Where are you going tonight?

[Beefheart]

Yeah, if you do want to the eifel tower I can recommend walking as you do skip the queue and doesn't take all that long (only goes up to the second tier). If you do Sacre Cur (sp?) There are loads of restaurants for a quick lunch up there. As I remember the Moulin Rouge isn't too far from there either if you wanted to go see that. You could do what I wanted to do, take an old wallet and phone and try and get pick pocketed and see if I noticed. Didn't think of that until I was already there though.

[Burnden Paddock]

Yes, Moulin Rouge certainly within walking distance. Last time I was at the Sacre Coeur, there was a woman sunbathing topless on the steps. You don't get that at St Pauls Cathedral.

As Beefy says, there are some nice restaurants up there too in Montmartre. You could even get a portrait done whilst up there, if you're into that sort of thing.

[General Mannerheim]

see, ive been told in other circles to avoid Monmarte. they say it stinks of urine, you get accosted aggressively by street vendors, the streets are full of rip-off tourist restaurants and tat shops...?

[bobo the clown]

see, ive been told in other circles to avoid Monmarte. they say it stinks of urine, you get accosted aggressively by street vendors, the streets are full of rip-off tourist restaurants and tat shops...?

Oddly enough both versions are true.

It is he tourist area, there is tat but it also has the Sacre Cour, great views and windy streets with quintessential narrow lanes and lots of steps.

[Bruce Rioja]

see, ive been told in other circles to avoid Monmarte. they say it stinks of urine, you get accosted aggressively by street vendors, the streets are full of rip-off tourist restaurants and tat shops...?

Ah, at which point this handy piece of local vernacular comes into play; "Vous pouvez le pousser dans le cul pour rien, Frenchie, et vous pouvez foutre pendant que vous le faites."

[Beefheart]

It's mainly the ones that will try to put something on your wrist as a 'gift' then demand money as a 'gift' in return. Nearly got into a fight with some in Milan who were trying to do the same to a friend. Can't say I noticed the smell of urine though.

[Prufrock]

I never really took to Montmartre, can't put my finger on why. Partly because it's massively touristy, but so are other places which I didn't hate. Sacre Coeur is great for the view though.

The girls used to love going to Le Marais on a Sunday, it's all vintage shops and felafel places. Is pretty 'authentic' but no idea what it's like on a Thursday. You're not that far away from the single stupidest looking building I've ever seen if you want to go have a look at the Pompidou Centre. 'Let's design a building inside out'; yeah, all right.

If the weather's good I'd find a cafe or wine bar and sit outside people watching.

[bobo the clown]

Yep ... you don't get much more authentic than felafel !!

It's a great city, soak it up. You'll return.

[General Mannerheim]

its pissing down. we'll sit inside people watching. we'll have a good time anyway, hope its like in 'Before Sunset'

[jaffka]

We chose to walk up the Eiffel Tower as there was no queue. We were so glad that we did, as the view changes all the time and I just don't think that we would have had the same experience taking the lift. Well worth the effort.

When we went, the lift was the only way right to the top.

[Burnden Paddock]

We chose to walk up the Eiffel Tower as there was no queue. We were so glad that we did, as the view changes all the time and I just don't think that we would have had the same experience taking the lift. Well worth the effort.

When we went, the lift was the only way right to the top.

Sorry, should have said walk to the second level and then lift to the top. No queues once you get upstairs though, as people are taking in the views.

[jaffka]

We chose to walk up the Eiffel Tower as there was no queue. We were so glad that we did, as the view changes all the time and I just don't think that we would have had the same experience taking the lift. Well worth the effort.

When we went, the lift was the only way right to the top.

Sorry, should have said walk to the second level and then lift to the top. No queues once you get upstairs though, as people are taking in the views.

