Tonight, more storytelling - this one was from the Crick Crack Club (CCC) again, and was The Grateful & The Dead, with Ben Haggarty, in the East Dulwich Tavern - and my sometime companion came too. Part of the Dulwich Festival. I booked a table for beforehand in the pub, as Google Maps recommended it.
My bus was diverted - wonderful, I thought, it's headed towards where I want to go, but a more direct way! Yeah, it was.. unfortunately, the terminus is on that route, and that's where my bus journey ended! So I had to walk the rest of the way - and as the beginning of my journey was complicated, I got lost, so it wasn't a time saving at all. And sure enough, as always happens, my companion, who never thinks she'll get there on time, was there before me. Never mind, I made it eventually.
It's a large pub on a busy junction - I spotted her and made straight for her, and when I caught someone's eye, I ordered; she already had. And ooh, we had the most gorgeous wine:
They do fine wines here - you could pay nearly £100 for a bottle of white burgundy. Sadly, at least my dinner wasn't up to this standard - I had the chicken schnitzel, and I wouldn't again; it was coated in a stodgy batter, and I didn't finish it. It comes with salad as standard - I had chips on the side, and yes, they were very nice. And she seemed to enjoy her fish n chips.We had fun paying separately at the end - seemed to be a new concept to the bar staff, to split the bottle. And then we headed upstairs - where, sure enough, Ben Haggarty, who was on his way out as we entered, didn't start at the scheduled time. Wow though - not only do they have upstairs toilets in the function room, as well as the downstairs ones - but a working upstairs bar! So handy - you hardly ever see that.
This time, he told a fairly conventional tale - magic, cycles of three, and the importance of keeping promises.. indeed, he kept prompting the audience for what came next, and we got to contribute sound effects. Still though, it was told in his inimitable style - with his evocative portrayals of the characters, and theatrical delivery, he's always great to listen to. Pity we were late enough that we could only get seats in the back, with a limited view. What was rather sad was when he told us about the ending of the CCC's contract with the British Museum, and how the CCC is still searching for a new, permanent home.. good to see them still fighting though.
We shared another bottle afterwards, before heading our separate ways - without diversions for me, this time.
Tomorrow, was thinking of heading to a film - and was thinking of Seven Days in May, with Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas in an Oscar-nominated thriller about an army colonel (Kirk Douglas) who alerts the president about a planned military coup against him - because he supports nuclear disarmament. Showing in Finsbury Park Picturehouse at 5.30. Then I checked the listings again - and decided on The Sheep Detectives, with Hugh Jackman as the farmer who reads detective stories to his sheep, which then use their learned skills when he is murdered! One of them is voiced by Patrick Stewart. Showing in Peckhamplex. And a couple of people said they might be interested as well. And then.. an old school friend I haven't seen in years messaged to say he'd be in town, tomorrow only, and would I like to meet? So that's the final plan for a day that's turned out to be the most confusing to plan.. we're meeting in The Sun Wharf, because he's staying in Canary Wharf, where it's kind of hard to find a decent place at a decent price, and I figured I might as well pick somewhere convenient to me!
Then I'm finally back on an overdue trip to Ireland for the weekend - first in two months..! Have arranged to have lunch with my friend from there on Saturday, in Jade Cottage as usual.. and afterwards, I might well head to The Sheep Detectives. In Ennis.
Next Monday, back with UITCS in Soho Place for The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - a musical based on the true story of a boy in Malawi who built a wind turbine from scrap materials and provided necessary power to his community. Chiwetel Ejiofor, who starred in, and directed, the film, is executive producer. I got my ticket on Seatplan, which I used a Seatplan voucher for, and which garners me extra Seatplan points! Eating in Bistro1 beforehand - and I must remember not to have the calamari..
On the 22nd, Movie Roadhouse London are finally having a social again! Ah, it's been so long.. so, back at the BFI Balcony Bar, and I've booked to eat at The Archduke beforehand. I tell you, without the main organiser in town, these things don't happen.. strange that numbers are limited, mind- never happened before.. Sadly, it isn't in conjunction with The Hideout any more, and also the cap on numbers means some were excluded..
On the 23rd, The Hideout organiser is talking about heading to a cat cafe.. watch this space. Anyway, that evening I've signed up to go with him, and The Hideout, to a new slasher, Corporate Retreat - details TBA.
On the 24th, talking about heading back to The Lanesborough for sachertorte, this time with Mark and Martin.. our monthly catch-up. Waiting on Martin to confirm a time.
Then I have two appropriately vampiric days! On the 28th, I'm back with The Hideout for Vampire's Kiss, an old comedy with Nicholas Cage, in which he thinks he's been dating a vampire, and is now turning into one himself. Showing in the Prince Charles of course, and we're meeting in Victory House beforehand. I've booked to eat in Bella Italia before that - took two goes though, the site was down the first time!
And on the 29th - well, one of the things LoMAZ were talking about doing for the series of Dracula events was going to a ballet - and sure enough, there is a Dracula ballet in town! Supposed to be good, with a classical soundtrack - and sure enough, when I checked, it was almost completely booked up. The only tickets left were on the evening of the 26th - which I couldn't manage - and the matinees of the 27th and 29th - so I'm taking the 29th off, being a Friday, and will go to it that day! Can't see I'll persuade anyone to go with me though - they'd either have to take time off work, or if not, they might not be in work, and might baulk at the price! Showing in the Palladium - I had to take the Second Circle to get the lowest price, and as legroom is reportedly tight, I made sure to get an aisle seat. Eating in the Shakespeare's Head (Soho) afterwards.
On the 30th - back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies for his Nooks and Crannies of London walk - and damnit, Meetup is charging for RSVP again! (plus an extra charge, of course). And afterwards, back with The Hideout for Backrooms - the film version of Backrooms on Creepypasta, a series of liminal horror stories about featureless, unending rooms and corridors, sometimes with hostile beings in them.. stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve, as his psychiatrist, as - well, he might be expected to need one, with this kind of tale. Details TBA.
On the 2nd, back with London Fun for Churchill's Urinal, about a female Chancellor of the Exchequer wanting the urinal in No. 10 removed.. showing in the King's Head. The organiser bought the tickets - and today, informed us we'd been upgraded. As he says, another reason to buy the cheap tickets!
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