D Day!

Yes, my friends...today was the first day of our exhibition at Charterhouse.
I spent the morning preparing for a meeting after lunch with the team of students who are constructing my website.
It was a wonderful experience brainstorming and coming up with new ideas.

And this is where my meetings are taking place.  As it happens it's my alma mater, where I studied Interior Design.

I finally have a laptop again and I'm starting to transfer work from the last few months back to a more efficient form of come pew ting as Jen from the IT Crowd might say.

This evening because a few friends dropped out of a plan to go to a Wimbeldon Open Mic, I just went along to the flicks.

Guess what I saw?

Yes that's right: Andrew's Game.

I was a worthy effort; compelling if just a little predictable.

And now I must concentrate on the 6th game of the World Series.

If Boston wins, that's the ball game!

Commerce; good and good

Busy-ness abounds!

Mind you cause I stayed up watching the World Series, I missed break as the alarm went off and I just went back to sleep.

Then to the shops for paint for my Wennie costume.....photos coming up....

A brilliant meeting followed at the Met with the project team leaders for my web site build.

We are trying to make the project a casebook study on how to accomplish such a task.

On return preparations began for the gala opening of our exhibition in conjunction with the Museum of London.

I was asked to man the souvenir table.

After drinks and speeches featuring The Lord Mayor....

....our special guests seemed to really enjoy our efforts.

I recommend a visit over this coming month unreservedly.

Another meeting tomorrow so....zzzzzzz 

D Day minus one

Quick break cause I had to get over to UCLH.  Because of the Great Storm of '13 Kings Cross tube stop was stopped.  Can't figure out how that happens.....if the line was ok....

Did you know you can bring your own music for your head phones when having your MRI scan?

Used those 40 minutes to try and memorise lyrics.

Under this government you don't get new medical facilities like this:

Then our private walk through of our new exhibition here at Charterhouse.

I urge you all to come on down!

Lovely lunch and then prep for important meeting tomorrow.

Only scored 19 on Uni Challenge tonight and then worked on my costume for All Hallows'.

And finally just as image I found notable.

Old and new hospitals.....great city to walk around this!

Prep Day

So I stayed up watching the World Series until about 4 am.

Controversial final moment! Never seen anything like it. A foul committed by the 3rd baseman and an error from the catcher meant that a runner into Home was called safe even though as you can see, the catcher had tagged the runner.  On again tonight....

My day was prep. Prep for working meetings and for social events.

So rather than photos from today, here are a few from Friday night.

The boys!

The girls and the Birthday Boy!

More stuff tomorrow.

Slutsky

Okey Dokey, most of you will have a summerised from the title that this is all about me. 

Usually that is the case; Yes! All about me.  But......

After a lazy mornin.....and a lovely lunch.....I headed over to Apple for some research.

And then after din.....off out to see a very talented friend demonstrate just how multi talented she is!

My friend Zoe runs a burlesque school in which I am an official, unofficial Cheekette.

Tonight was an enthralling hour of Zoe's stand up story telling.

Because her subject matter is her jouney from riches to Tring council house to self sustaining adolescent to jackcess of all trades to finding her way into the spot light and the glitter.

It was very funny, compelling and true as only a work from the heart of an artist who is brave enough to share themselves can be.

And to top it off, we had an example of why she is the Queen of Glam.

It was a tour due force and I recommend all go to see her next show, called Memoirs of a Slutsky.

Details will follow on Facebook.

On the way home, one of those moments that make me feel at home in my environs.

Just as I was near to the Clerkenwell Road gate, I ran into Aga, my favorite bar maid at the Zetter Townhouse.  We hugged, kissed and I helped her flag a cab for a patron at the bar....

A nice little moment of connection.  After all; isn't that what it's all about?

Please

Look here tomorrow, as I've forgotten to write any thing and I'm too sleepy now......zzzzzzzzzz

Cultured or what?!

A day of events!

Admin morning.....fame and fortune tapping, tapping at my chamber door?