The lift to the top got me as you can only see above and below. After what seemed an eternity I finally looked up and down and realised we had only travelled half way up

[KeyserSoze]

Off to Bath. Old boys football reunion. Tradition decrees that we go out and get absolutely langered tonight before taknig on the current team in a friendly at a 12pm kick off tomorrow. That will fecking hurt.

[Prufrock]

Last night I braved entry into Strand Polytechnic to watch a screening of the National Theatre doing King Lear live. I knew nothing about the play other than it was a Shakespearean tragedy about a King, but I thought it fecking outstanding. First half was a little wooly, but after the interval was fantastic, and Simon Russel Beale was brilliant as Lear.

A question for those who know the play, is Lear's fall from crazed King on the verges of insanity into vulnerable and completely mad old man supposed to be funny? Like at all? I thought it was really sad, and really touchingly well done by SRB, but the audience kept laughing at individual lines that I didn't get. Are there moments of light relief in there that people who knew the text picked up that I didn't get?

Also, what the feck is wrong with southerners clapping at screens. It's weird. And it makes me feel awkward not doing, because it now looks like I'm making a conscious decision not to clap, as if I didn't enjoy it, rather than just behaving like a normal human being.

[William the White]

Last night I braved entry into Strand Polytechnic to watch a screening of the National Theatre doing King Lear live. I knew nothing about the play other than it was a Shakespearean tragedy about a King, but I thought it fecking outstanding. First half was a little wooly, but after the interval was fantastic, and Simon Russel Beale was brilliant as Lear.

A question for those who know the play, is Lear's fall from crazed King on the verges of insanity into vulnerable and completely mad old man supposed to be funny? Like at all? I thought it was really sad, and really touchingly well done by SRB, but the audience kept laughing at individual lines that I didn't get. Are there moments of light relief in there that people who knew the text picked up that I didn't get?

Also, what the feck is wrong with southerners clapping at screens. It's weird. And it makes me feel awkward not doing, because it now looks like I'm making a conscious decision not to clap, as if I didn't enjoy it, rather than just behaving like a normal human being.

SRB has rave reviews for this performance. But I've seen a number of productions of Lear and had other priorities. It is, of course, a heart breaking tragedy. I don't know which lines made the audience laugh but Shakespeare uses irony well.

[Prufrock]

My initial thought was they were laughing at stuff that wasn't meant to be funny. They didn't seem the sort of places where he'd throw in a line for light relief. But then I don't know the play so maybe I'm wrong. SRB was by no means bad in the first half, but Sam Mendes was spot on when in a film shown in the interval he said the second half was right in his sweet spot. I don't know if they filmed it to release on DVD as well but if they do it's worth catching.

[Athers]

Much Ado About Nothing at Royal Exchange Manchester...

[William the White]

To the Octagon tonight to see a play by a former student given a workshop production directed by David Thacker and performed by professional actors.

This is the main prize for the student who writes the outstanding drama within the Creative Writing programme at the University of Bolton.

The play is called Clap Trap. The writer is Felicity Brangan.

[Bruce Rioja]

To the Octagon tonight to see a play by a former student given a workshop production directed by David Thacker and performed by professional actors.

This is the main prize for the student who writes the outstanding drama within the Creative Writing programme at the University of Bolton.

The play is called Clap Trap. The writer is Felicity Brangan.

Is it only on for one night, Will?

[William the White]

To the Octagon tonight to see a play by a former student given a workshop production directed by David Thacker and performed by professional actors.

This is the main prize for the student who writes the outstanding drama within the Creative Writing programme at the University of Bolton.

The play is called Clap Trap. The writer is Felicity Brangan.

Is it only on for one night, Will?

Yes. Though last year's winning play was then picked up at the Manchester Theatre 24/7 Festival, and the writer won the Manchester Theatres Award for best New Play, and it was subsequently taken on a short tour.

Tonight was a joyful occasion. The student obtained her first in English and Creative Writing. The Complete Works of Shakespeare and a cheque from the University. And has had her play work-shopped by one of the country's outstanding directors. She's happy.