The booze and pills/the cheapest thrills/they mean more to me now than you do

mousetrap clown car

2008-12-05T11:39:00.004-05:00

It will be of no surprise to anyone that I don't like the idea of glue traps, snap traps or poison, so when I saw a little grey mouse pop out of the stove, I ignored it. But mice are noisy and we were forced to take action. Enter the humane trap. I'm wise to the sneaky manoeuvrings of mice and opted for the sticky peanut butter approach (thanks to josh's advice about 10 years ago) over an easily snagged bit of apple or cheese.
The traps would shut mysteriously with nothing in them and the peanut butter not eaten, so I was coming around to the fact that something else needed be done.
One evening, I went into the kitchen and found the trap shut as usual. I picked it up, shook it-- it was very light--and opened the hatch. A mouse jumped out and disappeared behind the counter. The humane trap was vindicated as an effective mouser, but I was not.
The next time I found the trap shut, I didn't open it and this time when I shook it, there was definitely some movement.
Off I go to the park (far away from the apartment) to humanely let my mouse go. I put the trap down and lifted the hatch and out shot a little grey mouse. But as I was lifting the trap to leave, filled with a sense of goodwill to all animal kind, two more jumped out. Three mice! Apart from absolutely scaring the pants off me, which was perhaps a cunning plan on the part of the trio, it doesn't seem too smart to crowd into a dark enclosed space with two other mice. I, for one, will take away the lesson that cramped conditions and free peanut butter may seem like a safe bet--especially when you're doing it with friends-- but will most likely end an unplanned trip to the park.

Harper and Atwood

2008-09-25T12:57:00.003-04:00

This Globe and Mail article is quite good and I think that Wayne and Patricia (who I assume are my only readers!) would really enjoy it.

I'm also assuming that those in Canada will have already heard about it as Harper's comments regarding the arts seem to be upsetting a lot of people.

One suspects he's trying to lose. I've often had a feeling that he can't be arsed to run the country any more. He always looks a bit sleepy in photos. And those ads: he's hardly trying at all!

Apologies to Patricia and Wayne

2008-06-04T22:22:00.004-04:00

Don't think we've (me) have abandoned you. To make up for it please enjoy this picture taken in the United States.

It went a bit like this: rolling fields, truck stop with delicious eggs (and grits), Boobie Bungalow, rolling fields. [LD's note: I especially enjoy the sign's redundancy]

takin' it slowly

2007-12-02T15:03:00.001-05:00

As you may have noticed, I have not updated my blog for some time. I'm also no longer in London, however, I am going to stick with the London Darling thing. Toronto Darling sounds stupid.

Here is a picture of my new backyard, which I like --the backyard, not the picture.

Gyspy Punk is the new black

2007-06-04T17:30:00.001-04:00

In the last few weeks I have seen Madonna (twice) as she was filming a short film round the corner from my office. I tend to not be that interested in watching film sets (or I pretend not to be interested) but seriously, it's Madonna. As she was there over two days, it was a bit weird to think that for 48 hours I knew exactly wereto find Madonna. She is very small and because she was wearing a green hat and green tee-shirt she kinda looked like a Subway employee --and one is conveniently located right next door to where she was filming.
Moonlighting anyone?

AND I also went to see Gogol Bordello and they blew my mind! The encore nearly killed me--I swear it was at least half an hour and included the lead singer and chicky back-up singer crowd surfing on top of a bass drum.
yeah. go see them if you get the chance.

I'm leaving for France on Saturday for three weeks and am optimistically planning on sending emails, updating facebook and posting lots of pictures on my blog of beaches and tasty food, but what is more likely is that they will be of the inside of my French office -- a windowless room with brown carpet covering the walls--yes, it's a padded room. I will come back to London paler (and likely more emotionally damaged) than when I left.

In other news, I'll be home in July for a blissful 11 days

xxx

John's 32

2007-05-06T17:58:00.000-04:00

We finally made it to Somerset and it so nice to get out of London. The bus took about 2 and a half hours and we got a lovely view of Stonehenge (surprisingly close to the highway). We stayed at a friend of a friend's place --a 14th century chapel-- in the middle of farmland.
The friend of a friend was having a party, so there was lots of cider and meat. John, bless him, lasted until about 12 when he staggered off to our tent. But it was his birthday, so I guess he's off the hook. I however stayed up 'till four --best thing about a party in the county is no neighbours.
And waking up to sound of chickens rather than sirens was lovely.
I have to work tomorrow on the bank holiday and am not pleased about it. it should be a snap getting there though as NO ONE else in London will be going to work.

turn turn turn

2007-04-25T17:35:00.000-04:00

John found this record player on the weekend propped up against some recycling. It works -after a little splicing-but often slows down the music with some surprising results. David Bowie's Aladdin Sane sounds quite nice, where as ABBA is better at its intended speed.
This is the third time John has found a discarded record player and the second one that works.

Paris in the Springtime

2007-03-25T17:03:00.000-04:00

The reason I haven't posted before now (and I know I often start of my posts like this) is because I've had a difficult time trying to work out how to describe the Eiffel tour.
As I stood underneath the tower, I couldn't help but think it looked a little menacing. There are a lot of thin metal bars that look entirely unnecessary and so for the last three weeks I've being trying to articulate what it reminded me of AND this is what I could come up with.

At some angles the Eiffel tour looks like some elaborate Victorian torture device, except not one that was ever used for torture. no, the Eiffel tower looks like an ornate torture device created by a wealthy but mad, youngish Victorian man and presented at dinner parties, turning what was a lovely evening into a very uncomfortable one. Jokes made to alleviate the sombre mood falling flat, people not knowing exactly what to say and making their excuses to leave before desert.
Could my imaginary Victorian torture device be described as a folly...

Moving Picture (Julia & John's trip to Paris)

2007-03-17T08:59:00.000-04:00

Amelie doesn't really have a soundtrack. That's just the way France sounds.
C'est vrai!

the national pastime

2007-03-09T03:04:00.000-05:00

Julia and John's blog dialogue:

Me: "hey, I updated my blog. Are you proud of me"

John: "yeah, sure. It's great (subtext: not so great)

Me: " what do you mean? (subtext: paranoid)

John: " you do realize you wrote a post about the weather"

It's true. How dull, but I'm a Canadian living in England, I don't stand a chance...

weather

2007-03-05T16:09:00.000-05:00

The weather today was amazing. I was too hot in my spring jacket. It felt like the last day of school.

On Sunday, the weather wasn't so good. But I went out to one of my favourite places in London -- Colombia Rd Flower Market --anyway.
The rain didn't stop the people and it felt quite romantic wandering around in the rain carrying my 1 quid roses. (if you go late (2ish) everything goes 2 for a fiver or better!).

brevity is a virtue

2007-02-28T16:25:00.000-05:00

I'm shocked and dismayed by the length of time since my last post. It's been a bit busy. I've gone to see Metric in Camden, flew to Ireland last weekend for my Grandma's 90th birthday and hired someone to be my assistant at work.
John's started a blog (and he's made it all fancy) John's Blog. And I'm learning to play the harmonica. It's fun.
Patrica and Wayne stopped on Sunday, but apart from that, I really haven't had an exciting February. March should be great because we are going to PARIS!!!! for two nights.
Any hot Paris tips would be appreciated...

This new year's resolution thing is easy

2007-02-05T16:43:00.000-05:00

Thanks to a visit from the out- of- towners, Wayne and Patricia, last weekend I was able to keep on top doing London. Earlier in the week, Patricia and I decided that we wouldn't be spending all weekend in a pub as that tends to be what happens when Wayne and Patrica come to London, but would do something else, anything else.
They arrive at a respectable time --midday saturday--and we end up going to the... pub. Bah. However, It is my current pub du jour and I love, love, love it. It has a lovely open fire

and big windows (on a quiet afternoon the sun shines in and you can see all the dust dancing in the air) and huge scored farm house kitchen tables. And we only stay for a few hours before heading out to an exhibition at the V&A (victoria and albert). I have never been to the V&A and still haven't as we arrived fifteen minutes after closing. Now, some of you might say that checking the closing time might have been a smart move before leaving the lovely firey warmth of The Enterprise (my pub du jour) and taking a long bus ride, but others would say that standing outside the V&A under the cover of darkness is not a bad way to see it. It's quite grand and bit spooky given its gothic loominess and cupola.
So instead we went to Harrods. My first time. It's a bit like a very posh Honest's Eds and here's why.
It's very big, has impossible to find exits and is filled with practical AND fantastical items. We also went during a sale and the patrons were very much like Honest Ed patrons, though instead of digging frantically through bins to find the last pair of matching 10 cents socks, they were digging frantically through bins to find the last bottle of decent perfume.

