London Grammar at Crystal Palace

This was part of the South Facing Festival in Crystal Palace. A bit of a pain to get to from my North London home. But worth it in the end.

You can't get very close to the stage. There is literally a moat in front. Waterfowl occasionally appear in front of you.

Opened with a DJ. I totally fail to understand the point. Just stick a CD on

A black female singer up next that I had never heard of (Tora-I) She was fine but thoroughly unremarkable. No not this girl, she was on guitar.

Nor this bloke

But her.

Then George FitzGerald, who I think made the bill because he worked on London Grammar's last album, and was local. But really just like a DJ. Played on his computer, with a guy on drums to give some backbone. Generic dance stuff. No interest to me.

But as the sun disappeared (making photos harder) on came the ever superb London Grammar

Hannah Reid has just the most amazing voice, and this dreamy sort of music is just a joy to listen to. She even forgot the words at one point and had to start again. And we loved her for it. She is that good. Even the mistakes seem lovely and charming.

 

Coventry, Polesden Lacey and Richmond Theatre

This entry covers two excursions linked only by the fact that my companions were two former partners at my Firm. 

The first was with Stephen who like me is from Coventry. So we went up for a Coventry home game. I came up by train so before meeting up I had a little time to wander into some of the medieval backwaters that you can still find if you know where to look.

Spon Street, which is a collection of medieval houses and shops rescued from demolition in other parts of the city.

We agreed to meet at the Telegraph Hotel, ex-headquarters of the Coventry Evening Telegraph, now what passes for a classy hotel in the city centre, an example of trendy mid century modern design.

We went for a pub lunch down by the canal

And finished up watching City slip to a single goal defeat at the hands of Burnley (who have to be fair since run away with the Championship)

Then onto Polesden Lacey with Nigel. Now the original intenton was to go to he theatre in Richmond, which we wanted to supplement with a walk in the area, maybe visiting Ham House. But Ham was closed so nest best thing seemed Polesden Lacey in Surrey. This was a very good choice. Beautiful Edwardian house and grounds on a beautiful day, near the less beautiful Dorking.

There is a Faberge collection here.

And finally on to Richmond and the theatre

But first dinner in a local restaurant

And we got VIP tickets so we have a nice room for drinks and snacks without having to fight at a bar like in the West End.  

And the play, Noises Off was great fun too. A perfect day

Well a perfect day for me. Unfortunately Nigel was not feeling at all well as the day wore on and got progressively worse. It turned out he had Covid. And I must be immune since I had had lunch with him, dinner, sat next to him at the theatre and in the car . I could hardly have been more exposed. But felt nothing!