Comedy: Skittish

Tonight - way-hay! I've become a big fan of the Irish comedy trio Foil, Arms & Hog, from their online videos. I'd never seen them live - and was very keen to see them when I heard they were performing their latest show, Skittish, at the Palladium! For some reason, however, I could never get the booking link to work - and just as well, because tickets then came up on CT and I snapped one up. Booked to eat in Shakespeare's Head Soho beforehand - a Greene King pub again. And wouldn't you know it, I mistook the showtime and booked dinner too late.. it was only last night that I thought, am I sure it's on that late? Sure enough, it wasn't, and I managed to change my dinner booking for an earlier time. I wanted 6pm, they'd only give me 5.45 or 6.15, so I chose 5.45 so as not to be rushing - I could easily leave work a bit early, nothing to do anyway.

Was out in good time for the bus - and Lordy, it was another bus with an overenthusiastic announcement! See, every time we came to a stop, instead of announcing just the name of that stop - why, the announcement carried on and gave us the next couple as well! Would've been very confusing for people unfamiliar with the route. I was on one previously that did the same.. d'you think it was the same bus?

Made the pub a reasonable five minutes early this time - and lo, this is what I should have had yesterday! I was sat upstairs - the manager had to evict a couple from my table, us all apologising to each other (them for encroaching on my space, me for being early).

Service was attentive - and although I know Greene King pubs do great steak pies (and would have liked to compare with yesterday's), still I didn't feel like that today, and had chicken Kiyev instead: which he was at pains to point out to me came with the garlic butter on top, rather than inside.

I know, I'm used to that - and it was lovely. I was right by the door, mind, and I swear, the number of people who turned up without reservations! Honestly guys, on a Friday night, that's a bit optimistic.. Anyway, the wine was lovely too and I had a second glass, running to the loo there before I left for the 2-minute walk to the theatre. I'd been sent my seat number this afternoon - I was in the rear of the Royal Circle (next up from the Stalls), on the aisle. Not bad at all - and normally £35.50 for a seat I got for £10..

Yes, they were funny, improvising madcap sketches. However, the stage show, naturally, doesn't have the fine detail of their YouTube videos, and I found the sketches underwhelming. Ooh, and beware, ye in the front Stalls.. their audience participation is more than most, with someone being brought on stage, and someone else's coat brought on, only for one of them to rifle through the pockets.. All in good sport, and everyone survived - I still wouldn't fancy it, though!

The bus home (which I had to wait ages for, in the cold), in contrast to the outbound journey, had no announcements at all, either verbal or written on the screen! I couldn't help imagining that it was a response to the overactive comments from the other trip.. still doesn't do much for alleviating passengers' confusion..

Tomorrow, absolutely delighted to be seeing the medieval music group Rune again. They're now artists in residence at the medieval church of St. Bartholomew the Great, and I'm on their mailing list - they've announced a programme of four concerts there for the year, but only the first two are so far available to book. This one is Soave Dolce Melodia: Music of the Trecento (14th Century Italian). And wow, did I have trouble finding the ticket tonight, particularly as booking is now closed - duly found, which should save me some stress tomorrow. I emailed the Old Red Cow for a dinner booking beforehand - and they confirmed the same night! Maybe they're speeding up.

Sunday is when they're celebrating St. Patrick's Day in London - I think I'll take myself along to the festival. A Meetup group called Explorers is going, but I don't know anyone in it well, so I think I'll do my own thing - besides, 210 people have signed up! It'd be like a small army.. although rain seems to be forecast, so we'll see. Mind you, that'd only be appropriate..

On Monday, Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) is off to another spooky thing - It Walks Around the House at Night has an actor playing the ghost that inhabits a remote manor house, scaring visitors.. only to discover that he's not the only one there! Mwah-hah-haa.. Showing at Southwark Playhouse.

Then, two days of films, catching a couple I've had my eye on for a while.. On Tuesday, Paddy's Day itself, my thought was to go to a film with an Irish connection.. not a great choice of them amongst the highly rated though! I finally plumped for seeing Hamnet at last, my justification being that it has two Irish stars - Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal. They play Shakespeare and his wife, respectively - although her name seems to have changed from Anne to Agnes! Mind you, it is based on a novel. Deals with the death of their son, Hamnet, and how that provided the inspiration for the play Hamlet. Closest showing to me is in Rich Mix - which I've booked, because I also booked to eat in The Blues Kitchen beforehand, and figured I'd better book the one, since I'd booked the other.

And on Wednesday, finally heading to see No Other Choice, a dark comedy about a middle-aged Korean man who, finding himself unexpectedly unemployed and with a family to support, and faced with competing with younger, brighter applicants in the jobs market, decides that the only reasonable course of action is to eliminate them.. Handiest close showing to me is in the Curzon Bloomsbury - I've booked it with the last of my year's free tickets. Always good to use a free ticket for something that's not a documentary, and so is priced higher..

And then three days of Meetup. On Thursday, back with UITCS for the opening night of Body and Soul at Sadler's Wells, eating at The Wilmington beforehand as usual.

Next Friday, back with The Hideout at last, to see Dead Lover - the trailer is so ridiculously OTT, I can only hope the film is worth it! About a gravedigger, finally finds the man of her dreams, and he goes and dies! Naturally, what can she do but resurrect him..? Showing in the Prince Charles, and we're meeting in Victory House beforehand. Now, I'd normally book at my favourite restaurant for this - but would you believe, by the time I decided what I was doing, they were fully booked for early evening! Eating at the Bear and Staff instead, I know they're good.

And on the 21st, finally back with LoMAZ for their bi-monthly birthday bash - meeting at Benugo in Waterloo, then having a self-guided history tour (ahem) within the station, and repairing to the Union Jack..