Play: 2:22 - A Ghost Story

A couple of weeks ago, Up in the Cheap Seats was off to 2:22 - A Ghost Story, but I was meeting an ex-colleague for drinks that night and couldn't go. Well, I got a ticket for tonight - second-last night of the run! Unfortunately, cheapest available were £65, and no availability with cheap ticket sellers - ah well, I decided I really wanted to see it (great reviews helped), so I booked. Had great fun trying to decide which of the few remaining seats at that price was the best.. Showing at the Noel Coward Theatre. And with all the cheap shows I go to, I can afford it! Interestingly, a couple of days ago I got an email from them explaining that if I wanted a drink, I had to preorder. And I had to arrive between 30 and 45 minutes before the show starts. Well, said I, if I'm obliged to be there that early, then yes, I'll have a drink, thank you! So I placed an order. (Oh, and they told me which door to go to, too!) Goodness, that's more care than most places are taking..

The driver of the bus that was supposed to take me to the far side of Aldwych decided that the near side would do, which added 10 minutes to my walk. Ah well, 'tis exercise - I noticed a sign that said Strand was permanently closed now! to vehicular traffic, of course. En route, I suddenly remembered that I hadn't hunted for my ticket on my phone. And while I was doing that, the theatre finally confirmed my order - and I immediately got a message that it was ready. Yes, well I wasn't..

I did make it there within my allotted time though, and after someone asked whether I was "double-jabbed" (yes) and another made a cursory search of my bag (with a stick!), I was in. Had to ask where the bar "on my level" was, though - and discovered that it was down a few flights of stairs, and actually on the level below! A fellow at the door looked at me expectantly, and I said I had to pick up an order - I could see bags, just inside the door. So he asked whether I had a confirmation email - yes - but what he actually wanted was the code. Which wasn't in the email, but I'd fortunately memorised. And so I got to collect my bag, with a plastic glass and a small bottle of the only white wine they had (which was a bit watery). Naturally, I could take it to my seat - well, I couldn't go into the bar!

The place filled up completely, in due course - this is popular. The clock visible on stage reminds us of the importance of the time in this play, and cycles swiftly through its 24-hour period, over and over, until the play starts. And shortly after I got there, they started to play music - and they started with Portishead. Oh joy..

So, the plot is simple - a couple with a small baby have moved into their dream home, which they've completely redesigned, with a modern extension to an old house. However, just recently, with the husband away, the wife (Lily Allen, in her West End debut) heard strange noises over the baby monitor - as though someone was pacing around and around the nursery. This has happened every night since - at 2:22am - and the last time, she was in the room herself, and heard crying. She's terrified. So, when her husband returns, she invites an old friend and her partner over for dinner - with the ulterior motive of getting them to stay until the fateful hour, and prove she's not as insane as her highly rational husband thinks she is..

Aw man, I knew it. Every time I'm really looking forward to something, it disappoints me. Having said that - and not giving it away, because it is on again tomorrow - the twist is excellent. But what spoiled it for me was the blood-curdling screech that accompanies every scene change, along with flashing lights and the red lights around the edge of the stage coming on. A stupid jump scare every time. I guess they figured that, without that, the play would be too slow. But most horror is actually like that, a completely normal setting until something happens to change your whole perspective. Hey-ho, the twist makes it worth seeing - not sure whether it justifies the price I paid though, and it's even more expensive if you want a last-minute ticket for tomorrow! Ah well, not the worst.

What was worst for me was that my knees - never good at the best of times - started acting up in the second half, during which I spent a lot of time trying to get them into a comfortable position! Being in the front row of the Circle, you see, meant that I had a hard surface in front of me, with no give, so I couldn't stretch - and my row was full, so I couldn't stretch to the side either. I was stiff and sore by the time we were let out - and still am, to be honest! At least, on the way back, I got the bus driver to stop at the correct stop, for a change, by virtue of not pressing the button until I could see the stop! It isn't even listed on their route any more, you know..

Tomorrow, my first outing with another new group - Bucket List London is off to Kenwood House, and I said I'd join them. You don't have to book, but it guarantees availability- tickets for free from English Heritage, via See Tickets. We're to meet at 11, and it'll take me the better part of an hour to get there, I see - so off to bed for me imminently!

On Sunday, I found something interesting with London Walks, Art & Culture Explorers! Yet another new one for me. This is an "Uncomfortable Statues Walk" - statues commemorating controversial people. I can think of a few, and it'll be interesting to see which come up on this!

On Monday, I'm with London Classical Music & Theatre Group, for a choral performance (annual, apparently) by The Sixteen in Temple Church. Fantastic, and I've never actually been inside!

On Tuesday, I'm with Guided Walking Tours in Brighton and Sussex (!). They have an online talk entitled Hallowe'en Penny Dreadful Online Show - The Art of Victorian Horror. I have to say, online has become much more of an option since lockdown. And that'll be a night I can move stuff from my desk - we have to clear them out by the end of the week, as we're moving office next month!

On Wednesday, I booked another walk with Invigorate - this one is a tour of (the outside of) Christopher Wren's churches. Starting even closer to the office than the last one, handily.

On Thursday, an online storytelling double-bill - I'll have to see how that pans out. First, I'd booked Universe, a Crick Crack Club (CCC) show happening in Oxford and live-streamed. Clare Murphy - and I've seen it before, and it was the best show ever! And then I saw that Martin Shaw from the CCC was doing an online show, earlier in the evening.. this one, in association with Watkins Bookshop, is called The Smoke Hole, and it's free. So I said, hey, why not? (And this is realistically the last night I can move stuff from my desk.)

