Film: Black Phone 2 & Social

Yesterday, The Hideout persuaded me to go to Ti West's X trilogy - Pearl, X, and MaXXXine - at the Prince Charles (PCC). Never seen any of them before. Lord knows when I'd have time to eat.. but then, in the afternoon, someone, trying for a last-minute ticket, pointed out it was gone from the cinema website - and not only that, they had other films scheduled! The organiser checked - sure enough, it was cancelled. Very bad form, not to inform ticket holders! Well, never mind, another contingent of the same group was headed to Black Phone 2, which I wanted to see anyway! Plus, this meant I had time to eat - I booked Bella Italia. And I got to stay a bit later at work! Win-win..

They had my usual table for me, pre-empted my drink order. I changed the food order up a bit, having crispy chicken fries for starters - which were lovely. The chicken milanese, however, was burnt.. I didn't finish it, and if I ever get it like that again, I'm sending it back. Well, by the time I finished, Jonny was in situ in Victory House - he wasn't the organiser for this film, but had been for the trilogy, and made it there first. I joined him there, then several others arrived. And we had a great chat.. decided what to do for Hallowe'en and everything! ;-) Watch this space.

And so to the Vue. Oh dear.. why couldn't I have found something good in this?! I found it completely predictable, no suspense.. honestly, during the whole thing, I was amazed at how un-original it was. I can't even find anything to say about it, it was so boring to me.. the one saving grace was the winter scenery. I was so glad when it was over. Great to see the group though! I was too tired to blog last night.

Today, met James for our monthly get-together at The Phoenix - it's the only weekend he could, and he prefers Saturday. Ivan and Martin couldn't make it, as usual.

My bus decided not to get me there either, finishing early again - happily, this time that made more sense to me, as I could change to other buses and get there faster.

Despite some heavy traffic, I arrived first - and it was unusually busy! I did manage to get a table, and when James arrived, we ordered. I had the steak - glad I did, it was absolutely delicious, perfectly cooked and seasoned. The chips were chunky, which I'm not mad about. James had fish n chips, as usual.. oh, and the magician on staff gave us a very, very cool private show! Honestly, how he does what he does.. well, it's just magic! James and I spent some hours putting the world to rights - it's always good to catch up: just a shame we haven't seen the others in so long.

Tomorrow, thinking film - and what's coming up is Cutting Through Rocks, a documentary about a female politician in Iran. Showing in the Curzon Bloomsbury - and with it booking heavily, I booked too.

On Monday, back with The Hideout for a film quiz! Also hosted by Movie Roadhouse London, and happening in the PCC - hopefully this isn't cancelled! Eating in Bella Italia beforehand.

On Tuesday, I've booked for Sabrage, a new circus show happening in Lafayette.

I was just figuring out what to do on Wednesday when I got an email from Top Secret comedy club, advertising a WIP show by Russell Howard that night - looked better than what I had been considering, so I booked! In their new venue on Kingsway, which I haven't yet visited.

On Thursday, thinking of The Story of Souleymane, jury prizewinner at Cannes, which is an immigrant drama set in Paris. Showing in the Garden Cinema.

Then two Meetups - on Friday, back with London Social & Cultural Meetups for a social at The Parcel Yard.

Next Saturday, London Museums from A-Z were kind enough to stage an event for those of us with October and November birthdays! Details TBA, Hallowe'en costumes apparently encouraged! And it seems it'll involve a ghost walk..

On the 26th, I'm with TAC at a classical guitar concert, Due Cordi Brillanti, at King's Place.

Then three Meetups: on the 27th, back with Up in the Cheap Seats at Soho Theatre for Little Brother.

On the 28th, a new Meetup group to me, Rewind Tours of London, which apparently runs pay-what-you-like walks, has a special Hallowe'en walk - London: City of Death!

And on the 29th, The Hideout has grabbed me again - we're headed to Nightmare on Elm Street 2 at Cineworld Leicester Square. And yes, meeting at Victory House again, and I'll be in Bella Italia before that..

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