Rat-Arsed Tours: St. James & Dance: R: Evolution

Back in London - fortunately, considering I nearly crashed the car on the way to the airport! I was so tired, I literally fell asleep at the wheel. A micro-sleep - I awoke before I crashed into the ditch. Did end up ripping a tyre to bits, driving over rocks - the guy who looks after it will be fixing it before I get back. Hopefully. At least the flight had better aircon, on the return journey. Anyway, yesterday marked 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 was starting in St. James. We were finally told to meet in The Clarence. And I only just beforehand realised I'd be in the office that day, and lugging my laptop.. uhh..

I could have left a little earlier, but was finishing something, so I didn't. I could walk there from the office though, so I did - and the laptop was fine, it was the crowds on the streets were the problem.. Well, the group was mostly assembled in the pub by the time I got there, and wow, had managed a couple of tables just inside the door. Kudos! I headed to the toilet (upstairs, natch), and got a drink - and Mandy dispensed goodie bags! Now, I don't know whether these are going to be a regular feature, but I have to say they were very impressive..

It was very busy.. we were kind of glad to get on our way. Now, I'm afraid I didn't take that many photos.. but I thought the entrance to The Stafford Hotel was rather nice:

As advertised, her aim was to "roast" people, and her story about this building was about the lady who moved in and refused to leave.. and ended up having a cocktail named after her.

We did a tour of gentlemen's clubs.. and isn't it lovely when they leave the curtains open and we can have a look in!

Mind you, we were stood right outside Boodles, beloved of the younger royals:

We were taken to the finest restaurants - not to eat, mind:

Paused a while to contemplate the magnificence of Beau Brummell's statue - I've photographed that enough, so I didn't bother this time. But what was fun was seeing the site of the Texas legation, when it was briefly independent.. we vaguely bothered some people dining nearby, and wondered at the trays of canapes being taken to some reception or other. But as it's in the smallest square in London, we took ourselves down the road a bit - to toast the legation, in a suitably designed boot, with some very tasty rum! all provided by our gracious host:

Ah me, we had quite a wander.. came to the place where John and Yoko met, and saw the mural, showing the artwork that attracted him.. and in between, passed the Scotch of St. James, nightclub to the rich and famous for decades - and portrayed in the opening scene of Black Bag!

Our mid-walk pub stop was the Red Lion - where, as so often with pubs, we were to discover that while the ground level was packed, the upstairs was blissfully empty! 

A steep climb led us to a room where we could take over the entire corner. Funnily enough, there was a guy at an adjacent table that really reminded me of the Man with the Hat (look back a few years, I used to go to his Meetups all the time).. no hat, but looked so like him..

Anyway! We had a quiz.. deftly prepared by our organiser, and yay, all about royals. And lookee, we had Texan-style pens:

Yee-haw! Well, the questions took the form of statements about the British royals, state which was true - and gee, if I didn't win! The prize was.. an apron with pictures of them. Joy.

We wandered a bit more after that, but that was our last pub stop - but I have to say, we had the best time. And I can't say I've ever seen an organiser take such effort over an event! Don't know how she's going to follow it - but what an excellent evening! We finished near Leicester Square - so where did I head for food? Bella Italia, of course! Where the manager knows me by name, and they had plenty of space. They were closing by the time I finished, but I was oh, so well fed.

Naturally, I was too tired to blog last night - and today ran away with me. As usual.

Tonight, finally back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS), who were 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.

I did head off in decent time - and then my bus terminated early, and I got a different one from what was advised - and had to change - and then the took forever to come.. so I arrived at the pub 10 minutes late. Took a while to get seated - had my regular table. Then it took a while to get my order in - they specialise in steak, and I had a flat iron. Then it took half an hour to get it to me - FFS, I don't cook much, but I know it doesn't take that long to cook a steak! Well, I had it finished by 7pm, when we were supposed to meet - and the bill was presented to me in a music box, of all things!

So, I legged it up to the theatre, took the lift up to the Second Circle, where we were all sitting. And we had time for a wee chat before going in. I was in that small section to the side, with limited seating - I had two guys outside me, who as soon as the lights went down for the start of the show, scuttled down to some free seats they'd spied nearer the front. So, lovely, I had three seats to myself!

There were two intervals, during which we met to discuss what we were seeing. Now, there is a blurb on the website that describes the theme - frankly, the only progression (evolution, if you like) that I saw was the shedding of clothes. The first section is quite classical - tiaras and (sparkly) tutus. The next is pared-down - simpler outfits. The last section has everyone in nude bodysuits. Seriously, perhaps that was the point - to demonstrate that elaborate staging is unnecessary? Anyway, it was beautiful to watch, mostly accompanied by classical music. Runs to the 11th. Unfortunately, I missed the others afterwards - at least two of us headed straight for the loo!

The weekend is all about The Hideout, for the month that's in it! Tomorrow, 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. Now sold out for tomorrow, I hear. 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 (PCC) - and of course, I'm in Bella Italia again beforehand.

On Monday, back with London Classical Music and Theatre Group (LCMTG) 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.

On 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.

On Wednesday, 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 Thursday, 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! And that evening, I thought film - and what came up was Mr. Nobody Against Putin, a documentary where a Russian teacher films his school to capture Putin's brainwashing of schoolchildren to fight against the Ukraine. Showing in the Curzon Bloomsbury - which, of course, I can walk to from the office, where I'll be that day. I booked - it was selling out - and used the last of my year's free tickets on it.

Then a few more days of horror. Next Friday, I'm off to Dark Secrets: The Esoteric Exhibition at Waterloo Vaults - sounded too interesting to miss!

On the 11th, storytelling from the Crick Crack Club! Ben Haggarty and Sarah-Liisa Wilkinson are performing Stories in the Dark at the Richmond Lending Library. Sold out now, I believe. I've booked the Buenos Aires steakhouse for afterwards.

On the 12th, back with The Hideout for Good Boy - a horror film from the perspective of a dog just trying to protect its master! Happening somewhere around Leicester Square - details TBA.

Next, a couple of plays. On the 13th, back with UITCS for Lifers, a prison drama at Southwark Playhouse - was delighted I still had credit on my PAYG subscription with them.

On the 14th, heading to Blessings at Riverside Studios - a play about a staunchly religious family in the 60s, with change in the offing.

The 15th is our work social - we're headed to Boom Battle Bar, which has, em, axe throwing.. among other things. Augmented reality features.

On the 16th, I'm back with the LCMTG for The Cardinall's Musick, performing a choral concert at St. Martin in the Fields.

On the 17th, The Hideout persuaded me to go to Ti West's X trilogy - Pearl, X, and MaXXXine - at the PCC. Never seen any of them before. Lord knows when I'll have time to eat..

And on the 18th, meeting James for our monthly get-together at The Phoenix - it's the only weekend he can, and he prefers Saturday. Ivan can't make it - no word from Martin yet.