My New Year's Resolution

2007-01-24T15:00:00.000-05:00

I believe that over the christmas holidays in balmy Canada I mentioned to a few people that my new year's resolution is to do London properly. And do London I shall! And I will report faithful on my blog so that I may be publically shamed if I stop doing London as it is due.

To date:
The Slides at Tate Modern.
Notes: We got our free tickets, but then got distracted and didn't actually slide down them.
but I will (and there's a web cam)

Taming of the Shrew at the Old Vic theatre.
Notes: The Old Vic is Kevin Spacey's baby
Taming of the Shrew is performed using an all male cast.

Thames Whale at the Guardian Office today during my lunch hour.
Notes: um. I got whale free stickers and pointed to the spot on the wall just off the picture of the whale going under Waterloo Bridge where I was standing. That's fame for you.
I was embarrassed when I discovered that my co-worker Nick was lying about the live smaller whales also on display at the Guardian Office. There are not smaller live whales at the Guardian office. It was joke. Hey, it's london. weird shit happens here because it is london and some people have lots of money.

Bobby George at the bookstore by my office.
Notes: now, I had no idea who Bobby George is but my friend Nick, the liar, was very excited.
So excited that we loitered around by the book signing table and then left and came back before he got up the nerve to ask him for a photo.
BG said 'Lovely Jubbly' !(I'll see if I can get the photo off Nick!)

What an exciting lunch hour (NB: the slides and the play did not happen over my lunch hour)

It's a work thang

2007-01-17T11:38:00.000-05:00

I've been told to post something! but it's hard because I still don't have the internet at home yet (saturday) and don't like doing it from work. (though apparently I don't have a problem trawling the internet for pictures of Britney Spears looking trashy/drunk/stupid to email a colleague who thinks Britney is planning the mother of all comebacks and can't wait).

I was also forwarded this today: Neologisms for 2007
(As the theme of this blog is work, I've pulled the most relevant)

* TESTICULATING. Waving your arms around and talking bollocks.

* BLAMESTORMING. Sitting round in a group, discussing why a deadline was missed or a Project failed, and who was responsible.

* CUBE FARM. An office filled with cubicles.

* PRAIRIE DOGGING. When someone yells or drops something loudly in a cube farm, and people's heads pop up over the walls to see what's going on. (This also applies to applause for a promotion because there may be cake.)

haha- not that I've ever really worked in an office with scary cubicles (I'm currently separated from my collegues by bulletin boards propped up by magazine holders).

The point:
My internet access is all about work right now and until it's not (Saturday) I can't really post anything until (Saturday) then.

What I did this summer in 50 words or less

2006-12-13T10:56:00.000-05:00

Tonight John and I are going to Trafalger Square to listen to christmas carols and then we are going to look at the window displays at Fortnum and Masons while holding hands.

Tomorrow I am going to the office x-mas party where I will have to maintain my cult status as bowling champion despite the open bar.

On Friday morning I will have to pack with a hangover, argue with John about something stupid because I have a hangover, and get to the airport on time
BECAUSE

we are flying home. yay!

Thanks to those who responded to my kind offer to bring them anything British and small they were craving with requests for attractive British people. very clever. I will not bring Kiera Knightly home because despite being very attractive, I fear she might be deadly boring. The younger Prince on the other hand ...I'm working on it.

I was harmed in the making of this event

2006-12-07T10:45:00.000-05:00

I've been locked in a basement for the last few days, with only delicious buffet-style food and champagne for sustenance, all in the name of advertising.
http://www.eurobestlive.com/ceremony/6/

check it out if you like that sort of thing.

In other news:
I'll be home in a week! huzzah

the post is 10 out of 10

2006-11-23T12:53:00.000-05:00

Hello all,
Basically I've been rubbish this last few weeks and would like to provide a quick update (must be quick as am at work-no internet at home yet- one reason for not updating the old blog). I'm also going to try and use as many britishisms as possible).
brilliant!
Patricia and Wayne's wedding part III, (the coles notes version)
Dinner was excellent. Julia spills red wine on james's expensive shirt -- in retrospect, dancing with red wine is maybe not the best idea. James tries to dip Julia, but instead drops her on the dance floor. Julia's skirt balloons out, flashing everyone her Bridget Jones-style scary pants.
John, Paul, James, Monique and Julia go dancing in Salisbury, insulting the bouncers at club because we refused to pay a 10 quid cover charge--because why would you pay 10 quid to go to a club in Salisbury. It's not London.
James ties Julia's jacket round his waist, where she forgets it. It was well worth it though because the next morning, after texting James in a panic about the jacket, when James asks --where did you leave it--She got to text back 'around your waist'
The jacket (and moniques shoes were found together the next morning --somewhere in the hotel). Good night all round!

and the rest:
We moved into a nice one bedroom. It has a patio and dark hardwood floors and laundry
I also went bowling http://www.bloomsburybowling.com/ with people from work (place describe as retro and fab) and beat everyone -- I won by 50 points. now, this is not to say that I played well, just that people in the UK don't bowl. But now everyone thinks I spent all my spare (ha ha) time in Canada bowling. Not sure if that's the coolest office reputation
to have.
Our old Landlord is also taking the piss by not giving us back our deposit. John's had to get shirty with him. Very annoying, inn't
And last night, my friend's band played in Shoreditch. I'm well impressed with them http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=81609906
especially the song 'Dawn of the Robot Popapocalpse' radical

Best headline ever!

2006-10-24T04:04:00.000-04:00

Detroit man in erotic pursuit of mannequins arrested, again

P&W: the untold story continues

2006-10-23T16:12:00.000-04:00

We arrived an hour before the ceremony to have a quick drink in James and Monique's hotel room.
But just where does Borat fit in?

I found him in the local Saturday paper. But he didn't stay there for long. Monique folded him up and straight into P&W's wedding card he went. Naturally. I mean, the page has got the date. the date they got married. get it!

We drank some wine out of hotel mugs. Monique leant me her necklace.

James and Monique fought over who would get to take home the stuffed lion that came with the hotel room. It came down to a bum contest.
You decide!

But John wanted in on the contest, too.

After a few glasses of wine were passed around
(only two hotel mugs in the room), off to the wedding we went.
As the celebrity stars of the event, John and I were whisked away to the front where we occasionally turned to wave at the others in the back --though they were quite far away --in the nose bleed section, if you will.

Not really nervous about doing my reading, I took the opportunity to have another read through, when I happening to look at John, who was face was a bit red. He was choking up! choking up while I still had to get through the reading. he pretends to be a hard man, but get him at a wedding...

yay. Patricia and Wayne are married.

Off for champagne and canapes.
I accidentally eat liver, but we all decide it's okay because it's chicken liver.
We decide we need wine to leave in James and Monique's hotel room. Patricia finds out and is worried that we won't get through the many bottles on our table. She needn't have worried.
Dinner was fantastic and the flowers really lovely. We were sitting at the university/internet friends table. James and Monique get props for being the only two people at all the Laurier weddings to date. Very impressive. I am thrilled to be at one. finally.
Wayne's uncle reveals much about Wayne. Patricia's dad tell's Wayne and Patrica what they should name their first child.
Bring on the dancing. or Bring on John making me dance on an empty dance floor.
But the dance floor didn't stay empty for long. Oh no. Wayne soon took to the floor

(don't worry, Wayne. It's a private video and Scott, thanks for the suggestions, but it's still sidways)

the night is still young...

technical difficulties/techies call to arms

2006-10-20T03:09:00.000-04:00

Okay. The infamous aptly named 'Wayne' video. I've uploaded it to You Tube and it's good to go, but there's one problem.
While capturing this delicious moment on video, I turned my camera lengthwise and thus Wayne et al appear sideways. Does anyone know of a way to flip video the right way round. I've tried various programs with no luck...

Patricia and Wayne's Wedding: the untold story (part 1)

2006-10-09T16:42:00.000-04:00

Paul and John and I had just walked back and forth across Salisbury with our bags for the third time before we finally found the Corn Market Inn: our hotel for the week-end. It was over a pub which also served as the reception. Loud 90s techno music was being spun for an enthusatic audience of two, so we had to yell at the bartender.
" we have a reservation for tonight" which is why I wasn't initially concerned by his look of incomprehension.
I did become concerned however, when it became clear he did understand what we said but just wasn't expecting us. I think he said something like 'I don't think so'.
The old man sitting at the bar had to explain that ownership had changed in the last two weeks --I think it was after I said, 'but, I just called two weeks ago'. to which the old man at the bar said- 'there's a hostel down the road.'
I knew about the hostel down the road, but had not even considered staying there because I had decided the last time I stayed at a hostel that I was too old to be staying at a hostel, not to mention the thought of having to get ready for the wedding at a hostel made me want to cry.
apparently the old management had left and taken the reservation book with her just after I'd made the reservation two weeks ago.
Then Paul said to nobody, 'I just booked a few nights ago'.
In any case, they found us rooms and they were actually quite nice. I was chuffed because I managed to get 10 quid knocked of the room rates until Paul pointed out that the price on the sandwich board outside was 50 quid and so I had just managed to wrangle the actual price of the room. (humph)
Off we went to see Wayne and Patricia at the pub for a pre-wedding drink.

