Petra Haller Quartet

Tonight, back in London, and back with CT for a jazz & tap night at Piano Smithfield. I booked the Old Red Cow, across the road, for a booking for dinner beforehand. Not supposed to be terrific, but I said I'd give them a try.

Oh, what a delight that it was all starting that bit later, so I could put an extra hour in at work, and get something finished..! Mercifully, on such a cold night, my buses came quickly, and I was about 15 minutes early for my booking. All dining is upstairs, and the guy behind the bar led me up there and gave me the small table by the stairs - which was fine. Even on a Monday, I was lucky I booked - the place is very small.

Service is quick, and friendly - the only time it slipped slightly was when my server forgot my second glass of wine - not a hanging offence, and as she asked me how my meal was, passing the table, she suddenly remembered! and apologised. Twice. I had chicken tenders for a starter - wonderfully succulent! and southern fried, which I don't think had been advertised. The dip that came with them was unprepossessing, and I left it. The steak & ale pie I had for main was lovely - I had mash, instead of chips, after reading the online reviews. I was glad I had, simply because they only seem to do chunky chips here! But hey, it's not gourmet, but I was well satisfied - and finished in nice time for my show.

..which was right across the road! Oh, the joys of eating close to the venue.. I went straight down - no ticket check whatsoever - and queued at the bar, only to have my order taken, and be told it'd be brought down to me! So, as no-one was telling me where to sit, I chose my own, sofa, seat..

She did bring my drink in due course - the wine was a bit insipid, I felt, and when I went for a second, it was a margarita: of which they do four varieties. I went for the classic - and oh, that was good. Mind you, as usual, mixing isn't a good idea, and I left it at that for alcohol for the night!

Cool jazz was accompanied by tap..

(Interestingly, the dancer's friends were at the table next to mine, and she came over during the interval.) An added, visual, attraction was an artist, who sat at the side and painted her impressions!

Ah, a talent I'd love to have. Mind you, when she was finished with this, she switched to abstract, and I completely lost interest..

A good night though, very chilled. Unfortunately, my buses were destined to come slower on my way home.

Tomorrow - I was waiting for the film list to come out, just in case, but finally plumped for another dinner at Greenwich Yacht Club with Over 40 Living the Life. It's always a good evening! Unfortunately, the organiser later messaged me to say she was not feeling the best, and might have to cancel - and she did later cancel, but said it was because of a "training evening". Well and good, this had some competition that night - so Plan B now is to head to La Grande Illusion, showing at the Prince Charles, again for one night only. A 1937 WWI drama about French prisoners of war escaping from a German prison, it is supposed to be good.

On Wednesday, I've discovered more storytelling - Winter's Night Wonder Tales, as advertised on Facebook (how sensible), this is happening upstairs at The Palmerston. Just saw it advertised as I was thinking of what to do that night!

And on Thursday, finally back with Up in the Cheap Seats for The Shark is Broken, at Richmond Theatre. A comedy about the making of Jaws.. how could I resist?! I was perturbed, mind you, to see that the "cheap" seats in the Stalls involve an automatic VIP experience booking, with champagne and such! Huh - I went for the next price level up, in the rear Stalls, thus paying much less.. Booked for the Buenos Aires Steakhouse, across the road, for beforehand..