Next Friday, back with the London European Club for a concert - Balkan Music, courtesy of Raka & Balamuc, in The Post Bar, Tottenham. Sounds like fun. Even if I have to bring my work laptop, as we won't have access to our desks by that night. Then I'm back to Ireland - another Saturday flight - and with a few days off, I'm not flying back until the 28th. At least I'm not working from home this time, so don't have to bring the laptop on the flight!

But on the 29th, back with that group again, for Carmen - contemporary flamenco at The Place. (Might work from home that day, as we won't be in our new office yet, and I'd have to carry my laptop around with me.) Funnily enough, someone in the group said there were no individual seats left, and asked whether anyone wanted to double up with her. I offered, if there were no other takers - but she never got back to me. So, since I was now up to that date in my schedule, I decided to check for myself - and got an individual seat! So I've booked it.

And on the 30th, I'm doing something nice and Halloweeny - a ghost story event entitled Night Owl - changed from Scared to Death in the Woods, which they're now doing on Hallowe'en itself, and which has sold out. Tickets from Design My Night. So, an organisation called London Dreamtime is leading us off into a undisclosed location, somewhere around Hampstead Heath.. we're to dress warmly, and bring a blanket to sit on, and a "candle in a jar" - I actually went out and bought an LED flickering candle in a lantern-style holder. Well, thought it was the most practical! Now I just need batteries..

Storytelling: The Women Who Gave No F*cks

So, the boss was in today, and took me for a break out to a local vegan cafe. Sorry, cannot remember the name! but I can testify that they have very friendly service, one of the better hot chocolates I've had, and some interesting Eastern European hazelnut loaf, whose name I can't remember either. But it's very nice. And was worth her beating me at chess - which is quite predictable. Hell, she was apparently ninth in her country at one point! It's somewhere just north of Smithfield - have a wander, you might find it. It's on a corner.

Tonight, back at last with London European Club (LEC)! Happily, they were going to what I'd be going to anyway.. the Crick Crack Club (CCC) performed The Women Who Gave No F*cks, at Rich Mix. Fantastic when the LEC decide to come..

The organiser suggested meeting beforehand in Casa Blue - it's handy, just down the road, and it's spacious. And they have what we would call quite a traditional, popular soundtrack. I arrived first - and lo, it was Happy Hour, so I got a discount if I bought two drinks! Figuring I had time before the show, I did - and when he showed up, we had quite a nice, long chat. It was just the two of us, sadly - but it was great to catch up, after so long.

Just before showtime, we'd finished our drinks and headed down to the venue - where we discovered that tickets were to be collected upstairs, outside the studio where the show was to take place. We took the lift - sorry to the sign that asked us to take the stairs if possible, but four floors is a big ask. The others were upstairs - as were Ben Haggarty and Martin Shaw of the CCC, having a chat over by the window - and when the doors opened, we went in. Took seats quite near the front, but slightly elevated, so we could see over the people in front of us. Ben Haggarty MCed right at the beginning, then wisely made an exit - this was ladies' night.

All women from then on in. Two teams of three, and I didn't know most of them - on one team were Nell Phoenix and Laura Sampson, ably captained by one Alys Torrance, who was new to me. I didn't recognise any names from the other side, but upon seeing them, I recognised Sarah Rundle, whom I've seen perform with the Embers Collective. Members of the audience who were lucky enough to be seated with things under their chairs got to participate - one with a "clapometer" to decide who won each battle between a pair, one from each team: one to keep time (they were technically limited to 12 minutes per story): and one to award prizes.

First up was Nell, who was competing against Wendy Shearer, from the other team - both had stories about goddesses. I preferred Nell's cheeky tale, but Wendy won the clap-off. Following were the team captains - tricksters were their bag, Alys with a story about the Queen of Carthage, and Lucy Lill with an ancient Greek tale about an oracle - both women who got one over on the king. But the last round, after the interval, was my favourite - the theme was female leaders, and Sarah had, basically, the lifestory of Eleanor of Aquitaine! But keen as I am on that topic, the story of the night for me was the last. Laura Sampson has really progressed as a storyteller since I saw her last, and her story about a female Japanese general was the only one tonight that held me spellbound. Storytelling at its best - and she deservedly won that bout!

At the interval, we were encouraged to use the chalk provided to write the names of women that inspired us, on the floor:

Somebody wrote "Margaret Thatcher". Well, as Lucy remarked, that happens every time they do this show.. and certainly, as Alys pointed out, there was a woman who gave no f**ks! A most enjoyable evening - and roll on the next.

Tomorrow, woo! A couple of weeks ago, Up in the Cheap Seats was off to 2:22 - A Ghost Story, but I was meeting an ex-colleague for drinks that night and couldn't go. Well, I got a ticket for tomorrow - second-last night of the run! Unfortunately, cheapest available were £65, and no availability with cheap ticket sellers - ah well, I decided I really wanted to see it (great reviews helped), so I booked. Had great fun trying to decide which of the few remaining seats at that price was the best.. Showing at the Noel Coward Theatre. And with all the cheap shows I'm going to, I can afford it! Interestingly, yesterday I got an email from them explaining that if I wanted a drink, I had to preorder. And I have to arrive between 30 and 45 minutes before the show starts. Well, said I, if I'm obliged to be there that early, then yes, I'll have a drink, thank you! So I've placed an order. (Oh, and I'm to go in a particular door, too!) Goodness, that's more care than most places are taking..

On Saturday, my first outing with another new group - Bucket List London is off to Kenwood House, and I said I'd join them. You don't have to book, but it guarantees availability- tickets for free from English Heritage, via See Tickets.

On Sunday, I found something interesting with London Walks, Art & Culture Explorers! Yet another new one for me. This is an "Uncomfortable Statues Walk" - statues commemorating controversial people. I can think of a few, and it'll be interesting to see which come up on this!

