Last night, back with London Social & Cultural Meetups (LSC) for a talk at the LSE about Trump's Foreign Policy in Historical Perspective. Couldn't miss that.. also advertised with the London European Club (LEC). I was in the office, so could walk to our meeting point at Holborn Station - beside the hat stand, she said, and sure enough, that's where I found her. We stood and chatted for a while, waiting for the other attendees - one showed up after a bit, the other was a no-show. In due course, we headed to the college - where we were directed to the entrance to the theatre, and our tickets were scanned. Ushers were on hand to seat us:
Those without a ticket were seated once all ticketholders had arrived, and there were online participants from what sounded like all over the world, when the person monitoring those mentioned the list during the Q+A. And indeed, the whole thing was filmed, and the video is now available online. (No, they didn't catch us in shot..)Our speaker, Sir Niall Ferguson, was an entertaining one - frequently citing his own books on the subject, but mainly giving his position in a relaxed, chatty way. His central premise is quite simple, and persuasive - Trump, he says, is modelling himself on Richard Nixon: something that shouldn't surprise us, as he showed shots of articles about them socialising together, in Trump's younger days!
He could provide several examples to support this idea - such as Trump's fiscal policy.. but also his scheduled trip to China, which Sir Niall Ferguson, remarking that it mightn't happen at all with this mercurial president, speculated on the outcome of. He was disparaging of Trump, saying that President Xi holds all the cards.. and he was talking in a way that made me worry for the future of neighbouring Taiwan, which China could treat as it likes, not being worried about US reprisals..
A very interesting and thought-provoking talk.. and comprehensive answers to questions posed by the audience, as you'd expect. A very interesting education in the current state of the world. Very glad I went.
Afterwards, with no sign of the other attendee who'd come, the organiser and I chatted outside for a while - then she went home, and I went for food in the Shakespeare's Head (Holborn), the nearest Wetherspoons. Where I found a table convenient to the loo, and had the most beautifully succulent chicken katsu. The decor is interesting, but sadly my phone had died, so that was that.. Handily again, my bus stop was right outside the door! but it ran too late to blog last night.
Tomorrow, first of two Meetups in a row, back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies for a reprise of his walk through the Old Jewish Neighbourhood. Yes, I've done it before - but I'm sure I don't remember half of it, and it's been years since.. I do remember it being good, though. Also delighted to see that prepayment is no longer required for attendees, whatever setting was changed!
On the 18th, 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.
On the 27th, taking instruction from that LGBTQ group again, who kindly shared that CT has cheap tickets for a performance of The Creation by Haydn, in the Royal Festival Hall. So, headed to that, and eating in The Archduke beforehand.
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. Now, I would have booked to eat in Bella Italia before that - but their booking system seems to be down! Will probably be ok to walk up anyway.
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 - a reprise of Laurence's Nooks and Crannies walk. And afterwards, back with The Hideout for Backrooms - the film version of Backrooms on Creepypasta, a series of liminal horror videos about featureless, unending rooms and corridors, sometimes with hostile beings in them.. stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve. Details TBA.
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