Soul I hear you calling
Friday 15th November:
Still no news on whether the conference I'm supposed to be reporting on actually exists or not (I very much suspect not) so in limbo workwise. Luckily, another short job seems to have miraculously landed in my lap starting Monday.
It was beautiful out so after breakfast and yoga I set off on a run/jog/walk through the village and over to Moat Mount Farm for the first time in ages. Such a beautiful view from there despite the roar of the motorway. It felt very apt listening to Witch as I explored Barnet Gate Woods. It was the episode about how trees release certain mood enhancing chemicals and how fractal shapes are good for our mental health and I felt a weird surge of well-being. Not sure if it was nature or whether my new vitamin regime is starting to work its magic. By the time I joined the London Loop near Totteridge Fields I had a huge grin on my face. Spoke to a few dog walkers on the way. The happiest I've felt this week.
I'd invited the internet to the Tate but, probably because most people actually have to work on Fridays, combined with the fact that not everyone is studiously following my Facebook feed, no one responded. By the time I'd had a very late lunch, showered and put away my laundry I was miles behind schedule. Took the shortcut out of the estate and managed to lose my poppy which annoyed me unduly.
Got to the South Bank just as the Tate was closing but London looked particularly magnificent at night with all the bridges and the Shard lit up in neon colours. I arrived at the Betsey an hour early but it was absolutely rammed. Treated myself to a fish finger sandwich outside. Heeno turned up shortly after, followed by Mel and Micky. Nice to see them all. Rob followed and later GoB.
It was an Erasure special at Bingo Master's. I made what I thought was quite a good fist of You Surround Me. Rob did Thom Yorke doing Stop! Not for the first time I was struck by just how many belters Erasure have. They're probably one of my favourite bands despite the fact that I own few of their records and have only seen them once. The guest poet was a man in a fabulous outfit complete with striking green eye shadow, thigh-high black suede boots and a pill box hat. Gemma said he looked like he'd stepped out of Weimar Germany. Rob told me off for calling him a "he". Their name was William. Anyway, I enjoyed his poems very much and bought him a pint. I mean them a pint.
At the end we all got on stage to do A Little Respect. A fun night although I definitely had at least one pint too many. The public transport gods were on my side and I was in bed shortly after midnight.
Today's expenditure:
Cookies and vape: £7.34
Drinks and fish finger sandwich at the Betsey: £43.70 eek!
Tube, train, bus: £8.75
Total: £59.79
Alcohol consumption:
2x pints of Bear Island
3x pints of First Point