Social

In the middle of two Meetups just now - last night, back with London Social & Cultural Meetups for a social at The Parcel Yard. I warned the organiser about how busy it was on Tuesday - turns out she did book a table, but then arrived early, before it was ready. As for me, I did try to get there at the same time, made it about 10 minutes later, after my first bus was delayed, and traffic showed the second.. and oh, it was nostalgic driving through Shoreditch, it seems like an age since I was last there, now that I'm not flying to Ireland as much!

Not hard to find the pub, having been there recently - she'd left a message saying where to find them, and it wasn't hard: although it turned out two of the group hadn't got the message, and were waiting outside for ages! Anyway, I was hungry, but held off on ordering anything until we moved tables. Decor is train-related.

When we did move, it turned out the table was too small for the attendees - she'd erred on the side of caution when booking. What the hey, we pulled up some more chairs and managed. Only thing was, the table was a big long one, which meant there was little communication between the two far ends unless you were in the middle - there was a bit of moving around once people started to leave.

I ordered on the app, which warned of a 20-minute wait for food. I found my drinks took about 10 minutes. Caveat - you're supposed to be eating if booking a table.. two of us were, which was ok, but I'm not sure what would have happened if we hadn't been. I had the chicken schnitzel - which comes with baby roast potatoes. And was nice - not amazing, but filling. A nice Sauvignon Blanc also went down easy. Funny how they're always so slow to clear the table though..

And it was great to be back with this group - I don't get to them enough. Conversation, with the various people I chatted to, ranged from travel to film to the state of the world.. we had a few hours together, and I was very glad to come, and to catch up. I tell you though, when I needed to go to the toilet - well, I found it, but finding my way back was tricky; it's a maze!

Anyway, this evening, London Museums from A-Z were kind enough to stage an event for those of us with October and November birthdays! We're meeting in The Goodman's Field, then having a ghost walk - one of the group has researched not only spooky stops, but has come up with a script for each, and advertised for people to read them! I've volunteered, and for two if necessary. Hallowe'en costumes encouraged! but with showers promised, I'm skipping it. Finishing in the Minories..

Tomorrow, I'm with TAC at a classical guitar concert, Due Cordi Brillanti, at King's Place.

Then three Meetups: on Monday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) at Soho Theatre for Little Brother - planning to meet my sometime travel companion, who's also going, in the nearby Nellie Dean beforehand.

On Tuesday, 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! (Actually running daily until just after Hallowe'en, but I'm going on this day.)

And on Wednesday, 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.

On Thursday, thinking of film again - as my co-worker says, it's my movie night - Urchin is at the Curzon Bloomsbury.

Appropriately, Hallowe'en weekend is all about The Hideout/Movie Roadhouse London (MRL)! On Hallowe'en itself, The Hideout are on another field trip - following the success of Shocktober, we're now off to Haunt Fest. I'll have to get off work as quickly as possible - blast that I can't take the day off this year, I always try to but my days have been spoken for. Anyway, we can get there by Thameslink from King's Cross (gee, I'm there a lot all of a sudden!), and handily, Harpenden, our destination, had the Oyster system extended to it some years ago. We're meeting in The Parcel Yard - well, unless I need to go straight to the train!

Next Saturday, planning to go with MRL to the 40th anniversary screening of Back to the Future in the Cineworld Imax - finally got a ticket booked, after some internet trouble. As usual, eating in Bella Italia, meeting the group in Victory House.

And on the 2nd, I'm back with The Hideout for a new horror, Shelby Oaks, Leicester Square venue TBD..

Finally, on the 3rd, fourth Meetup in a row, back with UITCS for Fatherland at Hampstead Theatre.

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