Soave Dolce Melodia

This evening, was 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 were available to book, last I looked. This one was Soave Dolce Melodia: Music of the Trecento (14th Century Italian). And wow, did I have trouble finding the ticket last night, particularly stressful as booking was now closed - duly found, which saved me some stress today. I emailed the Old Red Cow for a dinner booking beforehand - and they confirmed the same night! Maybe they're speeding up.

When they sent me a reminder for the concert, they pointed out that the concert started at 6, with doors open from 5. Crap, I thought - perhaps I should have booked for food earlier! I headed in a little early, picking the bus combination that'd get me there quickest - arrived at about 4.45. Dragged my weary bones upstairs - well, I could do with the exercise. I found myself snooping on a film shoot, nobody available to help.. dragged myself down again and explained to the guys behind the bar that I'd booked a table. He said, "Oh yes, the film crew takes the place over on Sundays".. and suggested I go up and sit down. He followed me up - and lo, when I said I'd booked a table for five, he thought I meant five people.. when he found out it was just me, he sorted me a table, from where I could watch the filming. Which looked scintillating, two people ordering from a server..

Well, I had the steak & ale pie - which was tasty enough, if a bit runny, with a soggy crust. Still better than Gaucho, hmph. The wine was lovely - I decided I'd squeeze in a second glass, if he came: and he did. I asked for the bill when he brought the wine - explained I was in a hurry. Have to say, they might be a bit scatty here, but they're really friendly.. drank that a little quickly, and made tracks. But of course, it's a two-minute walk from there.. I showed my hard-sought-after ticket at the door. When he showed me where the bar was, I asked whether we could take drinks in (after all, there now wasn't so much time to drink it) - he wasn't sure, but the lady at the desk said yes. So off I went - they were having trouble with the payment app (!) but when it came to my turn, it was fine. I took the drink with me, and got a seat decently near the front:

Just two of the group tonight - a singer, and one playing the recorder, and some predecessor to the harpsichord; I forget what he called it. They promised the full group would be there for the other concerts. Anyway, I was just in seventh heaven - I do love this music. I hadn't heard of any of the pieces - I think my favourite was Io me son uno per le frasche (thanks to the free program that I can check!).. They played straight through for an hour, then had a Q+A afterwards. He suggested we top up our drinks first - so I did. A lovely evening was spent.

And it was a good thing I was familiar with the bus route home - they had no stop announcements whatsoever..

Tomorrow 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.

On 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 next Saturday, 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..