Dance: Invocación

This evening, I was "stalking" Buddies on Budgets in London again - just like last Tuesday, they were going to something I really want to see, but by the time I got around to deciding I wanted to go, all their tickets were gone. Never fear, other tickets were available.. this was part of Sadler's Wells annual Flamenco Festival, so irresistible to me. In fact, this was the last day - and this was a performance by the Ballet Nacionál de Espana - Invocación. And I managed to score one of those nice, solitary seats at the side.. olé! For dinner, as usual here, I headed to The Wilmington. And ooh, it was nice to have some time to chill beforehand!

Yeah, that was the last of the chilling. Five buses it took me to get there. Five. Mind you, one was my own fault - I got the right bus, in the wrong direction! (Mind you, buses being what they are, I could still take it part of the way.) I couldn't get a direct bus, you see, so I'd have had to change, whatever. And it so happened that, whenever I had to change, the next bus wasn't coming, so I got an alternative. Which also wouldn't get me there without a change. And so it continued.. thank heavens for the Hopper! And in the end, I (gratefully) arrived at the Wilmington around the time I'd booked.

Where I was to discover they weren't pushed for space - he offered me a booth to myself, and I took it. I'd already decided to have the onglet - this is where I discovered it, and I felt like it. As I had time, I thought about a starter - had the "grilled bread" with a garlic butter and rosemary dip. Oh my, that dip is delicious.. reminds me of Bella Italia, the garlic butter all runny. I scoffed the lot, and still had space for the delicious steak..

I didn't fancy dessert, but did fancy dessert wine - I wish I wouldn't indulge in the whole (half-)bottle when I do that, but I'd also regret being abstemious. So, you know, I did a bit of a double-take at the bill - oh well, I don't often go that far. I did have to down it pretty fast as I realised how late it was getting - and it didn't help that I started off in the wrong direction upon leaving! Well, I made Sadler's Wells with five minutes to spare, and needed the loo.. took the lift up to 2, and discovered.. the kitchen! WTF?! No way could I get it to take me to the Second Circle - I had to go back to 1, go to the toilet there (quickly), and walk back up. So, not the most serene of arrivals.

Never mind, this was flamenco. Worth the effort. Mind you, I found the first half more interpretative, less traditional - I suspect that was the reason for one couple's departure before much of the show had taken place. I was happier, to be honest, with the second half, which was quite a bit more traditional. Plenty of foot-stomping, plenty of bravado - and a whole line of backup singers and guitarists along the back. Plenty of colourful dresses, contrasting dramatically with the simple black and white of the men. And cue me, once again, trying to think of compelling reasons to move to Spain..

Having had my fill of alcohol, I had an ice cream at the interval - and ran into Mandy briefly! We hardly had a chance to chat, though - and I didn't see her, or any more of the group, afterwards. I did, at least, manage to get home with the assistance of only two buses..

Tomorrow, squeezing in a meeting with Ivan - the only weekend day he and I can both make, this month! We're trying out Brown's on Butler's Wharf, near me - the posh side of the road! James is off to Taiwan. Last night, I finally heard back from Martin, who's had a tiring time of it lately, but says there's always hope..

On Monday, back with CT - to learn to sing showtunes with Ensemble at the Prince of Wales Drury Lane! Eating there beforehand.

On Tuesday, back with TAC for another talk at The Conduit - this one is Survival and Sisterhood in the Age of the Taliban, and is the story of the captain of the Afghan ladies' football team. It'll be really interesting to hear from an Afghan woman personally. And I've booked for Bella Italia St. Martin's Lane again.

On Wednesday, back with London Literary Walks for The Chaucer Walk. Meeting at The Bell, and I'm eating there beforehand again.

On Thursday, back with CT for an LSO concert at the Barbican. Which gives me an excuse to head back to my old stomping ground of the local Cote! Except I'm not.. I hadn't realised I'd double-booked! I'm actually off to a talk called In Defence of Human Rights - part of the How-To Academy, at the Francis Crick Institute, thus fulfilling my year's requirement with TAC. So I've had to cancel the aforementioned. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

And on the 24th, back with Up in the Cheap Seats - this time, for an interesting-sounding play called Visit from an Unknown Woman, in Hampstead Theatre..

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