you don't say...

High culture at the Tate Britain this afternoon. An enjoyable meander amongst the paintings of Degas, Sickert & Toulouse - Lautrec (London & Paris 1870 - 1910)... robing up and preparing for the chill evening London air... I overhear a guy saying to a bunch of girls "so did you manage to get the Take That tickets?" ... hmmm.... much like the afternoon I was at Tate Modern towards the end of the Frida Kahlo exhibition... one girl says to the boy (trying to impress).."oh! so that's what Frida Kahlo looks like!".. This is just after seeing the exhibition...like, did she totally ignore it or something..???? So what am I to expect when I eventually get to the Tate at St Ives..."Arrr...so thems whats pirates looks likes???" ....?????!!

pea souper

.. boy is there a thick one out there tonight... went for work drinks... French wine totally sucks... vinegar...but still managed almost a whole bottle to myself.... West Cornwall pasties taste awesome when you've had a few drinks... or at any time for that manner... and especially when you're too far gone to cook the promised asian-style stir fry....missed my bus stop...oops... a little bit of longer walk home... almost couldn't find my way in the fog....and my poor boy sick with 'flu, giving me that forlorn forsaken look. Talk about a guilt trip!London is at least -1C. Time to curl up and get some zzzzzzzz time....

brrr....!!!!

It's absolutely freezing over here in London right now. The five day forecast is showing max temps of 6C and minimum overnight for 1C. ... and boy am I cursing the housekeeping staff at the hotel I was in for work last week, claiming I didn't leave my warm black jumper behind. Yeah sure, I had it on while I was at the hotel and then it wasn't in my bag on the night I got home and was unpacking...

It's one of those things. I'm sure everyone has their fave jumper/ sweater. It was only £16 at BHS, but it had quickly become my fave jumper. Now with Christmas coming closer, the last thing I feel like doing is battling the shopping crowds on Oxford Street to go back and get myself another one..

And as much as I'd love something warm for lunch, I'm refusing to go for the tinned soup at work. Poison. Worse than instant coffee... and I already do far too much of that, so don't want to attack my immune system any more than is necessary.

But I cooked a great risotto last night. Trust the good ole Aussie Womens' Weekly recipe books. Can't go wrong there. Only thing is trying to get half of the ingredients over here in the UK. London is not exactly reknowned for its variety of fresh food.

bok bok bok....bagerk!!!

50,000...750,000.....10,000,000....1,000,000,000!!!!! hmmm....as the press reports are released it seems like there's a bit of an exponential increase as to how many people this bird flu thing is going to affect. 10million, billion whatever... from a strain that hasn't actually mutated just yet where there are still only 62 deaths out of the entire population of Asia, where the people concerned were actually exposed to/handling large concentrations of birds... H51N..or whatever it is...

Just one reminder...SARS.... what happened to that pandemic wiping out the population of half the world?

I seriously feel more of a threat being presented by psychopathic London bus drivers...or taking my chances getting some incurable disease from the dirty, filthy,disgusting Silverlink trains and its passengers....eeeeww!!!! GERMIES!!!

But I can't help kinda getting this image of all the battery hens out there storming the cities on mass...joining forces with the pigeons of Trafalgar Square, the seagulls of the Thames and squwarking and spluttering and pooping over all the humans.... or some poltergeist type chicken to come leaping out of the KFC fryers....The McChicken nuggets to start glowing in their containers....Hitchcock meets Stephen King..."The Birds" meets "Maximum Overdrive".....[The Twighlight Zone theme now playing in my head...do do do do....]

"normal" service

So anyway, Monday morning I'm sitting at Homerton (Silverlink Trains) station waiting for the 8.19am train to get me into Stratford where I will change for the Central line tube into St Paul's and walk down to work for my 9am meeting. 20 mins later there's some garbled announcement on the West bound platform that all trains in that direction have been cancelled. Something going on at Dalston. Whatever... I'll just sit and wait.

Then I see droves of people start to leave the Eastbound platform moments later. Apparently someone up the other end of the platform hears that the trains in our direction are also cancelled... F*@#....F*@#....F*@#....F*@#....F*@#....F*@#....F*@#....F*@#....F*@#....
F*@#....F*@#....F*@#.... F*@#....F*@#...#....F*@#....F*@#....F*@#....
F*@#....F*@#....F*@#....F*@#....F*@#....F*@#....F*@#.... F*@#....F*@#....
F*@#....F*@#.... F*@#....F*@#....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[I'll just give you a few moments to guage what my reaction to that was....ahem!!]

So going out in sympathy with my other fellow commuters, back past the ticket office where the station dude has conveniently placed himself back behind the safety of the glass....I trudge down (in the rain) to the bus stop.... a water main has burst...splashed and drenched by passing traffic... I ring the office. "Sorry, god only knows what time I'll be in today."

Not the first time I've been left stranded by Silverlink. That train company is the most poor excuse for public transport that I've ever come across. Stranded at Stratford when the last train home is cancelled, platform hopping in heeled shoes on wet tiles, severe delays here, cancellations there, dirty disgusting trains, overcrowding, infrequent...worse than trying to get around in a billy cart in some third world country..,

So I check the website today to see if the trains are running...man...they also need to pay for a webmaster to keep that thing up to date. Appalling. Ring customer service...first time ever..."I want to make a complaint". So I get the email address instead. custrel@silverlink-trains.com and get told to put my complaint in writing...sheesh! Plus a ribbing from my workmates who hear the whole fiasco.

...but apparently the trains are back to a "normal" service. F!! more cancellations, delays, etc etc

I decide not to risk it and walk in my killer (killing my feet) heeled boots to the bus stop. 15 min later and an angry crowd, I ask this guy what's going on. They've been waiting for the bus for an hour and are told the delay is due to some fire that happened in East London on the weekend. Wha tha...!!! It's now Tuesday!!!...I guess that's good ole British maintenance/service for you.

