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.

The unusual life of a pedestrian

Having a car is really something that I have taken for granted for a long time. Want to go somewhere? Get in the car and go there. Want to lug home a weeks worth of groceries? Where did I leave my keys. You know, I could crash here but I would really rather go across town to my warm bed. They're in your pocket, dummy. Nope - sorry buddy you're in London now.

I think my arms have only just recovered from yesterdays shopping mission. I think us car-folk have an unconscious habit of buying as much as we want from the supermarket, firm in the belief that we have a motorised trolly waiting for us in the carpark. Some habits are hard to break I guess.

I guess the lesson here is - only buy as much as you can carry. A strange and unusual concept indeed. One that may yet prove to assist my pound-saving goals, and keep those jars of sundried tomatoes safe on the shelves.

The good thing though is that there is usually a local shop just around the corner, along with the neighborhood drunk providing useful information, "arrrrwellits aaallll aloadabullshitd anyweyy". A good place to buy water, because the water here is DISGUSTING. It won't kill you but it tastes horrible. There is a ridiculous amount of lime in the water, leaving crusty puddles under your washing up, and flaky biscuit crumbs floating in your kettle.

I'm living here, in a little place called Willesden. This is around the corner from my place (note aforementioned local). I'm "living" in a 2 bedroom place with another guy, I say in quotes due to the fact he actually doesn't really live there at all. The house is completely full of junk and he seems to pop in and out during the day for reasons today I cannot grasp.

What I do know is his name - Brian. He owns the house, he is very pleasant, probably late 30's, has a girlfriend local, is a student, is a brilliant mathematician, and is selling the house so he can get a place with a garden so he can make a kiln which he will use to fire his passions *guffaw* in ceramic art.

While it's clean, and cheap enough - it does make for rather a lonely home. I am in finding work mode, but when I'm not doing that I've been getting rather bored staring at the ceiling. Reading, which has until my travels been a sporadic endeavor at best, has become my savor from rapid loss of sanity. I have run out of books though, and have resorted to reading "The Marvelous Land of Oz". It may be the sequel, but don't discredit it just yet- this really is a rip-snorter for all ages. I've also been going for runs - ok today was only my second day, but it's been good so I will keep it up.

I think it would be in my interests to go down the local pub tomorrow and check the talent I mean - meet some new people.

Being alone really makes you appreciate just how much having friends around means. I'm looking forward to moving into a more permanent place where atleast when I come home, I know there's a good chance there will be someone around to say "Hey how's it". Or "Tally ho old chap what what", or whatever it is the English say. Also really looking forward to buying a new laptop so I can keep in touch with people without walking down to the High Road to a netcafe with cramped cubicles and uncomfortable chairs with lots of smelly people and babies squealing (must...not...kill...)

Miss you, guys.

Went to the British Museum the other day. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me at the time, but I do have some shitty shots from my phone. They're up on my smugmug site if anyone is interested. The first thing that struck me was the Rosetta Stone right in front of you as you walk into the Egypt exhibition. There is some Very Old Stuff here - I was pretty well floored. Only had time for a short gander but will definitely be going back.

Until next time my peeps, fare thee well.

C.