedy in Hammersmith (!) with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, London Live Comedy, Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, and Discover LDN.UK. Did you think I'd actually go? ;-) Well, I'm not - but the reason is an unusual one. My new company is very nice indeed - and they have an annual volunteering day: gardening. I hate gardening. On the 6th. For the whole day, they're at it. And on Monday, the office manager kindly informed us that it was compulsory unless we were on holiday. Huh! Well now, I hate being told what to do. So I've suddenly decided to be on holiday that day - and as it's a Thursday, the next too.
Then comes a weekend I've been looking forward to for a while. Long-anticipated, the European leg of U2's 30th anniversary tour of The Joshua Tree kicks off in Twickenham on the 8th & 9th. 'Mare of a place to see them - after I saw them there in 2005, I swore - never again. Happily, I now know someone living down that direction! :-) Helen is also coming with me to the first concert, and I'm staying with her for the weekend (now starting on Thursday, as she kindly offered). Which sorts transport for the first night - she'll drive. The second night, I'll head back by bus - the train is an absolute nightmare. Anyway, this would have been a weekend in Ireland - hence the trips back two weekends in a row, preceding it.
Tonight, I'd provisionally booked for free comedy in Greenwich, with Random London, Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon & Greenwich, and London Live Comedy. Naturally, I couldn't be bothered - instead, I went to a film. Top of my list (apart from Wonder Woman, which I'm not interested in) was Stranger in Paradise. No, not the song from Kismet - this is a documentary about refugees. BFI again.
I kept an eye on it all day, although it never really came close to selling out - these things have a habit of experiencing last-minute rushes. Especially at this venue. But not having booked, I didn't have to pay a booking fee - or get persuaded into making a donation. I walked down there again - after being in a freezing cold office all day, I found it uncomfortably hot in the lobby of my building, with its large windows. And if I thought that was bad, walking outside was like entering a sauna. Well, this did turn out to be the hottest day of the year so far - in fact, the hottest June day in the UK since 1976. No queue outside the ice cream shop like I saw on Monday though, stretching into the road - but they were doing a steady business. And I passed several people who were remarking how hot it was..
But oh, how deliciously cold in the cinema. So delicious I could almost taste the coolness. And yay, they still have the plush, red velvet seats - in NFT3 anyway. Just had time to read the explanatory leaflet that was provided, before someone gave a small speech, to introduce the panel that would be presiding over the Q+A at the end, as well as the director, who would be on Skype. And the lights darkened, and the film started - no trailers, here.
I'm gonna cut to the chase and say that, for me, this is the film of the year so far. Yes, it's a documentary about refugees - but I'll venture to say you've never seen one like this. The entire panel, afterwards, kept repeating the word "refreshing" - and I agree. It's a film of three acts, set primarily in a classroom, where an actor is "teaching" a group of real refugees what being a refugee really means - the director remarked that the classroom setting worked as a very visual representation of power, of a room you weren't allowed to leave.
The First Act is confrontational. The "teacher" welcomes the various people, then proceeds to depress the hell out of them by giving them all the arguments against refugees. Not knee-jerk ones, you understand - these are all reasonable facts. The sheer number of refugees (1.5 million last year): the cost for each (€26,000 per person for the first year): the statistic that only 45% of them will ever get any kind of work in Europe: the conflict between religious and secular laws, particularly for Muslims: the Muslim attacks that have made people fearful of Muslims. I thought they looked quite worried - the director didn't push for an answer from them at any point, deliberately - he said there were quite enough films trying to find their way into their heads, which he found patronising.
In the Second Act, Bad Cop turns into Good Cop as he welcomes them again - although I didn't recognise many of them, and I wonder how many returned after the first day. This time, he's all friendly, and explaining to them how seven separate universities - including Harvard - have concluded that, if we were to abolish all borders and allow complete freedom of movement of people and goods, not just in the EU but around the world, the world's economy would explode - we would be immeasurably better off. He praises them for their difficult journeys, saying he regards them as modern voyagers. He asks them to close their eyes and imagine their perfect job, their perfect house. And when they open their eyes, he tells them to hold onto those dreams. And it was lovely to see the smiles, and the wistful look in their eyes.
Finally, the Third Act is interesting, as he actually screens each of them to decide whether, as they seem to want, they would get a residence permit for the Netherlands (this was actually filmed in Sicily). Going around the room, he asks why each wants to live in Europe - Step 1 is to reject economic migrants. Those rejected are asked to leave the room. Of the rest, who claim persecution, he asks what countries they're from, then writes a short list of countries on the blackboard. This, he explains, is a list of "safe" countries, and refugees from these countries cannot claim asylum unless they are homosexual. Step 2 is to reject people who, on the basis of nationality, are deemed safe. Finally, he interviews each personally, to see whether they seem plausible, and whether the threat to them seems significant. Some are rejected on the basis of being too vague. On the other hand, one - from Syria - is told that her country has a special status, in that it is considered to be in a constant state of war, so that the very fact that she is in Europe means that she will be allowed to stay. In all that room, only four are deemed successful.