So the bus gets going. Eventually. Charming creature driving the bus as always. Moments later, the bus lurches to a stop and we all go hurtling off our seats across the bus. So now I'm sporting a rather sore shoulder after being slammed into the emergency exit and the guy who was opposite me will be seeing his doctor tomorrow, from the groin injury sustained when I sort of accidentally kneed him in the nether regions....ouch!!!!

Despite the optimistic timetables promising a bus trip of only 38 mins back home, it took over some hour and 20min....feet killing me...at least the alarms in our flats have finally ceased (a week later...)... no little brats harrassing me for money in the name of trick or treating on Halloween...I can't stand the children (devils) here...but that's another story...

what a load of rubbish...

Hi..long time..no communicate...exams, travel etc etc...

And man... there's like this totally crazy garbage woman (Crazy Bin-Lady) who lives in my flats...now I thought I had some compulsive obsessive tendencies.. being a bit of virgo neat freak an' all..but this chick really takes the cake... On both occasions I've come across her she's been going totally mental... at nobody in particular about people leaving their garbage lying around.. Mind you, to her credit, she got to the rubbish before I did. I mean, I was totally considering grabbing some full on rubber gloves and emptying out the hard rubbish space and putting the gar bags into the designated bins. ... she kinda got to it before I did.

Brits have a total dislike of rubbish bins. NOT EVERYONE USES THEM FOR BOMB DISPOSAL!!!!!

So now, with all the paranoia surrounding rubbish bins, they've totally removed them. And London is like this totally stinking, filthy tip. Londoners are oinkers.

It just seems like the most pointless waste of money to me to have people employed to pick up rubbish...

I mean, every other city has rubbish bins! They also have huge fines for dropping rubbish and the police it too.

Point in case: We are just recently arrived back home from Barcelona. Whilst there we noticed how clean the streets are. Everyone knows how to use a rubbish bin! Plus the streets are washed down every morning. PLUS!!!! We saw this guy drop his paper on the ground and then promptly accosted by about 4 cops making him pick it up. Now I don't know if that kind of policing is a throw back from the days of Franco, but I reckon it's not such a bad thing. ...Now you never hear tourists commenting on how clean a city London is....

I kid you not. Our block of flats has recently had major disputes over the dumping over rubbish, amongst other things like the basement car park being used as a beat, the lift not getting fixed, the stairs not being cleaned...Mind you, we sure do have some pigs living here too. Ashes and cigarette butts left in the internal stairwells, nappies left lying in front of the bin cage, wrappers etc etc...If I knew who it was, then rest assured it would be shoved back in their mailbox.

Crazy Bin-Ladie was in fine form this time around. Ready to declare war on every other resident in the flats. Inconspicuously going down the stairs to have a sticky beak about what the row was about, I inadvertently found myself the nominated UN delegate. And true to this status I calmed the immediate situation, but have done nothing since. Work, exams, partying...other mitigating circumstances...yada yada... well, the intention is there to get this resolved....Me and the landlord are going to have words...Word!

hola amigos

Ok ok... it's a long time between posts. So I kinda haven't had a computer for like ages... So I'm going to make up for it now...

Have moved house. Now an Eastender.... I might meet Den out there on my travels.. or some other geezer.

We've discovered the E9 cafe and Merve's. Ahhh.... the trad English breakfast served up by Turks and the best ever kebab shop next door. Rooly and trooly.

It's such a diverse area. We live right on the edge of the housing estates.. You know...like The Bill. And boy do I stick out like a sore toe... blonde haired and blue eyed in an oh-so black population. All the hairdressers offer hair extensions, braidings, straightenings, curly perms and corn rows. And the karaoke is strictly reggae.

Hmmm.... and no shortage of flash cars... BMW's, Mercs... I could swear they don't pay that much to run a car like that on Social Security. Plus you soon get over the fact real quick that you often walk past a bunch of youths smoking some pretty darn strong weed.

But that's just life around here.

Occasionally I go for a morning run and within a couple of minutes I'm out of this built up stinking metropolis and onto the Well St Common. ...lush surroundings fringed by old Victorian period homes. A little further along into Victoria Park and I find myself disturbing the squirrels in their morning fossick amongst the park bins and gardens.

I'd really love to get some pics of my new hangabouts, but my stupid camera died. Never mind, I'm going to Spain in a week and a half and hope to pick up a new camera duty free. I don't know a word of Spanish. Could be interesting....

Anyway, will pop up some more posts this week with further tales of Home Life in Hackney.

tunnel of terror.....

Look. What's going on currently in London is absolutely dreadful and horrifying. Make no bones about it. But honestly, it's a media frenzy. You can tell it was slow news day/ week/ month/ year. Or perhaps that's just London tabloids for you.... actually, correction, this kind of sensationalism is indemic in the media worldwide. Ahhh.... a sigh for the good old days of speculation on whether Michael Jackson is indeed a kiddie fiddler and whether Jordan (Katie Price) and Peter Andre are suitable parents....

Now I understand why Big Brother is such a success phenomenon. We can just switch off from the horrors of the real world. I think, if I was fully into conspiracy theories, I would almost believe that the media was in cahoots with the terrorists just to create a story, cos who honestly gives a rats about Micky J? And I'm coming across a lot of other garbage at the moment. This is a website an acquaintance sent to me just after the 7/7 bombings in London.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/Pages/Jul05/070705explosions_London.html

What is this!!!!

When I arrived back at work on the Friday after the bombings I was going into a city full of nervous and anxious people. No one knowing what was going to happen next.

I work at Network Rail right next to Euston Station. The public sector entity that owns all the tracks and rail land in the UK. I sit in an open plan office amongst the Safety and Environment staff, with the Safety Director situated right behind me.

My colleagues described how they heard (and felt a blast...via shaking of the building) and then saw smoke coming up from a location nearby. Woburn Place, Tavistock Square. It was the number 30 bus from Hackney Wick.

