London Still Rocks!

Last Friday - well, one of the things London Museums from A-Z (LoMAZ) were talking about doing for their series of Dracula events was going to a ballet - and sure enough, there is a Dracula ballet in town! I'd heard it was good, with a classical soundtrack - and sure enough, when I checked, it was almost completely booked up. The only tickets left were last Tuesday evening - which I couldn't manage - and the matinees on Wednesday and Friday - so I took Friday off, and went to it that day! Ticket was emailed to me the day before. Couldn't persuade anyone to go with me though. Showing in the Palladium - I had to take the Second Circle to get the lowest price, and as legroom was reportedly tight, I made sure to get an aisle seat. Oh, and CT then advertised cheap tickets for Thursday's matinee.. ah well.. A cousin of mine was trying to get a hold of me on Thursday evening, but I was at the cinema and didn't get his message till afterwards, by which stage it w...

Today saw the start of two appropriately vampiric days, and three days of horror! and of Meetups . Tonight, I was back with The Hideout for Vampire's Kiss , an old comedy with Nicholas Cage , in which he thinks he's been dating a vampire ( Jennifer Beals ), and is now turning into one himself. Showing in the Prince Charles of course, and we were meeting in Victory House beforehand. I booked to eat in Bella Italia before that - took two goes though, the site was down the first time! I was in the office, and glad to walk to the restaurant - the bus in to the office had been a nightmare! I ended up walking half the way there because roadworks prevented the buses from travelling the whole route, and because the bus that would've taken me closer was taking too long, so I took another .. as it was, I was 10 minutes late for my first meeting. Not a problem, I joined online anyway and there wasn't anything important for me - but I've never known the buses so prob...

Tonight, took instruction from LGBTQ Culture Lovers again, who kindly shared that CT had cheap tickets for a performance of The Creation by Haydn , in the Royal Festival Hall . (Second concert in a row for me.) So, headed to that (solo), and booked to eat in The Archduke beforehand. Buses were fun. There are roadworks, apparently, meaning my local bus stop  was out of action - so I had to decide which bus route had the closer stop to walk to. Walked there, waited.. in the war of my bus apps, Google Maps was more optimistic - and won, predicting that my bus would arrive in 10 minutes. So it did - and, amazingly, took me there without me having to change buses! I arrived at the restaurant slightly early. Hmm - they do a couple of great soups, one of them on offer today: butternut squash. But I continue to struggle with the mains - the chicken is lovely, but comes with a sauce I don't like, and I didn't fancy it today. I decided on the beef bourgignon, which I remembered a...

Tonight, back at last with Rune for a medieval concert in St. Bartholomew the Great - this one was Saints and Miracles . I booked to eat beforehand in the Old Red Cow . Any bus at all would do me from my local stop , each involving a change - so I resolved to take the first that came - and I did. And wouldn't you know it - the engine conked out two stops later! But there was another coming along behind, which took me to where I had to change. I then took the second bus .. and it stopped short! However, it did bring me close enough to walk the rest of the way, which was faster than waiting for another - and that's what I did. Happily, I managed that mostly in the shade. Now, the annoying thing about this group is that they advertise the concerts long before the tickets go on sale.. and by the time the concerts roll around, I can't generally remember whether I already bought a ticket! Well, I searched and searched on my phone and couldn't find it, so I had to conclude...

On Sunday, I thought about heading back to The Lanesborough for sachertorte , this time with Mark and Martin.. our monthly catch-up. But Lordy, this hot spell continued, and both bailed! Never fear, The Hideout came to the rescue - they were going to see Passenger . Now, the trailer gave me some misgivings - but I liked the concept, and was delighted to be seeing the group again anyway. Booked Bella Italia for beforehand, and as usual I'd then be meeting them in Victory House before going to see the film in the Vue . Third Meetup in a row, therefore! I was apprehensive about the bus ride in - but the aircon was on, and it was deliciously cool. Arrived at the restaurant pretty much exactly on time - and as usual, in time to beat the rush! Sat well inside, out of the heat. I was thinking of doughballs to start - but was sad to see they only have the cheesy ones now! Guess that rules them out for me then - just as well I have another option: and the crispy chicken fries were d...

Last Friday night, Movie Roadhouse London finally had a social again! Ah, it'd been so long.. so, back at the BFI Balcony Bar , and I booked to eat at The Archduke beforehand - quite an early booking, they showed as being full after 4.45pm! I tell you, without the main organiser in town, these socials don't happen..  Made sure to get off work early, and got to the restaurant early on the first of what today became a record-breaking set of hot days! (The social was misnamed, looks very like summer has arrived..) Happily, the mushroom soup was on again, and I had the chicken as usual.. didn't have time for dessert, had to get to the social. A nd despite the apparent cap on numbers, and waitlist, and not technically happening in conjunction with   The Hideout any more, I didn't get the impression that people had been excluded! It was a marvellous night, really nostalgic as I met people I hadn't met in ages, and of course it's always great to see newcomers.. ...