It's fascinating - although it did make me wonder what happens to all those who are rejected. Anyway, afterwards, the entire panel praised the director's balance - he said he hates taking one position over another, thinking it unfair. The Q+A threw up a couple of interesting points - like the panellist from the Red Cross, who said he would be happy to show this film both to his pro- and anti-refugee relatives; he'd been looking for a film like this for a while! When the director was asked what reaction the film had received when shown on Dutch tv - "none, really" got a laugh. It opened my eyes as much as anyone else's - and I left the cinema with The Stranger Song in my head (it was on the soundtrack). Shed a tear at that. This is a must-see.
And the ice cream shop was still doing a steady trade, as I made my way back.
Tomorrow, I'd originally booked for free comedy in Hammersmith, with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, and Random London. Also advertised with Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, and Discover LDN.UK (twice). Instead, I'm back with Funzing - London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night have a talk on Urban Legends of the Tube. I got this one for free, for filling a loyalty card for LDN Talks @ Night, having been to three talks (more, but anyway).
Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend, and on Saturday my mother and I are off to the Limerick Sings International Choral Festival - always worth a look, and the gala concert takes place in the University Concert Hall that night.
On Monday, I'm headed to some comedy for £3.60 - this one's at The Tabernacle. Gosh, that's quite close to the site of the dreadful fire last week - I might take a wander up that direction.
On Tuesday, I'm back with the London European Club (LEC) at last - an evening of Welsh stories and writing at the London Welsh Centre. Be lovely to see some familiar faces!
Next Wednesday, I had booked with Random London, Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich and London Live Comedy (again) for free comedy in Greenwich (again). And then I switched to West London Improvised Comedy Nights, who have a show at The Lillie Langtry, which is closer - indeed, very close to where I've lived longest in London. However, some more folks I haven't seen in a while - a couple of members of the Man with the Hat's old groups - are headed to a concert at the Royal Academy of Music, with London Social Detours. The concerts are free, but the group is charging a Meetup fee, so I'd normally just go on my own - but I want to meet these folks, so I'll stump up.
On the 29th, yes, once again I'd booked for free comedy in Hammersmith - with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, and Random London. Also advertised by London Live Comedy, Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, and Discover LDN.UK (again, twice). But then I'd booked to go with the LEC to a talk on the relationship between Britain and France, at the LSE. Would've been interesting, but sod it, I then realised I have a late meeting that day, and with the talk starting quite early, it's a non-starter. Didn't want to rebook the comedy, having cancelled it. So I had a look at what else was on Meetup - and discovered something interesting. I hadn't been getting a wide variety of things on the main Meetup site - but they've mercifully improved the app. Which is what I happened to consult when I realised I'd have to cancel the talk, since I didn't have a laptop to hand. And lo, the app had LOADS more events. Seriously, there's a real disconnect between the app and the main website. Tons of interesting stuff. And on the app - well, a group called Ealing Ladies Social Group was headed to Terror, at the Lyric Hammersmith. Which sounded the most interesting of all. Not the group, mind, which has far too many rules and regulations for my liking - and they're closed to new members anyway. Nothing to stop me going myself, though..
Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again! Not usual for me to go two weeks in a row.. more details below. On 3rd, London Dramatic Arts is off to see The Mentor, at the Vaudeville Theatre. Expensively, as usual. I'm going as well - cheaply, courtesy of Amazon Tickets. Sat in the Grand Circle, I should be able to avoid them.
On the 4th, I cancelled more free comedy in Hammersmith (Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, London Live Comedy, and Discover LDN.UK) for another Funzing talk - The Psychology of Dreams. As advertised by London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night. Cancellable, but I'm so far unlikely to do so.
On the 5th, back with the LEC, for a concert of Greek music at Sands Films. Looking forward to that - I love the venue, but haven't fancied the last couple of concerts they've had there.
On the 6th, I was booked for free comedy in Hammersmith (!) with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, London Live Comedy, Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, and Discover LDN.UK. Did you think I'd actually go? ;-) Well, I'm not - but the reason is an unusual one. My new company is very nice indeed - and they have an annual volunteering day: gardening. I hate gardening. On the 6th. For the whole day, they're at it. And on Monday, the office manager kindly informed us that it was compulsory unless we were on holiday. Huh! Well now, I hate being told what to do. So I've suddenly decided to be on holiday that day - and as it's a Thursday, the next too.
Then comes a weekend I've been looking forward to for a while. Long-anticipated, the European leg of U2's 30th anniversary tour of The Joshua Tree kicks off in Twickenham on the 8th & 9th. 'Mare of a place to see them - after I saw them there in 2005, I swore - never again. Happily, I now know someone living down that direction! :-) Helen is also coming with me to the first concert, and I'm staying with her for the weekend (now starting on Thursday, as she kindly offered). Which sorts transport for the first night - she'll drive. The second night, I'll head back by bus - the train is an absolute nightmare. Anyway, this would have been a weekend in Ireland - hence the trips back two weekends in a row, preceding it.
Last night, I had one of those £3.60 tickets, to a play called The English Heart, at the Etcetera Theatre. The closest interesting thing to me that they had on their list, basically. Nice n close, in fact - I could practically have walked, but it was still a little far, so I took the bus - the 24 or 29 would do it in about 15 minutes. And mercifully, the bus wasn't too hot - despite being crowded.
