So this week, we spent all our money on cold remedies and extra balmy tissues for our beleaguered noses. The plan is to be back and fighting fit by Monday so here are some of the things we could all get up to this week for very little wonga.
Monday: Call the BBC Ticket Line on 0870 901 1227 and get free tickets for the recording of
Clare in the Community - the radio sketch show that was born out of the Guardian Society cartoon strip, satirising life in the Third Sector. It stars Sally Phillips and she is ace. Also, it's being done at Broadcasting House, Portland Place so you don't even have to trail out West for this one. And if you can't go on Monday, you could go on Friday instead.
Tuesday: Stay away from Christmas party debauchery and head to London Zoo for some animal copulating edification. Reproductive Strategies in Animal Societies is a free public lecture and discussion at the Zoo at 6pm.
Wednesday: Have you got a ukulele? If so, take it along to the
Dulwich Ukulele Club Christmas party at IvyHouse, 40 Stuart Road, Nunhead at 8pm. Don't worry though, if you're ukuleleless, you can still get in with a crisp measly fiver and spend the evening admiring everyone else's instruments.
Thursday: I kissed a frog and it gave me herpes earned its stripes at the Edinburgh Fringe this year. Catch the one woman, half hour, free comedy show at the Comedy Pub, Oxenden Street at 7pm.
Friday: Husky dogs, history, ice sculptures, street theatre, carols, plenty of mulled wine and much riverside shopping will comprise the
Bankside Frost Fair from midday on Friday till 9pm and throughout the weekend.
Saturday: Swop Bop promotes the concept of "swishing" - the art of rustling clothes from friends and strangers. Make room in your wardrobe for those Christmas jumpers and take stuff to swop for better things along to the Salvation Army Hall on Oxford Street between 2.30-4pm. Be smug over your finds with a cup of tea and slice of cake after.
Sunday:Join the luvvies in the Actors Church, Covent Garden for
Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight, including folks in period costume and readings from "professional actors". Then head over to Leytonstone and the
Loaded Dog to see band
Los Endos playing the music of Genesis. It's a fiver but if you mention you saw it on the
London Free List, it's just a paltry 3 pounds. Or, you could stay in and make your own wrapping paper out of old Sunday supplements.
Photo from Jason Rogers' flickr stream.
With many thanks to the London Freelist. Check the websites for more information.