We discussed the bombing locations over lunch. Sure Kings Cross and Liverpool Street were obvious. Two major stations that included tube and overland trains as well as major bus terminals. But what about the bus and the Edgeware Road tube? On a simple inspection of the transport routes we realised that the bus would have passed through Euston Station bus terminal and the Edgeware Road train was only one stop away from Paddington. Euston and Paddington. Again major transport terminals, servicing tubes, overland trains and buses.

The point being.... the terrorists missed their targets!

.... Eye witness accounts on the no. 30 bus reported that the suspect looked quite agitated and fumbled in his bag moments before the explosion. This also would have been moments after leaving Euston.

So logically you'd think well that's too bad as they won't get the chance to bomb again being suicide bombers and all. So we're safe, yeah? No more bombings?

It appears not. And the events unfolding over the last two weeks have confirmed this. Station closures, security alerts.... searches....raids, arrests.... and two weeks from the first bombings a nail bomb exploded at Warren Street Station along with detonators, but not the bombs, as well as 3 other blasts at locations around London, including a bus. Do we see a pattern emerging here?

Yesterday a man was shot at Stockwell underground station. 3 plain clothes police accosted the man and pumped 5 bullets into him. It later turns out he was not connected with the bombings.

www.bbc.co.uk

I, like most other Londoners, also feel very nervous about travelling around on public transport at the moment. A good time to get myself a bicycle I guess.

There are comparisons being made to the times of the IRA bombings. The police, in a sad way, almost nostalgic for those days when they knew who the enemy was and a sinister kind of chivalry shown by the IRA with the warnings given before exploding a bomb.

So where do I stand? I was never in agreement to the Americans going into Iraq in the first place. They have managed to create another Vietnam. However, I think it would be totally irresponsible for this alliance to withdraw troops from there now and leave Iraq in this state. They fucked it. They should fix it.

Nor do I believe that the situation in Iraq is any excuse whatsoever for the atrocities committed by the terrorists. From a London perspective, this is a world city and the innocent people killed and injured came from backgrounds of varying ethnicities. It is senseless and wanton.

I really do think that the world has changed forever. And whatever lessons we didn't learn from the holocausts of WW2, Korea, Vietnam then I certainly hope this is the final wake-up call that we need. I just hope that we, and our leaders, can all find compassion within us and accept and embrace differences and all work towards a peaceful world.

just so you know, next time you see me...

I've shaved all my hair off, well, all of it on my head anyway. You can blame the hairdressers, everywhere I go to in London gives me some horrible haircut and really cheesy blonde dyejob so I look like some English dollybird slapper, and quite frankly I've had enough. This last one was so ghastly I just thought bugger it, let's get rid of the lot and I'm going to buy a nice wig. At least you know what you're getting when you pay for it. Besides, I'm starting to think bald looks pretty hot.

ghost town...

What an eerie quiet transpired through the streets this morning as I walked up to catch the bus to the overland station. At 8am the streets are normally buzzing with the peak hour commuters busily making their way to work. Not even the High Street shops were open. Some guy with luggage, also at the bus stop, stubbed out his cigarette and jumped on the 52 bus headed for Victoria Station. He must have been on his way to catch the train to Gatwick airport....The Jubilee line train from Dollis Hill into Green Park and then 1 stop on to Victoria Station would have been much quicker....but then... there was no way I was game to be sitting on the tube today either.

The 98 came trundling by. I hopped on board, glancing at the stairwell to the top deck and then moving on to the back of the lower deck. I sat in a window seat by myself. My shoulder bag and plastic lunch bag clasped to me. I'd purposefully decided to leave my backpack at home today. Deep breaths. Nervousness present in every part of my being.

A few more passengers, women and children, boarded the bus. Unexpectedly I found myself surrounded by them and glanced around annoyed. Surely there were spare seats elsewhere. It was a near empty bus. Then I saw what...rather who... they were avoiding. A young man of what seemed Middle Eastern ethnicity sitting at the opposite window with a backpack. He caught my eye for just a moment and then turned away.... I understand... He fitted the eye-witness description of the suicide bomber on the number 30 bus yesterday. But then, so does every other Middle Eastern man....and who doesn't carry a small backpack around with them.... I felt sad and sorry for him. I hoped that people giving him a wide berth on the bus would be the only backlash he would experience of yesterday's bombings.

I walked past the Girls' Secondary Islamia College and Primary School to Queen's Park Station. Empty. A sign advertising the school fair on Sunday 9th July hanging over the school gates. 11am to 3pm. I thought I would like to go.

Arrive Queen's Park. 15 minutes to spare before the train to Euston was due. Far too early. No one about. The local schools were closed. No cars on the roads. Very few people. Walking fast and looking down. Fairly typical for Londoners, I guess, but just maybe today I felt a nervous atmosphere about the streets. I felt too agitated to sit and wait for the train so took the opportunity to grab a coffee up the road and pick up a copy of the Metro. Every page full of graphic pictorials of yesterday. A deep sadness welled up within me.

8.40 am. The Silverlink train to Euston arrived. I sat on the train reading my paper and sipping on my coffee. Anxious to get moving. An announcement came over the PA from the train driver. The train would be held at Queen's Park until further notice due to a security alert at Euston Station. .... A quiet murmur throughout the carriage. Everyone nervously looking glancing up at each other. United as commuters and a fearful empathy.

To be continued...

state of emergency

As I write this I’m literally shaking... feeling deeply affected by the horrific events of this morning here in Central London.

It must have been shortly after 10am when the phone rang... I was in bed asleep, taking a day off sick with, unbelievably, my third bout of ‘flu since I arrived over here. In a groggy stupor and somewhat irritated at having been disturbed I fumbled between my mobile and landline finally answering with a curt ‘hello!’. It was my mother... what on earth did she want? Something must have happened at home in Australia... She asked if I was all right. Of course, why wouldn’t I be? I was now awake and alert. She told me of the bomb blasts in London that were being reported back home in Melbourne. I took this in completely stunned. Fine, I’ll keep in touch. Thanks for calling and letting me know.....