I disembarked at the same stop where I'd been so confused on Friday - it was a short walk ahead to The Oxford Arms. Well jeez, I know they say that Camden is Irish - despite the name, this might well be the most Irish pub in it. (Actually, I technically live in Camden, but anyway.) I have a strong suspicion that the family - which has apparently run the pub for three generations - hails originally from sweet Mayo:
And look, yet another place that sells Tayto! I'm telling you, it's an epidemic.
The theatre was easy to find - it has a permanent sign above the door. Doors don't open until five minutes before showtime though, the box office half an hour before; I had my ticket already (good value, given that the regular price is £15), so got myself a drink. And when the doors did open, someone wandered through the bar, yelling the fact, so you couldn't miss it. I had some trouble with the narrow stairs and my drink, but reached the top safely and took a seat on the front bench - seating is unassigned.
Just three characters in this one, and the writer was there to explain the timeline to us - it runs from just after the Brexit vote to just before the recent general election. So, a married couple in deepest, darkest Lincolnshire - devastated by the Brexit vote, which was enthusiastically welcomed by their neighbours - are thrilled when the house next door, her traditional family estate, is bought by a dashing young chap, born in England, raised abroad, but now returned and anxious for a traditional English lifestyle.
Yes, they're both very taken with him, and as you might expect, this play is highly politically inspired. Peppered with political jokes, too. Oh, and quite risqué.. well, I did say they were taken with him. Brexit represented as a human relationship? Nice one. Well written, beautifully acted - it does flag just a little in the scene where it becomes apparent who's representing what. But it's quite clever, and I really enjoyed it. Recommended - runs until Saturday. Only thing was, the theatre was roasting, and I was glad to leave - it's not long though, 70 mins without interval.
On the way home, I decided to take the 27, which would be direct. Imagine my surprise when the bus stop I was sent to by Google Maps - confirmed by TFL - didn't have my bus listed! I schlepped on down the road to the next one, and have complained, for all the good it'll do.
Tonight, I'd provisionally booked for free comedy in Greenwich, with Random London, Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon & Greenwich, and London Live Comedy. Naturally, I couldn't be bothered - instead, I'll go to a film. Top of my list (apart from Wonder Woman, which I'm not interested in) is Stranger in Paradise. No, not the song from Kismet - this is a documentary about refugees. BFI again - not selling out yet, but I'm keeping an eye on it. I'll walk down there later - with this promised to be the hottest day of the year so far, I wonder whether I'll see the same queue outside the ice cream shop that I saw on Monday, stretching into the road!
Tomorrow, I'd originally booked for free comedy in Hammersmith, with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, and Random London. Also advertised with Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, and Discover LDN.UK (twice). Instead, I'm back with Funzing - London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night have a talk on Urban Legends of the Tube. I got this one for free, for filling a loyalty card for LDN Talks @ Night, having been to three talks (more, but anyway).
Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend, and on Saturday my mother and I are off to the Limerick Sings International Choral Festival - always worth a look, and the gala concert takes place in the University Concert Hall that night.
On Monday, I'm headed to some comedy for £3.60 - this one's at The Tabernacle. Gosh, that's quite close to the site of the dreadful fire last week - I might take a wander up that direction.
On Tuesday, I'm back with the London European Club (LEC) at last - an evening of Welsh stories and writing at the London Welsh Centre. Be lovely to see some familiar faces!
Next Wednesday, I had booked with Random London, Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich and London Live Comedy (again) for free comedy in Greenwich (again). And then I switched to West London Improvised Comedy Nights, who have a show at The Lillie Langtry, which is closer - indeed, very close to where I've lived longest in London. However, some more folks I haven't seen in a while - a couple of members of the Man with the Hat's old groups - are headed to a concert at the Royal Academy of Music, with London Social Detours. The concerts are free, but the group is charging a Meetup fee, so I'd normally just go on my own - but I want to meet these folks, so I'll stump up.
On the 29th, yes, once again I'd booked for free comedy in Hammersmith - with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, and Random London. Also advertised by London Live Comedy, Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, and Discover LDN.UK (again, twice). But then I'd booked to go with the LEC to a talk on the relationship between Britain and France, at the LSE. Would've been interesting, but sod it, I then realised I have a late meeting that day, and with the talk starting quite early, it's a non-starter. Didn't want to rebook the comedy, having cancelled it. So I had a look at what else was on Meetup - and discovered something interesting. I hadn't been getting a wide variety of things on the main Meetup site - but they've mercifully improved the app. Which is what I happened to consult when I realised I'd have to cancel the talk, since I didn't have a laptop to hand. And lo, the app had LOADS more events. Seriously, there's a real disconnect between the app and the main website. Tons of interesting stuff. And on the app - well, a group called Ealing Ladies Social Group was headed to Terror, at the Lyric Hammersmith. Which sounded the most interesting of all. Not the group, mind, which has far too many rules and regulations for my liking - and they're closed to new members anyway. Nothing to stop me going myself, though..
Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again! Not usual for me to go two weeks in a row.. more details below. On 3rd, London Dramatic Arts is off to see The Mentor, at the Vaudeville Theatre. Expensively, as usual. I'm going as well - cheaply, courtesy of Amazon Tickets. Sat in the Grand Circle, I should be able to avoid them.
On the 4th, I cancelled more free comedy in Hammersmith (Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, London Live Comedy, and Discover LDN.UK) for another Funzing talk - The Psychology of Dreams. As advertised by London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night. Cancellable, but I'm so far unlikely to do so.
On the 5th, back with the LEC, for a concert of Greek music at Sands Films. Looking forward to that - I love the venue, but haven't fancied the last couple of concerts they've had there.
On the 6th, I was booked for free comedy in Hammersmith (!) with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, London Live Comedy, Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, and Discover LDN.UK. Did you think I'd actually go? ;-) Well, I'm not - but the reason is an unusual one. My new company is very nice indeed - and they have an annual volunteering day: gardening. I hate gardening. On the 6th. For the whole day, they're at it. And on Monday, the office manager kindly informed us that it was compulsory unless we were on holiday. Huh! Well now, I hate being told what to do. So I've suddenly decided to be on holiday that day - and as it's a Thursday, the next too.
Then comes a weekend I've been looking forward to for a while. Long-anticipated, the European leg of U2's 30th anniversary tour of The Joshua Tree kicks off in Twickenham on the 8th & 9th. 'Mare of a place to see them - after I saw them there in 2005, I swore - never again. Happily, I now know someone living down that direction! :-) Helen is also coming with me to the first concert, and I'm staying with her for the weekend (now starting on Thursday, as she kindly offered). Which sorts transport for the first night - she'll drive. The second night, I'll head back by bus - the train is an absolute nightmare. Anyway, this would have been a weekend in Ireland - hence the trips back two weekends in a row, preceding it.
For today, I was thinking of a film again. I hadn't booked anything, then got an email from Kensington Classical Music on Saturday, who were headed to a concert this evening. Well, I considered it, but as well as the fact that I could get cheaper tickets from the venue (and would then have the fun of avoiding them), I figured I'd rather go the film I had in mind. Der Müde Tod (Destiny) is a German silent film from the 20s, about a girl who does a deal with Death, so she can be reunited with her dead lover. Right up my street. (Wonder Woman is higher rated.. but no thanks.) Closest venue is the BFI, and when I checked, it was nearly sold out! So I booked, finally.
Set out at the end of another sweltering day - the heat was just beginning to die down, but you could still feel it radiating from the streets and buildings. Passing a temperature gauge, it was still 30 degrees. I was glad I was walking. Sedately. Crossing the bridge, I noted the new, rather ugly, concrete barriers along the pavement edges - legacy of the recent attacks, sadly, where vehicles were driven into crowds of pedestrians on a couple of different bridges. Hey, on the plus side, maybe they'll deter jaywalkers! Arrived at the BFI in good time, and yes, there was the promised bag check at the entrance - I can't say it held me up that long. I was parched, but it was close enough to time that I just went straight into the screen with my printed-out ticket. And aww, they've redone the seating! Not as comfy now, boo - not in the Studio, anyway.
I had an aisle seat, and wouldn't you know it, the largest, fuzziest head in the whole place was sat right in my line of sight. Bah humbug! I spent half the film twisting and turning to read the subtitles - the odd sigh coming from the person behind me: well sorry, but I couldn't see either! I swear I considered asking the guy in front to shave his head.
Which is a pity, because this is a very decent film. I don't know that it's going down in my list of all-time greats, but it does have a great pedigree - written and directed by Fritz Lang, it was released close enough to the end of the First World War that German audiences just couldn't take all this mention of death, and it initially bombed. Very gothic, very moody - apparently, Death himself was based on a vision that Lang experienced when seriously ill as a child - he thought he saw Death at the end of the bed, and if you want to know what it was he saw, look no further than this film. Fabulously creepy, he's tall, intense, dressed in a long black cape and wide-brimmed black hat.
The poor lass at the start of the film has her fiancé disappear with Death, who does a deal with her - he recasts her in three different love stories, and tasks her with saving her lover, who's in imminent danger, in each one. If she can manage even one, she wins. This is where the film takes a flight of fancy (literally, with the flying carpet in the last one!) - the sets are gorgeous, and they must have had great fun. Indeed, despite the sombre subject, there's plenty of humour here. The first story has us in some Arab nation, with the caliph's sister in love with an infidel. For the second, we're in Renaissance Venice, with a tragic heiress being courted by a man she does not love, but who has power of life and death over the one she does. And the last is a delightful flight of fancy in Middle Kingdom China, where the foster children of a famous magician, who have fallen in love, see their happy existence threatened when the magician is called to perform for the emperor, and the emperor takes a shine to the young woman..
The ending is very sombre indeed. Not a happy-clappy film, but quite moving. Passed the fuzzy-haired guy on the way out. Bah humbug again. And it had cooled down a bit, walking back.
Tomorrow, I have one of those £3.60 tickets, to a play called The English Heart, at the Etcetera Theatre. The closest interesting thing to me that they had on their list, basically.
