Friday 31 March 2017

The Grand Annual Lying Contest

Crick Crack last night - and I was worried that this week's visit to our office of a team member from another office would throw a spanner in my plans to go there. But no! The team agreed to go with me - although, what with a late meeting, and then having to be home early because his brother was coming to visit, one did bail at the last minute.

Hey-ho, we others set off at about 5:30. It was going to take about half an hour to get to Shoreditch - I'd have taken the bus if it'd just been me, but what with one guy's tendency to car sickness, we were on the Tube. Northern Line to Embankment, District Line to Aldgate East. Ah, the nostalgia of the District Line.. a nice line, really, with more spacious carriages than many of the others.

At Aldgate East, a beggar earned a couple of quid giving us directions at a large crossroads with absolutely no direction signs. And we were soon on Brick Lane. A combination of it being Thursday rather than Monday, and that there were a number of us, perhaps - but whereas I only got propositioned once going down here last time, this time we had nine offers. "Best curry in London - just come in and try!" It might have been 10 - there was one standing outside Cinnamon as well - but we'd already decided to go there, based on generally good reviews. So we went in.

Not yet busy, this early, they gave us a table near the bar - best seat in the house, the barman assured us! I was the only one having wine, this time - and they did take their time about getting it. Otherwise, service was prompt, and the food was good - I had lamb samosas (quite spicy), my usual butter chicken (delicious!), and peshwari naan that was ok, if a bit burnt. And we were all well fed. No time for dessert - by the time we'd finished, it was about time to head to Rich Mix.

Busy road crossed, wrists stamped at the box office, we headed into the main space - a pity it was on there, as there tends to be a better view upstairs, and less chance of noise from outside encroaching on the show. Anyway, by the time we arrived, the central section was pretty full, so we headed over the side for more space. Got a few seats, got drinks at the bar, and we were set. A pillar in our view, but we were ok.

What a surprise to see the MC, Ben Haggerty, out of his usual black! In fact, I had to do a double-take to make sure it was him. Instead, he wore a Charles de Gaulle hat and a kind of red, pinstriped suit. He was accompanied by a demented fellow in a boilersuit, gambolling around the place with a pitchfork and chatting to folks.



For this was, you see, the Grand Annual Lying Contest. (Strange that I never heard of it before, but apparently it's happened at least once already.) There were three judges - only one I recognised, Nell Phoenix, in a "guardian angel" costume, a black dress with matching wings. We also had someone as Lady Liberty (complete with battery-operated torch), and the Invisible Woman/Man, swaddled in a white scarf around the face, wearing a cap, sunglasses, coat and gloves. This person claimed first to be the wife of the Invisible Man, who couldn't make the first half, then the Invisible Man himself in the second half. Never did figure out who that was, and it drove me crazy. The guy with the pitchfork (who changed to a dress for the second half) was also keeping score.

Seven contestants, none famous - although some seemed to have more stage experience than others. All had to tell a lie - or a story about a lie - lasting between three and seven minutes, and the guy with the pitchfork was there to make sure they stuck to that. After each act, the judges would give a score between 1 & 10. Mind you, I'm not entirely sure they stuck strictly to that for judging the final results - marks were given for story content, delivery, and audience reaction, and they used the excuse that audience reaction in the second half was helped by libations from the bar.

Anyhoo, the first guy up - from Norfolk, we were told - told us a strange tale about the legendary power of blacksmiths. A performance that confused rather than enthused - it was no surprise he came joint last. Interestingly, the next woman up told us a fascinating tale, based on a government policy she'd concocted about turning base metals to gold. Hands down, this was the best story - and my companions, both technical writers, picked her as their favourite. However, although her restrained delivery was perfect for the story, it did little for the actual contest - the judges did place a lot of importance on delivery, and in the end she only came third.

Next came a chap with basically poor delivery - which was a shame, as his story was hilarious. And ending the first half was a lady in a dressing gown and slippers - telling us how she'd come straight there after an adventure where she'd been wearing this. My companions were unimpressed, saying the story - containing the Fates - was predictable: but I really enjoyed her delivery and thought the story was clever; in the end it was the most coherent story of the night, and she walked away with the trophy.

After the break, the overall standard improved - after the first guy up, who just looked demented, and apparently nearly bailed, and had to be retrieved by the guy with the pitchfork. He gave us a rambling tale with a poem in the middle, apparently unconnected to anything else. The two after him were a massive improvement - last year's winner had a tale involving a dog and an extraterrestrial attack in the form of a kind of cosmic washing machine. And last up was some guy named Jason - had his story been more structured, he might have taken the prize; he certainly had the best audience reaction, with a fantastic way of interacting with us, and the best I've ever seen at dealing with hecklers. He came second.

And so straight home - by the time we got back into the centre, it was pretty much too late to do anything but go to bed. Today's lunch was in Souk again - there were six of us, so we were shown to a curtained alcove:




It was cosy in there - more so when an even larger table were shown in, and cosiest of all when the lights mysteriously went out! They did fix that eventually. For lunch, just two of us had starters, then I think everyone had a tajine! Four chicken (three with chickpeas, one with potatoes and olives), two meatballs. All were much appreciated, although it was annoying that the chicken came in the form of drumsticks, so not much actual meat. Nice apple juice, though. And when it came to paying the bill, we had the usual fun trying to get a waiter's - any waiter's - attention..