( I should mention that on the train to Salisbury, Monique had immediately gone in search of the drinks cart. I thought this was a highly positive sign for the rest of the weekend. When she came back with some tins, there was a stirring from the rest of the passengers and almost immediately a guy charged up the isle to ask her where she'd found the cart).

Friday evening was fun, but we were all quite sensible. Paul and James went foraging for fish and chips, but were then locked out of the pub. Those of us still standing were allowed to stay after hours and drink despite it being past the license hour. Apparently this is called 'lock-down' or something and it's technically legal because the owners can claim it's a private party.
But Paul ended up breaking up the party when he tapped on the window and Wayne tried to let him in, despite the bar owners yelling at him to get out. It was all for the best, really, 'cause we were all cosy in bed by a respectable two or so in the morning.

SATURDAY

The plan is to rent a car and go to Stonehenge. This falls through, so instead James takes pictures of us holding a postcard of Stonehenge.
We go to the cathedral. It starts to rain. (it was that weird sideways kind of rain).
We go and see the Magna Carta (one of the copies). it stops raining.
We make stupid jokes about wedding nights and alternative word choices for my reading and then stop when we remember we are at the cathedral.
It rains some more.
James and Monique leave to get ready for the wedding.
It starts to pour. People start running for cover. We find shelter under an old stone cupola that used to house poulty sellers in the olden days. It starts to hail.
We see a pub across the street and make a run for it.
It's a lovely, but small pub with crooked stairs and wooden beams and a fireplace.
We find a table in a small room upstairs and then notice a skeletal hand behind plexiglass in a hole in the wall behind us. The people at the next table explain that the hand was cut off during a card game (during the time that the pub was a brothel) and then displayed. however, that hand was stolen at some point and a replica hand was made. Somewhat disappointing, if you ask me.

Moving on to 3 pm: The Venue! ...

Promise

2006-10-03T04:26:00.000-04:00

It's all been very hectic since I got back to London --simply haven't had a moment.
But the wedding was really lovely and fun and I've got a video of Wayne that you won't want to miss...

a beard coincidence

2006-09-26T04:31:00.000-04:00

While I was away, not one but three of my friends grew beards. Okay, one is an acquaintance and I haven't seen him for a few months anyway and thus cannot be sure exactly when he grew his facial hair.
However, the other two newly hairy friends have embraced the bearded look for two completely different, but equally fantastic reasons.

One is going to be a wizard extra in the next Harry Potter movie and the other is going to shave his beard into a crazy handle bar mustache for his 'dress like your favourite popstar karoke 30th birthday party'

Ignoring commas blatantly redundancy

2006-09-24T14:50:00.000-04:00

I arrived back to London after an really really good fun trip to Canada. I like Toronto in a very gut feeling simplistic kind of way. It really just feels good. I can breath. I can walk down the street and day dream. I can have lots of normal coffee. I can just exist.
However I feel a bit guilty for slagging off London while I was home. I arrived back to a really sunny warm london day. John bought me flowers. I had a text inviting me to a film noir dress-up/ murder mystery party.
We also went to this really cool restaurant/bar for someone's birthday. Music: a bizarre mix of columbian/80s hip hop/punk. And then an odd odd thing happened. It's quite bright for a club and it was packed. There's a long wooden bar and when the DJ played 'Springtime for Hitler' (if I had a dollar for every time I heard that at a club) this guy dressed in all black started marching/dancing the length of the bar. (I think it was supposed to happen because he didn't get unceremoniously kicked out and everyone was cheering.) At that moment I realised two things: that I'd never seen anyone actually dancing on a bar outside of bad movies and that London might be a okay.
Also the bar had a sign saying 'No Tequila'. I know that Tequila is generally trouble but to ban it outright. that's just mean!

The New Pollution launch party: A journalist's investigation goes terribly, horribly awry

2006-09-24T07:25:00.000-04:00

I've had a talking to by more than one person about my sporadic posts. I promise to do better from now on. Starting with pictures from the very fun, very fabulous New Pollution launch party.

Megan working and Jer looking slightly evil. Just what dastardly plan is he hatching?

WAIT, random guy, don't eat that tasty looking New Pollution muffin!!! They could be part of Jer's dastardly and evil plan OR filled with some kind of 'buy New Pollution serum'. Look at how nonchalant Bryan is pretending to be, eyes hidden behind his uber cool sunglasses!
oblivious to the dastardly scheming going on around her, our intrepid reporter enjoys a Canadian beer with the enemy (just what does a music magazine need with a canister of helium anyway? hmmm). And Megan's smile. just a little too innocent, perhaps.

Wait, something's not right. Everything's going blurry. They must have slipped something in one of the six beers I had. Not to mention trying to put me off the trail with lots of bands and fireworks and swag. They must be stopped...

fishy

2006-09-05T16:18:00.000-04:00

It's been quite the week.
Yesterday was our one year in london anniversary. I definitely won't say it's been easy or particularly fun and the jury is out on if it was a smart move, but I will say this: finally, after 365 days of dealing with london, I feel quite comfortable here. I know how to get around. I know some cheap, good and non-touristy restaurants. I don't need to beg for a bank account, National Insurance Number or a job.
To celebrate our one year in london, we went to a great sushi restaurant made more remarkable by its cheapness -hard to find cheap sushi in london.
On Thursday, I went out with a few people to celebrate the job (I've gone from thrilled, to feeling dubious, to wanting out, but suspect that's just me --tend to be a bit scared of not being able to scarper if I want to)
But then Greg (friend from John's school) invited us back to his house, where the most famous chef in all of Spain made us dinner. it's true. He was taking classes at the school and staying in the student house for a week. I don't think I've actually ever had proper paella before...
Oh, also on thursday, I was taken to a stall that sells cheap magazine --all the really good expensive design and photography ones for 80p each. Good day all round.

On Saturday John went to Salisbury for Wayne's stag fishing party and he caught a fish that was 8 pounds!
And while Wayne and John et al were fishing away, Patricia and I finally went out on the town. It's been a really long time since I've had proper night out and despite Patricia refusing to let me get her really drunk, I think we did a decent job.
But have to say, I think the Canadian guy wasn't actually that drunk and maybe had a good point.
unfortunately going to see grim surgical implements while hungover may have been a mistake.
live and learn

The year for weddings (featuring italics)

2006-08-22T16:37:00.000-04:00

Antonia and Brian are now married!!!! The wedding sounded like it was beautiful and farcial-- what a perfect combination.

Patricia and Wayne have asked me to do a reading at their wedding! I'm very touched and excited.
Not the least because I actually get to attend their wedding.

Poetry Present found in 'The Liberal' magazine

2006-08-22T16:24:00.000-04:00

I would never generally assault anyone with unwanted poetry, but this caught my attention in the best kind of way a few weeks ago.

the poet doesn't seem to have a website or a book- which is a shame

Coffee Break
For J.S

The mind slides, eliding colours, faces, words,
but I'm almost sure it was raining that afternoon-
at least something wrinkled the edges of my paper,
left the slippery signatures of soaking boots
on the floor tiles by the door, rapped hard
against the windows of the mock-Georgian cafes
where we huddled in a corner, the non-smokers.

For half an hour you sat there fingering the handle
on your coffee mug, picking the chips of chocolate
out of a muffin, muttering Goethe or Brecht.
And for half and hour I sat watching the ringed stains
of cappuccino creep down the inside of your cup,
a less-than-precise metronome for our conversation,
or rather the tickle and stop of your voice.

If my memory serves me, as it sometimes does,
between three and four that Saturday afternoon
I spoke just the once, to tell you, to promise you
I'd never, never place the word 'love' in a poem,
that it could only rest in a line, on the tongue, diluted.
Now, through the many coffees, the many phone calls,
here it is, that word breaking my word. This once. For you.

David Francis Taylor

IT's FREEEEEE

2006-08-10T16:29:00.000-04:00

I just checked my email and I had three new messages from my Camden 'freecycle' group.
It's great. People post things they have and don't want anymore and if someone wants it they take it. FOR FREE! Pick-up generally required. It's a bit of a tease though because someone is giving away a washing machine (something I want, badly), but I don't imagine I could get it on the tube, or into our apartment. And I don't fancy sleeping on the washing machine (no room for any major appliances).
I should say, however, that our apartment has become incredibly fanciable in the last few weeks. We traded our artistic bedside table (a cardboard box i decorated) for a (shock) bedside table. For some reason it's made a huge difference.