...With dread I went to turn on the tv. At least four bomb blasts. Tube Stations: Edgeware Road, Aldgate East, Kings Cross and on the number 30 bus from Hackney to Marble Arch at Woburn Place (Tavistock Square). Images of the double decker bus broadcast across the tv. Ripped apart and reports of some of the victims having been decapitated. Some have lost limbs, burns to their bodies, head injuries, fractures from being thrown by the blast, fragments from glass and masonry lodged in them....

Tavistock Square is such a lovely part of London. On a sunny day my boyfriend and I meet up and have lunch there in the gardens, sitting on the grass and enjoying the surrounds. Situated between Russell Square and the University of London (Bloomsbury), it is a precinct often full of commuters, tourists, travellers and uni students.

My boyfriend and I both work at Euston. We travel to work on one of the lines that passes through Aldgate East and ofcourse, King’s Cross is only just a short walk up Euston Road.... Logically I knew and reasoned with myself that he should be ok. However, fear was niggling at me. He’d left for work somewhat late this morning given that I was taken ill. I’d tried to call him on themobile. Message bank. ...try again... blank.... try again... a fax machine.... try again.... dead air....panic starting to creep up within me. Telling myself that it’s ok. All lines are down. The Emergency Services must be overriding the communications systems. What was his work number? Silly, I’m usually so organised with that sort of thing... keeping contact numbers for emergencies etc.... We don’t even have a phone book here at home... I tried to get on the net to look up the Yellow Pages.... useless.... no phone communications whatsoever.... rummage through some personal papers.... finally find an official letter from his workplace.....

ring the head office number.... what department does
he work for?.... umm.... glancing frantically at the letter.... that’s it....
they put me through..... oh yes, they know him... no he’s not
there....what!!!!!..... they’ll just check.....oh, sorry for the confusion, he
is actually at head office for a work induction today....I can ring head office
again and ask to speak to Human Resources to check that he made it in.... the
phone calls start again... more lines jammed.... fear in my throat... gulping...
back to Head Office.... I’m calling on behalf of my boyfriend.... just want to
speak to someone in HR and make sure he is ok...we’ll put you through...
hello?... yes, errr no, sorry he is not on our list. How do you spell his name
again?... ok, yes we have him listed here. yes, he’s here....

It was only last week my building had been evacuated in a fire/bomb drill. Casually making our way down stairs, glad to have ½ hour or so to get away from the desk. Chatting to my colleagues on the lawn. A bit of a nervous giggle and a quiet speculation about what it would be like if it was the real thing....

Weeks earlier I had been having lunch with my colleagues in the square outside Euston Station. I realised I had nowhere to put my rubbish and that cleaners were employed to walk around and pick up the litter left behind.... bizarre... I queried this practise. My colleagues informed me that it was a security measure. Terrorists could place a bomb in a bin. And indeed, this was a popular method used in previous years by the IRA. I swept my hand behind me, gesturing towards the station. Yes, but what is stopping someone from planting a bomb on the station or on one of the trains? What is stopping suicide bombers from getting on a packed tube train in peak hour? Despite all the warnings, no one could seriously notice. It would be far too easy. Everyone is squashed into those trains like sardines.... how easy would it be.... and stuck down all the way down there in the underground.... what kind of emergency evacuation plans do they have for a terror threat? And what if London gets the Olympics? How will the transport system cope then? What kind of security measures could they seriously put into place with the extra loads of travellers coming to the city? We’re all sitting ducks down there. We all know what happens when there is a signal failure or a train breakdown on the Underground. Everything grinds to a halt. With no ventilation the air becomes stifling. Not knowing exactly what is going on or how long we are going to be stuck down there. Suppressing the fear that begins to arise in the back of our minds. Imagine the carnage that someone could cause... if they wanted to...???

8.50am, Thursday 7th July, the first bomb blast occurs on an underground train between Liverpool St and Aldgate East Stations.

Yes, no doubt this abomination was designed to coincide with the G8 Summit held in Scotland, Gleneagle this week. For sure, I’d watched with interest from my floor at work the crowds gathering last week at Euston, ready to travel up to Scotland to protest against G8. The usual suspects. Dreadlocks, anti-war t-shirts etc. With amusement and raised eyebrows, we gazed over the crowd as a couple of these so-called anti-globalist activists lined up to buy their Starbucks coffee?? At the same time, feeling half guilty myself for wearing my pin-striped suit and half wishing I was down there with them. Supporting fundamentally what they were standing for. Fair Trade, Not Free Trade. End the War in Iraq.

Bob Geldof’s Live 8 concert was held on Saturday in Hyde Park. A stellar line-up of ‘global’ rock-stars. Some even who performed at the original Band Aid. Well, after watching the Nat West one-day cricket final (which, quite frankly, I was far more interested in... and sad to say drawing with England on the final ball... poor Glen McGragh) whilst working out on the treadmill at the gym I switched over to Madonna planting a big sloppy kiss on some poor bewildered African girl, apparently in the name of Making Poverty History.. However, made for a nice beat to complete my workout to.

A Saturday night at home on the couch in front of the teeves... feeling rather povo... don’t get paid for another couple of weeks. Happy to veg after almost two hours at the gym plus the walk home! Phew! I’m going to end up looking like Madonna myself at this rate. My cynical mind kicking into action as we watched Live 8 (the great masturbate...). Yeah, like what the f*%k do any of these rock-stars care about world poverty? All they are concerned with is putting on a good show, which they don’t have to pay for, and watching there record sales sky-rocket the following week. Especially the old rockers such as The Who and those whose careers seem to be ailing somewhat. ... I guess, to their credit, Pink Floyd has declared that any extra royalties received as a result of Live 8 will be donated to charity. As for Bono of U2.... disgraceful... suing for the Stetson hat he gave away backstage after the final Joshua Tree tour in 1987...What’s his problem? Ego, apparently, is still not a dirty word.

