Tim's Walks: London By Gaslight

Tonight, headed with Paul and Tim's Greater London Talks and Walks, for Tim's Walk: London by Gaslight. Meeting in the Pret near Green Park Station - and I had to leave early for it, and take the Tube, so I had to start early. But hallelujah, I had comfy shoes on today..

Got a bus to the station - was slightly late getting to Pret, and couldn't see anyone, so had myself a sandwich. Was just wondering where the group might be when the organiser spotted me - they'd been sitting around the corner. Ah well - it was about time to go by then, so we did. Now, to be honest, I wasn't as interested in the mechanics of gas lights as their atmospheric appearance:

And, of course, we came across some Christmas lights:

We had a mosey down to the home of the Texas Legation:

Passing this shop, saw an interesting drawing that reminded me of how the monuments of Egypt looked when rediscovered by Westerners:

We paused at the Actors' Church, to recover someone who'd got lost, and to organise payment - seems Tim's card reader had been playing up earlier! Also gave me a chance to eat the rest of what I'd brought from Pret.

And so the evening ended in the Theodore Bullfrog, which has to be one of the more exotically named pubs I've come across!

We had tables reserved upstairs, but found that we all fitted cosily around one - I ordered food on the app, but there was a problem ordering wine on it! I discovered I needed to head down and get it at the bar. The chicken schnitzel I had was lovely and succulent, though, and conversation was good.

Tomorrow, back with storytelling in Folklore! This time it's Nell Phoenix for the Crick Crack Club (CCC), performing The Girl Who Married a Dog, tickets with Dice as usual. Eating at The Blues Kitchen Shoreditch beforehand - and wow, it's a couple of months since I was last up that way!

On Thursday, back with Mandy and her new Meetup group (ahem) Rat-Arsed Tours! This is her Knightsbridge & Belgravia Crimbo Walk - and gee, she has a lot to live up to after the last one of these! Also advertised with London Herstory Walks. We were to meet in The Plumbers Arms, but the location has changed to Tattersalls Tavern. And just like last time, I'll be getting a workout with my laptop on my back, it being my one day a week in the office..

Then, two days of Spanish music, olé! On Friday, I've lucked out getting cheap tickets with CT to a concert of Spanish classical guitar music at Pixaudio! Regular tickets with Eventbrite. Ah, I adore this music.. eating in The North Pole beforehand.

And on Saturday, the first of two Meetups in a row - although this first one is obviously one of those commercial groups, formed to promote an event - La Isla Flamenco Club is advertising an evening of flamenco, folk, & copla in Bistrot Walluc (tickets from Eventbrite). Now, this turns out to be a fondue restaurant - it doesn't appeal to me massively as a proper meal, so I discovered it's not far from the Blues Kitchen Shoreditch, and have booked there again for beforehand! The bistrot is, however, offering a cheap first drink if pre-booked, so I did.

Then on Sunday, second Meetup in a row, and first of two films in a row - I'm off with Movie Roadhouse London (MRL) to Nuremberg, a representation of the famous post-World War II Nazi trials, starring Russell Crowe as Hermann Goring and Rami Malek as the psychiatrist brought in to assess the mental state of the prisoners. They're seeing it in the Gate Picturehouse - and our resourceful organiser apparently has a restaurant in mind for after, for those interested! Crikey, it's 11.5 years since I was last there..

And on Monday, I'm thinking of heading to Dragonfly, on my own.. it's the story of an elderly woman (Brenda Blethyn) needing care, and the next-door neighbour (Andrea Riseborough) who steps in to save the day: possibly with ulterior motives.. Closest showing to me is in the Garden Cinema.

Next Tuesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for a play called Jurassic, at Soho Theatre.

On the 26th, headed with TAC to Maybe I Should Stop, at the Drayton Arms.

On the 27th, the CCC is in action again, in the form of Ben Haggarty, who's performing The Blacksmith at the Bridge of Bones, at the Story Museum Oxford. Happily, they livestream it - available for a week afterwards - so I'm free to go with UITCS again that day, who are headed to Sadler's Wells for Ballet Black, performing Shadows. Eating beforehand in The Wilmington.

Then, two days with MRL, three with Meetup. On the 28th, we're 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 for his role as vampire Eric in True Blood, woo!) Booked for the Archduke again beforehand..

On the 29th, 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 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..

On the 30th, 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 on the 1st, off with CT to Shake It Up - The Improvised Shakespeare Show, at the Hen & Chickens...