Tonight, London Dramatic Arts (LDAM) is off to see The Goat - or Who Is Sylvia? with Damian Lewis, at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. I managed to get a cheaper ticket - however, instead we'll be taking out our team member for drinks. And dinner, I suppose!

Never mind - April starts with the Man with the Hat (long time no see!). Both London for Less Than a Tenner and Let's Do London - for less! are off to see the ballet Jewels at the Royal Opera House tomorrow. Really looking forward to the show, and seeing old friends. And what he says is true - it's all the sweeter when it's been a while.

On Sunday, I booked a guided walk through Islington - Between the Wars - with London for a Tenner or LessFunzing, so I could cancel, provided I did it in time - and then I decided I'd rather go to a film. Top of the list are a couple of documentaries, and the one I'm more interested in is Tickling Giants, about a comedian and chat show host in Cairo who's always sticking two fingers up to the authorities, and getting in trouble for it. (I've been particularly interested in Egypt since I visited, back in 2000.) It's showing, that day only, in the Curzon Bloomsbury - walking distance from me, nice! Seeing that it was starting to fill up, I booked, and cancelled Funzing. Again - I have a litany of cancelled Funzing events, these days!

On Monday, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club - at Soho Theatre this time, for an evening of Greek mythology entitled Atalanta, brought to us by the able Ben Haggerty. You know, now that I'm a Westminster resident, I have a Westminster card, which - among other things - entitles me to £1 off at this theatre! Pity I didn't yet have it when I booked this..

On Tuesday, Let's Do London - for less! is back at the Opera House, for Madama Butterfly. I'm in the slips, as usual. Was telling this to one of my lunch companions - he's seen it, apparently, and was very impressed.

Next Wednesday - why, it must be summer! Welcome back, London Literary Walks - good to see you. We're on The Composers' Walk - apparently a repeat. And yay, we're meeting in Caffe Nero - I can have a chocolate Milano.

On the 6th, I'm with the World Music Meetup, for a free concert of Iranian music at the Brunei Gallery. It's been a while for me, with both group and venue.. Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again, and a meeting with my birth and adoptive mothers on the 8th. That's assuming we can agree on a venue - we had decided on Greene's, but there's no parking, my mother can't walk any distance, and while she had agreed to take a taxi, she's now gone and changed her mind. I've asked whether the venue can be changed - no word yet; it's more awkward, as we're still communicating through a social worker.

On the 10th, I'm back at the Wanamaker Playhouse - always a favourite - for The White Devil, a Jacobean tale.

On the 11th, I got a cheap ticket to the Caine and Kane comedy show, in Brixton.

On the 12th, I'm with LDAM to see Don Juan in Soho, with David Tennant, in Wyndham's. Just down Charing Cross Road - nice!

Then I'm back to Ireland for Easter - on Good Friday, my (adoptive) mother and I are off to La Bohème, at the University Concert Hall.

On the 18th, back in London, and back with Funzing - London Speaks SessionsLDN Talks @ Night, and London for a Tenner or Less, for a talk on the Science of Paranormal Activity. Unless I get a better offer, in time - it'd have to be a good one, I'm interested in this!

On the 19th, London Literary Walks is off down Brick Lane - and so am I.

On the 20th, I have my usual placeholder of free comedy in Hammersmith - courtesy of Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith Wimbledon and Greenwich, and London Live Comedy. Of course - much like Funzing - I usually end up cancelling these, when something better comes up.

Ditto the 21st - or I may go to the cinema that day. As usual, watch this space..!

On the 22nd, I'm off to see the Naked House Cleaner! Venue to be revealed just the day before.. ooh!

On the 23rd, I'm on a walk of Hampstead Village Highlights, with Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts. Be good exercise, leading up to my own sponsored walk in September, in aid of Cats Protection.. Helen and I are going as Dick Whittington and his cat. She's the cat.

The 24th, another summery treat! The Man with the Hat is taking both groups to the Globe (ah, it's been too long..). For one night only, the Comedy Store Players will regale us with Shakespeare-inspired improv. As usual, London for Less than a Tenner standing in the yard, Let's Do London - for less! in lower gallery seats. Which is where I go - couldn't take standing for that long.

The 25th, London European Club again - it'll have been a while! They're off to an informal evening of classical music, in Peckham.

The 26th, London Literary Walks is doing the Sloane Ranger.

The 27th, Helen and I are on an Underground treasure hunt, courtesy of Walk, Talks and Treasure Hunts. TFL goodies to be won, it seems.. Then back to Ireland for the bank holiday weekend - which I'd forgotten was a bank holiday, or I'd have stayed over an extra day!

Instead, for 1 May, I've booked The Ferryman, with LDAM, at the Royal Court.


And 2 May, those same three Funzing groups have advertised a talk called Origin of Vampires: Fact or Fiction?

Wednesday 29 March 2017

Dinner: Côte

Tonight, I'd booked my first event with a new Meetup group. Spooky London Pubs had a talk on Rosalie the Ghost Girl, at the College of Psychic Studies. The case was investigated by Harry Price, and I've just finished reading a book about him. However, our visitor had expenses for a team dinner for us, and we chose tonight for it. Never mind.

