Podcast: Sara and Cariad's Weirdo Book Club

Tonight, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Sara and Cariad's Weirdo's Book Club - a live version of the podcast by Sara Pascoe and Cariad Lloyd - at 21 Soho. Tickets from Ticket Text.

On another blistering day, I was glad of the shade as I waited for the bus - which was stifling, as usual. What it is with the #188, I do not know.. Anyway, looking around the area again for places to eat, I thought I fancied Chinese - so I headed for my old reliable, New Loon Fung. And again, the walk up to it was tortuous, in the heat - not to mention the climb to the first-floor restaurant! At least the aircon started on the stairs, and was stronger in the restaurant - which was practically empty when I arrived, just after 5. I was shown quickly to a table - and what a relief to sit!

Now, I would have thought, on such a boiling hot day, they would automatically have put water on the table - nope, I had to ask. Didn't have ice in it, either. At least someone came along later and refilled my glass - I think the manager had seen me checking the empty glass, and instructed her to do it. The first (pint) glass went down practically in one - I was severely dehydrated. I also had a glass of wine with dinner - boy, it made me feel so sick I stayed off wine for the rest of the night, sticking to water!

I had my usual chicken spring rolls, which were lovely. And the rice was nice. The honey and lemon chicken, however, was tough - I spent so much time trying to chew it that I got sick of it. D'you know, I think I'll have to find a new go-to Chinese..

Afterwards, even the airconditioned stairs felt too warm - and stepping outside was like stepping into an oven! I walked very, very slowly up to the venue:


Met another of the group there, and then another couple joined us - all on water, I might add! I needed to sit too, so we joined a man on his own at a large table until it was time to go in:


Where we were sat, you just about got the benefit of the large fan at the side - and during the show, Cariad obligingly turned the stage fan on us as well; it was a bit strong on her.

We'd had the chance, beforehand, to watch the guy setting up the bookstall, with books from all contributors. Not that I was buying any, but a couple from the group did. Sara signed hers afterwards. And it was an amusing show - Sara starting out answering a series of questions about the book she'd prepared herself and given to Cariad. After the interval - where we caught up with the others in the group, one of whom turned out to be someone I hadn't seen in ages! - and got more water, the other guests came on - one to read excerpts, and the others to join Cariad and Sara in a sort of panel discussion: which ranged far and wide off the topic of the book, although inspired by it. In fact, it struck me as identical to an episode of Loose Women..

Well, it was an enjoyable night, and great to see people - with one having left, two having gone to the toilet, and the other two queueing for autographs, I took myself wearily home, sniffling all the way. Let's hope I'm on the mend, eh?

Tomorrow, I was to be back for the first time in months to Watkin's Bookshop, for an author talk: this is Pagans by Ethan Doyle White. However turns out The Hideout has a new group - London Hot 100 Socials, Music & More. So I'm heading off with them for a game of mini golf! At Westfield, where I haven't been in almost 10 years.. Well, I like The Hideout, so..

On Friday, back with UITCS for The Shatter Box, at the Lion and Unicorn. 

On Saturday, back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners - this walk is Barnet- Royalty, Boozers & a Civil War . Up around his area! Assuming it's not cancelled due to the extreme heat - he already has a lot of drop-outs, apparently! Well, if it's running, I'll brave it.

On Sunday, I'm with Cultureseekers - it's Open House, and we're off to the London Scottish House and the Banqueting House. 

On Monday, I'm off to The Effect at the National.

Then - for the first time in a long time - there's a run of Meetup events - and specifically, UITCS! On Tuesday, back with them to see Russell Howard for the last night of his run at the Palladium - terrible trouble finding a decent seat in the Grand Circle, which was all that was left!

Next Wednesday, I was to be back with Laurence and the 45+s for The Long and Winding Road, a walk about, of course, The Beatles! Personal commitments, however, have meant he's postponed it. So now I'm going with UITCS to It's Headed Straight Towards Us! (a comedy about a volcano), at Park Theatre.

On the 14th, back with them for Anthropology, at Hampstead Theatre. Cheap tickets from TodayTix. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

The next two days are with UITCS again - on the 18th, it's Crazy for You, at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.

On the 19th, it's Octopolis, at Hampstead Theatre again!

And on the 20th, I'm with CT for a classical concert - a Chamber Recital at St. Mark's, Hamilton Terrace. Regular tickets from TicketSource.

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