Beethoven's Septet

Well, I was in the office today - and had an interesting bus journey in. Our bus driver seemed a bit off - at several stops, he had to be asked to open the central doors for people to get off. Several times, on occasion. Then there was some altercation with a very mouthy cyclist - I didn't see what initially happened, but the cyclist was really annoyed, and started swerving dangerously in front of our bus, impeding its progress. It went on for so long that several people decamped to another bus - again, having to ask the driver specifically to open the door. Well, at least we went on a stop longer than usual - I know that, this month, because of roadworks, the bus is stopping short, but they usually stop at Holborn - he went on to the next stop, which saved me quite a bit of walking. Having said that, it'd have been nice if he'd let us off at the stop - I was preparing to get off there when off he took again, stopping behind other buses, and making us get off in the road.. and he wouldn't even open the centre doors, we had to get off at the front ones..

This evening, I had a streaming ticket for the Crick Crack Club (CCC) - they were doing Dionysus in the Story Museum Oxford. But you know, they always provide these as a recording too, available for a week afterwards - so I also booked one of the last tickets to a free performance of Beethoven's Septet, by the Philharmonia Chamber Players, at the Royal Festival Hall. And being in the office, I could walk there.

I was kind of sorry to leave - people were in a chatty mood. But hey, I was looking forward to the concert, so off I went - and earned it, dragging my laptop bag all the way there. My ticket said it was general admission, but that I should enter by Level 4 - so I did, waiting forever for the lift, what with a group of people who didn't seem to know how to use it. The glass lift, BTW, is out of order.

Level 4 is a sensible one to choose - you have plenty of options from there: front or rear stalls, or wings. I don't think they opened the boxes or balcony for this performance - but wow, the stalls were something like 90% full. Me, I chose the wings - close to the door, with plenty of room for my bags.

40 minutes long, it was just lovely - exactly the de-stresser you'd need after a hard day. I'm so delighted I found these - it's a convenient location, too.

Headed to The Archduke again afterwards. I'd actually booked for 7.30, but was easily there by 7 - no problem with getting seated though. There was a pianist and singer tonight, to fill any gap left by the conversation. I was seated upstairs, at the table beside an American-sounding chap who, when a train passed overhead, thought there was an earthquake - when one of his companions enlightened him as to what it was, he greatly praised the use of space! He mused whether that was the origin of the name - "The Archduke" being located in the arches.. perhaps, now that he mentions it..

As to me, wow, they had mushroom soup at last! For all the times I was promised it and they didn't - and I was just in the mood. It was gorgeous - if scalding hot. And came with hot toast and butter! Funny, the conversation in the office had run to butter, and the melting of it on toast.. which I tried to do, but it wasn't hot enough. Ah well. I had beef bourgignon with it, for a change, having had chicken yesterday.. and ice cream sundae for dessert, and what with the live entertainment, had a great night.. which, happily, ended early - I could do with a rest.

On the way home, I noted they've tidied up the rental bikes in the area:

Tomorrow is film again - and again I was tempted by Movie Roadhouse London (MRL), who are going to La Infiltrada (Undercover), another fact-based film about a Spanish police officer who worked undercover in ETA for eight years. Only showing in the Ciné Lumiere (ironically), and we're meeting in the cafe there beforehand.

On Saturday, my now-monthly walk with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies! This one is Secrets, Sophistication & Scandal.

And afterwards, I'll be joining - yes, MRL again, for Flow, a gorgeous-looking animation centred around a cat, fleeing a flood with a group of other animals. Very Noah's Ark, but without the humans, it seems. We're seeing it in Curzon Soho.

On Sunday, the CCC live - another Sunday afternoon at the British Museum, lovely! This one is The Heart of a Hero: The Epic of Banu Hilali, as told by the excellent Chirine El Ansary. And afterwards, the only time this month I could squeeze in a social with my ex-colleagues - well, James, at least; Ivan can't make it, and Martin hasn't yet got back to me. Anyway, we're thinking of heading to Il Castelletto.

On Monday, I was thinking of heading to The Alto Knights, a new Robert de Niro gangster film, yet again based on real-life events. Also stars Debra Messing. The Curzon Aldgate is the closest to me, and I could eat at Cote St. Katharine Docks. But wouldn't you know it, its rating has slipped.. sure enough, I wasn't much impressed by the trailer. So I'm considering Santosh instead, which is an Indian film about a woman who inherits her husband's job as a police officer when he is killed on duty. Looks quite good, and is showing at the Curzon Bloomsbury.

On Tuesday, back at last with Over 40 Living the Life, for dinner at the Greenwich Yacht Club. They've had a few of these lately, but they've always clashed with something.

On Wednesday, more storytelling - this time, back at Folklore Hoxton, tickets through Dice again. And again, I'm eating at the Blues Kitchen Shoreditch.

Next Thursday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for (This is Not a) Happy Room, at The King's Head, Islington. And then I'm back to Ireland for another long weekend.. this being the weekend of Mother's Day. I finally got around to booking the day off work - but goodness, they seem hardly to bother telling anyone, just for a single day!