After some discussion, it seemed she was really leaning toward French (might have something to do with her actually being Belgian!). So, Côte was an obvious choice - although I didn't even think of it, it was one of my colleagues who said yes, someone had recommended a really good French restaurant to him - and that was it. We booked a table in the Covent Garden branch. And although our visitor was delayed in a meeting, we still made it just in time for our booking - only 10 minutes' or so walk from the office, after all!

The joint was buzzing - but I think they could probably have seated us anyway. And my goodness, we fed ourselves, at the company's expense.. three courses for us all, with me having the largest starter of all. The garlic bread is extremely tasty, but it's quite a mouthful. Funnily enough, all the others had steak-frites.. I had chicken, ironically, because I almost always have steak-frites here! Poulet chasseur, I had. And it was delicious - although, just like Monday, the mash that came with it left something (taste, perhaps?) to be desired. Just as well I'd ordered a side of potatoes sautéed with lardons of bacon - part of the specials menu, and delicious, with a really unusual taste.

I insisted on dessert, and went for the chocolate pot - the lads for the chocolate mousse, and our guest (who was paying) just had coffee and a cognac. Très Belge. And proclaimed it much more of a success than L' Étoile, on Monday night. Despite the lighting getting progressively dimmer as the night progressed, till we could hardly see each other! Really though, I always love this place - decent food at decent prices, and friendly staff - seems to be a really convivial atmosphere among them too, which is nice to see!

Afterwards, one of us had to be up early and bailed, and the rest of us headed - on one's suggestion - to Punch and Judy.


Stairs led us up to the main bar - what is it with pubs and stairs..? Anyway, with no tables available when we arrived, we headed out onto the balcony - not a cold night, and we had a nice view of the piazza. After a while, the toilet beckoned - and I had trouble finding the lock, although apparently there is one. Anyway, exiting, I saw a table had freed up, and we came in to that, and had a nice night, strolling home after. Lovely part of town, as our visitor agreed. (Well, I strolled to the office, and a good thing too - someone here doesn't seem to have a key to lock up after himself, and had been holding the cleaner hostage! She was delighted to see me..) Ah, he's just left..

Tomorrow, I'd booked for a Crick Crack Club event - the Grand Annual Lying Contest is at Rich Mix. And wouldn't you know it, I persuaded them all to come with me! Yippee.. we might grab a bite in Brick Lane beforehand. Doing a culinary tour of London, obviously.

On Friday, London Dramatic Arts (LDAM) is off to see The Goat - or Who Is Sylvia? with Damian Lewis, at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. I managed to get a cheaper ticket - however, instead we'll be taking out our team member for drinks. And dinner, I suppose!

Never mind - April starts with the Man with the Hat (long time no see!). Both London for Less Than a Tenner and Let's Do London - for less! are off to see the ballet Jewels at the Royal Opera House on Saturday. Really looking forward to the show, and seeing old friends. And what he says is true - it's all the sweeter when it's been a while.

On Sunday, I booked a guided walk through Islington - Between the Wars - with London for a Tenner or LessFunzing, so I could cancel, provided I did it in time - and then I decided I'd rather go to a film (hence doing the film list!). Top of the list are a couple of documentaries, and the one I'm more interested in is Tickling Giants, about a comedian and chat show host in Cairo who's always sticking two fingers up to the authorities, and getting in trouble for it. (I've been particularly interested in Egypt since I visited, back in 2000.) It's showing, that day only, in the Curzon Bloomsbury - walking distance from me, nice! And today, seeing that it was starting to fill up, I booked, and cancelled Funzing. Again - I have a litany of cancelled Funzing events, these days!

On Monday, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club - at Soho Theatre this time, for an evening of Greek mythology entitled Atalanta, brought to us by the able Ben Haggerty. You know, now that I'm a Westminster resident, I have a Westminster card, which - among other things -entitles me to £1 off at this theatre! Pity I didn't yet have it when I booked this..

On Tuesday, Let's Do London - for less! is back at the Opera House, for Madama Butterfly. I'm in the slips, as usual.

Next Wednesday - why, it must be summer! Welcome back, London Literary Walks - good to see you. We're on The Composers' Walk - apparently a repeat. And yay, we're meeting in Caffe Nero - I can have a chocolate Milano.

On the 6th, I'm with the World Music Meetup, for a free concert of Iranian music at the Brunei Gallery. It's been a while for me, with both group and venue.. Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again, and a meeting with my birth and adoptive mothers at Greene's on the 8th.

On the 10th, I'm back at the Wanamaker Playhouse - always a favourite - for The White Devil, a Jacobean tale.

On the 11th, I got a cheap ticket to the Caine and Kane comedy show, in Brixton.

On the 12th, I'm with LDAM to see Don Juan in Soho, with David Tennant, in Wyndham's. Just down Charing Cross Road - nice!

Then I'm back to Ireland for Easter - on Good Friday, my (adoptive) mother and I are off to La Bohème, at the University Concert Hall.

On the 18th, back in London, and back with Funzing - London Speaks SessionsLDN Talks @ Night, and London for a Tenner or Less, for a talk on the Science of Paranormal Activity. Unless I get a better offer, in time - it'd have to be a good one, I'm interested in this!

On the 19th, London Literary Walks is off down Brick Lane - and so am I.

On the 20th, I have my usual placeholder of free comedy in Hammersmith - courtesy of Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith Wimbledon and Greenwich, and London Live Comedy. Of course - much like Funzing - I usually end up cancelling these, when something better comes up.

Ditto the 21st - or I may go to the cinema that day. As usual, watch this space..!

