Thanks All
For the information and offers of assistance. I'm going to try the online ticket booking one more time, using a US rather than UK based credit card, and if that fails, I may need to call on someone to book the tickets and have them posted to a London address which I will provide.
Otherwise, the power outages continue every other day for around 12-14 hours, but I fixed the connection for the stove, so when there is power, I don't have to use gas. I've also heard a rumour that outages may continue until November (!) so it looks like I'll be stocking up on wind-up torches and an extended battery for the laptop when I come to England. Meanwhile, I've become the Acting Chair of the Volunteer Committee by default, so I've got more administrative matters to catch up on, and I'm finally getting my act together regarding dance, with a tentative plan to offer a free workshop one August weekend when I get back from England, and then see if there are any takers for a regular weekly class, with nominal class fees to be donated to my NGO.
I've also been managing to invite people to dinner, building on my meager cooking skills, and holding a semi-regular anime afternoon/evening, although since attendees range in age from 6 upwards, we've been mostly watching Ghibli films - Spirited Away, Laputa, and Kiki's Delivery Service. I also had a fellow VSO staying for about two weeks prior to her return to England (sadly, for medical reasons) but I was able to convince her to watch not only some Sherlock Holmes (Granada adaptation with Jeremy Brett), but also part of one of the Onmyoji films. So, I'm proud to still be all about the pimpage!
Otherwise, the power outages continue every other day for around 12-14 hours, but I fixed the connection for the stove, so when there is power, I don't have to use gas. I've also heard a rumour that outages may continue until November (!) so it looks like I'll be stocking up on wind-up torches and an extended battery for the laptop when I come to England. Meanwhile, I've become the Acting Chair of the Volunteer Committee by default, so I've got more administrative matters to catch up on, and I'm finally getting my act together regarding dance, with a tentative plan to offer a free workshop one August weekend when I get back from England, and then see if there are any takers for a regular weekly class, with nominal class fees to be donated to my NGO.
I've also been managing to invite people to dinner, building on my meager cooking skills, and holding a semi-regular anime afternoon/evening, although since attendees range in age from 6 upwards, we've been mostly watching Ghibli films - Spirited Away, Laputa, and Kiki's Delivery Service. I also had a fellow VSO staying for about two weeks prior to her return to England (sadly, for medical reasons) but I was able to convince her to watch not only some Sherlock Holmes (Granada adaptation with Jeremy Brett), but also part of one of the Onmyoji films. So, I'm proud to still be all about the pimpage!