Classical & Rock Guitars Concert + Jack the Ripper Walk

This lunchtime, I was off to another of Didi's free lunchtime concerts at the Holy Sepulchre Church, in conjunction with London Classical Music and Theatre Group. Tickets from Eventbrite.

Just as I was getting ready to leave, I finally got a call from the opticians - the glasses were ready! No, I don't think it was my complaint to customer support that did it, although I can't be sure. I didn't have time to go in before the concert, though, and just made my way straight there - have to say, I appreciated the buses' air-conditioning on what was a sweltering day. 

The church itself was also lovely and cool, of course. And I was shortly joined by by another of the group's organisers, whom I hadn't seen in months! It was lovely to catch up - the concert started a little late.

So, as Didi explained, they were beginning with her playing straight classical - some old favourites there, with Villa Lobos and Purcell. Looking at the playlist though, I think they left out a few pieces through the concert. Anyway, next up was the collaboration with a rock guitarist, which was an interesting change! I particularly liked their arrangement of Asturias, a piece I've always loved. And with Didi singing a version of You Don't Know Me at the end, it was certainly a bit different from what I've seen before! Also lovely to see her again - it's been even longer since I last saw her!

Well, it was a hot and dry walk to the opticians' afterwards - my business there was quickly concluded, the glasses fit perfectly, and I got some shopping done before heading home again. Stopped in Pret on the way - I hadn't had time for lunch. It wasn't long before I needed to set out again, mind - a good friend of mine had flown in - finally - for a long weekend with the family. I was meeting them for dinner that evening in The Liberty Bounds. Decided to walk again - and another long, hot walk it was - particularly with the crowds flooding Tower Bridge in the sunshine. To be fair, photo ops abounded:

I made it there a bit before them, and managed to grab a table big enough, down the back - result! When they arrived, we tried ordering on the app - disaster! Three times we tried, and each time, as soon as we got to the checkout stage, our order was erased! My friend's husband ended up having to go to the bar, where the queueing system was, apparently, non-existent. Well, the food didn't take too long after that - and of course, he brought the drinks down with him. Verdict - someone thought his pizza wasn't cheesy enough, but by and large, we were pretty satisfied. Cheap n cheerful..

We rushed a bit to finish, as we had booked for a free Jack the Ripper Tour with Strawberry Tours, starting across the square. We were a little confused at the start - after all, he doesn't actually advertise "Jack the Ripper" on his sign. But the logo is the same as on the website, and we were sorted in due course.

He picked a spot near the Roman wall to give his opening spiel - throughout, of course, we were dodging other tours. And I have to say, he had facts aplenty for us, including some I hadn't heard: always impressive! My only real criticism is his voice projection, which could use some work - we had to strain to hear him, in what was quite a large group.

Of course, much of the enjoyment of this kind of walk is the chance to see the area - from street art:

to skyscrapers:

We passed The Ten Bells, famous as the local boozer for the victims - on this occasion, sporting a Thursday night crowd of office workers:

Now, my friends flew over on the first flight - and with the unaccustomed heat of London, they were exhausted! So they went straight back to the hotel, and I wended my way home:

They're staying for the weekend - which will determine my plans somewhat. They're quite vague about theirs, though - spontaneity is a feature. So here are my plans, subject to change for the weekend:

Tomorrow, if I'm at a loose end, it's looking like film. Top of tomorrow's list is Kokomo City, a documentary about transgender sex workers - showing, of course, at the Curzon Bloomsbury. Only at 3pm, mind - so if I haven't heard from them by then, I won't bother, in case they want to do something that clashes.

On Saturday, London Social Detours is planning to head to the free concert at King's Cross - Music from the Musicals. Part of the Summer Sounds Music Festival. The group, mind you, is charging £3. So I think I'd like to go on my own - well, with my friends. Have suggested it, we'll see.

On Sunday, Mandy from London Herstory Walks is doing Whitechapel Women - again, I'll see what my friends are doing.

On Monday, my friends are heading back, and won't be doing anything with me. So I should be a bit more definite what I'm doing - chance'd be a fine thing. Might be film - although if I go on the walk on Sunday, what's coming up for film for Monday is Squaring the Circle, a documentary about Hipgnosis, which handled the artwork for many iconic albums.. Can't say I've ever heard of them, but it sure does have famous contributors! Showing in the Curzon Bloomsbury again - I nearly saw this before, but it got overtaken by Oppenheimer.

Mind you, Up in the Cheap Seats is off to Laurel and Chaplin: The Feud, at the Cambridge Theatre. Which I think I'd prefer to Squaring the Circle.

However, if I'm neither with my friends, nor on that walk, on Sunday, I'll see it that day. Which would leave me free on Monday to see Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. It's a while since I saw a Bollywood film - but this looks like it could be a decent romcom. In fact, it looks better than that play! So, in that case, I'd rather see that..

The rest of the week is all about cheap tickets. For the next two days, I'm on TAC walks - on Tuesday, it's the Southwark Walk.

On Wednesday, it's the Fulham Road Back in the Day Walk. As also advertised - slightly more expensively - with the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners.

And next Thursday, I'm with CT, who have slightly cheaper tickets for the Backyard Comedy Club. First time I'll have been there in years! I always remember them being good, though. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.