On Monday, I'm with London Classical Music & Theatre Group, for a choral performance (annual, apparently) by The Sixteen in Temple Church. Fantastic, and I've never actually been inside!

On Tuesday, I'm with Guided Walking Tours in Brighton and Sussex (!). They have an online talk entitled Hallowe'en Penny Dreadful Online Show - The Art of Victorian Horror. I have to say, online has become much more of an option since lockdown. And that'll be a night I can move stuff from my desk - we have to clear them out by the end of the week, as we're moving office next month!

On Wednesday, I booked another walk with Invigorate - this one is a tour of (the outside of) Christopher Wren's churches. Starting even closer to the office than the last one, handily.

Next Thursday, an online storytelling double-bill - I'll have to see how that pans out. First, I'd booked Universe, a CCC show happening in Oxford and live-streamed. Clare Murphy - and I've seen it before, and it was the best show ever! And then I saw that Martin Shaw was doing an online show, earlier in the evening.. this one, in association with Watkins Bookshop, is called The Smoke Hole, and it's free. So I said, hey, why not? (And this is realistically the last night I can move stuff from my desk.)

On the 22nd, back with the LEC for a concert - Balkan Music, courtesy of Raka & Balamuc, in The Post Bar, Tottenham. Sounds like fun. Even if I have to bring my work laptop, as we won't have access to our desks by that night. Then I'm back to Ireland - another Saturday flight - and with a few days off, I'm not flying back until the 28th. At least I'm not working from home this time, so don't have to bring the laptop on the flight!

But on the 29th, back with that group again, for Carmen - contemporary flamenco at The Place. Funnily enough, someone in the group said there were no individual seats left, and asked whether anyone wanted to double up with her. I offered, if there were no other takers - but she never got back to me. So, since I was now up to that date in my schedule, I decided to check for myself - and got an individual seat! So I've booked it.

And on the 30th, I'm doing something nice and Halloweeny - a ghost story event entitled Night Owl - changed from Scared to Death in the Woods, which they're now doing on Hallowe'en itself, and which has sold out. Tickets from Design My Night. So, an organisation called London Dreamtime is leading us off into a undisclosed location, somewhere around Hampstead Heath.. we're to dress warmly, and bring a blanket to sit on, and a "candle in a jar" - I actually went out and bought an LED flickering candle in a lantern-style holder. Well, thought it was the most practical! Now I just need batteries..

Plays: What If If Only & Is God Is

Tonight, we were supposed to be with Civilised London. We were booked for what promised to be another excellent meal, this time at the Korean restaurant, The Petite Corée. Meeting beforehand in The Railway pub. Sadly, got word last week that it was cancelled - the organiser has personal business. So, instead I booked with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for a double bill at the Royal Court - What If If Only (15 minutes long) and Is God Is, later in the evening. The short play is only £5 if booked with the other.

Hadn't a lot on today, thank goodness - what with the first play starting at 6, and us meeting beforehand, I had to rush! As it was, I found it expedient to stay as late as possible in the office - which meant taking the Tube. Circle Line it was, and I must say, it was nicely uncrowded - there's a lot to be said for living in West London. I comfortably sat in an uncrowded carriage and read my paper, until it was time to get off.

Sloane Square Station is right beside the theatre, of course. Not seeing anyone I knew just yet, I went to the toilet first, then checked my messages and discovered yes, they were waiting outside. So I joined them. Our organiser thought to ask whether we could book a table for the interval between plays - he said yes, but we should order the food now so that we wouldn't be rushing. Which was a good idea, really! and we did. From a reduced menu, mind..

And so to the Stalls for the first play, What If If Only - well, with all tickets the same price (if you book both shows), why wouldn't you?!

Lovely comfy leather seats. 

So, What If If Only is a short play by Caryl Churchill, who also wrote the superb series of short plays Glass. Kill. Bluebeard. Imp. - it's now over two years since I saw those, here! This play concerns a man whose partner has recently died - he talks to her as though she's still there, he misses her. He misses her so much that she reappears to him - only not exactly.. Trust Caryl Churchill to come up with a most ingenious twist to this simple idea. It's a gem of a play, an idea perfectly expressed in the 15 minutes it takes. We all loved it. Highly recommended.

Afterwards, back down to the bar, where we were shown to our reserved table - a very nice one, with a couch. And our food was ready immediately! Can't fault the service. The chips that two of us had came with a very nice dip, one of us had the vegan platter, which had more food on it than she'd expected! Water was provided, and we placed drinks orders as well. After the fun of splitting the bill, we were just ready in nice time for our second play, Is God Is. And handily enough, I'd gone for a slips seat in the Circle - less climbing than the others had, up in the Balcony!

View is ok - you do miss the action on the RHS, but it's pretty evenly spread across the stage. And I wasn't too worried about leaning to see, with no-one behind me, and no-one beside me once the group to my left moved over one, there being an empty seat.

So - two plays with unusual names, both single-act plays. Otherwise, they have nothing in common. We were discussing afterwards whom we might recommend this to - Tarantino fans, perhaps? With its tendency towards violence, and the ever-present soundtrack. I was glad of the captions, which accompanied both of tonight's plays - I had real trouble with the thick American accent.

Twin girls suddenly hear from their mother, whom they thought died in the fire that scarred them. They go to see her in her nursing home - she's even worse affected, and tells them that their father did it deliberately. Sends them off on a revenge mission. They refer to her as God, since she created them - so yes, they're on a mission from God. (Now, where have I heard that before..?)

