|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Willie Nelson | |
|
 Veteran country music singer Willie Nelson is always up to something new. Read our Willie Watch column to keep up.
|
| |
|
|
Music & Lifestyle |
|
|
|
|
Snapshots from London Life
 Images |
|
|
 Related Articles |
|
|
 On the Web |
|
|
By
Urban Cowgirl, Contributor
Thursday,
7 December, 2006
Tuesday 5th December to the Hammersmith Odeon rock venue in west London with my sister, her partner and a friend, to see Richard Ashcroft (ex Verve) in concert. Great seats in the front Circle. Terrible sound though. Much too loud - bass too loud and couldn't hear star sing or clarinettist play. Left early as my sister's ears were hurting.
Subsequently visited Ashcroft's website to discuss the sound with other fans. Those standing in the main hall downstairs said it was fine. Sound seems to have been distorted in circle, had same experience at Steve Earle show at same venue last year. Maybe if it is very loud the sound bounces off the ceiling just above the circle, and overwhelms the acoustics upstairs. Hospitality seats in front of us mostly empty. Memo to self, try Stalls next time.
Wednesday 7th December to Fitzrovia, west central London for Christmas lunch with the Ladies (and some token males) of the London Parks and Gardens Trust. This was at the Cavalleria Rusticana, a small Italian restaurant in Cleveland Street, W1. Our charming young waitress, Guilia, turned out to be a fashion designer (punk teeshirts decorated with bloody knives for Cut Manifactures) and founder member/muse of French punk cabaret group Bob Rifo. (Due to play in London at end of December). Watch out for more details on the Style and Music News pages. (I had the duck)
Fashion note in London en passim - noticed lots of tight jeans tucked into boots, some pirate style boots, and many pale pink accessories. Will write more about this in the Style column.
Thursday 8th December - to the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, central London for a black tie dinner with my partner (RAC Bridge Club dinner). Wore my vintage sequinned jacket with black trousers. All the women had made a real effort and looked sensational in a defiant stand against middle age. The men looked fairly careworn and some of them need to update their DJs. Waitresses, hired for evening, wore miscellaneous white shirts, black trousers and black waistcoats while the male waiters wore maroon blazers. If I was in charge I would supply all the waitresses with matching striped waistcoats in RAC colours for the evening.
Dinner was started early and finished early (I had the turkey) so they could present trophies and then play bridge. I don't play it myself so I retired to the Ladies sitting room where I read Country Life and the Tatler (- which mostly seemed to be about the young Parker Bowles, yawn - ) and then snoozed on the couch until time to leave.
Got home around 1.00 am. Realised we needed to put out the recycling for Friday's collection, so did this still in full evening dress to surprise of a solitary commuter straggling home.
Sunday 10th December to Dolphin Square, Pimlico, south-west central london with partner for their Bridge Club Dinner. (In case you're wondering, my patner is a professional bridge teacher and player and much in demand for parties at this time of year.) Took AGES and AGES to get there as we got stuck in traffic from London football derby (Chelsea v Arsenal) which had a delayed kick off to a late Sunday afternoon to accommodate television coverage on Sky.
This was a more intimate affair than the formal black tie dinner at the RAC earlier in the week. I wore my white broderie anglaise blouse (FCUK) and black crepe trousers. Meal was held in a room overlooking the swimming pool. (I had the lamb). The Dolphin Square flats changed hands earlier this year and its hotel was closed to be replaced by serviced apartments not yet open. Meanwhile residents say it's like living on a building site. After dinner once again the members retired to the card room to play bridge.
Crackers: All the Christmas meals featured Christmas Crackers, a UK novelty indoor firework without which no UK Christmas party occasion is considered complete.See more about these in Culture & History section.
OntheLam 2006
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Advertise! |
|
|
|
Advertise! |
|
|
|
Copyright OnTheLam 2006
Terms of Service
|
Contact Us
|
|
 Wireless Access
 RSS Feeds
|
|
|