I also should plug (again) BBC radio - the Phil Jupitus show is always wicked- and you can stream it ANYTIME YOU WANT... For Freeee.

I'm working again-yay- and it should turn into a full-time job. I'll likely go to the hell designed for self-righteous environmental feminists who end up working for the ad industry just for the money, but it means I can afford to do a Master's in Sustainable Architecture and Alternative technology (i got accepted- yay), so I think they may cancel each other out.

the UK is on a high terrorist alert. This is as useful as the windchill factor. No one really knows what it means and you still have to go outside.

Jess's baby

2006-08-07T17:08:00.000-04:00

He's too cute!

kitchen ants

2006-07-23T18:19:00.000-04:00

hi, yeah. update.
I've been job free for almost a month, which is mostly fine because I still have leftover money and I should be working again any day now. Despite being quite a heavy user of not working --especially in the last year or so--I only recommend it for short periods of time. What is perhaps most troubling during my latest not working bender is that I've become attached to our kitchen ants, who over the last month have busily worked over anything left out on the counter. They even had a brief dalliance with the cayenne pepper, which, correct me if I'm wrong, ants aren't supposed to want to take back to the hill.
Anyway, the ants have suddenly, without warning, moved out. vacated our cupboards and baseboards with no explanation whatsoever. And, despite being sick of fishing suicidal ants out of cups of water and trying not wash them down the sink, I actually felt really bereft when John pointed out that all the ants had gone. where did they go? and why?
It seems clear I should get out more. Maybe give this work thing a shot.

shameless self promotion

2006-07-13T07:03:00.001-04:00

Well, not so much for me, but for the publication itself. It's going hard copy in September!

I've also written a piece for this month's New Pollution, and also got to take the pictures (yay). It was much, much fun and thanks to Megan and Bryan for making everything I did look good.

the mag

John's also sneakily in one of the shots. I wonder if anyone else noticed

old news

2006-07-13T06:28:00.000-04:00

so England lost the world cup. so very sad. so very last week.
But it was also a very good weekend despite the crushed dreams of an entire nation of flag wearing fans.
The picture to your left epitomizes the weekend. The blue card on the lower left hand side of the shot is london's answer to the metropass. Everything else should be self explanatory.
So if you've all read Patricia's blog, you'll know that Paul and Victoria dropped by for a visit as did Kate. All in all, I can't imagine a better way to celebrate Canada Day --pile tons of Canadians (and Wayne) in our tiny flat.
I hope the floor was comfortable.

I didn't actually see England lose though, because when the game went to penalty kicks I was in the dark, dank crypt of St. Pancras church watching a dance recital. Obviously.
Our friend Aiko was in a dance installation.
The audience had to follow the dancers around the crypt to see the performance and given that the crypt has lots of little rooms it was impossible to see everything. It was the first performance I'd ever seen that gave me the choice of watching it or not, but didn't allow me to leave the space. We had to work for it. The space (given not only its presence but also its physical restrictions on the dancers) was part of the performance and ultimately so was the audience; at the end, everyone--including the dancers- sat and watched an edited version of the whole thing projected on the wall.
And the crypt was so thrilling --no bodies anymore, but lots of grave stones stacked against walls. piles of dead leaves on the floor. huge metal doors blocking the entrance. really musty, cool and quiet in that oppressive way. quite creepy, but if I may be so trite, it was like by filling this powerful overwhelming space with music and people and movement it was either celebrating life and exorcising death or celebrating death in a positive cycle of life kinda way.

Part II

2006-07-05T04:53:00.000-04:00

While in Nice I took the train to Cap D'ail where I spent a bit of time on a beautiful beach with really big and painful pebbles. it made it quite difficult to gracefully walk to the water.
Then, on recommendation, I walked along the coast into Monaco (pic left), which I hated.
To be fair I didn't spend long there, but it's just like a north american city --modern hotels, the hum of air conditioners--with none of grittiness or urban culture. I did see a really buff guy with no shirt, union jack boxers hiked up over his pants, wearing a cowboy hat and carrying two of the tiniest, fluffiest puppies I'd ever seen --one under each arm. Strange place.
On the train ride back to Nice --the hot, crowded train ride--I noticed a perfect beach just down the bank. So when the train stopped at the next station, I got off and went down to the beach. It was the best part of the whole trip. Because I had no more money on me and didn't know if I could reboard the train on the same ticket, it was a bit of gamble, but the beach was sandy and the water warm and much better than the horrible train.
(I got back to the hostel with no problems)
Life Lesson: I highly recommend getting off the train.
(oh so deep)

I got back to london late friday night. And my parents arrived on Saturdayy morning. We did lots of touristy things, like the open top bus.
Okay, so I'm being serious when I say that the weather in london isn't so bad. When it rains, it's quite light rain and the summer has been hot --like toronto summer hot. But the day my parents are in london and we decided to do the open top bus tour, it starts pissing down. Bravely, we attempted the upper deck, swathed in those free thin plastic rain ponchos. I was holding the hood closed with one hand but the painful sting of the freezing rain became too much. At the end of june!!! We must have looked like complete twats, defying the weather and gamely trying to see the buildings the tour guide was pointing out through the sheets of rain.
It hadn't even been that cold in the winter --except for the last time my parents visited.
it's possible that they should be banned from the country all together.
The next day was better and we went to the tower of london! I've wanted to go there for ages, but had been frightened away by the 15 quid cover-- which incidentally sounds quite reasonable now-- could I be acclimatized to the pound now...

Part one

2006-07-02T13:37:00.000-04:00

London is hot and steamy today. After a month or so of rushing around, I'm fine with having lazy summer days spent in Regent's Park. I've been to Cannes and back, had my parents visiting and then moved straight into an impromptu Canada Day extravaganza. Read Patricia's blog now for full details.

bizarrely, travelling is often mostly interminable waiting. John and I waited at Victoria station for a train to take us to Canterbury--as seen in above pictures.

It's a very pretty town and after cunningly putting together a series of clues --tattoo and piercing shop, lots of young attractive people, and many 'to let' signs--I decided it must also be a university town. I was right!

Then I waited in the airport to go to Cannes. I was gone for 10 days and while I spent most of the time inside in an windowless office, I was able to take advantage of what is known amongst those who have sensible grown-up jobs as an 'expense account'. I knew you lot were lying when you said you disliked business trips. Especially business trips on the beach.
The last night I worked was also the festival's opening gala. It was laid out on the beach and included ice sculptures, free drinks, caviar and a red carpet. And because red carpets seem to attract people who think that someone famous just might happen to walk down it, there was a line of people watching everyone go into the party.

Anyway, the result of free booze coupled with many, many nights working until 3 left me in no fit state the next morning. I woke up because the phone was ringing. It was hotel reception gently reminding me that I needed to check out. I packed in about 10 minutes and was actually feeling okay. But as the day went on, getting hotter and hotter, my latent hangover sprung into diabolical action. Fine if you have a fan, a bed and maybe someone to bring you hangover friendly food. I had none of these. I also had to find the train station, drag my badly packed bag there, get a ticket to Nice and do it all in French.
I decided to lie under a tree by the beach while I tried not to throw-up. It was working until this friendly French guy who was working as a garbage man to pay for his MA in theology starting talking to me. Now, I know it sounds crazy, but it's near impossible to talk about the state of religious belief in the western world while wearing stupidly big Nicole richie-esque sunglasses, trying not to throw-up because the night before you drank to much free booze at a beach party in front of the Carlton in Cannes all in celebration of blatant consumerism. Plus my head really hurt.

Long, painful story short, I made it to Nice. somehow. I then ended up at a hostel filled with Canadians (and some Americans). I've met about 3 Canadians since moving to London and suddenly I was surrounded. So I while I was thrilled to talk about Toronto the first time, it began to lose it's rose-tinted luster. And what's with all the Canadian flags. Nobody is going to think you are American if you fail to slap 800 hundred Canadian flags to your backpack and clothing. What will happen if you do, however, is that everyone will think you're lame and other cooler Canadians will avoid you for being so lame.
My suggestion is to stick a bunch of different flags on the backpack. Mix it up a little. Keep everyone guessing.

teaser post

2006-06-25T06:45:00.000-04:00

Nice is nice

no joke

2006-05-30T17:56:00.000-04:00

I got in trouble from Antonia for not updating my blog and I'm sorry. There has been lots of parties, etc the last few weeks, and then I got a cold --just in time for the bank holiday weekend.
but here it goes.
First up: Eurovision
it's not a joke. I had a pound riding on Lithuania, but a death metal group from Finland, Lordi, got first place. But not with their seminal work 'The Devil is a Loser', instead it was 'Hard Rock Hallelujah that rocketed them to Eurovision glory (it really isn't a joke).

