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.
