Winter's Night Wonder Tales

Tonight, I discovered more storytelling - Winter's Night Wonder Tales, as advertised on Facebook (how sensible), this was happening upstairs at The Palmerston. Courtesy of Storyjam. Just saw it advertised as I was thinking of what to do tonight!

It was going to be a long bus journey - Google Maps had me, in each direction, heading all the way around Elephant and Castle, only to turn right around and catch a bus going back in the other direction. Rubbish! I had a much shorter journey by getting off before Elephant and Castle and taking a shortcut along the appropriately named Elephant Street, circumventing Elephant and Castle - and its perpetual traffic - completely. Mind you, I had a bone to pick with Google Maps - Stop R, on Walworth Road, where I had to pick up my second, outbound bus, isn't at all where they say! Travelling to the right from Elephant Street, as instructed, all I could see were hoardings - feck, I thought, the stop must be closed! I'm better off heading to the next. What should I find en route but Stop R, in a different direction, and not closed, as stated on Google Maps! I wonder whether my complaint is going to do any good..

It was very crowded, and I ended up sitting upstairs. On the long trip, it suddenly occurred to me that I hadn't bought a ticket for the storytelling - but then, I hadn't seen a link! Checking, I discovered a link to Storyjam, where tickets were available from Eventbrite - I was lucky to get one, this was quite full, as it turned out. And my bus ended up finishing a stop early - ah well, I could do with the extra walk. And the promised rain found me for that bit - lovely. Not heavy, though.

The pub itself is lovely and oak-panelled - I'd come early to get food, and considered booking, but they don't take bookings for singles. Luckily, I got the very last table - and when I asked what "pie of the day" was, I was told it was steak & Guinness. Now, the only time I had that before, I found it too heavy - but that was elsewhere, and I decided to risk it.

OMG, when it came out, I exclaimed at the size of it - it was huge, in a proper pie dish! I thought I'd never finish it - happily, the crust wasn't indicative of what was underneath, which didn't fill the entire space. Gorgeous crust, though - and absolutely gorgeous filling. As I told the server when he asked, this was truly the best pie I ever had. Combine that with good surroundings and nice Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc - cheaper than Central London - and you have a real winner.

It's just a pity I was a bit rushed - the storytelling was in the dining area upstairs, where I found the storyteller, Alys Torrance, setting up, ABBA on the playlist. She wasn't yet ready to receive customers, but let me leave my coat so I didn't have to keep lugging it up and down the stairs. By the time I'd got another drink and made my way back up, she was ready - and as I say, the room ended up being pretty full. Hospitably, she produced a box of Maltesers, which she instructed us to pass among us during the performance.. I'm happy to say it made the rounds several times..

Over the side was a table full of storytellers - I recognised Laura Sampson and Lucy Lill, who apparently co-runs Storyjam with Alys Torrance - there was a third, whom I keep seeing in audiences, but whose name I can never remember. (Anyway, I've now subscribed to Storyjam.) And tonight's tale was Norse.. she had a bodhran for accompaniment (and, it seemed, as a kind of focal point for her concentration), and oh, what a story she spun, of ice giants and craggy peaks, of eagles chasing falcons, of the doings of Asgard.. as I listened, I could see it, in my mind's eye, and see the scenery that inspired it. And what a yen it inspired in me to go there..

Truly a marvellous evening, for food, for legends. So glad I ventured, for the first time, to this part of town! On the way back, I decided to shop in M&S Food, across the road, forgetting what a terrible range they have there if you want something other than party food. So, I got some nice chocolate - I also needed bottles of water, and mouthwash. For water, the best they had were 500ml bottles - for mouthwash, they could stretch to Colgate. Ah well - should have waited for the Co-Op I discovered en route. Hey, at least the weather is noticeably milder!

Tomorrow, another run of Meetups - finally back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) 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..

On Friday, I just couldn't resist The Monkey, with The Hideout. Based on a short story by Stephen King, with screenplay, and directed, by Osgood Perkins (son of Anthony Perkins), it just seems to have such a great sense of humour.. with definite shades of Final Destination, with its inventive ways of killing people. They're going to see it at Cineworld Leicester Square, so I've booked for Bella Italia Cranborne Street beforehand.

On Saturday, rounding off the Meetups, I'm back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies, whee! I couldn't manage his weekend walk last month, he had it on a weekend I was in Ireland.. great to be back with him again. This one is Belgravia: Elegance, Criminality & Shopping.

Sunday sees our monthly meeting of ex-colleagues - well, some of them; Martin hasn't responded, at time of writing. And James has a niggling sore throat, so I hope he can make it! Heading in the direction of Victoria again, we're going to try The Phoenix. Ivan managed an all-day booking.

On Monday, back with UITCS for Lynn Faces, a comedy about women of a certain age starting a punk group, and playing at the New Diorama.

On Tuesday, I'm thinking film - and the film at the top of my list looks really good; I'm Still Here is about a Brazilian woman whose husband disappeared during the military dictatorship. Based on a true story, this is receiving a lot of attention. Also showing widely - the closest to me is in the BFI. I've booked to eat at The Archduke afterwards.

Next Wednesday - whee, more storytelling! This one is Folk Horror Night, and takes place in Folklore Hoxton, tickets through Dice - run by the Crick Crack Club, performed by Laura Sampson and Daniel Morden. Already sold out. I've booked for The Blues Kitchen Shoreditch beforehand.

On the 27th, I've booked - because it was also selling out - for Intercepted, an interesting-sounding documentary, showing at Curzon Bloomsbury only, as far as I know, about phone calls home from Russian soldiers in the Ukraine, and intercepted by Ukrainian security forces. And then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.