London Still Rocks!

T onight, second night in a row with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS), we were going to  Bird Grove , the story of  George Eliot 's relationship with her father , in  Hampstead Theatre . This far out, it had to be Tube .. and with a bus that would take me to the station imminent, I thought it'd simply be silly not to take it. So I did. Now, as often happens at busy periods, we were made to enter for the Jubilee Line via the Northern Line route, at the end of which you go down a staircase that has steps to the left and right. I usually go down the right, whereupon the Jubilee Line to the city centre is to my left. Tonight, I went down the left staircase.. and, distracted, took the train that was just pulling in. To the left. It wasn't for a couple of stops I realised I was going the wrong way and changed - just as well I saved time getting that bus! Not that dinner was going to take long - I was at KFC , as usual for this venue, these days. And it was very nice.. althoug...

Tonight , eighth   Meetup   in a row, I was back with  Up in the Cheap Seats  (UITCS) for  Fatherland  at  Hampstead Theatre . The story concerns a father and daughter heading to  Mayo  ("God help us", as the saying goes, due to its poor land..) to search for their roots.. Jubilee Line , of course - it's too far for bus. Again, no bus passed me as I walked to the station . And although the Tube was crowded, I managed a seat, which was handy for such a long journey. I still don't have a decent alternative for food here, since the Swiss Cottage pub closed - so off I went to KFC again, where I was fed quickly and cheaply, at least. I then headed straight over to the theatre - where they had erected a marquee at the front, where they were performing bag checks! Someone in the group later surmised it might have something to do with the weekend train stabbing .. it's certainly unusual for here. I was first of the group to arrive - figured I'd prob...

Right! Firstly, I forgot to mention the film I saw on tv over the weekend - which, as I watched, I remembered I'd seen before. But I didn't remember a thing about it in advance, and it certainly merited a re-watch. The Cellar , a Shudder co-production, is an Irish horror film, released a few years ago now, about a woman whose daughter goes missing after they move into a big old remote house, and who is very suspicious about strange things related to the house - particularly centred on the cellar, of course. Now, its rating isn't great, and true, the first part of the film is woefully amateurish, from a horror perspective - jump scares, predictable.. BUT. It's based on a rather excellent short film on YouTube , called The Ten Steps , written and directed by the same writer/director of the longer film, Brendan Muldowney . The premise is fantastically simple - a young girl, terrified of the cellar, is forced to face her fear when the power goes when her parents are out, a...

Tonight, back - after more than a year ! - with  North London Friends ! We headed to  House of Games , in  Hampstead Theatre . And what a tragedy it is that Ye Olde Swiss Cottage has closed..! It was my go-to, there, and they served excellent food.. So I said sod it, I can go to KFC . Which did have the advantage that I could leave later. This far out, it had to be Tube - mercifully, at the time I caught it (just after 6), it wasn't nearly as busy as usual - I even got a seat after a couple of stops! As I exited, I had a peek at Ye Olde Swiss Cottage - sure enough, it was dark and forlorn. Ah well.. At this KFC, they have order kiosks - the counter is for collection only. Which worked perfectly! I had the Boneless Banquet, as usual - comes with three chicken strips, so I asked for a couple more; I was hungry. I was served before long, and there was plenty of seating. Now, I remember KFC being a lot tastier when I was a kid - where did that taste go? Even when everything ...

Tonight, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for  Anthropology , at  Hampstead Theatre . Cheap tickets from  TodayTix . Now, I tend to go to Ye Olde Swiss Cottage for food when I'm going to this theatre - so that's where I headed. By Tube , as usual these days - and just like yesterday , I didn't get a seat. Well, today I managed one after a couple of stops. So I could read the paper in peace - including the article about all the pollution on the Tube. Hey-ho.. Hey-ho as well at the pub, which had no food menus! So I waited - and waited - for the guy behind the bar to finish with the guy he was serving, whereupon I asked about food, and was told that the kitchen was closed for a week for refurbishment. Bah humbug - I saw there was a KFC nearby, and said I'd try there. It wasn't busy - I didn't even have to queue, either to order or for my food. And there were plenty of places to sit. Unfortunately, that's where it went downhill.. I remember when they ...