On Wednesday, I've (ahem) provisionally booked for free comedy in Greenwich, with Random London, Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon & Greenwich, and London Live Comedy. I'll probably end up going to a film instead.
On Thursday, I'd originally booked for free comedy in Hammersmith, with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, and Random London. Also advertised with Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, and Discover LDN.UK (twice). Instead, I'm back with Funzing - London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night have a talk on Urban Legends of the Tube. Of course, I can cancel up to 48 hours beforehand without penalty, and indeed, I got this one for free anyway, for filling a loyalty card for LDN Talks @ Night, having been to three talks (more, but anyway). But I'm unlikely to do so - sounds interesting, there's a lack of decent alternatives, and anyway I'm not sure I could get my free ticket transferred to another talk.
Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend, and on Saturday my mother and I are off to the Limerick Sings International Choral Festival - always worth a look, and the gala concert takes place in the University Concert Hall that night.
Next Monday, I'm headed to some comedy for £3.60 - this one's at The Tabernacle. Gosh, that's quite close to the site of the dreadful fire last week - I might take a wander up that direction.
On the 27th, I'm back with the London European Club (LEC) at last - an evening of Welsh stories and writing at the London Welsh Centre. Be lovely to see some familiar faces!
On the 28th, I had booked with Random London, Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich and London Live Comedy (again) for free comedy in Greenwich (again). And then I switched to West London Improvised Comedy Nights, who have a show at The Lillie Langtry, which is closer - indeed, very close to where I've lived longest in London. However, some more folks I haven't seen in a while - a couple of members of the Man with the Hat's old groups - are headed to a concert at the Royal Academy of Music, with London Social Detours. The concerts are free, but the group is charging a Meetup fee, so I'd normally just go on my own - but I want to meet these folks, so I'll stump up.
On the 29th, yes, once again I'd booked for free comedy in Hammersmith - with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, and Random London. Also advertised by London Live Comedy, Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, and Discover LDN.UK (again, twice). But then I'd booked to go with the LEC to a talk on the relationship between Britain and France, at the LSE. Would've been interesting, but sod it, I then realised I have a late meeting that day, and with the talk starting quite early, it's a non-starter. Didn't want to rebook the comedy, having cancelled it. So I had a look at what else was on Meetup - and discovered something interesting. I hadn't been getting a wide variety of things on the main Meetup site - but they've mercifully improved the app. Which is what I happened to consult when I realised I'd have to cancel the talk, since I didn't have a laptop to hand. And lo, the app had LOADS more events. Seriously, there's a real disconnect between the app and the main website. Tons of interesting stuff. And on the app - well, a group called Ealing Ladies Social Group was headed to Terror, at the Lyric Hammersmith. Which sounded the most interesting of all. Not the group, mind, which has far too many rules and regulations for my liking - and they're closed to new members anyway. Nothing to stop me going myself, though..
Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again! Not usual for me to go two weeks in a row.. more details below. On 3rd, London Dramatic Arts is off to see The Mentor, at the Vaudeville Theatre. Expensively, as usual. I'm going as well - cheaply, courtesy of Amazon Tickets. Sat in the Grand Circle, I should be able to avoid them.
On the 4th, I cancelled more free comedy in Hammersmith (Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, London Live Comedy, and Discover LDN.UK) for another Funzing talk - The Psychology of Dreams. As advertised by London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night. Cancellable, but I'm so far unlikely to do so.
On the 5th, back with the LEC, for a concert of Greek music at Sands Films. Looking forward to that - I love the venue, but haven't fancied the last couple of concerts they've had there.
On the 6th, I was booked for free comedy in Hammersmith (!) with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, London Live Comedy, Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, and Discover LDN.UK. Did you think I'd actually go? ;-) Well, I'm not - but the reason is an unusual one. My new company is very nice indeed - and they have an annual volunteering day: gardening. I hate gardening. On the 6th. For the whole day, they're at it. And today, the office manager kindly informed us that it was compulsory unless we were on holiday. Huh! Well now, I hate being told what to do. So I've suddenly decided to be on holiday that day - and as it's a Thursday, the next too.
Then comes a weekend I've been looking forward to for a while. Long-anticipated, the European leg of U2's 30th anniversary tour of The Joshua Tree kicks off in Twickenham on the 8th & 9th. 'Mare of a place to see them - after I saw them there in 2005, I swore - never again. Happily, I now know someone living down that direction! :-) Helen is also coming with me to the first concert, and I'm staying with her for the weekend (now starting on Thursday, as she kindly offered). Which sorts transport for the first night - she'll drive. The second night, I'll head back by bus - the train is an absolute nightmare. Anyway, this would have been a weekend in Ireland - hence the trips back two weekends in a row, preceding it.
For today, I was thinking of a film. After I deleted all the stuff at the top of the list that wasn't showing today, I was left with The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson. Never heard of this person, but it turns out to be the story of a transgender gay activist, who died in mysterious circumstances. I couldn't even find a trailer, but the story sounded interesting enough. Showing at the Curzon Aldgate only, and practically sold out when I checked - so I booked.
