Film: Pillion

Last night started two days with Movie Roadhouse London. We were off to Pillion - showing in the BFI, this is a love story between a man and a handsome young biker.. starring Alexander Skarsgard (most memorable to me for his role as vampire Eric in True Blood, woo!) Booked for the Archduke again beforehand, and one of the group said he'd join me..

The bus, again, was only going to Aldwych - why, oh why? It says nothing about it on the website, and yet they all terminate there these days.. I got no information from TFL when I asked, of course. Anyway, that was fine for yesterday - and even at that, the bus didn't go that far, terminating at Waterloo! which was also fine, as that was where I needed to get to. Hah, foiled their journey-scuppering antics! The minute the driver started singing merrily (and tunelessly), I suspected we were nearing the end of the route.. Anyway, I ended up at the restaurant early, was shown immediately to my table. Advised them I was expecting someone, but it took another waiter to arrive for me to get an extra menu - and I had to point out to him that I needed more cutlery, too..

My companion was conscientious enough to text, at the time he'd been supposed to be there, to let me know he was nearby. I went for the chicken, as usual - he decided to go for the set menu, three courses. Which was fine.. apart from the steak frites he had. Again, the frites were fine.. and the steak was tasty.. but FFS, I literally have never seen a steak that small! It was insulting. As he pointed out, smaller than the palm of his hand. Looked like a small brown splodge on the plate. Moral of the story - do NOT have the steak frites from the set menu, here. Honestly, he'd have had more meat in a burger..

And so to the cinema to meet the group - and wow, it was amazing how good it felt to be back there with them again! We were meeting in the main bar - and I wasn't sure the organiser himself would be there, he's had so much else on, but was delighted to see him. Unfortunately, some people got lost - I wonder whether they went to the other bar - but we who found each other had such a great chat. And lo, a waiter came down to us, conveniently..

The screen wasn't completely sold out, but mostly - and this being the largest screen at BFI Southbank, that's an indication of how popular the film was. I know there were those who went in with preconceptions, and certainly in some cases, those were confirmed. Personally, I'd gotten a slightly different impression from the trailer - in the end, it was more serious than I'd expected. The story of a submissive, basically, only just discovering what he is and what he likes, in the form of Mr. Skarsgard, so breathtakingly handsome that his jaw literally drops. Honestly, I almost expected him to faint.

Now, adoration is attractive, so I'm not that surprised that the dishy guy took him on - although, according to someone who knows these things, and I quote, "A 10 will never go with a 3". It's not the first time I heard that either. But what the hey, suspend your disbelief and you get to see an obedience routine that, as one person said, wasn't half as extreme as they can be. Again speaking personally, I - with no experience of the D/S world - found myself imagining a male/female version of this, the female as a submissive. Each to their own, but that raised my feminist hackles - and don't tell me that stuff doesn't impact on life outside; we get to watch our submissive in the film come to terms with what is as new to him as it was to me.. and we get to see his reactions. We also get a little window into the motivations of the dominant character. And that, for me, made this an interesting film. (For the squeamish, don't worry - you don't actually get to see much..)

To the riverfront bar for a nightcap, and what an excellent night we had! Thanks to all who helped to make it so.

This evening, we're going to Winter Wonderland! Oh, I've been to this so many times on my own, it'll be great to go with a group.. we're meeting in The Swan Hyde Park, then all going to The Ice Palace, then skating is scheduled - not my thing, I'll be going to Cirque Berserk shortly afterwards. Then we hang out together, doing whatever..

Tomorrow, back with LoMAZ for a LoMAZ unlimited - they generally limit their numbers, but have the odd event with unlimited numbers. British Museum - on this day, focused on a Nordic Noir exhibition - and afterwards to Penderel's Oak. And how lucky that the organiser reminded us to book an admission ticket - they're free, but you need one to get in the main entrance. Plus, as he pointed out, it could be busier than usual, after being closed temporarily during the week because of a local fire!

On Monday, off with CT to Shake It Up - The Improvised Shakespeare Show, at the Hen & Chickens.. My sometime travel companion is coming too, and we're eating at La Pasta beforehand - handily, it's quite a late show, which gives us plenty of time.

On Tuesday, thinking film - finally thinking of The Mastermind again! A 70s art heist film starring Josh O' Connor, it's now showing in the Curzon Bloomsbury.

Wednesday is our work Christmas party, this year in Brasserie Blanc, pretty convenient to me, but which I've never tried.

And on Thursday - well, looks like I'm finally going to get to see Frankenstein, as per Guillermo del Toro! Looks to be a supremely gothic epic, with Jacob Elordi as the monster, Christoph Waltz, and Charles Dance as the father of the scientist, Oscar Isaac, who brings the creature to life. Well, I've seen the exhibition, it's about time I saw the finished product! Showing in Hackney Picturehouse - and since everywhere was full the last time I was there, I've made sure to book for Pizza Express beforehand.