On the 22nd, I'm off to see the Naked House Cleaner! Venue to be revealed just the day before.. ooh!

On the 23rd, I'm on a walk of Hampstead Village Highlights, with Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts. Be good exercise, leading up to my own sponsored walk in September, in aid of Cats Protection.. Helen and I are going as Dick Whittington and his cat. She's the cat.

The 24th, another summery treat! The Man with the Hat is taking both groups to the Globe (ah, it's been too long..). For one night only, the Comedy Store Players will regale us with Shakespeare-inspired improv. As usual, London for Less than a Tenner standing in the yard, Let's Do London - for less! in lower gallery seats. Which is where I go - couldn't take standing for that long.

The 25th, London European Club again - it'll have been a while! They're off to an informal evening of classical music, in Peckham.

The 26th, London Literary Walks is doing the Sloane Ranger.

The 27th, Helen and I are on an Underground treasure hunt, courtesy of Walk, Talks and Treasure Hunts. TFL goodies to be won, it seems.. Then back to Ireland for the bank holiday weekend - which I'd forgotten was a bank holiday, or I'd have stayed over an extra day!

Instead, for 1 May, I've booked The Ferryman, with LDAM, at the Royal Court.

And 2 May, those same three Funzing groups have advertised a talk called Origin of Vampires: Fact or Fiction?

Dinner: Water Margin

Helen was in town last night for a concert by The Mavericks, at the Indigo O2. Not really my thing - but I said I'd head out and have dinner with her there. Handily, our visiter from the Stockholm office didn't get in the way, as she had a late meeting that I wasn't part of. So after my own late meeting - which led into the even later one - off I schlepped. It'd just take too long by bus, so I was on the Tube.

You know, with walking so many places these days, I forget how horrible the Tube can be - the trek out to the O2 is a case in point. Oh, it was awful - the Northern Line was crammed, and I realised with a heavy heart that the Jubilee Line I'd have to change to wouldn't be any better. Hardly any air, and it didn't help that I didn't feel at all well - I was glad I wouldn't be staying for the concert. Of course, I didn't have a seat for the entire journey - just glad to be near the doors, so I got a blast of air when they opened - and an attack of diarrhoea hit somewhere along the way. I was in a pretty dire way by the time I staggered off at North Greenwich.

Now, she'd said she'd be there by 7, and it wasn't that yet, so off I limped in search of the loo. Along the way, passed an enormous queue to get into the Indigo.. now, I've been here a few times before, and I remembered the public toilets being somewhere else. Sadly, they're terribly signposted now (seems they're now around where the cinema is), and I completely missed them. Instead, I made my way to Water Margin - where we'd agreed to meet - and availed of their facilities. And despite the lack of toilet paper in the first cubicle, the too-hot water, and the cold hand dryer - I was so glad I did.

Feeling more human, I took a table (for two) - no problem, the place is huge and never full. It's a terrific choice in general - decently priced, decent food too. I was nearly finished my first plate from the all-you-can-eat buffet by the time Helen arrived - there'd been a mix-up with the train ticket, it seemed. Well, she ate fast - and I got a second plate of their yummy chicken szechuan and noodles. And a second glass of good white wine. For dessert, I wasn't enthused by the chocolate cake (you'll notice my tummy had settled!), but the chocolate fudge squares were delish. A mint from the glass by the till, and I left her to it, the queue gone now - I do believe she enjoyed herself, as testified to by the Facebook photos today!

It was so much easier on the return journey, the crowds having eased. I stopped off at the office, but ended up spending the evening on the film list rather than blogging. Tonight, I'd booked my first event with a new Meetup group. Spooky London Pubs has a talk on Rosalie the Ghost Girl, at the College of Psychic Studies. The case was investigated by Harry Price, and I've just finished reading a book about him. However, our visitor has expenses for a team dinner for us, and we've chosen tonight for it. Ah well..

Tomorrow, I'd booked for a Crick Crack Club event - the Grand Annual Lying Contest is at Rich Mix. And wouldn't you know it, I persuaded them all to come with me! Yippee.. we might grab a bite in Brick Lane beforehand.

On Friday, London Dramatic Arts (LDAM) is off to see The Goat - or Who Is Sylvia? with Damian Lewis, at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. I managed to get a cheaper ticket - however, instead we'll be taking out our team member for drinks. And dinner, I suppose!

Never mind - April starts with the Man with the Hat (long time no see!). Both London for Less Than a Tenner and Let's Do London - for less! are off to see the ballet Jewels at the Royal Opera House on Saturday. Really looking forward to the show, and seeing old friends.

On Sunday, I booked a guided walk through Islington - Between the Wars - with London for a Tenner or LessFunzing, so I could cancel, provided I did it in time - and then I decided I'd rather go to a film (hence spending last night on the film list!). Top of the list are a couple of documentaries, and the one I'm more interested in is Tickling Giants, about a comedian and chat show host in Cairo who's always sticking two fingers up to the authorities, and getting in trouble for it. (I've been particularly interested in Egypt since I visited, back in 2000.) It's showing, that day only, in the Curzon Bloomsbury - walking distance from me, nice! And today, seeing that it was starting to fill up, I booked, and cancelled Funzing. Again - I have a litany of cancelled Funzing events, these days!