Just as well it was an evening showing - it was late when I got to bed, and again, it gave the day a chance to cool off a bit. I left it a little bit tight to eat before leaving, and wouldn't you know - with just a couple of bites left to go, the building's fire alarm goes off! Perfect timing, sez I, gobbling down the last of it and the last of my wine. Left the washing up till I got back, and left them to it. They're charging residents £250 for setting off the alarms now, you know..
Well, my plan was to take the bus from Oxford Street - but when I got there, wouldn't you know it, it was delayed, and now wouldn't get me there in time. Plan B - Tube - and the station was just across the road, handily. My God, it was hot down there though - and when I got off at the other end, I was glad to have Google Maps, without which I'd never have found the cinema, tucked away behind hoardings as it was. I scuttled straight for the screens, happily brandishing my e-ticket on my phone to the usher, who directed me, and explained that the aircon was out of order in that screen, so if I wanted to leave within 20 minutes, I'd get a refund. Oh, okay. There was also water outside the door - I passed. Actually, it wasn't too hot in there, and the reclining seats were lovely. If a bit jerky.
Well, this seems to have been part of the East End Film Festival. A chap was giving a speech as I came in - I pretty much missed all of it, but never mind. And we were then straight into the feature. Which was just as well, because I found it very long. Now, I'm glad to see this community, which so often doesn't have a voice, get some positive attention. We got to know several of the deceased's friends, saw footage of the deceased, met some very nice people, generally quite gentle folk.
Essentially, this story focuses on one activist who decides to reopen the case before she retires, and goes from pillar to post trying to find the truth behind what was officially designated a suicide. Spoiler: she comes up with several theories, but proves not a thing, and ultimately posts the whole lot off to the F.B.I., since she doesn't have the funds to pursue it herself through the courts. Bit of a damp squib, then. And it seems to be more the former roommate of the deceased, who dies of cancer in the course of the film, who was the real activist - the subject of the title seems mainly to have been famous for dressing flamboyantly. If (s)he was famous for anything else, it wasn't mentioned. Hey-ho - if this is a particular interest of yours, go see. Otherwise, stay away - it's terminally boring. Boy, am I sick of "worthy" films getting high ratings.. At least it was over early, I got a bus home, and a nice, cold drink on the walk from the bus stop.
For tomorrow, I was thinking of a film again. I hadn't booked anything, then got an email from Kensington Classical Music yesterday, who are headed to a concert that evening. Well, I considered it, but as well as the fact that I could get cheaper tickets from the venue (and would then have the fun of avoiding them), I figured I'd rather go the film I had in mind. Der Müde Tod (Destiny) is a German silent film from the 20s, about a girl who does a deal with the Devil, so she can be reunited with her dead lover. Right up my street. (Wonder Woman is higher rated.. but no thanks.) Closest venue is the BFI, and when I checked, it was nearly sold out! So I booked, finally. Gosh, it's ages since I've been there - I can just feel those lovely, plush seats.
On Tuesday, I have one of those £3.60 tickets, to a play called The English Heart, at the Etcetera Theatre. The closest interesting thing to me that they had on their list, basically.
On Wednesday, I've (ahem) provisionally booked for free comedy in Greenwich, with Random London, Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon & Greenwich, and London Live Comedy. I'll probably end up going to a film instead.
On Thursday, I'd originally booked for free comedy in Hammersmith, with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, and Random London. Also advertised with Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, and Discover LDN.UK (twice). Instead, I'm back with Funzing - London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night have a talk on Urban Legends of the Tube. Of course, I can cancel up to 48 hours beforehand without penalty, and indeed, I got this one for free anyway, for filling a loyalty card for LDN Talks @ Night, having been to three talks (more, but anyway). But I'm unlikely to do so - sounds interesting, there's a lack of decent alternatives, and anyway I'm not sure I could get my free ticket transferred to another talk.
Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend, and on Saturday my mother and I are off to the Limerick Sings International Choral Festival - always worth a look, and the gala concert takes place in the University Concert Hall that night.
On the 26th, I'm headed to some comedy for £3.60 - this one's at The Tabernacle. Gosh, that's quite close to the site of the dreadful fire this week - I might take a wander up that direction.
On the 27th, I'm back with the London European Club (LEC) at last - an evening of Welsh stories and writing at the London Welsh Centre. Be lovely to see some familiar faces!
On the 28th, I had booked with Random London, Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich and London Live Comedy (again) for free comedy in Greenwich (again). And then I switched to West London Improvised Comedy Nights, who have a show at The Lillie Langtry, which is closer - indeed, very close to where I've lived longest in London. However, some more folks I haven't seen in a while - a couple of members of the Man with the Hat's old groups - are headed to a concert at the Royal Academy of Music, with London Social Detours. The concerts are free, but the group is charging a Meetup fee, so I'd normally just go on my own - but I want to meet these folks, so I'll stump up.
