Film: Dead Lover

Last night, the second in a row of three Meetups, back with The Hideout at last, to see Dead Lover - the trailer is so ridiculously OTT, I could only hope the film would be 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 were 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! Booked to eat at the Bear and Staff instead, I know they're good.

Naturally, I just missed the #188 - Google Maps is way too optimistic about how fast I can get to the stop from my room! Not wanting to miss my reservation, I researched my options - and discovered I'd be faster with the C10, changing to the #176. Just made the C10, which leaves from the other side of my estate - got off to change to the #176.. and discovered it was delayed, and not supposed to come for 15 minutes! Despite the cute graphic on Google Maps, showing where it was supposed to be. So when the #188 came along, I took that.. could have saved myself the trouble of running for the C10..

I was slightly late - just over five minutes. Made it to the upstairs dining room before a queue of other people. The dining room is tiny - I'd forgotten how small, it's an age since I was last here, over a year ago - and completely full! apart from one small table, to which he happily directed me. Now, he gave me a menu straight away, but it did take a while both to order, and to receive my food - but there was only one waiter, who was literally run off his feet! I timed it, and it was still faster than The Wilmington on Thursday. Doesn't that really say something, that a place that was nearly empty, but with multiple staff, took longer to get fed in than this place, with the one and only waiter rushed off his feet, and a packed dining room..?

Anyway, I had the chicken schnitzel, which was nice, if not really special, and a glass of wine. The event organiser messaged to say she was in Victory House already - but I wasn't finished eating yet, and it did take a while to get the bill. Fair enough though, three tables asked for it in succession, and were processed in succession. I have not seen better service management from staff - kudos! The place was actually emptying out as I left - obviously a pre-theatre crowd. So, booking not always required.

And so to Victory House, where I found the organiser in splendid isolation! She'd invited another couple of people along, but they were apparently going straight to the cinema. Gee, if I'd known, I'd have messaged to let her know what I was doing.. Anyway, we drank and chatted until it was time to head on in. And she generously covered my drink in the cinema with her membership card!

As we went upstairs, we were given scratch n sniff cards.. just one of the weirdnesses of this film. Because, I have to say, the trailer was a good indicator - this must be one of the weirdest, most anarchic films I've seen! Weird images abound - scruffy, apparently smelly, people (the scratch n sniff card had numbers from 1-10, and whatever number appeared on screen, you had to scratch to get the effect), graveyards, and a disembodied finger.. our protagonist is completely exaggerated, and the whole thing is quite hilarious. Really sorry this didn't get more of an audience.. we both rated it 8/10.

Anyway, it was too cold to blog last night. And the last of this row of Meetups is this evening, finally back with LoMAZ for their bi-monthly birthday bash - meeting at Benugo in Waterloo, then having a self-guided history tour within the station, and repairing to the Union Jack.. Surprisingly few birthdays at this event, in comparison with the last two.. But what a delight for a late start, allowed me to get a grip on the day (and this post done, although I now have to run). As usual, I've volunteered to read - I got the Windrush Monument stop.

Tomorrow, I was provisionally thinking of a film - what was coming up is Everybody to Kenmure Street, a documentary (Emma Thompson takes part) about a movement of Glasgow locals when a couple of their neighbours face deportation in a dawn raid! Only showing in the Lexi, all the way up in Kensal Green.. but having booked ahead, that turned out to be my only full free day this month, and I was planning drinks with Mark (the others are unavailable), so we're doing that instead. Probably at The Phoenix again, we'll see.

The next two days are courtesy of my cheap ticket groups! On Monday, I'm with TAC for a Beethoven concert at the Milton Court Concert Hall. Eating beforehand at Cote Barbican.

And on Tuesday, with CT, I found a live podcast - You're Dead to Me is history with a comedic twist! Playing at The Adelphi. My dinner companion of last Monday is coming too.

Then it's five Meetups in a row.. on Wednesday, back with UITCS for Oh! Mary, a musical and comedic look at the life of Mary Lincoln, playing at Trafalgar Theatre. I paid a little over the odds for it at late notice, but decided I'm interested enough to get another perspective, after seeing last month's show about her, Mrs. President.

On Thursday, back with LoMAZ, unusually for a midweek event, a talk on Johnson, Crime and Punishment, in Four Cases, at Dr. Johnson's House. Includes a welcome drink and a chance to peek around the house. Tickets are cheaper if bought in pairs, so I paired with someone from the group.

On Friday, finally back with Over 40: Living the Life, for Cleopatra: The Experience, at the ExCel Centre. She's found a place nearby to eat beforehand, apparently Italian, details TBA.

Next Saturday, back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies - this walk is It's Only Rock 'n' Roll but I Like It! Unfortunately, the event page seems to be set up differently, not allowing people to sign up without paying through PayPal, and incurring the fee. He's having to take people's names offline..this wasn't his intention, and I'm not sure what has happened.

On the 29th, back with The Hideout again for They Will Kill You, a comedy horror about a girl who takes a job at a Manhattan mansion, only to discover it's a temple to Satan, and she's tonight's sacrifice. However, they didn't know about the martial arts she picked up in prison.. not a spoiler, that's all in the trailer. Location and time TBA.

On the 30th, heading to something advertised to me by someone I met on the last LoMAZ event I was on - he organises a WhatsApp community called London Fun, and had a spare prebooked ticket to Lifeline, a musical based around the medical profession and starring real medical professionals. So I said I'd go - in Southwark Playhouse again.

On the 31st, back with Movie Roadhouse London, who are dipping their toe in horror as well.. we're seeing Brain Damage, an 80s body horror about a guy infected with an alien parasite..  hmm. Showing in The Nickel Cinema - which turns out to be around the corner from The Wilmington, so I've booked there again. 

On the 1st, back with TAC for another Kirckman concert for young classical musicians at King's Place- this time it's Sherri Lun.

On the 2nd, back at storytelling with Orpheus Dismembered, featuring Ben Haggarty, of the Crick Crack Club. Happening at Hoxton Hall, and I'm eating in Schnitzel Heaven beforehand.

And on the 3rd, back with UITCS at SW, for Solera - flamenco with Paco Peña. ¡Olé! Eating at The Wilmington again- and can go a little earlier, it being a bank holiday.