Next up: 'Snakes on a plane' have you all heard about this? It's not a joke either, apparently. Rumour has it that Samuel L Jackson kicked up a fuss when the title was almost changed to something less stupid.
Smart really. Pretending it is anything less than 'snakes on a plane' would be a marketing mistake.
oh, I'm going to Cannes in two weeks to work the advertising festival! very exciting. I'll have a few days off at the end to travel around a bit.

I've added a few pictures to my flicker account and am hoping to have some video uploaded soon to my new spangly new my space account (It's not working yet) of John playing guitar in his school talent show...awesome!

Rok on

2006-05-18T17:41:00.000-04:00

blushing from lovely comments on last post. blush. blush.
thanks
(though I recall I was supposed to start my novel with the opening line 'i failed logic'. or maybe that was my autobiography).

Last night while I was interviewing a right on band in London, John was giving his friend Pierre a tattoo. We are (on a paper) a hard core rock'n' roll couple!!!! just don't tell anyone the truth--
that most nights find us sat on the couch watching EastEnders. yeah!

Love as hot as a blow torch, crime as vicious as the jungle.

2006-05-14T15:37:00.001-04:00

London was a mad house last weekend. Cars broken and stitched to the asphalt with a giant needle and thread. A giant girl wandered through Hyde Park and a huge elephant marched through Piccadilly. The girl and the elephant were gigantic puppets. It really was very, very cool and completely bizarre. Basically, the giant elephant was made out of wood and metal and leather. All the joins and joints and mechanics were visible, but still, it was easy to forget it wasn’t a alive. It was carrying a wooden palace on its back, with actors pretending to be a sultan and his entourage complete, with dancing girls and explorers. The puppeteers were tucked in underneath the elephant; on it's head, suspended in metal chairs, but very visible. It was part of the guileless artistry of the whole event. Bringing enchantment back to basics. It must mean something that in a world of amazing special effects, people get so excited and were so moved by a performance with all the trickery in plain sight.

All of the elephant's feet were controlled by a different person all being conducted (literally conducted) by one guy walking along under the elephant. When it came into Hyde Park and wandered along the road, it was partially obscured by trees, making the whole scene seem like a different time. People (actual unflappable Londoners) were running along side it, cheering every time it sprayed water out of its wooden trunk or trumpeted and whole scene was completely surreal.

It was also John's birthday last weekend. I took him for breakfast in Regent's Park, complete with mimosas or bucks fizz if you want to be Britishy and ruin something that tastes quite good by calling it something that sounds quite bad. The rain held off for most of it. (It’s doing that thing that Toronto summers often pull. lovely during the week while everyone's at work and crap on the weekends).

It was also Rose and Adam’s wedding last weekend and by all accounts it was a good time. Though I was expecting more photos…

Thanks for trying to call. But blame the elephant!

one good thing about working for an Ad Festival is funny ads. check out this one

BNP baaaaad

2006-04-30T15:20:00.000-04:00

Another musical posting, I'm afraid. But I'll try and pepper the music stuff with pithy and astute social commentary.
no not really.

went to an open mic folk night on Wednesday. It was in a lovely pub in Angel in the upstairs room, which could possible have been the loveliest room I've ever been in. It's big, with a high ceiling and windows across one wall, just a shade shorter than the height of the room. Over both fire places hang large mirrors speckled with just the perfect amount of black age spots. The walls are painted a classic light green and an ornate chandelier hangs directly in the middle of the room. Throw in a few people with morning suits and it could have been taken from any of the many movie versions of Pride and Prejudice. Outside, in the dwindling light, a tree covered in white blossoms was perfectly framed in the window. But winning by a landslide, was the ladies bathroom. Looking like it got hit with an art deco stick, it had gorgeous mirrors and elegant chairs --I could have moved in (rivaled only by the bathroom in the basement of The Church on Queen St. -I love that space too).
The music was good too. there was some banjoing (I forgot how much I liked the banjo -one thing I miss being over is alt countryish music), but it was mostly Irish and Welsh folk songs. (The best was Mary Hampton, who doesn't seem to have a website, but does kind of a funky folk fusion)
On saturday I went to this
Belle and Sebastian were headlining, and I stood in Trafalger Square for about four hours because I wasn't sure exactly when they were going to come on. It was a cool event. Lots of 'fuck the BNP' stuff. (the BNP are a scary racist party that actually have a few seats. And as there is an election on the 4th, all the 'fuck the BNP' rhetoric is timely). Anyway, by the time Belle and Sebastian came on I was really cold and getting a sunburn (yes, it's true. cold and sunburnt in the same afternoon -bloody country). I was hungry and my pint of cider had worn off ages ago. So yes, I was in a bit of stroppy mood, but suddenly the sun broke through the clouds and sparkled off the water spraying out of the fountain in the middle of the square and they played Boy with the Arab Strap as a finale and I was watching Belle and Sebastian for free in the middle of london and we were all fucking racism. the world was good again. Babyshambles played as well, without Pete Doherty 'cause he got arrested again.
And speakers kept saying stuff like, we all know why Pete's not here, but he'll be at the next one, like he was a political prisoner and not a junkie. Which is a nice sentiment i guess, 'cause at some point you have to think that he just needs some help and not more jail time.
Then I went to a party in Brick Lane. It was in this amazing loft conversion with a roof terrace. And the roof terrace had a perfect view of the City, Girken and all. But still, as far as city skylines go, I think Toronto's may be better (shhhh)

today, John and I bought a soccer ball and kicked it around in Regent's Park. I should really go there more. It's only about five minutes away from our apartment.
Actually as it turns out, it wasn't much of a musical posting after all.
sorry.

xxxx

london vs toronto in musical terms

2006-04-19T17:21:00.000-04:00

About Living in London:
If I have to be really honest with myself, then I have to break my feelings down into two distinct parts.
First part: London as exciting, beautiful, historically, cobbled streets, famous people. Notice
the music of london is raw, damaged, ravaged, heavily weighted under the dead notes of musicians past. It is fantastic, it is heavy, it is a big deal and it rocks.

2ndpart: home. north america. as fresh, naive, wise. wide open. when I listen to music from there, from the states, from Canada. it makes me cry. it makes me remember and it makes me hopeful. even if I've never heard it before. European music never makes me cry even if it's beautiful and poetic and sad because it's jaded and it's seen it all. And I haven't seen it all.
who wants to see it all.

should drunken posting be banned? discuss

2006-04-19T16:51:00.000-04:00

Work yielded some particularly delicious email today.

After emailing a gentleman from mainland Europe today about his troublesome festival entry, I got this reply.

"...Don't do anything foolish now and wait for my response. Soon, my darling, soon."

If I'd had known this morning I was to be caught up in the pages of a Harlequin romance, I would have worn something more flowing to work. As it stands the email is now captured in hard copy and taped to the wall beside my computer.

Btw some momentous and important things are happening in canada in the next few weeks. Things I really should be part of.

Rose and Adam's wedding: don't think I'm not gutted. Rose was my roommate in university and I think by default university roommates are supposed to be a weddings (although given all the things that happened in uni, maybe she's pleased I won't be there to share).

My parents are moving to barrie. I suppose I should be helping, but I can't really say I'm gutted about not being there to help out.

Holly being in Toronto. It's not fair. If you guys have brunch and caesars and a bitchy gossip session I'll be totally pissed off. (though I'd be pissed off if you didn't).

My Life

2006-04-15T06:16:00.000-04:00

It has been some time since my last post and much has happened. Rather than write a detailed account of what I've been up to, I've decided to break down my week into various categories, in the hope that a subtle and nuanced picture of my life will begin to emerge. (Remember, white space holds meaning too)

So let me begin with a little found poetry (our favourite kind).

Found written in black ink on a paper bag used to wrap a 1 pound mug from the pound store down the street
April 15, 2006

NOTICE

FROM TODAY WE DIDN'T GIVE FOOD TO MOMAN ANY MORE FROM POUND PLUS UNION.

Interesting things I have learned in the last week*

Australia is the only place in the world where camels roam free. Yes, wild camels. packs of them. A non-native species, unfortunately, but less invasive than the rabbits and feral cats.

The first world war may not have started with the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand like we were all taught. In fact, it looks like it may have had something to do with oil... and Iraq. If Robert Newman ever swings through Toronto, check out his show. It's funny, stylish and political. Why can't everything be like this.

* may or may not be true. we don't fact-check over here and it doesn't seem to matter

Interesting things I have seen in the last week.

David Miller is in Vanity Fair. Apparently Toronto rules in climate change terms. But more importantly, David Miller's in Vanity Fair.