Outing to the Hand and Shears on my weekly pre lunch drinkies and then a comfort food lunch; cottage pie and cauliflower cheese with choc cake.

Little more work and then Wasfi Kani and Grange Park Opera with a brilliant talk on Violetta and tuberculosis. What an amazing woman Marrie, who Dumas based his story on, was in the reputedly rather beautiful flesh.

And then Dr Robert Flood, the organist of Chanterbury Cathedral play in our chapel.

I was rather pleased when afterwards while slurping a glass of wine he said that he knew a favorite film, A Canterbury Tale, in which Powell and Pressburger employed the use of the organist in the cathedral as a bestower of a blessing.  Great film!

And Dr Flood knew that P & P had to film the scene at St Albans as the organ in Canterbury was being repaired due to war damage.

Well I didn't know that!

The eve ended with a Rivera rendition of I've never been in love before at Crazy Coqs open mic....what a way to go.....

Afraid...

...that I'm feeling very tired and so a few lines of what occupied my day with photos having to be substitutes for 1000s of words...

After two terrific sADw meetings I went with Bro Philip to see the Cheapside Hoard.

Brilliant exhibition......

Still think we should claim!

Dinner and then a wine tasting event here at Charterhouse.

And finally a real treat. The Haywood Sisters launched their first CD.

And because life is too short.....made up with the owner of the Phoenix Arts Club.  Glad of that...

Hotting up!

Yes indeed! 

What a busy day....

Checked on my Brother's first night in his new room in the infirmary.

Unfortunately, he'd fallen out of bed......fortunately didn't hurt himself.  As I tell him, he's a great faller.

We waited for an ambulance to take him for a medical review and he is going into hospital tomorrow for an unspecified, but hopefully short time.  He'll be in Chelsea, so I've said I'll visit if there is a quality cocktail bar......

Morning Development meeting to agree the budget for our plans for the future was next and then a strategy meeting to work out how to contribute design ideas.....where my creative mind really takes me.

After lunch a meeting to be briefed over Brother's participation in our exhibition beginning next week.....

You remember....

We had ITV and TimeOut here today preparing media coverage.

Here's the ITV news report featuring Brother Duncan.

http://www.itv.com/news/london/search/?q=Charterhouse+

Tomorrow, very important sADw planning, so watch this place.

Blessing.....and a

My condition is incredibly blessed.

I live in probably one of the nicest locations on the planet!

Not just my opinion.....it's actually HRH's opinion.....but that's another story.....

But there is a downside.

I live with friends who are most all older than I am.

I have already lost two dear friends and some of my time is gladly spent helping some of my friends deal with the changes that we will all face.

It makes me appreciate more than used to be the case.

There is no waiting for things to happen; there is no time like the present to get on with plans and schemes!

And speaking of plans and schemes, we are very excited because our exhibit is going to open in a week and a small army from the Museum of London is here putting it together.....here's one photo sneak preview of some images of London's major hospitals:

Don't tell a anyone you saw it here, but try to come along during November.....

If the taste is still joyous....

...relates to a thought I had while listening to Britten this afternoon.

We had an interesting concert by Pegasus.

Two selections by Britten which were sublime.

A little earlier there was a rather upsetting incident when one of my dear Brothers had a fall.  Thank goodness he wasn't hurt but he is very frail at the moment.

I am hoping that once he moves into the infirmary tomorrow he will begin to regain his health and equalibrium.

We have are own joke around here..."Charterhouse is God's waiting room, and the infirmary is the departure lounge".  

Can't but hope that this particular flight is delayed until further notice! 

This evening I went to The Bridge to listen to Sis singing and impressing as always.

The hostess was Julia and I am booked to sing there the next time Julia is there in a couple of weeks....

That will be very nice!

Transitional

Is how today felt....

To report?...not a lot.

Work on sADw of which I should not devulge.

Fab meal of Chilli with home made flour tortilla chips (added to menu for me, methinks).

Looked at the exhibit taking place here at Charterhouse for the month of November.

Spent a bit of time very enjoyably putting down ideas for the development plans of Charterhouse.

