Am I a Gump, or am I a Juggernaut?

So it was that I found myself reading 'The Marvelous Land of Oz'. Has our use of the English language changed so much over so short a time? You would not be surprised to learn that I ejaculated audibly upon reading this passage.

Well as most of you know already I have settled into a new place in London. Evidently I'm living in 3 places at once - I ostensibly live in Perivale, technically in Ealing, but officially in Greenford. Well whatever. The house is not numbered, too upper crust for that sort of nonsense I'm afraid, the house has a name - "The Beeches". It is on what appears to be a quiet country lane (Perivale Lane to be exact, behind the A40), with 7 occupants comprised of 2 Italians, 1 Greek, 1 German, 1 China man, 1 Pom and a kiwi named Me.

Oh and did I mention we have 2 bathrooms, one of which happens to be an en suite. So 6 of us share a shower. So far no doors have been broken down although there has been discussion to that effect. Enter the Pom who never says anything to anybody who seems to be partial to hour-long sessions under the hose (no exaggeration). Hello Pot this is the Kettle yeah you're a sambo. But come on he's just being a greedy piggy innit!

What is it about power poles that I find so interesting? I'll never know.

But anyway the new place is proving to be pretty cool. Room on 2nd story overlooking a big back yard with privacy and general niceness. Just the sort of place to start a family...

Heh had ya going! The main thing this place has going for it is that it's 10 minutes walk to work. Which incidentally is working out rather well too - have been studying at home on company time since Wednesday towards a CCA (Citrix Certified Administrator) certification. Exam tommorrow so wish me luck!

It's strange to observe the same old paradox playing itself out. The new job and impression of new opportunities and uncertainty is exciting, and has brought with it a rekindled desire to work hard and make something of it all. I've been given rather a lot of freedom and as such I have lot of ideas bouncing around. You know, plans for world domination and all that.

Despite all this the voices moaning "oh I don't know what I'm doing", screaming "I'm so bloody sick of computers. Gaaaah!" and generally feeling selfishly unfulfilled with all the wonderful opportunities that come my way do not get any quieter. For now I seem to have made an unconcious decision to stop listening to them for what appears to be the sake of practicality. Which is probably a good thing... well actually, more correct to say sensible thing.

Each time I do something sensible it is usually at the expense of something else which is so much more satisfying, more "me", and ultimately soul enriching. Trouble with this "thing" is, this always more exciting thing, is so elusive that I don't ever know what it is. To this day I have never found it. It's just this sense I should be doing something else, other than what I'm doing now. I think I get close and then it changes. I guess that's just the nature of things - grass is greener syndrome.

For today anyway I am going to be sensible (on weekdays), and if a little piece of me dies in the process then tough. Besides there are certain advantages to being sensible, like company laptops and intercontinental travel and other superficial goodies.

Still haven't managed to settle into a Tai Chi routine since I've been over here for some reason. Starting a regular tai-chi practice is something that requires huge amounts of patience and willpower. I will pick it back up at the right time, it's something I really need to develop on my own before I start looking for other people to train with. In looking around over here I've also realised just how amazingly lucky I was with my instructor in NZ.

Why is it that the best things for you are always the hardest...?

To get a true sense of this I've booked to go on a meditation course at the end of the month in Herefordshire. The method taught is called Vipassana, the course runs over an intensive 10 days and is by donation. They run Vipassana courses all over the world, and they are all run the same way. The one in NZ which I had considered (but I guess I wasn't ready for) is run out of Kaukapakapa.

Starting a meditation practice is something I've tried and failed to do on numerous occasions back home, but I've decided it's about time I took the plunge and did it right. The catalyst was actually meeting an Italian psychotherapist at a temple in Bangkok who I got chatting to about it. Really really cool meeting, we ended up walking around the streets of Bangkok amidst deep philosophical discussion. Meeting randoms is the best!

