Deb's Lunch … and dinner and breakfast too

We arrived at Heathrow at about 7:30 a.m. Monday, March 29.

We had to shuffle through the passport check, then got our bags, took the train to Paddington, and then a taxi to our apartment in Camden.

We got settled then went to the close-by Waitrose and bought some food – cheese, pears, buns, yogurt, strawberries. Then we took a walk to get our bearings – went to Trafalgar Square, walked around the government buildings, checked out the Tkts booth in Leicester Square – they were setting up an event for Clash of the Titans, red carpet and all – lots of school kids. Gemma Arterton was there, not sure who else famous. We didn’t stick around to see – just started walking back and got kinda lost.

For our first night out, we went to see Robin Ince’s School for Gifted Children Holiday Special. It was a true variety show, a combo of music & comedy. The scheduled guests were:

• Alan Moore – the comic book artist; last on the bill – he did a rant on religion that was great
• Stewart Lee – who did a funny bit about moving to the countryside
• Joanna Neary – who did several funny characters including a sex ed teacher and an arty, Bloomsbury type
• Bridget Christie – who is married to Stewart Lee, and appeared as Er Ant, or maybe that’s Ur Ant
• Kevin Eldon – he sang and did a couple of stand up bits
• Jim Bob – we thought his pop songs were the best

I found a mention on Robyn Hitchcock’s web site that he’d be there too – he came on second to last, did a kind deconstructionist set of songs – messing with the mics and telling the back up band (a horn section and a drummer) what to play. He did Antwoman for starters, in honor of Ur Ant. Then ironically – even for Robyn – he played Kung Fu Fighting while talking about how even though it was a song we all think  about, it is a song that is somehow disappointing when finally dredged out. Then he brought everyone out for a large ensemble version of Ole Tarantula.

We had standing only seats – and were so tired we almost fell asleep standing up. We snagged some real seats for the second half.

Tuesday morning I waked up at 7:05 London time the first time, and then 8:36 and then 9:11 – when I finally got up. Robyn’s opening for some folk rock band on Thursday at a club called the Luminaire in Kilbourn which evidently is way North London – it’s two tube changes away, and that’s the night we have dinner at Jamie Oliver’s, so I hardly think I’m dragging the fam to this one.