On Monday, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club - at Soho Theatre this time, for an evening of Greek mythology entitled Atalanta, brought to us by the able Ben Haggerty. You know, now that I'm a Westminster resident, I have a Westminster card, which - among other things -entitles me to £1 off at this theatre! Pity I didn't yet have it when I booked this..

On Tuesday, Let's Do London - for less! is back at the Opera House, for Madama Butterfly. I'm in the slips, as usual.

Next Wednesday - why, it must be summer! Welcome back, London Literary Walks - good to see you. We're on The Composers' Walk - apparently a repeat. And yay, we're meeting in Caffe Nero - I can have a chocolate Milano.

On the 6th, I'm with the World Music Meetup, for a free concert of Iranian music at the Brunei Gallery. It's been a while for me, with both group and venue.. Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again, and a meeting with my birth and adoptive mothers at Greene's on the 8th.

On the 10th, I'm back at the Wanamaker Playhouse - always a favourite - for The White Devil, a Jacobean tale.

On the 11th, I got a cheap ticket to the Caine and Kane comedy show, in Brixton.

On the 12th, I'm with LDAM to see Don Juan in Soho, with David Tennant, in Wyndham's. Just down Charing Cross Road - nice!

Then I'm back to Ireland for Easter - on Good Friday, my (adoptive) mother and I are off to La Bohème, at the University Concert Hall.

On the 18th, back in London, and back with Funzing - London Speaks SessionsLDN Talks @ Night, and London for a Tenner or Less, for a talk on the Science of Paranormal Activity. Unless I get a better offer, in time - it'd have to be a good one, I'm interested in this!

On the 19th, London Literary Walks is off down Brick Lane - and so am I.

On the 20th, I have my usual placeholder of free comedy in Hammersmith - courtesy of Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith Wimbledon and Greenwich, and London Live Comedy. Of course - much like Funzing - I usually end up cancelling these, when something better comes up.

Ditto the 21st - or I may go to the cinema that day. As usual, watch this space..!

On the 22nd, I'm off to see the Naked House Cleaner! Venue to be revealed just the day before.. ooh!

On the 23rd, I'm on a walk of Hampstead Village Highlights, with Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts. Be good exercise, leading up to my own sponsored walk in September, in aid of Cats Protection.. Helen and I are going as Dick Whittington and his cat. She's the cat.

The 24th, another summery treat! The Man with the Hat is taking both groups to the Globe (ah, it's been too long..). For one night only, the Comedy Store Players will regale us with Shakespeare-inspired improv. As usual, London for Less than a Tenner standing in the yard, Let's Do London - for less! in lower gallery seats. Which is where I go - couldn't take standing for that long.

The 25th, London European Club again - it'll have been a while! They're off to an informal evening of classical music, in Peckham.

The 26th, London Literary Walks is doing the Sloane Ranger.

The 27th, Helen and I are on an Underground treasure hunt, courtesy of Walk, Talks and Treasure Hunts. TFL goodies to be won, it seems.. Then back to Ireland for the bank holiday weekend - which I'd forgotten was a bank holiday, or I'd have stayed over an extra day!

Instead, for 1 May, I've booked The Ferryman, with LDAM, at the Royal Court.

And 2 May, those same three Funzing groups have advertised a talk called Origin of Vampires: Fact or Fiction?

Tuesday 28 March 2017

Film: Get Out

So! This is the week that someone is visiting from the Stockholm office. And what a great excuse to do things we normally don't.. Firstly, we saw her to her hotel, the grand-looking Kenilworth:



A lobby filled with artworks, lovely chenille upholstery on the sofas - a good thing, considering how long it took them to check her in! A teeny-weeny lift elevated us to her floor, where we passed a line of (cupboard?) doors that looked for all the world like (wooden) toilet cubicles. Squeezing into her (slightly less) teeny room (nice chenille bedspread),  I remarked to myself how hotels always seem to be overheated. Sure enough, we heard today that she was glad to be able to open her windows overnight, considering she could only get the aircon down to a certain temperature..

And so to dinner. Knowing that Charlotte Street has a profusion of eateries, I suggested we head there - and, wandering along the street, we came to L' Êtoile; our guest decided it looked a likely prospect, and in we went.


Pleasant décor, friendly staff. With prices a bit high, we skipped having a starter, contenting ourselves with the slice of crusty baguette each of us had on our plate. Funnily enough, we all had chicken - we were warned that it'd take 25 minutes to cook, and since it was obviously cooked from fresh, it was fittingly tender, and stuffed with a gorgeous mushroom paste. Accompanying it were a number of rock-hard, but edible, potato slices, and a bushy lump of kale. I also ordered a portion of mash, which we had to re-order as they'd obviously forgotten it, and which, when it did finally arrive, had a creamy texture but was tasteless. At least I got it for free, considering the delay. A bottle of wine among us completed the order.

I might have gone for a dessert - I was planning to head to the cinema afterwards, but had some time to kill - but it was suggested we find a pub instead, so I asked for the bill. I thought the maître-d' started fiddling with the register at that point, but perhaps he was doing something else - because the next thing they did was to start moving furniture around. After 15 minutes, they seemed finished with that and we asked again - and finally got it. Honestly, I remarked as we left - the two main reasons I no longer usually eat out in London are (a) the price, and (b) the service. At least at home you have some idea what time you'll be finished!