On the 29th, yes, once again I'd booked for free comedy in Hammersmith - with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, and Random London. Also advertised by London Live Comedy, Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, and Discover LDN.UK (again, twice). But then I'd booked to go with the LEC to a talk on the relationship between Britain and France, at the LSE. Would've been interesting, but sod it, I then realised I have a late meeting that day, and with the talk starting quite early, it's a non-starter. Didn't want to rebook the comedy, having cancelled it. So I had a look at what else was on Meetup - and discovered something interesting. I hadn't been getting a wide variety of things on the main Meetup site - but they've mercifully improved the app. Which is what I happened to consult when I realised I'd have to cancel the talk, since I didn't have a laptop to hand. And lo, the app had LOADS more events. Seriously, there's a real disconnect between the app and the main website. Tons of interesting stuff. And on the app - well, a group called Ealing Ladies Social Group was headed to Terror, at the Lyric Hammersmith. Which sounded the most interesting of all. Not the group, mind, which has far too many rules and regulations for my liking - and they're closed to new members anyway. Nothing to stop me going myself, though..
Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again! Not usual for me to go two weeks in a row.. more details below. On 3rd, London Dramatic Arts is off to see The Mentor, at the Vaudeville Theatre. Expensively, as usual. I'm going as well - cheaply, courtesy of Amazon Tickets. Sat in the Grand Circle, I should be able to avoid them.
On 4th, I cancelled more free comedy in Hammersmith (Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, London Live Comedy, and Discover LDN.UK) for another Funzing talk - The Psychology of Dreams. As advertised by London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night. Cancellable, but I'm so far unlikely to do so.
On 5th, back with the LEC, for a concert of Greek music at Sands Films. Looking forward to that - I love the venue, but haven't fancied the last couple of concerts they've had there.
On 6th, I'm booked for free comedy in Hammersmith (!) with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, London Live Comedy, Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, and Discover LDN.UK. Whaddya think the odds are I'll actually go?
Then comes a weekend I've been looking forward to for a while. Long-anticipated, the European leg of U2's 30th anniversary tour of The Joshua Tree kicks off in Twickenham on the 8th & 9th. 'Mare of a place to see them - after I saw them there in 2005, I swore - never again. Happily, I now know someone living down that direction! :-) Helen is also coming with me to the first concert, and I'm staying with her for the weekend. Which sorts transport for the first night - she'll drive. The second night, I'll head back by bus - the train is an absolute nightmare. Anyway, this would have been a weekend in Ireland - hence the trips back two weekends in a row, preceding it.
Today, I had my eye on Day Trips from London, who were headed on a Lulworth Cove Heritage Site, Corfe Castle Village + Warhead Quay Day Trip. Would've been a gorgeous day for it, too. But I was busy when the email came through to advertise it, and wouldn't you know it, by the time I got around to it, it had booked out! Always popular, it seems. Never mind - while I was at Soho Theatre the other night, I was facing the screen advertising future events, and what should I see but that Andrew Maxwell was performing a run there, ending today. Now, I saw him live once before, and he was fall-off-your-seat hilarious! So I booked. So much for my Westminster Residents' Card though, which is supposed to give £1 off at this venue - there was no mention of it when I came to book! Bah humbug.. Well, at least it meant I could have a lie-in in the morning.
It also meant I could walk, and on a scorcher like today, avoiding public transport was appreciated! I had a very, very lazy day.. did pop out to Tesco to get some essentials, ate, went to bed for a while - it's exhaustingly hot. Like an oven outside. The show wasn't on until 9:45pm - I left at about 9:20, got there in plenty of time, grateful for more reasonable temperatures and a cooling breeze. No coat required, of course. At the theatre, I'd booked a balcony seat, but they offered to move me into the centre if I wanted, there was plenty of room. Nonsense! sez I. My seat overlooked the stage, meaning I was nice and close, and since the entrance is at that level, I didn't have to worry about steps.
Edinburgh preview, of course. So he spent an hour practicing on us. Of course, some comedians' practice performances are better than most on the circuit, and he's a consummate professional. While he didn't reach the dizzy heights of the last time I saw him, he is a very funny man, this was practice material, and it was fascinating to see the little tricks he's developed to get the audience to react as he wants.
In the hour he had with us, he ran through mostly topical issues, with a brief nod to family jokes. Mostly though, it was Brexit ("Come on, through the ups and downs of our relationship, the Irish always had one consolation - that WE were the weirder of our two islands!"), with a bit about his disgruntled neighbour thrown in. (He could never figure out why his neighbour was sometimes disgruntled, until his neighbour on the other side explained that his grumpy days were the days he could see France,across the water! - he lives in Kent, these days. There was a bit of dissing various nationalities, and a bit about terrorism - he told us how, when he was a young and naif comedian, he came onstage in Clapham on the day of the Canary Wharf bombing, and tearfully apologised to the crowd, saying he had nothing to do with it and didn't support it. Silence, after which a guy at the back got up and said, "That's East London, mate - 's miles away!"
Ah yes, hard to terrorise a Londoner. And so home, and I'm looking forward to having some ice cream. Tomorrow, I was thinking of a film. After I deleted all the stuff at the top of the list that isn't showing that day, I was left with The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson. Never heard of this person, but it turns out to be the story of a transgender gay activist, who died in mysterious circumstances. I couldn't even find a trailer, but the story sounds interesting enough. Showing at the Curzon Aldgate only, and practically sold out when I checked - so I booked.