It grew on me. Some of the visuals were very clever - I loved the rotating dolls' house that the father now lives in, living the apparently perfect life. And his entrance - ominous, in a stetson, swaggering across the stage with a spotlight on him - is all you could wish for: a grand entrance, to accompany all the stories we've heard about him. So, great stage direction - was there a moral? As I said, gee, I hope not! If there was, I don't want to know what it is. But hey, it's entertaining. If you can take the violence. Caveat emptor. Both plays run till the 23rd.

A debrief afterwards, and off we went - quite early, for once. And I was glad that my schedule cleared out to allow me to go tonight. And so to the flash bus stop, with the whitescreen display of next buses, and a nice trip back on the #11 bus - now that I wasn't in a hurry - and of course, this makes an excellent sightseeing bus, passing several landmark buildings. I pressed the button to get off straight after the stop before mine - the next stop these days is officially Liverpool Street, but mine is the stop before that, and they usually do stop there. Strangely, he didn't let me off at the stop, but quite a bit down the road. Weird. Ah well, it was a fine night.

Tomorrow, back at last with London European Club (LEC)! Happily, they're going to what I'd be going to anyway.. the Crick Crack Club (CCC) is performing The Women Who Gave No F*cks, at Rich Mix. Fantastic when the LEC decide to come..

On Friday, woo! A couple of weeks ago, UITCS was off to 2:22 - A Ghost Story, but I was meeting an ex-colleague for drinks that night and couldn't go. Well, I got a ticket for the 15th - second-last night of the run! Unfortunately, cheapest available were £65, and no availability with cheap ticket sellers - ah well, I decided I really wanted to see it (great reviews helped), so I booked. Had great fun trying to decide which of the few remaining seats at that price was the best.. Showing at the Noel Coward Theatre. And with all the cheap shows I'm going to, I can afford it! Interestingly, today I got an email from them explaining that if I wanted a drink, I had to preorder. And I have to arrive between 30 and 45 minutes before the show starts. Well, said I, if I'm obliged to be there that early, then yes, I'll have a drink, thank you! So I've placed an order. (Oh, and I'm to go in a particular door, too!) Goodness, that's more care than most places are taking..

On Saturday, my first outing with another new group - Bucket List London is off to Kenwood House, and I said I'd join them. You don't have to book, but it guarantees availability- tickets for free from English Heritage, via See Tickets.

On Sunday, I found something interesting with London Walks, Art & Culture Explorers! Yet another new one for me. This is an "Uncomfortable Statues Walk" - statues commemorating controversial people. I can think of a few, and it'll be interesting to see which come up on this!

On Monday, I'm with London Classical Music & Theatre Group, for a choral performance (annual, apparently) by The Sixteen in Temple Church. Fantastic, and I've never actually been inside!

On Tuesday, I'm with Guided Walking Tours in Brighton and Sussex (!). They have an online talk entitled Hallowe'en Penny Dreadful Online Show - The Art of Victorian Horror. I have to say, online has become much more of an option since lockdown. And that'll be another night I can move stuff from my desk!

Next Wednesday, I booked another walk with Invigorate - this one is a tour of (the outside of) Christopher Wren's churches. Starting even closer to the office than the last one, handily.

On the 21st, an online storytelling double-bill - I'll have to see how that pans out. First, I'd booked Universe, a CCC show happening in Oxford and live-streamed. Clare Murphy - and I've seen it before, and it was the best show ever! And then I saw that Martin Shaw, another member of the CCC, was doing an online show, earlier in the evening.. this one, in association with Watkins Bookshop, is called The Smoke Hole, and it's free. So I said, hey, why not? (And this is realistically the last night I can move stuff from my desk.)

On the 22nd, back with the LEC for a concert - Balkan Music, courtesy of Raka & Balamuc, in The Post Bar, Tottenham. Sounds like fun. Even if I have to bring my work laptop, as we won't have access to our desks by that night. Then I'm back to Ireland - another Saturday flight - and with a few days off, I'm not flying back until the 28th. At least I'm not working from home this time, so don't have to bring the laptop on the flight!

But on the 29th, back with that group again, for Carmen - contemporary flamenco at The Place. Funnily enough, someone in the group said there were no individual seats left, and asked whether anyone wanted to double up with her. I offered, if there were no other takers - but she never got back to me. So, since I was now up to that date in my schedule, I decided to check for myself - and got an individual seat! So I've booked it.

And on the 30th, I'm doing something nice and Halloweeny - a ghost story event entitled Night Owl - changed from Scared to Death in the Woods, which they're now doing on Hallowe'en itself, and which has sold out. Tickets from Design My Night. So, an organisation called London Dreamtime is leading us off into a undisclosed location, somewhere around Hampstead Heath.. we're to dress warmly, and bring a blanket to sit on, and a "candle in a jar" - I actually went out and bought an LED flickering candle in a lantern-style holder. Well, thought it was the most practical! Now I just need batteries..

Talk: Aleister Crowley's Four Books of Magick

For tonight, I found a curious thing on Meetup - it seems that Watkins Bookshop has its own Meetup group, where it advertises events, and today there was a talk by Stephen Skinner, about Aleister Crowley's Four Books of Magick. Ok, sounded interesting to me - I signed up. It was a bit early, so I said I'd see how we went. Especially since the office advertised they were bringing in cake today, in honour of World Mental Health Day. They're making active efforts to bribe us to come in - and indeed, when nothing in particular is happening, it's like a graveyard! So, if that attracted a crowd, you never know - we might head for drinks again.

Cake, we had - cupcakes and doughnuts. And I scoffed the two chocolate doughnuts that were there, and was then sugar-sated for the day. Sadly, I was the only one to show for the mental health talk, apart from one of the receptionists, who said she'd have to do it anyway. They're trying to recruit mental health first-aiders, which passers-by agreed was a great idea - no-one was interested in participating in any way, though! and wouldn't even go for the cakes and doughnuts until she'd left, in a grump. Ah well. Predictable.