Seems that the Master has received glowing reports on our efforts to have events and catered celebrations here.  Looks like we are moving towards a very exciting future of putting ourselves into the public awareness and not just the history books for those in the know.

One last contribution from a moment on an outing today from the garden.

Image only.....words a waste of effort.....

Explanation

E

A

.......

......to write.

Maybe mañana.....

Wonderful Surprise

Earlier today I was thinking what will I talk about tonight......and now I know!

Brothers were invited to  concert at GSMD.

What I hadn't realised is that the GSMD had a brand new presentation facility!  Look!....

Now then, not only was this beautiful new building such a pleasant surprise but the concert was amazing!

The City Music Foundation presented a Showcase for the recipients of their awards and sponsorship.

Miriam Nerval played The Voice of the Crocodile on her recorder.

I talked to Claire Iselin who played 6 percussion instruments along with her harp.

http://youtu.be/uQe-8jim21Y

Claire is performing at Carnegie Hall in May. (And maybe Charterhouse?)

Afterwards I wandered around this great new building.....

But was this the end of my evening? No! Of course not....off to Crazy Coqs open mic to sing and see friends.....

Pirates; then and now

Part of today's admin duties included a follow up to yesterday's excursion to Mile End.

Touched base with the Cemetrey Park's historian.  There will be further developments.....

Then this evening went to the Barbican to watch Mr Hanks and the US Navy Seals sort out the nasty African pirates.

And my reference above: now was depicted in the motion picture.

This could be considered as a reference to our honoured benefactor, Thomas Sutton. 

He made his fortune in many ways; most probably including funding privateers.

Privateers are pirates on the winning side.

AND speaking of the winning side.....congratulations Mr Prez!!!!!!!

Looks like your landmark legislation will have a chance to kick in and demonstrate how important it will be to far too many fellow citizens to allow the political right and their big business backers to repeal or denude it.  It seems as if all the Tea Party wankers have accomplished is to get the US to wake up to how demented and dangerous they are.

Best result possible.

Graves and Glee

So this so what I'm talking about:

Morning chatting with friendly friends and trying to sort out unfriendly national network providers for senior Bro, who is also the Queen's Chaplin.

Then off to Tower Hamlets Cemetrey Park near Mile End to find the graves of some Brothers who were buried there in the 19th early 20th centuries.

Brother Philip and I had a very successful exploration and meet Ken one of the group of friends of Cemetrey Park.  They are going to help us with our investigation to work out who is there and why they are there.....

On our return journey I took Philip to another very important East End landmark, the Palm Tree Pub in Mile End Park.

Alf the landlord took some time to show us bits of interest and told us various elements of the pub's history and background.

It was a wonderful sunny day to walk through these two east end spaces.....but this the way I usually see The Palm Tree when I'm there for the open mic with live jazz trio.

And more music after din at Charterhouse.

After the Great Fire of London, what with most of the City of London's churches ashes.....the choristers found themselves without work.  They formed themselves into Glee Clubs and started entertaining where they could in surviving drinking establishments.

One such group, the Civil Club, began in 1669 and became the City Glee Club in 1853. 

Once a mouth they get together and sing here in our day room and generously ply those of us who want to attend with wine and song.

One number tonight, penned by Sir George Clement Martin 1844-1916, was called "Let maids be false, so wine be true".

Sir George, I hear you.....

What I'd never heard before was that the composer of another selection, William Horsley 1774-1858, who was Organists here at Charterhouse, once gave an organ lesson, in our chapel, to his son-in -law, Isambard Kingdom Brunel!  I am sure you recognise the name of one of the greatest engineer geniuses of all time......his suspension bridge in Bristol:

A day at andrewgrivera@aol.com e-commerce seminar tomorrow so......

Small into Large Steps.....?

The most constructive part of my day was mid morning.

Me thinks that the development of business idea #1 should begin to excel-orate. 

Hope that's not excel or ain't.

Although I have been working for a few years now on a number of ideas, one is really coming together.

I shouldn't really say anymore; you'll just have to watch this space.....

