Concert: Simon Horgan

Back in London, this evening again I was headed to the Summer Organ Festival with CT - this time, the performer was Simon Horgan. The second of four Mondays in a row it was running. My sometime travel companion said she'd come too, and she being a big fan of Flat Iron, we booked the nearby Borough branch for afterwards. Even on a Monday, they were already booked out to 8.30..

Moseyed off, delighted the heat of the day was dissipating - I walked there, which was quite pleasant. She got there just before me - I got a glass of wine first. It's funny - the first night, they didn't realise they had both Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, and ended up serving nearly all the Sauvignon Blanc.. so there was hardly any left tonight! I got some of the last - then spotted my companion and joined her, and she went for a glass.. by which time she was stuck with Chardonnay. Ah well..

Tonight's programme did actually include a composer I recognised - there was a bit of Bach, whom the organist remarked no recital should be without. Hmm, the last performer didn't have him.. anyway, to be perfectly honest, I'm not a huge fan of organ music, but this is definitely the setting for it. Gorgeous cathedral, cheap tickets, and wine.. not a bad evening by anyone's reckoning.

Afterwards, we were early - we would have been anyway, the concert finishing at 8, and no bookings available, when we checked, before 8.30. I'd booked for 8.45 - in my defence, the last concert ran on past 8.30. It was only a short walk - and just as well, because our weather apps' predictions for no rain were absolutely useless! It rained on us the whole way, and we not dressed for it at all.

It turns out to be right next to the Clink Prison, for reference. We were seated pretty quickly in what was a very busy restaurant. This was my first time in a Flat Iron. Now, it quickly becomes apparent that this is definitely a STEAK restaurant - they don't do starters, and they don't do desserts. For starters, they fill a large mug with (unflavoured) popcorn - one per table. I had a piece, left the remainder to my companion - I'm not a fan of popcorn that tastes like cardboard.

I have to love the cutlery, though - first time I've eaten with a cleaver:

I had great fun with the steak - three options, basically, so I decided to go down the middle, with the ribeye. I tell you though, if I come back, I'd love to try the wagyu - I've never had it, and they always have a wagyu option - check the specials board for the particular cut. My ribeye was.. amazing. Perfectly cut, perfectly seasoned. I had it with chips and sauce, both of which you pay extra for, both of which were excellent - as usual, when a steak is too good, I don't sully it with sauce, so on this occasion it was relegated to the chips. The prices are low enough, for steak.. obviously because the cuts are on the small side. But wow, do they know how to cook steak!

As I say, they don't do dessert - but on the way out, they have an ice cream machine, and give you little tokens, which you can exchange for your free ice cream, in a wafer cone, with cocoa powder on top if you want. The tokens themselves, you drop in a box, in a slot corresponding to how you like your steak cooked..

Very interesting meal, glad I came. Oh, and yes, it rained on my walk home again.

For tomorrow, I've found what looks like an amazing film.. A State of Passion is a documentary about British-Palestinian surgeon, Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah, and his work in Palestine - and for all the horrors it shows, it also seems to be a real work of, well, love for the country. "A State of Passion" is his phrase describing Palestine. Showing in the Curzon Bloomsbury - and with my membership renewed, I'm using it as one of my free films, and have booked.

On Wednesday, also thrilled with what I found - back with CT, I have a ticket for Storehouse, a new immersive exhibition in Deptford. A topical show, it puts you in a storehouse containing all news stories since the advent of the internet, but asks you to take a stand, with rival narratives competing for dominance.

On Thursday, thinking of film again - and The Garden Cinema has a members' suggestion, Smiles of a Summer Night, a romantic comedy by Ingmar Bergman, which looks like an option. Even closer to the office than is the Curzon Bloomsbury! And I've finally bitten the bullet and taken out membership with them too.

On Friday.. well, The Hideout is off to Friday 13th Part VIII in the Prince Charles (PCC).. and the organiser offered me a free ticket. Otherwise you couldn't drag me to it, TBH. We're meeting in Victory House beforehand - no time to eat beforehand, I'll have to manage afterwards, somewhere.

On Saturday, back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies, yay - finally getting to do his Beatles walk.

Sunday, I'm managing the second half of Lomaz' weekend at Sutton Hoo - not getting to Sutton Hoo itself mind, I'm joining them in Woodbridge. Now, apart from the Stansted Express, it's a long time since I booked train tickets in the UK - and Lordy, what a palaver. Firstly, I found the cheapest on Uber - not to mention I get Uber credit on top, which is nice. Then they calculated I'd have a cheaper ticket with a split fare (thank goodness we have algorithms to figure this out for us - the UK rail network is otherwise incomprehensible!) So, it seems it works out cheaper if I get a ticket to Colchester, and another onwards from there. All in one transaction, and factored into the price. Ok fine. Finally, the final leg of the journey, from Ipswich, is by rail replacement bus - no problem, they've factored that into the ticket too. Oh, and the last going home leaves before 10pm.. one of the reasons I never want to live "just outside" London!

Next Monday, back with The Hideout for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, also at the PCC. More 80s slasher fun.. this one stars Dennis Hopper. Coincides nicely with the original film - it was showing in the smaller screen, but had to move into the larger one because of demand, and is showing there right after the original - which I see some of the group are also going to! Handy for the double-bill. Anyway, the timing (to see the sequel) works for me to eat - and I've booked Bella Italia, yum..

On the 19th, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for The Comedy About Spies, from the excellent Mischief Theatre. Playing at the Noel Coward Theatre. And as that isn't very far from Bella Italia.. well, I'm sure I'm not going to mind eating there twice in a row!

And on the 20th, back with TAC for A Manchester Anthem, at Riverside Studios.