And so to the pub. Nearest seemed to be the Fitzroy Tavern, so in we went, carefully navigating steps up and steps down. I got a wine that was cheaper than the equivalent in the restaurant, and we sat ourselves beside a dangerous-looking flight of steep steps, leading down to "cellar and toilets". Not a place to get very drunk, then..

After a while I left them, intending to make the second showing of Get Out, at my local cinema - handily, just down the road! Well, that had been my original plan, and the trailer just looked so good.. a few minutes' walk got me there, and with no obvious person to sell me a ticket, I got one from the machine and made my way downstairs. Seating is unassigned, and the place was reasonably full - I got a seat in the second row, which was fine - the screen isn't very big.

As I entered (just under 20 minutes after scheduled start time), the opening scene had a black guy being arrested for, apparently, the crime of walking down the road. Cue the title, and a series of still images, to the backing track of Run Rabbit, Run.. You know, it's funny how you can sometimes tell a good film in the first few frames. Definitely had that impression here..

So. This is the story of a black guy (a photographer, hence the stills we see at the start), whose white, middle-class girlfriend takes him home to meet the folks for the first time. And they don't know he's black. He's dubious - nah, she says, they're liberals, they won't mind at all! And off they set for her folks' idyllic country estate.

Gee, I really don't recommend this film for anyone with a heart condition! They do a marvellous job of sustaining the suspense throughout - we agree completely with him that something's off, although we can no more provide an explanation than he can. Maybe the closest we come to a suspect is the girlfriend's mom (Catherine Keener), who, funnily enough, is a psychotherapist who treats people with hypnotism. She offers her services to cure him of smoking - "No thanks," he says, "I'm good".

Marvellous stuff, beautifully cast and acted in a very restrained way. I guarantee, however close you get to the truth, there's a couple of twists that will catch you out. The climax is an homage to Hammer horrors.. however, unlike your typical horror, this film firmly sets out to entertain you, and I just LOVED how they sent us all out laughing at the end. What a great idea! no better time than the end of a horror film to release all that tension. Fabulous - a great way to send me to bed. I give it 9/10. And I hardly ever go that high.

Tonight, Helen is coming to a concert at the O2The Mavericks - not my thing. However, I've said I'll head out there - after my evening meeting - and have dinner with her beforehand.

Tomorrow, I'd booked my first event with a new Meetup group. Spooky London Pubs has a talk on Rosalie the Ghost Girl. It's at the College of Psychic Studies. The case was investigated by Harry Price, and I've just finished reading a book about him. However, our visitor has expenses for a team dinner for us, and we've chosen that night. Ah well..

On Thursday, I'd booked for a Crick Crack Club event - the Grand Annual Lying Contest is at Rich Mix. And wouldn't you know it, I persuaded them all to come with me! Yippee.. we might grab a bite in Brick Lane beforehand.

On Friday, London Dramatic Arts (LDAM) is off to see The Goat - or Who Is Sylvia? with Damian Lewis, at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. I managed to get a cheaper ticket - however, we'll be taking out our team member that night for drinks.

Never mind - April starts with the Man with the Hat (long time no see!). Both London for Less Than a Tenner and Let's Do London - for less! are off to see the ballet Jewels at the Royal Opera House on Saturday. Really looking forward to the show, and seeing old friends.

On Sunday, I'm on a guided walk through Islington - Between the Wars - with London for a Tenner or LessFunzing, so I can cancel, provided I do it in time.

On Monday, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club - at Soho Theatre this time, for an evening of Greek mythology entitled Atalanta, brought to us by the able Ben Haggerty. You know, now that I'm a Westminster resident, I have a Westminster card, which - among other things -entitles me to £1 off at this theatre! Pity I didn't yet have it when I booked this..

Next Tuesday, Let's Do London - for less! is back at the Opera House, for Madama Butterfly. I'm in the slips, as usual.

On the 5th - why, it must be summer! Welcome back, London Literary Walks - good to see you. We're on The Composers' Walk - apparently a repeat. And yay, we're meeting in Caffe Nero - I can have a chocolate Milano.

On the 6th, I'm with the World Music Meetup, for a free concert of Iranian music at the Brunei Gallery. It's been a while for me, with both group and venue.. Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again, and a meeting with my birth and adoptive mothers at Greene's on the 8th.

On the 10th, I'm back at the Wanamaker Playhouse - always a favourite - for The White Devil, a Jacobean tale.

On the 11th, I got a cheap ticket to the Caine and Kane comedy show, in Brixton.

On the 12th, I'm with LDAM to see Don Juan in Soho, with David Tennant, in Wyndham's. Just down Charing Cross Road - nice!

Then I'm back to Ireland for Easter - on Good Friday, my (adoptive) mother and I are off to La Bohème, at the University Concert Hall.

On the 18th, back in London, and back with Funzing - London Speaks Sessions, LDN Talks @ Night, and London for a Tenner or Less, for a talk on the Science of Paranormal Activity. Unless I get a better offer, in time - it'd have to be a good one, I'm interested in this!

On the 19th, London Literary Walks is off down Brick Lane - and so am I.

On the 20th, I have my usual placeholder of free comedy in Hammersmith - courtesy of Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith Wimbledon and Greenwich, and London Live Comedy. Of course - much like Funzing - I usually end up cancelling these, when something better comes up.


Ditto the 21st - or I may go to the cinema that day. As usual, watch this space..!

On the 22nd, I'm off to see the Naked House Cleaner! Venue to be revealed just the day before.. ooh!