Nick Hornby in Camden. Dirty bar in Camden with sticky floors, a band who did a cover of a Modest Mouse song and essays on music written by a very funny man using delicious metaphors without a hint of wankyness. Why can't everything be like this.

The sunrise. Twice in one weekend. Man, these brits can party.

Favourite quotes of the week.
Sudoku is the scourge of the modern age. It's killed off the crossword.
(from this great movie review show on TV)

Twists and donut holes are cool like Vince Vaughn.
(a radio ad I had to edit --funny, it seemed to rhyme the first time I heard it)

Bad sounds I heard.
I was awoken this morning by the sound of a crash and then what sounded, to my sleepy brain, like a truck full of pencils pouring out onto the road. Then lots of swearing.
Thinking someone had hit a truck full of pencils that had then poured out on the road (which would definitely illicit a great deal of swearing given that picking up all those pencils would be a bitch), I looked out the window.
No pencils, just a guy lying on the sidewalk in a pool of blood. His motorbike was hit by a car and it seemed to take ages for the ambulance to show up. I don't think he's dead, because the paramedics looked like they were talking to him. Three hours later, after the police spent ages taking pictures and the street cleaning truck washed away all the blood, Woolworths opened for business. Much to the relief of those waiting behind the police tape to get at all the bargains. All a bit too much excitement for a saturday morning pre-coffee, if you ask me.

It just seemed wrong to make tea and generally get on with things when some guy could be dead outside our apartment. In any case, we decided not to do anything, just sit there, until the guy was taken away by the ambulance. I think I understand why people slow down at accident scenes. not to be gruesome, but just as a way to show some respect to someone you've never met but is suddenly so publicly exposed.

Lighter fare: I know all you ladies out there want to know how to be irresistable to guys. So check out this little gem.
sneak pick:

"Get a cute wardrobe- Shop where you like to shop, but don't always be a fashionista. You want people to look up to your fashion sense. Pick a fashion idol like Jessica Simpson. Notice what she wears at the Grammys, or pictures you see of her in magazines, and slowly inject bits of her signiture (sic) fashion into your daily style (i.e. maybe trade up your keds for some cute cowboy boots."

"The best flirting tip, is smile, play with your hair, laugh at his jokes( even if they're not funny)."

If only this existed back when I was in highschool *sigh*

A weekend of firsts

2006-04-03T17:27:00.002-04:00

First First:
Friday morning was hot in that hazy, smoggy summer way. I was walking to work (something I do since I discovered it takes me exactly 40 minutes regardless of whether or not I'm walking or jammed on the bus). There was a girl in front of me and in front of her was a guy wearing a black jumper, white shirt and dark pants. He was acting a bit strange, sort of lurching around and once the girl in front of me walked by him, I saw why. There in plain view, framed by his dark pants, was his jimmy jump-up* and he was sort of waving it around. I crossed the road.
The troubling part (yes, more troubling than the penis bit) was that he was in his early twenties and looked quite respectable (apart from the...well, penis) and I prefer my flashers lurking and trench-coated.

* John's contribution and yes, there was a debate as to whether or not jump-up requires a hyphen

Second First:
My first drink over lunch, fully sanctioned by my manager. I spent the next four hours trying not to fall asleep on my keyboard.

Third First:

After work I met John and some friends at a pub in Camden. It was one of those nights when every pub you go to is closing in 20 minutes. This went on until about 12 when John remembered the unopened bottle of vodka at home. This set off a thrilling series of events that culminated in 11 people somehow fitting in our 'apartment'. And as per usual, the most happening place was the kitchen.

Fourth First:

We bought an oven. The oven is a huge big deal as for the last 5 months John has been restricted to cooking only what can be fried, boiled, poached or not cooked at all. To celebrate a new era of unrivaled gastronomic delight we bought and heated up a frozen pizza.

That's it for the firsts. Sorry. however, we did go visit Patricia and Wayne in Salisbury. For anyone making it over for the wedding, be forewarned. Salisbury is ridiculously, sickeningly charming. Exactly the way one would imagine a town in England.
Historic cathedral dominating the landscape: check
Lovely river meandering through town: check
Cobbled streets: check
Swans and ducklings: check (seriously)
Their house is also equally as charming. Crooked walls, a door knocker, wooden beams. Whatever. I'll take a cramped apartment with a fine view of Woolworths over charming any day.

clams and tomato juice! who knew

2006-03-29T13:29:00.000-05:00

I discovered something today that I found quite unsettling...
The Caesar doesn't exist outside of Canada. There I was, in a room full of brits, aussies and americans, trying to explain that actually, yes, clams and tomato juice do go very well together.
Apparently some guy in Calgary dreamt up our little national treasure for a cocktail competition in the late 60s.
Where's the 'our heritage moment'? and more importantly where the hell am I going to get a Caesar?

AWESOME

2006-03-26T14:36:00.000-05:00

The awesomest things of the week:

Being in the presence of a working fridge shaped like R2-D2. And all signs point to it moving. So a moving R2-D2 fridge. awesome!

A little trip to Greenwich, of Prime Meridian Fame, to see Back to the Future in all its big screen glory. At the end everyone cheered. awesome!

Getting to ask an actual British person why every program on television is about WWII. awesome!

Discovering one of the reasons I got hired was because I mentioned I drank a lot(see London Darling's tips for a successful interview). awesome! (I always suspected I didn't need two degrees).

Oh, also. One of my oldest friends had a baby last week. He's very lovely and looks like a proper baby and it's a shame she lives in Australia, but now I get to buy really cute jumpers with monkeys on them and baby shoes and not actually have to have a baby of my own (i think we all know my thoughts on babies and shoes and baby shoes).

xxxxx

tardy post

2006-03-19T08:15:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry that I've not responded to all your kind comments about my blog or even updated it all in the last week or so. I've had quite a rough time and it's all been compounded by getting John's hideous cold.
I'm officially a crazy cat lady, but with no cat to show for all my craziness. Let me amend that last statement. I'm officially a crazy, broke cat lady! I don't want to go into detail (at all) but now my allergic friend(s) can come and stay at the charmingly cosy Chez Camden without fear of dander.
On the plus side, my new job is okay, decent even. There is more editing involved than I anticipated and I didn't realize it until I went for the interview, but I'm accidentally working for a huge magazine company (like Rogers without the cell phones). oops!
About the cold -- we're getting better and John made delicious chicken soup.
btw: just wanted to say that Wayne and Holly made me laugh... a lot (see 'what's wrong with this picture').

the ultimate in navel-gazing

2006-03-07T04:37:00.001-05:00

I've been thinking a lot about the purpose of blogs, well, my blog. I'm definitely into the idea of blogs and the culture of blogging; but for me, at least initially, it wasn't the freedom of self-publishing and possible subversion of the mainstream media as much as the delicious sense of acquiesced vouyerisim one gets from peering into someone's tiny world that was so appealing.
About 3 years ago, I was introduced to this Toronto-based blog via an ex-boyfriend's blog. It's mix of stream of consciousness and swearing and peppered with pictures of the blog's authoress in various states of undress. I thought she was strange, a bit sad, kinda cool, but incredibly compelling.

This is the first time I've looked at her blog for 2 1/2 years. nothing's changed, but I'm jealous of her complete lack of self-consciousness. sure the blog's a bit stupid, pretentious, but it's all a bit disarming. could I go as far as to say charming? maybe a bit smart and cheeky.

What I think I found initially intriguing was not why this guy I was dating had linked to her blog, but why she had linked to his blog. Did they know each other, and how?
There were some clues. A picture of her outside Vesta Lunch, a comment about a crappy apartment, seeing her walking down Queen Street.
I began discussing R and her bloggy thing with a few friends and apparently so did other people in Toronto. She began to develop quite the reputation among the blogging community as well as those at Sex TV( I think it was Sex TV), because they wanted to interview her.
Finally I just asked the ex-boyfriend. And this is where the whole blogging phenomenon and the online community gets really interesting. He had found her blog, thought she sounded interesting, and contacted her. He needed a roommate, she needed cheap accomadation and moved in. But not only that. He'd met several friends through the Internet. One of them was over at his house one bright sunny day, when R came out on the patio. Turns out she'd been chatting with said friend for months. Small online world.
So not only could blogs bring notoriety, fame and accommodation, they could form a legitimate community with links and functional relationships similar to the world offline, just a lot more interesting. Meeting people online meant that you had access to a larger pool, where accountants could meet artists and vice versa.
But slowly blogging has changed, becoming mainstream. Blogs are serious stuff. They lead to book deals, people being fired, and give government and popular media a run for its money.
Were does my blog fit in? I started it to keep in touch with people, but I feel silly just talking about what I've been doing in London because, frankly, I've not been doing much. At the same time, I'm not sure that anyone is interested in what I think about world affairs, etc, because I'm an obvious lefty, socialist type. Boring!
And in regards to feelings, they change daily. It would mostly be: I love London. I hate London. I want to be a writer. no wait, that's frivolous, I want to work for an environmental agency. but, no I really like the idea of being able to afford designer shoes. but how can frivolous shoes and non-profits be reconciled.
And sometimes I think that kind of honesty can come across as self-indulgent. especially in a blog.
But Meryn Cadell, for example, does the honesty thing wonderfully and manages to sound sincere and truthful. but then she had to express her truth in a very physical way and that must make writing it seem so simple in comparison.
What does all this mean for my blog? I have no idea. But I think if I keep worrying about pandering to my intended audience, you lot, my blog will get moldy and cobwebby from under use.

