Lunch, Film: The Swallow, & Storytelling: Between Dog and Wolf

I finally flew back to Ireland again - had forgotten the awful airconditioning on Ryanair, but I survived. And yes, it was a relief to get a wash on (there's a washing machine in my flat, but no dryer) and get at the rest of my wardrobe! I've been delayed in going back until now because my car broke down, but it's now fixed, and I needed to get back - because I found out about something in Ireland this evening that I was dying to go to! Martin Shaw, the English storyteller - and you know how I love storytelling - is doing a tour, of Ireland only (now completely sold out), with none other than Tommy Tiernan! They are doing a show called Between Dog and Wolf, and were playing Glór, the closest venue to me, this evening. Couldn't miss that.. and I arranged to meet an old friend for lunch at Jade Cottage, earlier today.

It promised rain, and rain it gave - all day. Not heavy in general, mind. I arrived just before time - no sign of my friend - only to discover that the restaurant didn't open until much later! Checking the times online, I see they agree - I dunno where I saw that it was open at 1pm. Never mind, The Grove next door was open, and their food, and service, is good - and when my friend arrived, that's where we went.

They do a carvery until 3.15pm.. he had the carvery turkey (no ham, as he remarked!), and well, after getting that gorgeous curry smell, I couldn't have anything but the chicken curry, which came with rice. Optional chips as well, but I've never seen the point of that. They provide glasses of water - he had one, I had wine. When I asked for another glass, the server said she'd bring it down - Lordy, she completely forgot ever to charge for it! I didn't think of it myself either.

Anyway, he cleaned his plate - my curry was lovely, although a bit spicier than the "mild" description on the menu. And as neither of us was in a hurry, he got us desserts - their "chocolate brownie" cheesecake, a special of the day that we both had, was good too. Friendly service, and plenty of space - I'll always be glad to come back here.

We had a great catch-up - in the course of which I mentioned that I didn't really want to go home again, and have to come back in the evening: so he suggested that perhaps there was a film that could fill the gap. So I checked - and lo, The Swallow was showing at a time I could get there for - and was short enough that I'd be finished in plenty of time for my show. So off I took myself.

A midweek afternoon showing, it was full of pensioners. Not all of whom bothered to keep quiet as the film started. It stars Brenda Fricker, apparently living alone in an isolated coastal part of Ireland - it was shot on the Clare coast. It transpires that she's an artist, and the whole film is about loss, loneliness, and her inability to stem the rising tide (literally, in this case, as the house is flooded). There's also a mysterious person in a photograph, whom she keeps referencing, and who apparently left.. and we discovered that the title stems from The Happy Prince, the story by Oscar Wilde, which features a selfless swallow. To be honest, most people in the cinema didn't sound as though they enjoyed it - and for sure, it's a melancholy piece, the howling wind outside emphasising both the isolation and the misery. Short as it is, they could have expressed the theme in under half the time.

I shopped afterwards, then drove to be closer to Glór - it rained a lot more heavily after the film. I was in time to get into the Glór carpark, where I waited until 7, when the house was to open. Going in, those of us with tickets on our phones were given slips of paper with our seat numbers on (the girl writing out mine had such ridiculously long nails, I didn't think she'd manage it), then we had to disable all alarms, and turn our phones off or to silent, before we popped them in Yondr bags. They're a great idea, waterproof (as I proved, splashing mine in the bathroom), sturdy, and unopenable without one of those gadgets such as they use to remove electronic tags in shops. Ah, I missed my phone though..

I was sat near the front - and of course, had no access to my camera to photograph the very fetching drawing of the performers that was being projected on-stage. Had a great time chatting to the lady beside me though - also there alone, she was a teacher, didn't know much about storytelling but was very interested, and had a curious accent - strongly Clare, but with a twist. Turned out she was Belgian, but had been here for 22 years, leading to an Irish accent so strong it was undeniable.