"Violence and arrests as G8 Protestors clash with Police in Scotland" – Tuesday 5th July.

A loud applause and a genuine feeling of euphoria as the London lunchtime crowd hears the news that they have won the bid to host the Olympics in 2012. Everyone is abuzz with excitement in the canteen at work. A definite jovial spirit is afoot. And I warn them that the Aussies are coming... Oi Oi Oi! ... Wednesday 6th July.

....Now I sit here feeling so desperately sad and desperately hope that this will not incite hate crimes against the Muslim community as retaliation for what has occurred today.
I checked in with work earlier. It will be business as usual tomorrow at Network Rail. At least in the Finance Department. But I sit amongst the Safety & Compliance Division. I can only imagine the immensity of the task they have ahead of them to work with other rail operators to get the trains up and running tomorrow.

I will wake up earlier than my normal time and walk to Queen’s Park (past the Islamic School, the Synagogue and Multi-Faith Centre) ... and, with trepidation, catch the Silverlink overland train into Euston...

The horror.... the horror....

live 8 masturbate

G8 Summit. More world leaders scratching their heads. Whatever happened to the good 'ole days of slavery? How can we convince these Africans that they'd at least be fed and watered if they agreed to be our slaves again, rather starved and slaughtered by their own corrupt governments...???

....July 1, 2005... A crowd gathers outside Euston station with placards declaring Bush and Blair terrorists... yawn.... baggage ready to go to Edinburgh to protest for the ensuing G8 summit. I watch them with interest from my 3rd floor open plan office at Network Rail. Half wishing I was out there with them...feeling somewhat guilty for my pin striped charcoal attire... that is, until someone calls out 'look! they are buying coffee from Starbucks....!!!!!!' Wha... the... ??????

So why is it so difficult for these so-called activists to resist a coffee from Starbucks and walk the extra 10 metres or so to the AMT (free trade) coffee stand? Beats me????

...what the fudge do rock-stars care about world poverty? I mean, was Bono thinking about a social conscience when he sued his former Joshua Tree stylist for the Stetson he 'gave' her on the final night of the tour? Is Robbie Williams giving any of his increased royalties resulting from the Live 8 concerts to World Aid? Are the activists still sipping on Starbucks or chilling with a Coke?

glam gods

Yes folks... last night saw the reinvention of GLAM at the 50th Eurovision Song Contest, hosted this year by the Ukraine.

Norway... led by the son of Thor, blasted the stage with more glam rock than Tiffanys. These guys had to be the faves for me.... as well as the femme rock group from Switzerland. Go Grrls...

When it came to the voting...well... yay! I could actually vote this year! woohoo! Good to see the UK didn't get zero votes again, although it was rather dismal. Only it was 1/2 way through voting and the second bottle of the Spanish red that we realised that we should have, in fact, cast our vote for Latvia. The reason being, we are planning to go to next year's EV.... Latvia would be much cheaper to travel to. Ah well... looks like I'll be wearing my white satin gown in Athens. On the plus side, I've always wanted to travel to Greece and it will be warmer than Latvia. As Terry Wogan pointed out, the women contesting in EV must have severely damaged kidneys from the cold...perhaps they just ran out of money for the rest of the outfit....

A couple of points that need to be mentioned here:
a) why is Israel in EV????... I know it's a mandatory drink to ask the question, but no-one has an answer
b) where is Moldova?....oh yeah... somewhere between Romania and Ukraine...good to see they did so well in the voting, and thanks to Tim and Naabi for the world atlas. Came in very handy last night.
c) who allowed drums into the competition? I thought this was a song contest, not a Big Bang. Not that any of those guys could possibly have been playing them given the acrobatics... but yes, the granny from Moldova was probably the most authentic.

ok, let's go Greece! Gotta say that they put on a very slick performance.... looking forward to the 51st EV in Athens 2006. Opa!

...other news from the Squidfiles: haven't been able to keep this up to date as much as I'd like. It's been quite hectic over here. Friends dropping in and out and in and out and in again.... and relos of friends and their friends... partytime at the postage stamp patch...

Been sick with gastro bug and flu. New job which is taking a bit of getting used to and study study study... had the exam last week. Phew! I am sooooooo tired now....

However, I have been getting out a little with my boy, discovering some great pubs and bars. A Polish bar and a couple of great English pubs in Angel and Bloomsbury, Italian cafes in Soho.

Friday, 13th May, was my first ever visit to the opera. Berg's "Lulu" at the Coliseum. It was such a fantastic evening. Loved the music. Lisa Schaffer was simply amazing as Lulu. What a voice! And if the opera didn't grab you then the beauty of the theatre did. It's gorgeous inside. Restored beautifully.

Today involved a trundle around Camden Town Markets again. Shoe shopping. Enjoying all the sights. A pint at the Lock Tavern and seafood with noodles, Asian style for tea. Brilliant. But we are definitely going to be dropping in at the Lock Tavern a bit more often. You should see the fare. The roasts look superb. Actually, it was kinda like walking into a pub somewhere in Fitzroy in Melbourne. Lounges set up around the place, a couple of geeky (but way cool) DJ's doing their 'old' loungy vinyl sets. A great lineup of upcoming gigs posted on the wall. Young(ish) alternative crowd... definitely my kinda thang.

But speaking of cities... next weekend is a bank holiday so we're going to head out of London to visit down south in Plymouth. Can't wait. Hope to get out and about around Cornwall a little too. Perhaps a bus trip to Looe and see if there's any smuggling to be had.... or maybe a Cornish Pasty or a Devonshire Tea...

