Canary Wharf Winter Lights Festival

Helen was in town today - and suggested we have dinner, and head to the Canary Wharf Winter Lights! Excellent idea - I was thinking of seeing them, but didn't have a specific date in mind. We booked Amerigo Vespucci for food. And mercifully, it was the mildest I remember, out there.. Funnily enough, 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners were also heading there today - for the princely sum of £6, for a free event and a trip to the pub. Drinks not included. We avoided that. And, of course, I didn't want to be dragging my laptop, which is why I was in the office yesterday.

Yes, I was late for my (first) bus.. would you believe, for some reason, I started going the wrong way! I had a three-bus trip - the second bus, in particular, which comprised most of my journey, was very crowded. And Buses Due is back to not working again.. a great shame, it used to be so handy. By the time I got off the final bus though, I was already in the glitteriness of Canary Wharf - I just had a slight meander through the skyscrapers to find the restaurant, which is prettily located on the water. There was a private party on the terrace outside - I had to push my way through to get in, where I found her.

We didn't have starters. She went for pasta - I, as usual, headed for the meats.. and what sounded most interesting was the lamb, which was served with peppercorns, a honey glaze, and a balsamic reduction. Ooh now.. I do love my balsamic. And fries, thank you. A nice bottle of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc completed the order.

There was a lot going on with my dish - but wow, it was gorgeous! We both polished off the lot - and had dessert. Profiteroles for her - me, I thought the lemon and lime cheesecake sounded curious.

Yes, that is a cheesecake. And that, beside it, is the longest handled spoon I do believe I've ever seen.. The cheesecake was nice and fresh, served with a moreish scoop of ice cream. But what was nicest about my dessert was honestly the glass of Moscato I had with it! Lordy, it's years since I had that.. Not the cheapest place to eat, but not exorbitant, and gee was it lovely..

And so, off to see the lights!

Of course, Canary Wharf lights are always pretty - even without the added bonus of a light festival! It was windy, as always, too - but as I say, there was no cold in it! This installation is interesting:

The globe rotates, the colours change - and you can just see, in the middle, what looks like a giant eyeball, which at this point is being propelled up the central shaft, from where it'll sit at the top for a bit, then spiral all the way down the outside, landing at the base of the shaft again! Many of the installations - this one included - are accompanied by music, which adds to the experience.

I have to say, I don't think I've seen a better-organised event! Stewards are everywhere, helping people to cross roads, handing out free maps.. there are prominent signposts all over, directing people from one location to the next, and of course, explanatory signs at each installation.

Arguably the most effective is the installation you can immerse yourself in. As Helen remarked, it shows how effective light therapy could be! The mood music playing softly in the background also helps, as the colours change around you:

   

We had dallied a bit over dinner, so didn't really have time to go through them all - not if she wanted to get home at a reasonable time! So we left it, after this one - nice piece to end it with. The festival runs till Saturday, and as I say, is free - mosey along if you get the chance! It's a lot less cold than in previous years..

Tomorrow, I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again. And ooh, the film for the weekend is a doozy - All of Us Strangers stars both Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott! Dearie me, I shan't know where to look.. Plus, it's a ghost story! Seems that Andrew Scott returns to his hometown - where he finds, er, his parents (Jamie Bell and Claire Foy). Except.. they died 30 years before! Right down my alley. Seeing it in the Omniplex, as usual. I'll just have to keep checking that they haven't changed the showing time..

On Monday, I'm headed to The Hills of California, at the Harold Pinter. Another of those great value Seatplan vouchers..

Now, Tuesday and Wednesday are film - hence the revamped film list. Very happy with my choices those days as well - having edited out the chaff at the top of the list, Tuesday is looking like The Holdovers, a comedy about students who have nowhere to go at Christmas, so they stay on campus, with a couple of teachers as "babysitters". The excellent Paul Giamatti is one of the teachers given the job.. Showing in my closest cinema, the Curzon Aldgate.

And on Wednesday - well gee, there's another highly rated horror! Actually, the London Horror Film Group are seeing this tomorrow night (not tonight, as I first thought) - the film in question is Baghead, and the "baghead" is some kind of supernatural being who can put you in contact with the dead. Wears a bag over her head, and when you take it off, she has taken on the appearance of the person you're talking to. Just like last year's Talk to Me, however, there's a time limit - with strict penalties for overstepping. (They give you a whole two minutes in this one - in Talk to Me, it was 90 seconds..) Anyway, it'll be interesting to see why it's so highly rated! Apparently, the director says he has derived a lot of his inspiration from Guillermo del Toro - reason enough to see it, in my book. Closest to me showing it is the Odeon Tottenham Court Road, which was once my local - and as always with the Odeon, it's cheaper to book, so I did.

The next two nights' entertainment, I got the idea for from Over 40 Living the Life, who are charging more for tickets, so I'll be seeking to avoid them. On the 1st, I'm seeing the Bronco Billy musical, at the Charing Cross Theatre.

And on the 2nd, I'm going to Murder Trial Tonight 2, at Sadler's Wells.