London Still Rocks!

Had some trouble finding something to do tonight, then CT came up with cheap tickets to  Teeth n Smiles ! It's had mixed reviews, which I thought was all the more reason to see it. The story of a rock n roll star. Showing in the  Duke of York's Theatre , and I booked for  Cote St. Martin's Lane  beforehand. Handily enough, they're doing a different dish for £10 every day this week- and today it was steak frites, which I usually have anyway! So, that was £9.50 off then.. In the war of the apps, Google Maps won today, for once - it said there'd be a bus soon, with Buses Due  (which apparently gets real TFL data) much more pessimistic. Google Maps won, and I got there just in time for the booking, but wasn't seated for a few minutes - fair enough, they were crazy busy. I was seated in the back, near where they come out with food - and every few seconds, someone would come out with a tray with about four dishes, swiftly dispatched to their respective tables. Actu...

These two days, I'm with  Up in the Cheap Seats  (UITCS) - tonight for  Stereophonic , in the  Duke of York's Theatre . Supposed to be the most  Tony -nominated play of all time, this is set around the music industry. Got a cheaper ticket with CT. I booked to eat in  Cote St. Martin's Lane  beforehand. Left work early - was ahead of myself for once. Arrived at the restaurant early, but not too much.. got the last seat by the window - apparently a desirable spot, although I have no idea why, having had no desire to look out the window myself.. had calamari to start, lovely. Had the steak frites for main - as, funnily enough, did almost everyone around me! Well, it's cheap, it's quick, it's not that heavy.. and it was very good. Wine, and ice cream for dessert, and I hopped across the road to the theatre, ran to the loo, and joined the others in the Upper Circle Bar. Where we chatted until it was time to go in. Lovely seat - part of the left of the sta...

On Tuesday night, back with  Up in the Cheap Seats   (UITCS)  for  An Enemy of the People , at the  Duke of York's Theatre  - got the very last cheap ticket for this from  London Box Office ! When in the area, I usually eat in the Prezzo at the end of the road - which normally doesn't need a booking (certainly not on a Tuesday). So I didn't book - and didn't need to - but I did end up in the upstairs seating area for the first time! Curiously - because of the layout of the building - it doesn't really have windows. But what the hey - service was really quick, they have an upstairs bar too, and I was fed in good time, off up the road, and although I was in the top level of the theatre, this one doesn't have too many steps! Had a rather insipid Sauvignon Blanc - which is curious, because I see, the last time I was here, I found it much nicer! Perhaps they've changed it.. Anyway, as usual with this group, my first action upon going in was to look for a...

Tonight, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) - was really excited to see  The Pillowman , by  Martin McDonagh , at the  Duke of York's Theatre , starring Lily Allen . Now, the fallout from my lost phone continued today when Tesco refused to deliver to my 91-year-old mother - said I hadn't paid them. I had - but with a UK debit card, as my Irish one is still waiting on the new phone being verified, which requires them to send a PIN to my Irish address, which they'll hopefully do by the end of the week. The UK bank verified, Tesco indicated no problem - the delivery never arrived. Words cannot describe the contempt we both feel for them now - still waiting for an answer from them as to what the problem is. Meantime, she's surviving on apple pie and ice cream, and begging favours from neighbours to do her shopping for her. So, again, my whole day was gone - I grabbed a quick bite in Pret before leaving. Had another of those sharp-braking bus drivers en route - the l...