London Still Rocks!

These two days in London, I'm ticking theatrical boxes - both in  Delfont Mackintosh  theatres, and both, would you believe, cheapest from the official source! Tonight, I finally got to see  Player Kings , depicting the relationship between  Falstaff  and  Hal  from both parts of  Shakepeare 's Henry IV, with  Sir Ian McKellan  as Falstaff. Was looking forward to it - I love Shakespeare adaptations. That's in the  Noel Coward Theatre , and I paid a little extra not to sit in the slips, so I got more legroom. Closest restaurant I fancied was Cote St. Martin's Lane .. I booked, although was to find out I didn't need to, there was plenty of space. On the bus there, after a couple of schoolgirls got off together, as they waited - presumably for another bus - and before we moved off - we were treated to one of them hitching up her school skirt absolutely as high as it would go. Crikey, some things never do change.. I had to change buses at Lancaster Place - and it was

I'm back in Ireland for the weekend again. Film-wise, yesterday I saw  That They May Face the Rising Sun , based on the last book, of the same name, by  John McGahern , set in rural Ireland in the 80s. Yes, showing in the  Omniplex .. Busy as usual - but mercifully, meeting no traffic - I made the cinema as the ads were showing. I was a little dubious about whether I'd enjoy this - but I'm delighted to say, as much as Perfect Days , earlier in the year, this is a slow film, made by people who have the knack of slowness. Not in quite the same way, mind - in that film, quite little happened. In this film, there's a constant coming and going - but it's in the form of a small army of neighbours, visiting our protagonists. He ( Barry Ward ) is Irish, and a writer - so probably autobiographical, at least in part. She sounds German . Familiar faces include Ruth McCabe  and  Sean McGinley .. Catherine Byrne shows up as the love interest of our writer's uncle! So yes..

Tonight, took a break from  Meetup  - I went to a talk, interesting-sounding to me, at  Southwark Cathedral . It's  The King's Assassin , about the relationship between  James VI/I  and  George Villiers , now a TV series,  Mary & George , with  Julianne Moore  as his scheming  mother . Based on a book, whose author was giving this talk - tickets from   Eventbrite . Also walking distance from me. I booked Bill's for dinner, hoping the service would be decent, as it isn't always.. This time, I walked - immediately regretting it, mind, as the rain poured down. Especially when I had to cross the road , and just as the light went green for me, an ambulance chose that moment to come screaming towards me. By the time it had passed, my light was red again.. I was minutes waiting there. In the rain. And was, therefore, a few minutes late - which wasn't a problem. Mercifully, I got seated to the left of the entrance, where, in my experience, service is better - I dunno w

Last night, I was at  The Hideout 's  April social ! The  BFI Riverfront Bar  again.. I should have gone into the office, but honestly, there was no compelling reason for me to do so, and yay! the difficult doc I was working on got passed incredibly easily! So I now have little to do - which would be a nightmare in the office, having to pretend to work, or find work for myself. So I sensibly stayed at home. Booked for dinner beforehand in Azzuro , fancying Italian  - the Riverfront does food, but just snacks, really. You can only book at 15-minute intervals - I figured that leaving at around 5 would get me there, by bus, for 5.45 but not for 5.30. I booked for 5.45, arrived about 10 minutes early. They seated me without problem - unusually, they write down their bookings! I had a choice of the table in the dark corner (!) or one at the sofa, with people on either side. I wasn't entirely sure I could see, in that corner, so I went for the sofa. Had garlic bread to start - after

Tonight, another dinner at  Greenwich Yacht Club  with  Over 40 Living the Life . Third Tuesday in a row - but the last time for a while they'd be doing it. So, I worked a bit late.. our organiser was there a bit early, which meant she was messaging us to say she was already there - when I hadn't yet left! Yikes.. Never mind, I did get there at the appointed time. Brr, it's cold though! As we all remarked to each other, where did the warmer weather go?! The wind, as I was walking to the Tube , as I was walking to the club, was bitter. I was so glad to get inside.. mind you, we had one member putting on her coat - it wasn't so very warm inside either.. I decided sod it, and I got the bottle - knew I'd drink it. (And you do save 50p.) For my food, I went back to the burger, which I knew, from previous experience , to be good. And it was.. although I had to search for the sneaky slice of tomato, hiding in the bottom, and which I can't eat.. Otherwise, very tasty. C

Tonight, back with  Up in the Cheap Seats  (UITCS) for  Boys on the Verge of Tears , at  Soho Theatre . Again, ages since I was  last there ! Left a bit early, so I could eat in the Nellie Dean beforehand - they don't take reservations, except for large groups. The bus was working again, thank goodness.. and I arrived, roughly when I'd said I would, having taken a shortcut through Soho Square . Man, I miss living in this part of town.. The pub was busy, as ever - I was meeting another member of the group there, but I got there first, and made the executive decision to take the table by the door, which seemed the least cramped of what was available. The menu is now available on a board over the bar.. I had the steak and ale pie again, he had the chicken and mushroom one, when he arrived. A glass of wine each - I don't think he'd eaten here before, and he seemed impressed with both quality and price! Agreed.. and I'd forgotten how tasty the steak and ale pie is. He

Today, back at last at the  British Museum  with the  Crick Crack Club   (CCC) ! This one was  Woyengi and the Medicine Woman , by  Jan Blake . Man, I've missed these.. it's nearly a year since I was  last there ! What a shame it had to coincide with the London Marathon . What a shame I had to be here at all on the same weekend.. what a shame I have to live so close to the route. I could hear the cheering all morning - couldn't figure out what it was for a minute. Must have been coming from the bridge , half a mile away.. TFL said the buses would be diverted until 3, and it certainly sounded as though I was out of luck, wanting to catch one from home. So, Tube it was, and I set out for London Bridge . For sure, no buses getting through these streets. I couldn't figure out whether most of the people were following the runners, or just having to walk for the Tube, as I was, what with no buses! (Saw one runner being stretchered off, wrapped in one of those reflective bla

Today, whee! Back with  Laurence Summers  and the  45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners .. first time in  months ! This time, it was for  The Great City of London Walking Tour . Meeting in The Liberty Bounds , which is, again, walking distance from me - lovely! A breezy walk across the bridge again, then - this time, in glorious sunshine! which was a bit intermittent through the day - but, as I said to someone, I don't know when I last used my sunglasses so much! We met inside - which turned out a bit awkward, as we kept losing people to the toilet etc. We eventually convened outside.. Laurence pointed out to us the City boundary: I have always loved the eclectic City skyscape: We stopped off at St. Dunstan-in-the-East , whose tower was the only thing to survive WWII bombing : The rest of the site is now a peaceful garden : They have some interesting additions to the side of the Monument (to the Great Fire of London ): Our walk took us to Leadenhall Market: and Cornhill : I'd forgot