in-flight entertainment

2006-03-02T15:10:00.001-05:00

I'm back in London. Thanks to everyone for enabling my whirlwind trip, dropping everything to hang out with me, and putting up with my constant complaints about the weather. yes, it would seem that I am now one of those.
for the record, it snowed here today --for about 1 minute
The trip East was much more tolerable than its Western counterpart, thanks in part to the jet stream and the fact that I remembered to bring headphones. Watching the in-flight movie(s) shave a nice whack of bordom off the whole flying thing. My seatmate gave me gum.
John met me at the airport for a dramatic reunion that was somewhat degraded by a bum trolley wheel, a poorly executed kiss and other (stupid) passengers getting in the way of said trolley.
While I was gone, John re-arranged the apartment. It looks pretty good. Definitely wouldn't kick my apartment out of bed anymore, no sir.
It's bittersweet to be back because London is starting to make sense, but none of you are here.

Why is this front page funny?

2006-02-11T10:39:00.000-05:00

A swell prize to the first person whose answer pleases me.

oh those crazy words

2006-02-08T05:49:00.000-05:00

So I'm reading quite a funny book (Fin by James Delingpole) and this line in particular caught my eye, "and he says something gnomic like 'I know not of your pod."
Now, I've never heard the word gnomic. I can't figure out exactly what it means from the context, but it sounds like it could be good. And because I'm a huge geek, I get excited 'cause I don't often come across interesting sounding words that I don't know the meaning of.
So I look it up.
Gnomic: relating to or containing gnomes.
Now I am crushed because rather than being a spangly new word to describe something of great import or something esoteric ( the way it sounds like it should), it actually refers to gnomes. And I realise the times that I may be able to slip the word gnomic casually into conversation will be rare and likely involve a game of Dungeons and Dragons. And because I boycotted Dungeons and Dragons a few years ago because it takes way to long to develop your character even before you abandon days if not weeks to actually playing it, I doubt it will ever happen.

(by the way, the definition of gnomic that reads 'containing gnomes' means in a poem or book, not for example, in a soup).

I knew them when

2006-02-07T16:01:00.000-05:00

Any regular reader of I'm Huge will have noticed that his latest entry links to a little site he refers to as 'smashing'. Whatever, I'm Huge. I met them first, but I have to agree that The New Pollution is smashing. Two of my bestest friends have given music journalism the life it so desperately needs.
Enjoy!

Our House

2006-02-06T18:16:00.000-05:00

There's a bar round the corner with an interesting history: Madness began their illustrious career in its grimy back room. It's called the Dublin Castle and it could possibly be the perfect bar. Despite being brightly lit ( I dislike brightly lit bars; there is something to be said for faces made attractive by forgiving light), it has the most comprehensive jukebox I have ever seen. The back room is for bands --Waking Eyes are playing on Tuesday-- and after 12 it turns into the Dance Cave, but with no cover and sightly older boys, and better music. So if you needed yet another reason to come to London, the Dublin Castle is it.
Latest news. we bought a computer! it's second hand, but super fast.

my fun haircut

2006-01-29T06:41:00.000-05:00

I thought I should take a picture of my bangs before they grow out. Not sure if I'll keep them this length, but I feel quite proud of myself for braving bangs, what with the curly hair and all.
I feel a bit disloyal cheating on Donna, my hairdresser in Toronto, but she wouldn't move to london with me. what's a girl to do?
Yesterday, discovered it was possible to walk to Hamstead Heath from the apartment. Gorgeous day and woods out of Robin Hood (kevin costner edition). Climbed on ancient-looking narled trees.

new format

2006-01-24T16:05:00.000-05:00

I can explain the new format. Earlier this evening I brutally murdered my blog and now I'm too scared to play around with the html. And I'm tired. so for now, the new format stands.
Enjoy the soothing italics while you can; they'll be the first to go when the new regime takes over.

A Day in Pictures

2006-01-21T15:25:00.000-05:00

This saturday was really lovely, sunny, sort of warm.
So we went to Brixton and Electric Avenue. The picture on the left is a sign we found in the market

Cobbled street in Borough Market

Thames pebbles

Blackfriars Bridge.

When we got to Wateloo Bridge we noticed an unusual crowd. My razor-sharp journalistic instincts kicked in and I knew it MUST have something to do with the whale. Within minutes the bridge was packed, cars had stopped and police boats were in view. We could just make out a fin on the rescue boat.

Picture from Waterloo Bridge

Chameleon John blends into his surroundings at this great spanish bar off tottenham court rd.

Election

2006-01-18T13:50:00.000-05:00

London has fantastic radio stations. Or, more specifically, the BBC has fantastic radio stations. I recommend loading up the old BBC website (www.bbc.co.uk) and having a browse. The most thrilling part is that all the programs can be streamed up to a week after the original broadcast.
It completely puts the CBC to shame. For shame, CBC.
However, the BBC is propped up by a fat T.V. licensing tax that anyone owning a T.V. must pay. You can't just opt out by only using T.V to watch DVDs, or anything else sneaky. Trade-off is no commercials and really good programs.
So perhaps it should be, For shame, Canadian government, for shame.
In unrelated government slagging, why are they (by they I mean the Broadcast Consortium and those in power) still not letting the Green Party on the televised Leaders' debate?
At least provide a benchmark for guaranteed inclusion.

The televised leaders' debates for the 2006 election have excluded Green Party of Canada leader Jim Harris, despite his leading a national party running candidates in all 308 ridings and having earned the votes of over 580,000 Canadians in the 2004 federal election. Leaving these decisions to the unaccountable Broadcast Consortium that controls the debates is a threat to Canadian democracy

http://www.greenparty.ca/leaders_debates.html

I'm still very impressed with the Green Party's platform and while I understand the need to keep the Conservatives out, hence voting Liberal (boring), I think they're worth a look.
For shame, Broadcast Consortium

I'll try not to sprain my ankle getting off my soapbox

'The sidewalks are watching me think about you'

2006-01-15T14:27:00.000-05:00

I feel my blog needs a bit of pizzazz.

So Miss M, I'll see your lovely, snowy Toronto street and raise you an ambigious, grimy London street.

'Musings on the past' or 'my actual high school sweetheart was a bit mental'

2006-01-12T14:10:00.000-05:00

When I think about the idea of high school sweethearts, I think of faded rose petals, wine-stained menus, and simpler times. It's the guy that you don't remember why you broke up with and always wonder if you'd still be in love if you bumped into each other down the road. With that in mind, I had a realization the other day. Toronto is my high school sweetheart.
When we first met I was dazzled. I couldn't believe that Toronto would be into ME. And, I'll admit it, we had our fights, but I was happy. I grew and changed and drank beer on lots of patios every summer. But three years on, I was getting bored of its cheap restaurants, dive bars, great shops. I started picking fights and talking shit about it. I can't take all the blame. Toronto sometimes tries a bit too hard, its a bit too proud of its achievements and sometimes it's a little arrogant. And let's face it, Toronto's a bit small. Then I met another city. A cold, indifferent city. London. London didn't care about me, but I was convinced I could win its love. So I left Toronto. There were tears, recriminations, second thoughts, but we were over, dammit.
I've been with London for 5 months and I'm still in the honeymoon stage. London frustrates me and sometimes I worry that I might not be good enough. I know I'm not ready to leave.
But I am nostalgic about Toronto and all the good times we had. I find myself wanting to walk certain streets, see familiar graffiti and to just have a good, easy chat. Now I'm quite sure that I won't ever love Toronto like I once did, but I hope that we can still be friends. in the summer, definitely not in the winter.
Oh! Depeche Mode just came on the radio. Talk about ol' times.

