London Still Rocks!

Back to London, yay, and today, I decided on film again - and decided I might as well (finally, given that The Hideout saw it ages ago) head to Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma , starring Gillian Anderson , whose only showing this evening was supposed to be in the Cinema in the Arches , at Battersea Power Station . Well, I checked last night - and lo, Curzon Aldgate , a lot closer to me (and with which I have a membership..) was showing it late tonight. I booked to eat beforehand at Cote St. Katherine Docks , between me and it. Still stayed ridiculously late, walked there, arrived 25 minutes early, but they took me. Debated whether to eat outside, but it was a teensy bit cold - mind you, it was a teensy bit warm inside! Never mind, I was well fed. For dessert, I had a dessert wine (half bottle), which caused my waiter no end of amusement. ;-) I assured her I'd had it before,, and yes, it was lovely.. Walked to the cinema, was a little late for the trailers, but hey. I'd go...

W ith a last-minute reschedule of what I was supposed to be doing, I finally have a weekend free to get back to Ireland, phew! Took me ages to get the flight booked, mind - the   Ryanair   app was down, I had to use the browser. And both Ryanair and   Stansted Express   have forgotten my account, I book so seldom any more.. arranged to meet the friend I usually lunch with when I go back. They know us at Jade Cottage - I was almost right behind him in the door, and the staff were pointing him out to me! I had my usual chicken roll for starter, but with the General Tsoy's Chicken a bit stodgy, I never finish it, and I find the szechuan a bit too spicy. So today, I had the inspiration to go for the chicken satay, which was delicious! Ice cream for dessert.. and my friend had his usual of chili chicken to start, then chicken szechuan and a Bailey's cheesecake. And of course, we had a good chat!  And ooh, it's   National Cinema Weekend , with all tickets €4! I...

Tonight , I was back with CT for Never Let Go , part of the Fringe Fix at Underbelly Boulevard . It's a comedy, one-man, gay retelling of the film Titanic . Walked from work, with an idea of getting food somewhere.. ended up in Bistro1 , as usual. Where I'm delighted to say they have a new staff member.. and wow, service is now quick! I skipped the calamari I never like, and had a lovely meal. Was early, so treated myself to some ice cream as well. At the theatre box office, I flashed my ticket - which they emailed me this afternoon - and was sent straight to the bar upstairs: And in due course, we were sent upstairs to the Stalls - we could sit anywhere we liked. I, coming with my laptop, chose an end seat, as usual: Have to say, I loved this.. it is an hour long, and it's funny - but it's a pretty faithful rendition of the movie by someone who's patently a fan, and is lovingly told. I'd forgotten much of the detail of the film - well, I was reminded tonig...

Finally in this run of six Meetups , tonight I was hosting another London Museums A-Z (LoMAZ) event! This one was part of our Dracula series.. The Nickel  wa s showing Dracula in Istanbul , and I said I'd run an event. Made in 1952, it was apparently the first film to depict Dracula with fangs.. and has Mina as a showgirl! Thought it'd be fun.  The screening sold out days ago. Well, I tried to book  The Wilmington afterwards, but wasn't able - so, doubtful of getting food, I ate in The Sun Wharf beforehand - still got to the cinema early.  Some of the Whitby crowd came, and it was a great reunion! Apart from that, only two others were signed up in the end - one of whom came, one didn't. It was a lovely, convivial evening. We chatted in the bar beforehand, and managed to squeeze everyone who came into the back row! Now, as to the film.. well, wasn't amazing, TBH. Yes, Dracula had fangs.. it's also apparently the first film to show him scaling the castl...

T onight, fifth Meetup for me in a run of six, I was with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for the second night in a row, seeing How the Other Half Loves , a romcom at the Old Vic . Booked to eat beforehand at Bar + Block Southwark - which looked like to be my last time there, or in any Bar + Block, as the chain is closing down on Thursday! I arrived ever so slightly late - to a practically empty restaurant. Guess I didn't need to book. Anyway - typically for Bar + Block, in fact - although you're supposed to wait to be seated, it took forever for the server to come to me. He handed me a menu with several exclusions on it, explaining that not all menu items were available. Fine, sez I, I'll find something. However, there was no mention of wine - and when I asked, it was to be told that they had absolutely no wine of any kind! I got up and left - never to darken the doors of a Bar + Block again. Frankly, no wonder they're closing. The Cut has several restaurants.. th...

Yesterday wa s a bank holiday, so I managed to slot in my friend Helen , who wanted to come visit. We decided on a long lunch at Bella Italia Cranbourn Street . We were both early, but she slightly beat me to it, and we had a lovely lunch (and lotsa wine). Funnily enough, the restaurant managed to find a staff member I'd never met, who actually asked whether I'd like to taste the wine first! Anyway, we had so much to chat about, we didn't end up finishing our food.. did have room for dessert, though. And then we hit Liberty .. - the Christmas shop (bah, I hate putting Christmas before Hallowe'en..)  ..although having said that, they have some scary decorations.. and haberdashery: And off she went home. Terrific to catch up though! Well, t hat evening, and this evening as well, I booked with Up in the Cheap Seats   (UITCS)   (last night was the fourth in a run of six consecutive Meetups !) . Last night, we were at Holy Fool at the Park Theatre . It's the story ...