No photos at the moment. But promise promise promise... that there will be a new batch up very soon.

ciao! fb

stuff

Hi Kiddies

Forgot to go to the Royal Wedding yesterday. oops! Just wouldn't have been a party without me, I know. ... Never mind... had more fun hanging out with a friend in the evening at one of the fine restaurants at Angel Islington. Love that spot.

Was very cool for my friend to visit me from Plymouth over Easter. I haven't been to a noise gig in ages, so it was 'well fun' to head over to Lewisham Art Centre to see a gig. sorry, can't remember who the dudes were. When I get around to it, I'll post a couple of pics on flickr.

Of course, I'm all higgle-dy-piggle-dy here.... the Sat eve before was a trip to Barbican centre to see the Christian Marclay exhibition. I was so impressed. Really! Definitely worth another look in. What kind of person thinks of strapping an amped up guitar behind a pickup truck and dragging it around over rough terrain... I think it was somewhere in Texas. Way cool! ... and fu*$ing loud!

Although, we did manage an accidental detour before finding the Barbican Centre. We happened upon the Smithfield Meat Markets... I loved the story of how women who were no longer wanted by their husbands were brought to the meat markets to be sold... dead or alive so it seems... anyone for a nice rump steak????

So yeah, getting out and about a little more. I'm in a local internet cafe tonight. Job hunting again. My contract runs out in a couple of weeks. But plenty of work around. The weather is doing some very bizarre things. One minute it looks like we're in for an early summer then next we're right back into winter... brrr....

ok. going home. gotta get some sleep. off to the gym tomorrow. start italian classes soon. Va Bene! And then back into fencing classes at end of April. En Garde!

spring is in the air

Goodness gracious me, it's a beautiful sunny day here in ole London town today and set to continue over the weekend. (I have my best weather girl voice on while I type this...). Methinks it's a perfect opportunity to get outside and explore London town a bit more... and procrastinate further about study....

Hmm... perhaps I'll venture on to Whitechapel Gallery or Spitalfield and Brick Lane markets. ... but then again I have no money to spend. Have to pay the rent next week. I won't tell you all how much I pay.... all the Aussies reading this will have heart attacks. But to give you an idea... for the monthly rent it's basically your life savings and doubled each month....We figure there is enough chemicals in the London air to sustain (preserve) us between rental payments....

Seriously though, now that I'm earning £'s and not converting back to Aussie $'s it's not too bad living here.

I know, everyone is obsessed with the weather... but I honestly can't believe what a difference there is here compared with just over a week or so ago. I was honestly trudging to the tube station in the snow once or twice. Trying desperately not to slip over flat on my arse. I was layered up with clothing, suffering from a nasty flu and everyone was just gloomy and agitated. Now, today, everyone is smiling... and I wasn't quite fearing for my life getting off the train as people literally just shove you out of the way.... people actually stood aside this morning and I've people hold the door open.... remarkable.

.. A comment on the weather readers... I can't stand them... they act out the weather! If it's blowing a gale they literally pretend they are the wind.... All I can think is they must be former or rejected Tele-Tubbies to carry on like this.

I'm even having to wear my sunnies today. Apparently it's only the Italians who go around at all times of the year indoors and outdoors wearing sunglasses.

And St Patrick's day yesterday... you'd almost think we were in Dublin, not London. Green and orange everywhere yesterday... alas... not really knowing anyone just yet to join in for a few pints.... I trundled home to a Stella Artois and soggy pasta... a bit depressing... almost knocked on my neighbours door to ask if i could stay for tea... They are Iranian and make the best smelling curries... mmmmmmm........ curry......

Although, I have had the opportunity to sample some of the Indian curry here... Bellissimo! (ok, I'm going to take up Italian again also. Dying to go to Italy). The flavours were just fantastic and superb service. (I was at someone's birthday dinner). Probably not made as hot as some Aussie curries I've had. No matter. Loved it...

And finally on the culinary front, I am still yet to find the ultimate coffee shop here in London. You know... the coffee you just have to have... to die for... lots of chain stores around... and some small coffee shops, but the Brits just can't seem to make a decent coffee. And the Italians and French seem to be catering to Britains bland tastes. The search continues....

little britain

had to publish this. greetings to all Governments and spy agencies and anti-terrorist folks. .... freedom of speech.... freedom of human will... a wonderful thing.....


Re: Immigration, a timebomb waiting to happen. aired Friday 11th March on BBC.

I found this program absolutely appalling. hard to know where to begin. What century are we living in? The sentiments expressed were reminiscent of Nazi Germany.

When will so-called journalists (Rod Liddle) start doing their jobs properly and start doing some research of facts before they start mouthing-off and inciting hatred.

I had to laugh when he mentioned the Kurdistan refugees being placed into areas of England occupied by 'indigenous Indian and Pakistani' populations. Excuse me? When were these groups indigenous to England?????

Then he goes on to talk about the problems of Islam and how they don't have the same values as 'us'. How we have 'freedom of speech'.

Hmm... same values... well... I don't know whether the UK, being a 'Christian' country necessarily values placing women in shop windows to be sold for sex. As was shown to us from Amsterdam. Freedom of Speech? Equality? Values? I don't see this occurring here. Particularly not equality for women or having a sound set of social values. What about equal pay for women, better access to social welfare, the fact that many rapes are not being convicted and domestic violence levels still at unacceptable high rates? And this is just in our 'liberal' society...

And much of the debate recently has been about Indians, Pakistanis and the others... the muslims.... If someone had done their research properly they would know that Pakistan itself is a nation of Islam and there also happens to be a large Islamic population in India. In fact, Islam is found throughout all of the world. On the African continent, in Asia (ie: Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, the Middle East and in Europe. So when we talk about Islam are we actually talking about a religion or a country. As with Christianity there are also different factions.

tolerance? How tolerant are we as so called Christians if we can't find compassion for asylum seekers. I'm sure these are not the teachings of the Bible.

