I went for the music...

...and also bought many books and had a delightful meal.

There are excellent independent and second hand bookshops in London. Two second hand ones on the same street in Stoke Newington. This one had the kindest shopkeeper. I had selected three second hand books and he told me the fourth would be free. So I started searching for a fourth... which made me late... but happily my friend was late too and although we were meeting in a restaurant somehow she spied me out in the bookshop!

The restaurant was also a delight. Very quiet, stupendous house white, and the best grilled aubergine I have ever eaten.

Then we went to the Old Church for the concert. I was wondering about the church, and the woman in front of us at once gave us a potted history. There are some things I love about my country. Like slightly busybody middle aged women (like me) who tell you the things you did actually want to know.

The music was wonderful. The singer was Nicholas Mulroy and they were performing Henry Purcell. I found a vaguely relevant video.

The lute player did a solo, which was composed by someone else. He said the French king (a French king), when he couldn't sleep, would request a lute player to perform a lullaby in his room. Oh.... it was indeed amazing. I could FEEL my body let go of stress! I could feel my brain calm!

Why don't I have a lute playing in my room??