On the 23rd, I'm on a walk of Hampstead Village Highlights, with Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts. Be good exercise, leading up to my own sponsored walk in September, in aid of Cats Protection.. Helen and I are going as Dick Whittington and his cat.

The 24th, another summery treat! The Man with the Hat is taking both groups to the Globe (ah, it's been too long..). For one night only, the Comedy Store Players will regale us with Shakespeare-inspired improv. As usual, London for Less than a Tenner standing in the yard, Let's Do London - for less! in lower gallery seats. Which is where I go - couldn't take standing for that long.

The 25th, London European Club again - it'll have been a while! They're off to an informal evening of classical music, in Peckham.

The 26th, London Literary Walks is doing the Sloane Ranger.

The 27th, Helen and I are on an Underground treasure hunt, courtesy of Walk, Talks and Treasure Hunts. TFL goodies to be won, it seems.. Then back to Ireland for the bank holiday weekend - which I'd forgotten was a bank holiday, or I'd have stayed over an extra day!

Instead, for 1 May, I've booked The Ferryman, with LDAM, at the Royal Court.

And 2 May, those same three Funzing groups have advertised a talk called Origin of Vampires: Fact or Fiction?

Friday 24 March 2017

Show: Hypnosis - Altering Consciousness

Last night was supposed to be another Funzing talk, with London Speaks SessionsLDN Talks @ Night, and London for a Tenner or Less, on The Science of Hypnosis. And then, wouldn't you know it, Henning from the London European Club advertised.. Hypnosis - Altering Consciousness! With Pint of Science. (What was it about yesterday and hypnosis?!) Anyway, I do enjoy events with Henning, and I can cancel Funzing up to 48 hours in advance without penalty. So I did, and booked the other instead.

The venue was the Clapham Grand. Ah now, what a shame this couldn't have happened last year, when I lived literally 10 minutes' walk away from it! Anyway, how soon you forget - I actually had to look up directions. And the plan was to get the 87 from Trafalgar Square to Clapham Junction - the place is just there on the main street.

They weren't joking when they promised a greater visible police presence after Wednesday's attack - the place was dripping with them! (Still is, today.) Charing Cross Road was closed to traffic, southbound - northbound, it was crawling. When I got to Trafalgar Square, it was half closed off, and crammed with people. Seemed that a candlelight vigil had been scheduled. Ah.. I checked. Yes, my bus stop was closed. I was running late by now, so decided to go the fast route - Tube from Charing Cross to Waterloo, train to Clapham Junction. I was unnerved to see the crowds on the Tube train when it pulled in, people squashed at the windows - but then I realised they were all getting off here.

Gee, the nostalgia - how long is it since I traced this route? As I approached Clapham Junction, however, the nostalgia turned to disgust. I lived here at a miserable time in my life, working with some awful people. I still practically shudder at the memory of it, and can still sometimes feel them spying on me. Never mind - back to the matter at hand. With the crowds at the station, I had to take the overbridge, which meant coming out of the wrong exit. Nuts, was I ever going to get there?! Exiting on St. John's Hill, I saw a whole crowd of people peering over the wall at something happening on the street - Lordy, what now? Turned out some driver had been pulled over by police, blocking one whole side of the road! Dunno what it was about, though.

The Grand was just down the road - the entrance roped off, with a bag check. The fellow in front of me had his bottle of water confiscated - oh dear, was my perfume going to go the same way? Nah - I don't think this was for security purposes. Inside, I had my name checked off the list and my hand stamped - in blue, for a change. The main room was incandescent with disco balls, multicoloured lights.. I saw the group sat at a table in the lower section, but it wasn't easy to get a seat near them, so I sat over the side. Rather uncomfortable, folding chairs. There was food over the side, which just consisted of chicken wings (fiddly), and nachos and hummus, which I don't care for. So I stuck to wine - served in a funky, white glass.

The evening was multi-part. First up was an Irish scientist - Eamonn Walsh (pronounced Aymon, BTW) was talking to us about Pavlov's dog, and how human responses could be conditioned. Curious, how my week started with mind control through drugs, and ended with mind control through suggestion.. and a fascinating subject. Sadly, the speaker was quite dull - you can find this with scientists, who don't always have great presentation skills. Anyway, he was followed by a couple of artists, whose work centred on this same idea. One had a conceptual short film to show us. Wow, it was really conceptual.. (read confusing). The other had dotted little artworks about the building for us to find - which I did, when I went to the bathroom - there were teeny little figurines by the tap. Gee, reminded me of when I visited 2 Temple Place, that time.. there was a similar installation.

There were also a couple of poets. The first up was one of these who comes across all poetical, staring at the ceiling as he solemnly intones his oeuvre - and by the time all of the aforementioned were through, I was seriously questioning my decision to come at all. It was an awful hotchpotch of vaguely connected acts, giving the impression that the organisers were just trying to fill up the evening.

And then - the evening was saved by the MC. Also a poet, when he started his bit I braced myself for more of the same. Oh no, this was good.. his poem, written in "hypnotic" language (i.e. mimicking the language used in hypnotic experiments), was designed to hypnotise us into clapping and cheering wildly for him. His deadpan delivery and constant repetition combined to make a ridiculous version of a hypnotic experiment. "You feel happy, and independent. You feel alone. You are lonely. Strong - and lonely. You want to clap.."

