On the way we had the continuing puzzle of the wire mesh barriers, the sort often used to fence off building sites, underneath the canopy of Epsom Station. Were bits falling off? Was it just left over from some operation of some weeks ago?
Then, having got to Wigmore Street, we had the crush of fashionistas leaving some event which was something to do with London Fashion Week. Hordes of bright young things in fancy dress.
And so into the full Wigmore. The concert started innocuously enough, but for some reason, the D959 really got to me and I had really got going by the start of the second movement, illustrated. It was not as if it was the first time that I had heard the piece and we will have to wait to see if it has the same effect when we next hear it, probably from Richard Goode in the RFH. On which occasion we are going for all three late sonatas in one sitting. I dare say Goode will last the course but we shall see whether we do - a bit doubtful if I get as worked up as I did on this occasion. I have tried the gramophone but only a pale imitation. I sample YouTube with headphones - the same performer - Kempff - as I type. Later: better, but not right to listen to such stuff while doing something else.
Out to a light lunch at the Debenham's sub-ground bistro, a pleasant a place as ever. Not too busy, plenty of cheerful and young efficient staff.
From where we went on a swing through the fancier part of the west end in a hunt for a new rain coat - something regular clothes shops don't seem to understand about any more - on the way taking in the Fine Arts Society winter sale - with the Society failing to draw blood, that it to say, failing to draw my credit card out of its Mulberry. But there was a small watercolour by one Inchbold, featured in an episode of Morse, in which he was doing quite different stuff.
Tried downstairs at Burberry's but that was pretty hopeless - as well as being outrageously expensive. But then we chanced upon Cording's, which did still raincoats, albeit a little shorter than I would have really liked. I could also have bought a riding coat, a contraption made out of a fabric involving an internal rubber sheet, undoubtedly waterproof but a rather heavy coat. I had owned one in the past - from Pinder & Tuckwell, lately of Exeter, but I was not tempted to try again, partly because the shop man, who owned one himself, explained that they needed to be looked after. Something that I don't do with clothes.
The deal was that if you bought one of their very grand carrier bags, you got a free garment with it. And so we were sold, with a quick visit to the National Gallery to run down the musical madonna to wind up the proceedings. See reference 3. Apart, that is, from the 88 bus to carry us off, for a change, to Vauxhall Cross.
Reference 1: http://www.cordings.co.uk/. Slightly put out to find a puff from Damien Hirst there.
Reference 2: http://danielbenpienaar.com/.
Reference 3: http://www.psmv2.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/goya-not.html.
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