No drinks were suggested, but I still didn't go to the talk - the number that signed up for it was twice the stated capacity of the venue! First-come, first-served, and I didn't fancy waiting for hours in a queue. Anyway, my extended time in the office not only allowed me to get some work done, but also to start flat-hunting.. I'm sick of this shoebox that I'm currently sitting in, and for once, I saw some decent places, slightly closer to the office, much bigger, and not too expensive. Sent out a couple of messages - we shall see. Oh, and I also got some stuff moved - we have to clear out our desks by the end of next week, in preparation for our office move (just downstairs). Anyway, that talk should be posted soon, on their YouTube channel.

Tomorrow, we were supposed to be with Civilised London. We were booked for what promised to be another excellent meal, this time at the Korean restaurant, The Petite Corée. Meeting beforehand in The Railway pub. Sadly, got word last week that it's been cancelled - the organiser has personal business. So, instead I'm with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for a double bill at the Royal Court - What If If Only (15 minutes long) and Is God Is, later that evening. The short play is only £5 if booked with the other.

On Thursday, back at last with London European Club (LEC)! Happily, they're going to what I'd be going to anyway.. the Crick Crack Club is performing The Women Who Gave No F*cks, at Rich Mix. Fantastic when the LEC decide to come..

On Friday, woo! A couple of weeks ago, UITCS was off to 2:22 - A Ghost Story, but I was meeting an ex-colleague for drinks that night and couldn't go. Well, I got a ticket for the 15th - second-last night of the run! Unfortunately, cheapest available were £65, and no availability with cheap ticket sellers - ah well, I decided I really wanted to see it (great reviews helped), so I booked. Had great fun trying to decide which of the few remaining seats at that price was the best.. Showing at the Noel Coward Theatre. And with all the cheap shows I'm going to, I can afford it!

On Saturday, my first outing with another new group - Bucket List London is off to Kenwood House, and I said I'd join them. You don't have to book, but it guarantees availability- tickets for free from English Heritage, via See Tickets.

On Sunday, I found something interesting with London Walks, Art & Culture Explorers! Yet another new one for me. This is an "Uncomfortable Statues Walk" - statues commemorating controversial people. I can think of a few, and it'll be interesting to see which come up on this!

On Monday, I'm with London Classical Music & Theatre Group, for a choral performance (annual, apparently) by The Sixteen in Temple Church. Fantastic, and I've never actually been inside!

Next Tuesday, I'm with Guided Walking Tours in Brighton and Sussex (!). They have an online talk entitled Hallowe'en Penny Dreadful Online Show - The Art of Victorian Horror. I have to say, online has become much more of an option since lockdown. And that'll be another night I can move stuff from my desk!

On the 20th, I booked another walk with Invigorate - this one is a tour of (the outside of) Christopher Wren's churches. Starting even closer to the office than the last one, handily.

On the 21st, an online storytelling double-bill - I'll have to see how that pans out. First, I'd booked Universe, a Crick Crack show happening in Oxford and live-streamed. Clare Murphy - and I've seen it before, and it was the best show ever! And then I saw that Martin Shaw, another member of Crick Crack, was doing an online show, earlier in the evening.. this one, in association with Watkins again, is called The Smoke Hole, and it's free. So I said, hey, why not? (And this is realistically the last night I can move stuff from my desk.)

On the 22nd, back with the LEC for a concert - Balkan Music, courtesy of Raka & Balamuc, in The Post Bar, Tottenham. Sounds like fun. Even if I have to bring my work laptop, as we won't have access to our desks by that night. Then I'm back to Ireland - another Saturday flight - and with a few days off, I'm not flying back until the 28th. At least I'm not working from home this time, so don't have to bring the laptop on the flight!

But on the 29th, back with that group again, for Carmen - contemporary flamenco at The Place. Funnily enough, someone in the group said there were no individual seats left, and asked whether anyone wanted to double up with her. I offered, if there were no other takers - but she never got back to me. So, since I was now up to that date in my schedule, I decided to check for myself - and got an individual seat! So I've booked it.

And on the 30th, I'm doing something nice and Halloweeny - a ghost story event entitled Night Owl - changed from Scared to Death in the Woods, which they're now doing on Hallowe'en itself, and which has sold out. Tickets from Design My Night. So, an organisation called London Dreamtime is leading us off into a undisclosed location, somewhere around Hampstead Heath.. we're to dress warmly, and bring a blanket to sit on, and a "candle in a jar" - I actually went out and bought an LED flickering candle in a lantern-style holder. Well, thought it was the most practical! 

Film: No Time to Die

Decided to see No Time to Die today - well, it was the obvious choice, especially with so little choice back here. Lots of showings, everywhere - Limerick Omniplex was the choice, with the lowest price and convenient parking.

They like you to book, and seeing that the 4pm was sold out, I did (it's also free to book) - although I was heading to the 2pm. Traffic was bad, what with ongoing roadworks on O' Connell Street - and when I finally got to the cinema, the car park was as full as I've seen it! Blame the James Bond phenomenon - several showings were already underway, having started before mine. So I parked right at the edge, pulled up my mask, gathered my stuff and headed in. I'd sensibly booked a seat right by the entrance, so not hard to find - and a very comfortable, leather, pullman seat it was. I was only just about organised by the time the feature started.