For Monday, I was thinking of a film again. I hadn't booked anything, then got an email from Kensington Classical Music today, who are headed to a concert that evening. Well, I considered it, but as well as the fact that I could get cheaper tickets from the venue (and would then have the fun of avoiding them), I figured I'd rather go the film I had in mind. Der Müde Tod (Destiny) is a German silent film from the 20s, about a girl who does a deal with the Devil, so she can be reunited with her dead lover. Right up my street. (Wonder Woman is higher rated.. but no thanks.) Closest venue is the BFI, and when I checked, it was nearly sold out! So I booked, finally. Gosh, it's ages since I've been there - I can just feel those lovely, plush seats.
On Tuesday, I have one of those £3.60 tickets, to a play called The English Heart, at the Etcetera Theatre. The closest interesting thing to me that they had on their list, basically.
On Wednesday, I've (ahem) provisionally booked for free comedy in Greenwich, with Random London, Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon & Greenwich, and London Live Comedy. I'll probably end up going to a film instead.
On Thursday, I'd originally booked for free comedy in Hammersmith, with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, and Random London. Also advertised with Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, and Discover LDN.UK (twice). Instead, I'm back with Funzing - London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night have a talk on Urban Legends of the Tube. Of course, I can cancel up to 48 hours beforehand without penalty, and indeed, I got this one for free anyway, for filling a loyalty card for LDN Talks @ Night, having been to three talks (more, but anyway). But I'm unlikely to do so - sounds interesting, there's a lack of decent alternatives, and anyway I'm not sure I could get my free ticket transferred to another talk.
Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend, and next Saturday my mother and I are off to the Limerick Sings International Choral Festival - always worth a look, and the gala concert takes place in the University Concert Hall that night.
On the 26th, I'm headed to some comedy for £3.60 - this one's at The Tabernacle. Gosh, that's quite close to the site of the dreadful fire this week - I might take a wander up that direction.
On the 27th, I'm back with the London European Club (LEC) at last - an evening of Welsh stories and writing at the London Welsh Centre. Be lovely to see some familiar faces!
On the 28th, I had booked with Random London, Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich and London Live Comedy (again) for free comedy in Greenwich (again). And then I switched to West London Improvised Comedy Nights, who have a show at The Lillie Langtry, which is closer - indeed, very close to where I've lived longest in London. However, some more folks I haven't seen in a while - a couple of members of the Man with the Hat's old groups - are headed to a concert at the Royal Academy of Music, with London Social Detours. The concerts are free, but the group is charging a Meetup fee, so I'd normally just go on my own - but I want to meet these folks, so I'll stump up.
On the 29th, yes, once again I'd booked for free comedy in Hammersmith - with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, and Random London. Also advertised by London Live Comedy, Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, and Discover LDN.UK (again, twice). But then I'd booked to go with the LEC to a talk on the relationship between Britain and France, at the LSE. Would've been interesting, but sod it, I then realised I have a late meeting that day, and with the talk starting quite early, it's a non-starter. Didn't want to rebook the comedy, having cancelled it. So I had a look at what else was on Meetup - and discovered something interesting. I hadn't been getting a wide variety of things on the main Meetup site - but they've mercifully improved the app. Which is what I happened to consult when I realised I'd have to cancel the talk, since I didn't have a laptop to hand. And lo, the app had LOADS more events. Seriously, there's a real disconnect between the app and the main website. Tons of interesting stuff. And on the app - well, a group called Ealing Ladies Social Group was headed to Terror, at the Lyric Hammersmith. Which sounded the most interesting of all. Not the group, mind, which has far too many rules and regulations for my liking - and they're closed to new members anyway. Nothing to stop me going myself, though..
Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again! Not usual for me to go two weeks in a row.. more details below. On 3rd, London Dramatic Arts is off to see The Mentor, at the Vaudeville Theatre. Expensively, as usual. I'm going as well - cheaply, courtesy of Amazon Tickets. Sat in the Grand Circle, I should be able to avoid them.
On 4th, I cancelled more free comedy in Hammersmith (Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, London Live Comedy, and Discover LDN.UK) for another Funzing talk - The Psychology of Dreams. As advertised by London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night. Cancellable, but I'm so far unlikely to do so.
On 5th, back with the LEC, for a concert of Greek music at Sands Films. Looking forward to that - I love the venue, but haven't fancied the last couple of concerts they've had there.
On 6th, I'm booked for free comedy in Hammersmith (!) with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, London Live Comedy, Hammersmith & Fulham Friends, and Discover LDN.UK. Whaddya think the odds are I'll actually go?
Then comes a weekend I've been looking forward to for a while. Long-anticipated, the European leg of U2's 30th anniversary tour of The Joshua Tree kicks off in Twickenham on the 8th & 9th. 'Mare of a place to see them - after I saw them there in 2005, I swore - never again. Happily, I now know someone living down that direction! :-) Helen is also coming with me to the first concert, and I'm staying with her for the weekend. Which sorts transport for the first night - she'll drive. The second night, I'll head back by bus - the train is an absolute nightmare. Anyway, this would have been a weekend in Ireland - hence the trips back two weekends in a row, preceding it.
