Film: The Accountant 2

Well, I managed to squeeze in a film today - my mother is sleeping a lot, so there's not a lot to keep me in the hospital. Plus, I had to shop - which meant the shopping centre. Where I could also eat.. and lo, there's a Nando's right beside the cinema. I could just about squeeze that in before heading to The Accountant 2.. which I could now see, not having to be home at any particular time!

No queue at Nando's - unlike when they first opened! I was immediately shown to a table, and could use the same app. Ordered the same food as ever - the only problem arose when I was trying to find the cutlery, which turned out to be on the counter where they had the tills. The wine, I found a bit sharp - the chicken was lovely though, and the garlic bread: but the real star was the creamy mash.. simply devine! Service was quick as you could want, too - so I could leg it over to the cinema.. where I would have bought chocolate, but they didn't have anything I wanted! Must be a shortage during renovations..

Speaking of renovations - my, they have gone to town on the refurbishments! The screen I was headed for (#7) now has sofas and armchairs! The film was already running when I arrived, but still probably on the first scene - the title hadn't even displayed yet! So I don't feel as though I missed anything. What I saw was a stylish action scene, in a bar - no idea what I was watching. But at that, the characters not present spend most of the film trying to figure out the same thing themselves! Oh, and would you believe it - J. K. Simmons is in that opening scene! Gracious, the man is everywhere - and never seems to age: one of those faces, obviously.

Ben Affleck reprises his role as a hitman with accountancy skills, from The Accountant. This time, he brings his brother in on the case - which justifies what otherwise would have been an unimaginative title. There's lots of stylish action - and I say this as someone who finds action sequences inherently boring. There's also loads of fun poked at both brothers, but particularly Ben Affleck, with comical scenes built around his good looks, as well as his character's inherent lack of social skills. Some truly funny scenes arise from this, and were my favourite part of the film.

I mean, it's a bit twee, having this pair be vicious killers who just melt around children and animals. But having said that, it works. Ciudad Juárez, again, gets a bad rep as a home of gang warfare and people trafficking. And there's a very interesting assassin on the other side, whom they go up against. Yes, for the genre, a very interesting film!

Flying back to London tomorrow. On Tuesday, back - after too long - with North London Friends! We're headed to House of Games, in Hampstead Theatre. And what a tragedy it is that Ye Olde Swiss Cottage seems to have closed..! It was my go-to, there, and they served excellent food..

On Wednesday, back with London Literary Walks for the 101 Dalmatians walk! We're meeting in The Globe - I've booked to eat there beforehand. 

On Thursday.. flamenco!! Which I love. Found a group, Flamenco Events in London, and have requested to join - no word yet, and there probably isn't going to be! Anyway, have booked for this concert in St. John's Church Hoxton. Tickets from Eventbrite - free after-show party, but I'm passing- have work next day, of course. Have booked with Schnitzel Heaven for beforehand. 

On Friday, back at Sadler's Wells with Up in the Cheap Seats again, for Oona Doherty-Specky Clark. Which sounds.. curious, being an interpretation in dance of a family history involving a family of butchers and, on the other side, working in an abattoir.. Anyway, eating at The Wilmington again.

On Saturday, I was to be back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies.. this time, for The Wallace Collection. But sadly, he's now postponed it till next month. Never mind, it isn't a complete loss - Helen is coming to town! We have a rough plan to have lunch at The Archduke, then follow our noses for the afternoon..

I was leaving next Sunday free in case my ex-colleagues could come to a consensus to meet that day! But as it happens, Ivan can't make it that day, and with the sudden news of a cousin visiting, James isn't sure what he's doing for the whole month. So, for that day, I spotted an event from London Museums A-Z: for Gen Xers and Millennials (LoMAZ). I never heard of them before, but they seem to be zipping randomly aron the alphabet.. they're now up to T - for Tutenkhamun: The Immersive Exhibition, which apparently uses VR to put you right back in Ancient Egypt. Booked through an outlet called Fever, which I'd never heard of - also available on Eventim. Sounds interesting - and I do love VR. No problem in joining straight away, either..

And on the 12th, heading with my companion from the Swiss trip to a classical concert in St. John's Waterloo - booked with Eventbrite. We're eating at The Archduke beforehand.