Our performers came out separately - Tommy got a stool and a glass of water. I was curious to see how he'd do, not being a professional storyteller - although thinking about it, he's always had that element to his performances, even in stand-up. It seems a natural progression. He gave us a cycle of Irish myths - the sídhe (which he helpfully spelled for us) featured strongly, and as I remarked to my companion at the interval (which followed his performance), the takeaway moral seemed to be not to deal with the sídhe - people who do tend to regret it. His story cycle was delightfully repetitive, several characters with the same name - deliberately. He frequently broke into humour, and did point out that when these were originally told, it would have been in a much different, more intimate setting. But I have to say, the standout element of his performance - for me - were the pregnant pauses. He uses them to great effect (as he always has in comedy too), and they do add gravitas - as well as heightening the suspense.

At the interval, the people behind us were anticipating the arrival of Martin Shaw - one had seen him, the others had just heard that he was spectacular. Well, this is his business - and for his act, a lower seat was brought on - suitable for playing the drum that was also brought on..

True, he was on form - perhaps it helped that he wasn't so familiar to the audience as was Tommy, Martin had less to live up to. At pretty much the start, he said a couple of things I took to heart. I've recommended storytelling to so many people, but never knew how to describe the experience - so I was very interested in what he said. And what he said was - that there exists a belief, in some cultures, that the soul mostly exists not in the body, but in the world around - that it's in the murmuration of birds and the flow of streams. He also remarked that, while we might not always get the meaning of a story, we don't always have to - there can be a resonance.

He prefaced most of his stories with a rumble of the drum. And he told a good few, including the long one at the end that encompassed three constituent stories. There was laughter - for me, at least, there was much resonance, with the rhythm of the drum embedding me in the story. But I think, by their reaction, that the audience favourite was the one about the selkie.. oh, and the meaning of the title of the show - "Between Dog and Wolf" - is dusk, basically, twilight. The in-between time.

It was a memorable performance, and I'm jealous for the people that'll get to see the rest of the tour. I fly back to London tomorrow evening - this is my last trip to Ireland before November - and on Thursday, the start of a six-day Meetup run, finally back with Mandy Morrow, who's running a new type of event called Rat-Arsed Tours! (Historic walk and pub crawl, basically.) Tickets available from Eventbrite, and it is starting in St. James. Somewhere. And I only just realised I'll be in the office that day, and lugging my laptop.. uhh..

On Friday, finally back with Up in the Cheap Seats, who are going to Sadler's Wells for R:Evolution, by the English National Ballet. Oh, it's months since I was last there.. Eating at The Wilmington beforehand.

The weekend is all about The Hideout, for the month that's in it! On Saturday, the first of four days of horror for me, we're on a field trip.. to Shocktober! Running at Tully's Farm, it promises shows, scares, fairground rides.. a maze with zombies that chase you with chainsaws.. also food and drink. We're taking a train from Victoria together - and as usual, I found Uber cheapest.

On Sunday, we're headed to A Nightmare on Elm Street - oh, I just love that film! Showing in the Prince Charles - and of course, I'm in Bella Italia beforehand. It'll have been nearly a fortnight - wonder whether they wonder where I've been!

On Monday, back with London Classical Music and Theatre Group for the last day of Sicilian Vespers at the Royal Opera House. Continuing the horror theme, even the publicity shot for this shows skulls.. Again, it's months since I was last here, or with this group. Eating in Cote Covent Garden beforehand - even though it's on early, it's a long one, so I'll have to eat beforehand.

Next Tuesday, finally back - for the first time in nearly a year! - with the Horror Book Club! Not a book club meeting per se - I never have time to read them - this is a panel, in Waterstone's - of new horror writers, discussing what's current.

And on the 8th, finally back with storytelling at Torriano! Hosted, as ever, by Nell Phoenix, it's - again - months since I was there. On this occasion, the performance is Lilith: The Other Side of the Story.

On the 9th, by the way, we have a company-sponsored team lunch, a reward for our hard work on the recent release - and I'll be eating burgers again, in Byron Burgers. Another place I haven't been to in years!