Well, you'll never be disappointed by a Bond film. Terrific production values, stunning scenery (this starts in Italy), thrilling action sequences. And I have to say, as someone who's not generally into action films, this is quite different from the norm, with humour and clever editing that really means I didn't feel the nearly three-hour running time. Interesting characters too, and surprisingly emotive scenes between Bond (Daniel Craig, in his last outing) and his girlfriend (Léa Seydoux), whom we were apparently introduced to in the last Bond film, Spectre, which I never did get around to seeing. Speaking of which, yes, it pays to have a knowledge of that film - I looked up the Wikipedia plot summary, and was glad of it.

So, Christoph Waltz apparently showed up in that as the arch-enemy, and makes another appearance here - although that title more properly now belongs to Rami Malek, with everyone criticising the decision to give him a scarred face, as it's discriminatory to people with physical characteristics like that. Ana de Armas plays a delightfully inexperienced agent, Ralph Fiennes is M, Ben Whishaw is Q, and Hugh Dennis gives an excellent cameo as a scientist working on MI6's secret weapon.

The whole way through, I found myself marvelling at the plot twists - clever, you know. And sure enough, Phoebe Waller-Bridge was one of the writing team. For one thing, with Bond retired (when the film starts), there's a new, female 007! As I say, with emotional scenes between Bond and his girlfriend, the character is taken in a new direction - and as you watch the ending, start thinking about what the next Bond film is going to look like. Because, especially with the interest for this, I'm pretty sure there'll be another! and by the looks of tis ending, it could be quite interesting. Anyway, this is well worth seeing - as I remarked afterwards, I'm not an authority on Bond, but this must be up there with the very best of them!

Working from home tomorrow, and flying back to London that evening.

On Tuesday, I found a curious thing on Meetup - it seems that Watkins Bookshop has its own Meetup group, where it advertises events, and that day there's a talk by Stephen Skinner, about Aleister Crowley's Four Books of Magick. Ok, sounds interesting to me - I signed up. It is a bit early, so I'll have to see how we go. Especially now that the office has advertised they're bringing in cake that day, in honour of World Mental Health Day. They're making active efforts to bribe us to come in - and indeed, when nothing in particular is happening, it's like a graveyard! So, if that attracts a crowd, you never know - we might head for drinks again.

On Wednesday, we were supposed to be with Civilised London. We were booked for what promised to be another excellent meal, this time at the Korean restaurant, The Petite Corée. Meeting beforehand in The Railway pub. Sadly, got word during the week that it's been cancelled - the organiser has personal business. So, instead I'm with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for a double bill at the Royal Court - What If If Only (15 minutes long) and Is God Is, later that evening. The short play is only £5 if booked with the other.

On Thursday, back at last with London European Club (LEC)! Happily, they're going to what I'd be going to anyway.. the Crick Crack Club is performing The Women Who Gave No F*cks, at Rich Mix. Fantastic when the London European Club decide to come..

On Friday, woo! A couple of weeks ago, UITCS was off to 2:22 - A Ghost Story, but I was meeting an ex-colleague for drinks that night and couldn't go. Well, I got a ticket for the 15th - second-last night of the run! Unfortunately, cheapest available were £65, and no availability with cheap ticket sellers - ah well, I decided I really wanted to see it (great reviews helped), so I booked. Had great fun trying to decide which of the few remaining seats at that price was the best.. Showing at the Noel Coward Theatre. And with all the cheap shows I'm going to, I can afford it!

On Saturday, my first outing with another new group - Bucket List London is off to Kenwood House, and I said I'd join them. You don't have to book, but it guarantees availability- tickets for free from English Heritage, via See Tickets.

Next Sunday, I found something interesting with London Walks, Art & Culture Explorers! Yet another new one for me. This is an "Uncomfortable Statues Walk" - statues commemorating controversial people. I can think of a few, and it'll be interesting to see which come up on this!

On the 18th, I'm with London Classical Music & Theatre Group, for a choral performance (annual, apparently) by The Sixteen in Temple Church. Fantastic, and I've never actually been inside!

On the 19th, I'm with Guided Walking Tours in Brighton and Sussex (!). They have an online talk entitled Hallowe'en Penny Dreadful Online Show - The Art of Victorian Horror. I have to say, online has become much more of an option since lockdown.

On the 20th, I booked another walk with Invigorate - this one is a tour of (the outside of) Christopher Wren's churches.

On the 21st, an online storytelling double-bill - I'll have to see how that pans out. First, I'd booked Universe, a Crick Crack show happening in Oxford and live-streamed. Clare Murphy - and I've seen it before, and it was the best show ever! And then I saw that Martin Shaw, another member of Crick Crack, was doing an online show, earlier in the evening.. this one, in association with Watkins again, is called The Smoke Hole, and it's free. So I said, hey, why not?

On the 22nd, back with the LEC for a concert - Balkan Music, courtesy of Raka & Balamuc, in The Post Bar, Tottenham. Sounds like fun. Then I'm back to Ireland - another Saturday flight - and with a few days off, I'm not flying back until the 28th.

But on the 29th, back with that group again, for Carmen - contemporary flamenco at The Place. Funnily enough, someone in the group said there were no individual seats left, and asked whether anyone wanted to double up with her. I offered, if there were no other takers - but she never got back to me. So, since I was now up to that date in my schedule, I decided to check for myself - and got an individual seat! So I've booked it.

And on the 30th, I'm doing something nice and Halloweeny - a ghost story event entitled Night Owl - changed from Scared to Death in the Woods, which they're now doing on Hallowe'en itself, and which has sold out. Tickets from Design My Night. So, an organisation called London Dreamtime is leading us off into a undisclosed location, somewhere around Hampstead Heath.. we're to dress warmly, and bring a blanket to sit on, and a "candle in a jar" - I actually went out and bought an LED flickering candle in a lantern-style holder. Well, thought it was the most practical! 