The liberal left that we accept homosexuals in our society? NOT! Gay bashings still occur. Gay marriages are not permitted and homosexuality is indeed one of the leading contributors to the split in the Anglican Church at this present time.

And for the record, it is not open slather to enter this country. I am a recent immigrant here from Australia. I had to fill in a multitude of paperwork and show all types of evidence to obtain my visa. I have done nothing but paperwork since I arrived. I have had to prove that i can support myself and will not be a burden on the social welfare system. This week I have an interview for my national insurance number. More paperwork. There have been criminal, financial and character cheques etc etc.... It seems I can't even scratch myself here without filling out a form.

So yeah... if you're talking about numbers, then kick all the immigrants out. What would you have left? The Dark Ages all over again. A few landholders and low skilled uneducated peasants.

Immigrants in this country are accountants, engineers, bar staff, waiters, labourers, teachers, health care professionals, admin workers, business owners (employers).

No tea, no coffee, no international trade, no infrastructure. No culture.

I just can't believe that so many people donating to Red Nose Day and the Tsunami Relief Appeal could also be so callous as to deny people an opportunity for a better life, whether they arrive on working visa or as asylum seekers.

Besides, with the BBC controlling the media in this country and the Government controlling the BBC, how much freedom of speech do you really expect to be occurring?

'Banned in the UK' - a BBC series highlighting the manipulation of the Thatcher years... don't kid yourselves that John Major and Tony Blair were/ are much different....

winter wonderland

It's snowing!!! In London. Quite heavily too. I just had to share this with everyone. It is so beautiful. I tried taking a few pics from my camera phone but it didn't work out. Just a few buildings.

I was downstairs making a coffee at work when it happened. The American students in the basement computer lab let out a scream of excitement. Much like I did on Saturday when it snowed while I was out walking. This is the first time I've been in a city where it has snowed. You don't quite get that in Australian cities. Especially not Brisbane, except if you include the man-made toboggan run at Mt Coot-tha studios of Channel 10.... bizarre....

that is all, I have heaps of work to do. .... but might be here all night anyway if the tubes stop running. hmmm....

oh! and start fencing classes tonight. picket... stone... brick..... or maybe some swordplay.

toilet training

Yeah yeah... I know... weird ass title... I was just thinking about this posting today... You know, when travelling or going out anywhere it's essential that one finds out where the toilets are. When you gotta go, you gotta go, right?

Anyway, it all started for me in Oman... the call of nature after traipsing around Fort Nakhal... I was wondering what those shower hoses were attached to the side of the toilet... hmmm... strange...

Then in Dubai, at the airport, I had to pay a visit to the bathroom again. Lo and behold they were there again. This time I wanted to find out what they were... I gotta say that I had a pretty fair idea... Ok, so I heard this lady going for it in the cubicle next to me (with the hose, I mean). So I just had to give it a go... wooo hay! That was so awesome. Power shower! I heard somewhere that once you have tried the bidet you can never go back. How true that is.

And I didn't have to flush! The toilet had some kind of inbuilt sensor that flushed automatically. I really don't know how that one works. Why doesn't it flush when you're in the middle of doing your business? ??? Eeewww.... that would be rather unfortunate... but what a cool concept!

Also, sensory taps... put your left hand in, put your left hand out, put your left hand in and shake it all about... do the hokey pokey and turn around... that's what it's all about... put your right hand in... ok ok... you get the picture...

Oh yeah, forgot to mention. Oman. Pull the flusher, don't press. Had to get used to that one.

In England, they have levers on the side of the lav which you just pull down. Wow! So many ways to take a crap! I mean it! I'm not taking the piss, mate. 'Scuse the pun.

What I haven't checked yet is which way the water swirls down the toilet. Clockwise or anti-clockwise... ie: Simpson's episode where Bart rings Australia... cringe... really bad Aussie accents galore...

Thank god I haven't experienced the hole in the ground or the outdoor dunny yet. It's too bloody cold here in London to be doing that. You would literally freeze your butt off.

And at the Tate Modern I did see a really cool photgraphic display of toilet seats... can't remember who the artist was...

Oh yeah... Hungry Jacks or should I say Burger King makes you pay 20p for the pleasure. they have turnstiles outside their lavs with coin dispensers... bizarre... and public loos are also pay per pooh.

good ole McChucks is still free... I don't eat there, was just busting one day when I was in between job interviews. sorry, too much info? But in Eng-errrr-land, the toilets at Makkas are unisex... freaked me out a little when a hairy ape came waltzing out of the lav. Blah!

Is this a new obsession of mine? No. Probably just some kind of depraved virgo observation.

There are 3 toilets in the house where I'm currently living. The one I love most, and which is closest to where I'm sleeping is the loo tucked away under the stairs in the closet. It's the weirdest sensation going under the stairs to take a pee.

Having said that, nature calls... way too much coffee...

ciao!

a penny for your thoughts

http://www.flickr.com/photos/squidfiles/

Well.. it's been two weeks in London. I have managed to set up a bank account PLUS I've found a new job. It's really ace. The company runs exchange programs for American students in Europe. The perks of the job include being able to tag along on some of the day tours they provide, so I've booked in for a day trip to Stone Henge. woo hoo!

The latest photos have also been uploaded. Check the link above. As you'll see I've been doing a bit of sight seeing around London. Where was I last week? Oh yeah, Camden Town. Gotta go back there soon.

I've already been into the Tate Modern and heading in there again tomorrow. What impressed me the other day? Pollock, Picasso, Beckmann, Hesse, Warhol and a couple of installations by Bruce Nauman. One viewing is simply not enough. That includes the amazing structures of the place. Yeah... you can tell I was a big fan from the numerous photos posted.

Last night was my first introduction to London pub culture. I am NEVER doing the 'snakebites' again. sheesh! Mind you that was two pints following the vodka and the long island ice tea I'd just finished. Man... the chips were soggy. Yuk! And lo and behold, I heard more Aussie, Kiwi and Saffa accents than English.

