Talk - The Afghans

Tonight, another of those cheap ticket talks - this one was by Asne Seierstad, and was at The Conduit, on the subject of Afghanistan under Taliban rule. A How To Academy event, and quite expensive if you don't go with seat fillers.. I thought I'd head to Cote in Hay's Galleria again, but didn't book it - I said I'd wait to see how long the talk went on.

Being an event by the same organisation as last week, I expected things to be organised in the same way. So I was perturbed when I hadn't got the link to the online talk by mid-afternoon - checked the booking, and wouldn't you know it, although the talk was live-streamed, this ticket was for the talk in person! which makes what I paid a substantial discount - tickets for the live event were over £30! (I paid £2.40.) Anyway, I had to head to The Conduit. Just as well I hadn't booked Cote - instead, I had a look at what was close by, and figuring how busy things get in the West End in the evenings, I looked at how long the talk was supposed to last, and booked Bella Italia in St. Martin's Lane for after.

My bus couldn't come quickly enough - it was a damn cold day! I did get there in good time, though. It's a posh-looking building - more of an office feel to it. Anyway, I was too early - she advised me to come back in a while. So I mooched across the road to Stanfords bookshop - which turned out to have just the most fascinating collection! I see they advertise themselves as the world's largest retailer of maps and travel books - I can believe it, from the brief look I had! There were all sorts of historical maps, as well as the most comprehensive set of books about different aspects and areas of London that I've ever seen. Wow, I'd love to go back.. although needless to say, I didn't buy anything. But I wasn't the only person waiting for the talk that ended up there..

When it was a little later, we trooped in and upstairs, for the talk. I bagged a seat about halfway, on the aisle, to get a better view - they're slightly peculiar seats, with a kind of deckchair feel, as though they're about to collapse. This probably comes from the loose, canvas back. Well, mine didn't collapse - and when I was settled, I got up again and over to the bar, where they had wine. Pity I didn't drink it a little slower - I got a really annoying cough later on, really thought I'd have to leave, and could have done with a drink! Mercifully, it died down.

They have a curious tradition here, it seems - at the beginning of every talk, the host suggests a discussion topic, and instructs everyone to turn to someone they didn't come with, and discuss it! Tonight's was whether it would be easier to overthrow a despotic regime discriminating on gender, on one on race.. and I had a short, but interesting discussion with the people sitting next to me about that, before the talk proper started.

Fascinating talk. This is her second book on the country, the first being from 20 years ago. She gave us a potted history - of the Soviet Union's invasion, then the US using it as a battleground for a proxy war, funding the "freedom fighters" - the Mujahideen - who were fighting the Soviets. Of course, the Mujahideen later became Al Qaeda, whom the US ended up fighting.. then trying (and failing) to "win hearts and minds" in Afghanistan - and finally, Trump took power and just gave Afghanistan to the Taliban. And now? As she said to someone in the Q+A, the Taliban are going nowhere - there's a general consensus that they'll stay in power for 20 or 30 years at least. They simply have no opposition.

She made a number of interesting points - the acquiescence of the Taliban women, who really seem to be indoctrinated, contrasts with the bright-eyed optimism of one young girl she describes, who lived for her studies, until the Taliban took power and kicked women out of universities. But there's hope - that same girl teaches a secret school in her basement, attended by local girls. The Taliban know all about it - they've developed a habit of turning a blind eye to stuff like that.

Hey, even the hardest stone will eventually be eroded by water..

She was also asked, in the Q+A, how you can argue with someone diametrically opposed to you. As she said, well, there's no point in only speaking to people who agree with you! That's where cancel culture comes from. Find a common ground, she said - in the case of the Taliban, they do at least seem to care about healthcare.. she described one Taliban leader's second wife, who was personally involved in choosing his fourth wife, and wanted her to be a doctor - so handy, in a society where women can't leave the house..

I didn't buy the book. But it was a fascinating talk. And finished on schedule - just a few minutes' walk to the restaurant then..

where I was seated immediately, choosing a table without too much draught from the door. Glad I'd booked - they were turning away people who hadn't! And I had my usuals - except for the wine; they were out of Pinot Grigio, so I had Chardonnay. And by the time I was done, it was raining again.. but although I had to change buses on the way home, mercifully, in an act of perfect synchronicity, as I alighted from the first, the second was just pulling in behind.

Tomorrow, back with London Literary Walks at last - my Wednesdays are just so busy! This is a walk about Island Records - U2's old label, so of course I have an interest.. have dug out a U2 t-shirt n all.. We're meeting in The Elgin, and I've booked a table there to eat beforehand.

On Thursday, back with London Hot 100 - we're at the New Wimbledon Theatre for Jimmy Carr Laughs Funny. So the laptop will be going on a little trek.. I also see it's got a nearby Nando's, so will look to go early and eat there.

On Friday, meeting an old acquaintance for drinks - he has to come to Waterloo anyway, so I said that location would be perfect, and suggested the BFI. I've booked to eat beforehand in Black & Blue.

On Saturday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for the matinee of May 35th at Southwark Playhouse's new venue! Now, this should be interesting.. basically referencing the Tiananmen Square massacre (35 years ago), and supported by Amnesty, there are different speakers every day. Saturday's matinee sees the head of Priority Campaigns at AIUK as host, with the Chief Executive of Hong Kong Watch as speaker..

And on Sunday, I'm back with Discover London - History Walks and Events for a walk all about Crime and Punishment: 16th to 19th Century..