Cheered up after that, when I came back from the loo I saw that a seat had opened up beside a friend of mine. Ah cool! So I sat with her for the hypnotism bit. The hypnotist himself was an English bloke, living in Spain - uh-oh, I could just imagine him performing for the expats. What were we in for? Well, he was personable - and when he invited volunteers on stage, he got a flood of them!

What happened next was interesting. Wanting to reduce the number, he first sent them all to sleep, lying on stage - he'd said he had a reputation for sending people off quickly. Well, it was interesting to watch his selection technique - he quickly pared down the crowd on stage, eliminating the people who seemed not to be going under so quickly.

He definitely seems to believe what he's at - apparently, he has a sideline of hypnotically curing people of phobias and such. But just as interesting to me was watching the people on stage who were patently pretending to be hypnotised, so they could continue with the fun. (Quick peek to see what everyone else is doing and mimic it.) Still - you know, by the end, he had eliminated most of the time-wasters, and even with the eight he had left on stage, he split them into more- and less- hypnotised. And.. I do think that some of them were hypnotised, at least part of the time. I still don't think it would work on me, and I know there was a lot of nonsense. But it was, as I say, interesting.

Bus back to Trafalgar Square - en route, we passed through Parliament Square, dark and deserted now, except for yet another reporter doing a piece to camera. And there was actually a stop open on Trafalgar Square! I could have walked from there - but with the freezing cold, and the mayor's Hopper fare that meant I wouldn't have to pay extra for a second bus - I decided to wait for one. The 24 or the 29 would take me to Goodge Street - and despite the length of time it took it to come, and the traffic moving slow as treacle.. I was glad I'd taken the bus.

This evening, it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.. Not sure what I'm doing next week, as someone in our team at work is visiting from another office, and we might be doing something with her. However, last I heard she'd only be free on Thursday and Friday.. if so, I'll be free to go to a film on Monday. Top of the list, I'm excited to see, is Get Out - a psychological horror, and I'm delighted to see it holding its position so well. What's more, it's showing in Odeon Tottenham Court RoadAwesome - my closest cinema to home, just five minutes' walk away. And with two showings that evening, I should be able to manage one.

On Tuesday, Helen is coming to a concert at the O2. The Mavericks - not my thing. However, I've said I'll head out there - after my evening meeting - and have dinner with her beforehand.

On Wednesday - assuming I'm free - I've booked my first event with a new Meetup group. Spooky London Pubs has a talk on Rosalie the Ghost Girl! It's at the College of Psychic Studies. This is cool - the case was investigated by Harry Price, and I've just finished reading a book about him.

On Thursday, I'm booked for a Crick Crack Club event - the Grand Annual Lying Contest is at Rich Mix. I just hope I can make it - will continue to try to persuade my team members to go with me!

Next Friday, London Dramatic Arts (LDAM) is off to see The Goat - or Who Is Sylvia? with Damian Lewis, at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. I managed to get a cheaper ticket - however, my odds of going at all seem to have diminished - I suspect we'll be taking out our team member that night, and I doubt this will appeal.

Never mind - April starts with the Man with the Hat (long time no see!). Both London for Less Than a Tenner and Let's Do London - for less! are off to see the ballet Jewels at the Royal Opera House. Really looking forward to the show, and seeing old friends.

On the 2nd, I'm on a guided walk through Islington - Between the Wars - with London for a Tenner or Less. Funzing, so I can cancel, provided I do it in time.

On the 3rd, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club - at Soho Theatre this time, for an evening of Greek mythology entitled Atalanta, brought to us by the able Ben Haggerty. You know, now that I'm a Westminster resident, I have a Westminster card, which - among other things -entitles me to £1 off at this theatre! Pity I didn't yet have it when I booked this..

On the 4th, Let's Do London - for less! is back at the Opera House, for Madama Butterfly. I'm in the slips, as usual.

On the 5th - why, it must be summer! Welcome back, London Literary Walks - good to see you. We're on The Composers' Walk - apparently a repeat. And yay, we're meeting in Caffe Nero - I can have a chocolate Milano.

On the 6th, I'm with the World Music Meetup, for a free concert of Iranian music at the Brunei Gallery. It's been a while for me, with both group and venue.. Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again, and a meeting with my birth and adoptive mothers at Greene's on the 8th.

On the 10th, I'm back at the Wanamaker Playhouse - always a favourite - for The White Devil, a Jacobean tale.

On the 11th, I got a cheap ticket to the Caine and Kane comedy show, in Brixton.

On the 12th, I'm with LDAM to see Don Juan in Soho, with David Tennant, in Wyndham's. Just down Charing Cross Road - nice! I passed the theatre last night, in fact.

Then I'm back to Ireland for Easter - on Good Friday, my (adoptive) mother and I are off to La Bohème, at the University Concert Hall.

On the 18th, back in London, and back with Funzing - the same three groups, for a talk on the Science of Paranormal Activity. Unless I get a better offer, in time - it'd have to be a good one, I'm interested in this!

On the 19th, London Literary Walks is off down Brick Lane - and so am I.

On the 20th, I have my usual placeholder of free comedy in Hammersmith - courtesy of Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith Wimbledon and Greenwich, and London Live Comedy. Of course - much like Funzing - I usually end up cancelling these, when something better comes up.

Ditto the 21st - or I may go to the cinema that day. As usual, watch this space..!