Hmm I tend to get a bit carried away with these bloody blogs. They take ages to put together what with all the typing and the picture uploading and the editing and faffing about. Rather good fun though. Wot wot.

Was looking at some photos of Mike and Adam etc having fun in the sun at what looked to be an outdoor summery festival of some description back in the ol' NZ. You in your singlets and shorts and sunburn. Bastards. Felt like crying when I saw that knowing the winter I'm in for over here. It just ain't right! Ahh well this is what I asked for eh?

Bed is calling. Keep keepin' it real folks.

C.

Fancy a quicky?

Hey ya'll. Just a quick note to let you know I'm still alive up here in the big smoke. Haven't got time for a big update as I'm head down bum up with study this week. Computery stuff.

Can I have a show of hands for who actually reads this blog? I know there are a lot of lurkers out there. I enjoy writing the blog as long as I know there are people reading it, ya dig?

Duty calls!
C.

Into the Groove

Keeping with the radio DJ theme, this is Big C cominatcha from Shepherds Bush. Came for a looksee today as a potential place to live, it seems like an ideally nice place and I can see myself living here if the price is right. Not that London prices are ever really that right, but when you're earning pounds it kinda makes sense, sortof. Gotta stop thinking in NZ dollars.

London is starting to look a little grey and the unseasonably warm weather is definitely taking a turn towards the brisk. I've been trying to make the most of the sunlight while we still have some (he says from the comfort of a netcafe indoors), and getting out a bit to see the place.

Was woken by David on late Saturday morning 3 hours into sleep, and with some effort hauled my bones into the shower in preparation for the agreed jaunt to Tottenham Court Rd. It was a long way to go for Good Coffee, but Good Coffee in London is hard to come by and he knew of a kiwi-run cafe called Flat White which serves the finest of brews. The standard fare here is mud so this was a very welcome kick in the pants before our journey to Harrods.

This is a large store full of a lot of unnecessary and extortionately expensive shiny junk. But it is interesting to gape at the multitude of stuff, and wonder what benefits a solid gold cellotape dispenser would bring to the office, and to think of the sort of house I could slap a deposit on with a £40,000 watch.

In the toy section I saw a MrPotatohead dressed as a Stormtrooper, and another as R2D2.

We passed through the foody section on the way out, and I could hear through the speakers that opera song that you associate with a man in Italy preparing a pizza pie base by tossing it into the air over and over. You know that one. Goes something like "Yaano yaano, blah, blah blah, blah blah!". It wasn't until I looked towards the origin of the sound that I realized the scene was playing out for real.

And then I was defeated by a small scoop of lemon gelato.

After this Dave and hopped on a bus to Camden, and pubbed our way through a healthy meal of Guiness followed by Fosters. Next came sushi and sake. Then down to the Dublin Castle for another brew and continued enlightening discussion. It's amazing what you can find out about people you've known for years after a bit of liquid persuasion.

By this stage it was time to head to West-Auckland Andrew's 2nd flatwarming where it was once again the Poles Vs. the Kiwi's except this time we were outnumbered. I spent the night chatting to a cute girl named Avalina, Avalina, such a pretty name, consuming polish beetroot soup, and tiramasu, and JD, and Coke.

Slept like a log and woke up refreshed at a respectable 1pm. I felt cause for celebration, having survived my first week of work. Signing the contract tomorrow. Working for an IT reseller called Computrad, heading up their new IT services dept.

My colleagues are hard-case, I sit with a big fat aussie from the Gold Coast whose favourite term is "ball-ache", who is constantly giving shit to the young pommy guy who does a hilarious Irish accent. Laughs abound, which is always a good sign. My boss seems pretty sweet too.

Forgot my camera today so no photos. I haven't been taking that many lately anyway, but I'll have something for you next time.

For now I must escape the hallitosis and flatulence emanating from somewhere to my left. Always good to leave on a pleasant note, don't you think? Mmmmm.

Ciao!
C.