I must get some equipment back in operation.

Living without my laptop has made everything more difficult and a few things impossible.

Think it's over to Tottenham Court Road to try a retreive data from my fried hard drive.

I must also find out why my digital sheet music will not open on my iPad....difficulty not being able to use!

Tomorrow I turn into an archeologist and head off to Cremetrey Park in Mile End to look at gravestones...as you do.

 

Chelsea Arts Club

Sorry.....all tired out....

Can  I just say I had a wonderful time at the CAC listening to some talented musicians in a mini concert and then a terrific meal.

  The experience thanks to my pal Melinda......what a beauty; inside and out!

"How could I ever know?....."

Wish I had the time to expound on my day.....

Beat so,bullet points....

* helped Brother with new mobile phone contract in Islington 

* generously rewarded with coffee at brilliant new shop

* excited that buddy going on as Phantom cover in West End 

* but went to see another friend in Sectret Garden in Guilford.....

What a brilliant show!!!!!

First time I've seen and if you remember my shocked disappointment over the National Theatre's Light Princess, this was a absolute joy!

Great performances, but what a great show!

Can't wait to learn more of the music....

Had a lovely time with drinks after.....sent a photo and message to a friend, telling her I'd spied her double and then met two fellow Charterhouseists waiting for the bus at Waterloo. We tried in vain to organise a game of twister on the 243, or was that just in my head?

Accomplished.....

Not a lot really.

Today's main assignment was to visit a graveyard.

Brother Hillary was going to take Brother Philip and me to Cemetry Park in Mile End.

There are some graves there that contain the remains of some Charterhouse brothers.  For a period of time brothers were buried there for some reason and Philip and I will find out about who is there, why they are there and how to look after the graves.....

We decided not to go today, cause the weather was terrible for an outdoor activity.

So we will replan our outing.

So really just a few other arrangements sorted but not much else to report.

Instead let's have a little porn.

19th century Italian porn.....but not just any 19th century Italian porn.....but that associated with one of my favorite earthly places....Capri.

You know, it may not be 19th century.....early 20th maybe.

Anyway, Capri is the kind of place where this sort of activity and appreciation of such activity can be enjoyed in the brilliant sunshine.

Why?

This, because why!

See you there sometime soon?

Special guests

That's the excitement round here today!

First off, another development meeting.....all good stuff.

Met the daughter of a sadly deceased Brother, Syd.  I sit at his former place at table.

Syd had been a leading designer in early Bond films, among other things. Remember the underwater Lotus?

Heard a great story about playing golf with Mr Connery.  Also tried to convince the Museum of London to let us claim the Cheapside Hoard for our own new displays.  That would be nice.....

After the meeting Bro Stephen and I examined the design plans by standing in the Square.

Then off to our weekly drink at the Hand and Shears.

Lovely lunch and then Apple visit....it is very difficult operating without my laptop!!!

I then rearranged our exterior lighting for our big evening do.

The law firm, Slaughter and May were here tonight.

They are one of the Magic circle:

"These firms are generally regarded as the most prestigious law firms headquartered in the UK, and consistently have the highest earnings per-partner and earnings per-lawyer among UK-headquartered law firms."

As it happens my governor, we each have one for personal advice, is a partner at S&M.

So the Brothers were allocated supper at the QE2 day room and had lovely soup and pasta (on plastic plates).....

We stayed late and entertained each other with funny stories.

Speaking of funny, kinda wish this was part of our visitor tours:

Another day, another dollar....

 Yes Yes, let's see; an eventful day that really got started in the afternoon.

Some lovely friends came along to a brilliant event organised by our Kat, a tea party to promote her wonderful art work.

I purchased a print that will be framed and put in a place of honour.

After a while, a few of us retired to my place, which turned out to be a perfect location for the "doctor being in".....

Thankfully we were able to sort out all of my Sister's challenges which turned out to be all my fault....

After two resepticals of wine we retired to my favorite public house with my favorite soloist who never sings solo.....figure that out if you can.....I can't....