Also, the Brits have absolutely no taste in music. Seriously! I was watching the British Music Awards the other night (yeah yeah... I would have had more entertainment reading my accounting books)... but who are the "Scissor Sister" and who cares? Bad music. But the Brits voted for them as best group over Green Day. Go figure...

Well it's off to the pub again tonight...... what else... But definitely no snakebites... I'll just stick to the pints of lager methinks.

I'm a bit over computers right now. Most of my new job literally involves delving in and out of spreadsheets and I just spent all day trying to edit those damn photos... can't wait til I have my own laptop.

ok, beer-o'clock time.

mad world

hoookay....

Had the coolest day today. Took a trip into Camden Town with Kirsty. We were going to head off later to see a movie, but we kinda got distracted with all the sights and delights... of course, ended up spending money accidentally on a few things. Picked up a few bargains actually.

£15 pair of funky brown street shoes/ runners
£12 chunky ring of mother of pearl set in silver
£35 (ouch!) for some really gorgeous woollen light brown fishermen's wrap around pants.

coffees and hot chocolate in one of the groovy cafes on the canal near the lochs.

I don't think we even saw nearly half of it all. This place has absolutely everything. Cheap groovy clothes, homewares, music to suit anyone's rhythm, food stalls galore from all over the world (Carribean, Japanes, African etc...).

It's also still punk city. I saw some "wicked" mohawks, piercings, tattoos and red checked pants with braces.

leather gear everywhere. It was "well fun".

Anyways, took the cheezy shots of my first double decker bus ride. I just can't believe the crowds of people here. Crazy man. But I loved it, seeing all the different freaky people. I guess the novelty will wear off soon enough and I'll look and act as grumpy pants as everyone else here.

Of course it also only took me 5 seconds to spot the drum-n-bass, break beats, dance store. So I've collected all my paraphenalia, had a chat to the DJs instore (working there and punters also) and now have a nice list of clubs to check out. ... Although, I can't for the life of me remember how to make my way back to this store. It was down one of the side streets off the markets. ..**sigh**... guess I'll just have to go back and explore Camden Town a bit more.

Boy o boy.... was this such a different world away from my expeditions yesterday. I took in the sites on Sat of Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben & Houses of Parliament and had a pub meal of bangers and mash in a pub just up near Trafalgar Square.

However, my timing for my arrival at Buckingham Palace was impeccable. I arrived just before midday as the palace guards were going on parade with the marching band. I also had prime pozzie right outside the gates. Very cool.

Deciding that I was bloody freezing, I thought it prudent of me to purchase a hot chocolate in St James Park on my way up to Westminster and stroll through the gardens and watch the geese and squirrels.. the dear little rascals...

The sight seeing was cool around Big Ben, will show pics soon on flickr.com... Oh! And also happened upon the Palace Life Guards on horseback near Whitehall. It was only when I was having lunch of lumpy mash (somewhat disappointing) and sausage in red wine sauce and onion (remedying the poor mash), washed down with a pint that I realised I had overlooked No 10 Downing Street. Never mind, I have pics of the anti-Iraq war protestors outside the Houses of Parliament to remind me that Blair is a Baby Killer. .. ahem...

Trafalgar Sqaure - full of pigeons and tourists. It's a famous London street scene. There should be a t-shirt saying "I survived the double decker buses and cabs to make it here".

So anyway, that's about it for now. I start a new job on Wednesday. woohoo! And I'm a bit excited about that. So I have 2 days left of relative freedom before I become a wage slave again. Ah well.... I just hope it's nothing like the BBC production "The Office"

ciao!

welcome aboard

...thought I would re-post the entry from the other blog site for those who couldn't access it....

The first enty of my travels abroad...
..Well, after the last few days of rushing around London I really couldn't be bothered doing much today..so just decided to go for a bit of a walk around the local neighbourhood.. I've taken a few pics of the area in which I'm currently living. The post box, a couple of street scenes, a couple of shots from the park and the house where I'm staying.
Why the post box? It's just little differences that I find really interesting. They still use the old red, rather ornate post boxes. I just find that quite quaint. I don't know how well these photos will turn out. It was extremely grey here today and going on 5.00pm now it's almost dark.
To view other photos which I have uploaded I'm referring you to the flickr site listed under the links.

My site is called "Fi Fi A Broad", although, at some point I will get around to sending some photos to this site.

Anyway, on my wanderings this arvo I came upon the next suburb/town called Neasden. It has quite a large population of Black Jamaicans and Nigerians, Indians, Pakistanis and Turks. ..mmm... so found myself in an Arabic/ Halal food store and have been enjoying a late lunch of stuffed eggplant, dolmades (stuffed vine leaves).. munched on some baklava on the way home and soon to be brewing up a very strong Turkish coffee. woohoo! Nothing like having a few heart palpitations before bedtime....zzzzzzzzzzz........
The food I bought was really quite cheap. I bought a few other things as well, so only had an outlay of about £20 today. Nice going. It is such a relief not to be paying inner city prices.
It was quite a nice walk back through a huge park across the road from the house. I can't afford to join a gym until I have a job so might just go running around this suburb in the meantime. One of the guys here said this is quite a dodgy neighbourhood, but the Indian lady at the chemist reassured me that I have landed in quite a lovely spot. I think so too. I find the multi-culturalism here just fantastic. It's actually the Irish pubs and dodgy bars that I saw that made my skin crawl. Think I'll be avoiding those joints.
Ok, hope you enjoy the pics from Oman. Promise to post some more soon.

let's try this again...

Ok,. sorry everyone... me not such a technical genius... Hopefully you are accessing this blog site ok and can post comments etc etc...

...sheesh... I'm getting onto the job agencies again today. I need to work! ..although, do have quite a bit of study to keep me going for a while.

I'll post again later. ciao!