Play: Lately

Tonight, back with one of my cheap ticket groups (TAC) for Lately, at the Lion & Unicorn. Despite an absolute flood of work, I said sod it, and headed out at 6pm. I brought the laptop home anyway, to work from home on Monday - just having it near me makes me feel less guilty! Bus again - first time since Sunday I've taken public transport, and first time since last Friday I've taken a bus! And honestly, I'm tending to feel sick on them these days - the mask doesn't help, of course, but I'm just not used to them any more! Ah well, watch this space..

So, it was a relief to get off after over half an hour. Then a short walk to the pub - I didn't recognise it, but it seems I have been here before! Twice, in fact - both with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS). But of course, that was years ago. Anyway, it's a lovely, welcoming pub - spacious, off the main street, big fluffy white labradoodle wandering everywhere, delighted with all the attention.. Staff were friendly too, the barman who served me reminding me of Robson Green (although his name was Phil). As he was getting my drink, the theatre door opened and someone announced that the house was open - I asked Phil whether I could take the drink up, and he gave me a cheeky wink and whispered "yeah, of course".

The lady at the top of the stairs was all smiles too, as she ordered anyone without a drink to get their mask on! Seating was unassigned, and I ended up second row from the front, pretty much in the centre:

It's only an hour long, no interval. A simple story really, of teenage romance that doesn't work out - but beautifully written. Very few props - apart from what you can see in the picture, there's a blanket and some projections on the screen at the back. Amazing what they can do with so little! Recommended - showing just once again, tomorrow night. On the bus back, one woman - obviously unfamiliar with London - was hopelessly lost and asked the driver for directions. We changed driver en route, but neither of them had a clue - as I left for home, the second driver seemed to be looking up directions on his phone. Gee, I remember when they were all authorities on all London bus routes!

And so for me, a short walk home, past jolly-sounding pubs. Tomorrow, I'm back to Ireland again - again, I was unable to get a flight today! Thinking of seeing No Time to Die on Sunday - well, it's the obvious choice, especially with so little choice back there. Lots of showings, everywhere - Limerick Omniplex is the choice, with the lowest price and convenient parking. Working from home on Monday, and flying back to London that evening.

On Tuesday, I found a curious thing on Meetup - it seems that Watkins Bookshop has its own Meetup group, where it advertises events, and that day there's a talk by Stephen Skinner, about Aleister Crowley's Four Books of Magick. Ok, sounds interesting to me - I signed up. It is a bit early, so I'll have to see how we go. Especially now that the office has advertised they're bringing in cake that day, in honour of World Mental Health Day. They're making active efforts to bribe us to come in - and indeed, when nothing in particular is happening, it's like a graveyard! So, if that attracts a crowd, you never know - we might head for drinks again.

On Wednesday, we were supposed to be with Civilised London. We were booked for what promised to be another excellent meal, this time at the Korean restaurant, The Petite Corée. Meeting beforehand in The Railway pub. Sadly, got word yesterday that it's been cancelled - the organiser has personal business. So, instead I'm with UITCS for a double bill at the Royal Court - What If If Only (15 minutes long) and Is God Is, later that evening. The short play is only £5 if booked with the other.

On Thursday, back at last with London European Club (LEC)! Happily, they're going to what I'd be going to anyway.. the Crick Crack Club is performing The Women Who Gave No F*cks, at Rich Mix. Fantastic when the London European Club decide to come..

Next Friday, woo! A couple of weeks ago, UITCS was off to 2:22 - A Ghost Story, but I was meeting an ex-colleague for drinks that night and couldn't go. Well, I got a ticket for the 15th - second-last night of the run! Unfortunately, cheapest available were £65, and no availability with cheap ticket sellers - ah well, I decided I really wanted to see it (great reviews helped), so I booked. Had great fun trying to decide which of the few remaining seats at that price was the best.. Showing at the Noel Coward Theatre. And with all the cheap shows I'm going to, I can afford it!

On the 16th, my first outing with another new group - Bucket List London is off to Kenwood House, and I said I'd join them. You don't have to book, but it guarantees availability- tickets for free from English Heritage, via See Tickets.

On the 17th, I found something interesting with London Walks, Art & Culture Explorers! Yet another new one for me. This is an "Uncomfortable Statues Walk" - statues commemorating controversial people. I can think of a few, and it'll be interesting to see which come up on this!

On the 18th, I'm with London Classical Music & Theatre Group, for a choral performance (annual, apparently) by The Sixteen in Temple Church. Fantastic, and I've never actually been inside!

On the 19th, I'm with Guided Walking Tours in Brighton and Sussex (!). They have an online talk entitled Hallowe'en Penny Dreadful Online Show - The Art of Victorian Horror. I have to say, online has become much more of an option since lockdown.

On the 20th, I booked another walk with Invigorate - this one is a tour of (the outside of) Christopher Wren's churches.

On the 21st, an online storytelling double-bill - I'll have to see how that pans out. First, I'd booked Universe, a Crick Crack show happening in Oxford and live-streamed. Clare Murphy - and I've seen it before, and it was the best show ever! And then I saw that Martin Shaw, another member of Crick Crack, was doing an online show, earlier in the evening.. this one, in association with Watkins again, is called The Smoke Hole, and it's free. So I said, hey, why not?

On the 22nd, back with the LEC for a concert - Balkan Music, courtesy of Raka & Balamuc, in The Post Bar, Tottenham. Sounds like fun. Then I'm back to Ireland - another Saturday flight - and with a few days off, I'm not flying back until the 28th.

But on the 29th, back with that group again, for Carmen - contemporary flamenco at The Place. Funnily enough, someone in the group said there were no individual seats left, and asked whether anyone wanted to double up with her. I offered, if there were no other takers - but she never got back to me. So, since I was now up to that date in my schedule, I decided to check for myself - and got an individual seat! So I've booked it.

And on the 30th, I'm doing something nice and Halloweeny - a ghost story event entitled Night Owl - changed from Scared to Death in the Woods, which they're now doing on Hallowe'en itself, and which has sold out. Tickets from Design My Night. So, an organisation called London Dreamtime is leading us off into a undisclosed location, somewhere around Hampstead Heath.. we're to dress warmly, and bring a blanket to sit on, and a "candle in a jar" - I actually went out and bought an LED flickering candle in a lantern-style holder. Well, thought it was the most practical! 

Pub: Artigiano

Tonight, more leaving drinks - this guy is just changing office, though. I've often heard them talk about the "A-bar" - had no idea what they were talking about. So I followed others - and we ended up in Artigiano. Ah, so that's what it is!

We were supposed to head for food after - didn't happen. We did have a great chat, though - I got to talk lots about horror stuff, and chat to some people I don't talk to enough - the guy who was leaving showed us photos and video of his house, which he's selling, as well as his car, it seems.

The night turned sour at the end - I really knew I should have bailed earlier when the two that were left started dissing my boss. (D'you think that was deliberate?) Seriously, they took umbrage at her asking a question at the all-hands - said it showed "she was ambitious". Really?! Just sounded like a regular question to me. And since when did "ambition" become a dirty word, anyway? Ooh, what a nasty attitude. I swear, if it weren't for my boss, I'd have quit already - the likes of that make a terrible environment. Some people just can't handle talent in others. Jealousy can be an ugly thing. (Always suspected it of one of them.)

Tomorrow, back with one of my cheap ticket groups (TAC) for Lately, at the Lion & Unicorn. Then I'm back to Ireland again - on Saturday again, as I was unable to get a Friday flight! Working from home on Monday, and flying back to London that evening.

On Tuesday, I found a curious thing on Meetup - it seems that Watkins Bookshop has its own Meetup group, where it advertises events, and that day there's a talk by Stephen Skinner, about Aleister Crowley's Four Books of Magick. Ok, sounds interesting to me - I signed up. It is a bit early, so I'll have to see how we go.

On Wednesday, we were supposed to be with Civilised London. We were booked for what promised to be another excellent meal, this time at the Korean restaurant, The Petite Corée. Meeting beforehand in The Railway pub. Sadly, got word today that it's been cancelled - the organiser has personal business. So, instead I'm with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for a double bill at the Royal Court - What If If Only (15 minutes long) and Is God Is, later that evening. The short play is only £5 if booked with the other.

Next Thursday, back at last with London European Club (LEC)! Happily, they're going to what I'd be going to anyway.. the Crick Crack Club is performing The Women Who Gave No F*cks, at Rich Mix. Fantastic when the London European Club decide to come..

On the 15th, woo! A couple of weeks ago, UITCS was off to 2:22 - A Ghost Story, but I was meeting an ex-colleague for drinks that night and couldn't go. Well, I got a ticket for the 15th - second-last night of the run! Unfortunately, cheapest available were £65, and no availability with cheap ticket sellers - ah well, I decided I really wanted to see it (great reviews helped), so I booked. Had great fun trying to decide which of the few remaining seats at that price was the best.. Showing at the Noel Coward Theatre. And with all the cheap shows I'm going to, I can afford it!

On the 16th, my first outing with another new group - Bucket List London is off to Kenwood House, and I said I'd join them. You don't have to book, but it guarantees availability- tickets for free from English Heritage, via See Tickets.

On the 17th, I found something interesting with London Walks, Art & Culture Explorers! Yet another new one for me. This is an "Uncomfortable Statues Walk" - statues commemorating controversial people. I can think of a few, and it'll be interesting to see which come up on this!

On the 18th, I'm with London Classical Music & Theatre Group, for a choral performance (annual, apparently) by The Sixteen in Temple Church. Fantastic, and I've never actually been inside!

On the 19th, I'm with Guided Walking Tours in Brighton and Sussex (!). They have an online talk entitled Hallowe'en Penny Dreadful Online Show - The Art of Victorian Horror. I have to say, online has become much more of an option since lockdown.

On the 20th, I booked another walk with Invigorate - this one is a tour of (the outside of) Christopher Wren's churches.

On the 21st, an online storytelling double-bill - I'll have to see how that pans out. First, I'd booked Universe, a Crick Crack show happening in Oxford and live-streamed. Clare Murphy - and I've seen it before, and it was the best show ever! And then I saw that Martin Shaw, another member of Crick Crack, was doing an online show, earlier in the evening.. this one, in association with Watkins again, is called The Smoke Hole, and it's free. So I said, hey, why not?

On the 22nd, back with the LEC for a concert - Balkan Music, courtesy of Raka & Balamuc, in The Post Bar, Tottenham. Sounds like fun. Then I'm back to Ireland - another Saturday flight - and with a few days off, I'm not flying back until the 28th.

But on the 29th, back with that group again, for Carmen - contemporary flamenco at The Place. Funnily enough, someone in the group said there were no individual seats left, and asked whether anyone wanted to double up with her. I offered, if there were no other takers - but she never got back to me. So, since I was now up to that date in my schedule, I decided to check for myself - and got an individual seat! So I've booked it.

And on the 30th, I'm doing something nice and Halloweeny - a ghost story event entitled Scared to Death in the Woods! Tickets from Design My Night. So, an organisation called London Dreamtime is leading us off into a undisclosed location, somewhere around Hampstead Heath.. we're to dress warmly, and bring a blanket to sit on, and a "candle in a jar" - I actually went out and bought an LED flickering candle in a lantern-style holder. Well, thought it was the most practical!