Under the auspices of auspicious beginnings

2006-01-02T06:47:00.000-05:00

All should be thankful that I didn't actually post the drunken entry that seemed really funny on New Years Eve when I was blearly writing it. And I'm going to try to condense the holidays into a few choice words for ease using only H words.
Hectic: finished work at 4 on x-mas eve. ran (well, quickly walked) along the bank of the Thames to catch a train to Andover.
Hospitality: Wayne and Patricia took excellent care of us. Excellent care included lots of tasty food, warming booze, delightful tour of Salisbury and surrounding area and a drive to Gatwick so that we could catch a plane to N. Ireland.
Hung-over: most mornings
Hoards: of relatives
Haunted: the castle/hotel that my cousin got married in. It was a really lovely (short) ceremony, but I didn't see any ghosts
Harrowing: Our plane back to London made an emergency stop in East Midlands because the pilot smelt smoke in the cockpit. We were bused to Gatwick-- a short three hour journey.
Hardpressed: to think of another appropriate H word to describe the holiday that isn't sickly sweet.
Wayne and Patricia came to the city for New Year and we went out for sushi and drinks. We only saw the attempt to blow-up the London eye on T.V., but it was still impressive.

And so far the New Year is delivering. An article I'm actually quite pleased with is finally online, as is my profile of the Urban Annex. Rumour has it that I dun good at my placement and I've also got a contract job for the next month.

Right on 2006

this town's coming like a ghost town

2005-12-23T18:04:00.000-05:00

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Everyone's getting outta London-- including us. We're spending christmas day in Andover with wayne and patricia and then going to Ireland for my cousin's wedding. Miss you all and wish I could be home for the holidays.

xxxxxx

I got nothing

2005-12-20T04:55:00.000-05:00

We're back on the grid! and I've no more excuses not to post or email (the local internet cafe was convenient but crusty --and when fellow internet users opened the strangely large door in came chilly wind and leaves etc.)
Mindful of Patricia's situation, I'll use cleverly coded language to describe both my placement at a large free daily in London (LFDL) and temporary job at what could be the best coffee company in the entire world (BCCEW).
So I really enjoyed my placement at LFDL. I was assisting the editorial assistant, making me the office bitch's bitch. He was a cool guy and just when I was settling in the placement ended. I am armed with a UK reference and confirmation that I still don't want to work at a paper (though, let's face it, I wouldn't say no to a job at LFDL). It took me about an hour by bus to get to LFDL, but every morning I was treated to the ultimate London moment: the view from Waterloo Bridge. Westminster to my left. Tower Bridge to my right.
BCCEW has amazing coffee and I am learning far more about coffee than anyone really needs to know, but it's fascinating. I feel quite lucky that I've been employed by ethical companies for the last few years. Companies that have a good ethos and respect for their employees. Though I finally saw The Corporation last night and am not sure that I want to be employed by anyone.
Our apartment is improving. We have a bathmat and a coffee table. It's nice to know there is a bathmat waiting for me when I come home. (John's turned all his attention and affection to his new PlayStation "but, London Darling, it plays DVDs too"). As this is not the first time I've lost out to a gaming console- in fact it's been a disturbing relationship trend-I'm taking it all in stride. I only 'accidentally' turned it off once.

my website

2005-11-27T15:16:00.000-05:00

I've linked to my professional website. It is a work in progress (please ignore film reviews), but if anyone has any suggestions...

my love affair with complaining about slow service is over

2005-11-24T10:06:00.000-05:00

Rather boringly re-write what my weekend looked like (look at Patricia's blog for details-http://www.livejournal.com/users/plancia/), I'll just continue on... but first I just wanted to clarify something she wrote. Yes, the talk often turns to the poor customer service that plagues Britain. But before I arrived, I understood poor customer service to be rudeness. it's not. Most people I've had to deal with have been lovely, really nice. The problem is the layers of bureaucracy and privatization and lack of employee empowerment have formed a hard, impenetrable papier mache over initiative and ingenuity. I have come to accept that everything takes time here. It's virtuous, I suppose. Teaching patience and planning ahead. And while I have accepted this, I can't help occasionally wanting to scream 'it doesn't have to be this way'. In fact, it has become more funny than annoying, more amusing anecdote than stress-inducing. however, now I live here and there is nothing worse than someone going on about how much better things are somewhere else. If I don't like it I can leave, and as such I will never mention the snail-like pace of BT, banks, or the NHS (except on the occasions when my experience has been truly amusing). That is all.

quickest of quick posts

2005-11-14T11:59:00.000-05:00

We've moved. It's great!!! I had a great night with Wayne and Patrica on Friday and a lovely time on Sunday with Jane and Nadine (hurry up and move over, Megan (and Bryan, but no pressure)). We have no phone or internet at the apartment yet, but I'll let you know when we're back on the grid.
Thanks for all your birthday messages and I wish I wasn't missing all your birthdays, wedding preparations, and ... brunch or whatever it is ya'll are doing.

Happy Post (all hail Scorpios)

2005-11-10T17:43:00.000-05:00

Many of my favourite people are born now. So Happy Birthday to Megan, Jowita, Holly and Aylin.
(I know Jowita isn't a scorpio but she really should be).
I love them because they support and condone all my bad behaviour and never say 'I told you so' . And they are smart and funny and glamorous.
I wish they lived in London
I leave you with our biggest fan, Rob Brezsney
(from the archives)

You know what you remind me of lately, Scorpio? You're like gourmet sea salt that has been hand-harvested on a warm, breezy afternoon in late summer from a pristine marsh in Brittany. You are, in other words, raw and elegant; you're primal and pure; you're a basic necessity but exquisitely unique. I trust that you will share your funky sublimity only with those who treat you as both a valuable spice and an essential condiment. (feb 20, 2003)

Omigod. How much longer can you wrestle with the confounding angel? How much more melodrama can you wade through without seeking refuge as a daytime TV junkie, your curtains drawn and empty cookie packages accumulating on the floor? Will there ever be an end to the soul-boggling, gut-jiggling education? In lieu of hazarding a guess at these questions, Scorpio, I'll remind you of the vow you took before you were born: "My elixir of life will never taste like sugar water, but will always be a blend of at least 77 mouth-watering, high-potency, profanely sacred ingredients!"
(oct 10, 2002)

WARNING: dull, self-indulgent entry

2005-11-10T16:59:00.000-05:00

What a week! It's been really good and really bad. GOOD: My friend Tim was in town for a few days on route to Morocco. He's working on a really interesting piece for some Canadian publications (I'll update more on that when it's actually finished). It was great to talk shop for a few hours and he inspired me to get a move on with journalism things over here. Perfect segue to the exciting news that I'll be doing a few weeks placement at a paper. Hurray. I've never worked on a daily and am hoping the office will be a bit more lively than TL's. BAD: I also started work at a bar/restaurant in Camden. I should have clued in when co-workers mentioned high turnover and a lack of work permits. After working an 11 hour shift and discovering the pay was 25 quid a night plus tips, I decided to reconsider. Don't even try to work out the hourly rate. It's shocking. I was also disgusted to discover that any drinks not paid for by customers 'dining and dashing' came out of the tips. Everyone working there was really nice though and I might have stuck it out except I couldn't get a day job at the same time -my original intention-as shifts started at 4 and ended between 2 and 3. GOOD: On Saturday we went to see fireworks for Guy Fawkes night and then to a party with some friends of Megan's. BAD: Apparently it is impossible to just switch services, like phone and internet, when moving. Instead we need to cancel our services, get a bill charging us for reneging on our contract that we then ignore, and then sign-up again. I have no idea when our phone/internet will be working again. BAD: I'd applied for a bank account and had been waiting for over a week for my card, etc. I called and found out that they (the man!) had photocopied the wrong page in my passport and I needed to take it in again. Apparently they'd tried to get a hold of me, but I'm not sure how. I didn't get a phone call or receive a letter. I even made sure that they had the correct contact details. None of this would be a problem except that we move in two days and I can't get the info sent to any other address but the one that I signed on with. GOOD: the girl I spoke to was very nice, complemented my accent, and promised to get it sent out by the end of the week. GOOD: Got a call from one of the agency's I've been harassing about a decent sounding job. BAD: It's been two days and nothing. When I called to check-up I wasn't able to talk to my recruitment person ( I dunno, what would be their official title) and she still hasn't called me back. GOOD: I applied for a position at Urban Outfitters (I love that store). BAD: I realised when I'd left that I was dressed entirely in clothes from Urban Outfitters, down to the purse and earrings. I'm a sad case.GOOD: Oxford Street has all its gaudy Christmas decorations up. Pretty. BAD: I don't even want to talk about this because it makes me so angry, but the letting agency wants a bigger deposit from us. John reckons they are just trying one on because we're not from here, but the place is just this very basic studio with no frills and a bigger deposit is completely uncalled for. Of course telling us they want another 500 dollars two days before we move in is completely reasonable. We have no intention of paying anything extra, so stay tuned to discover the fate of London Darling and John J.

In response to I'm Huge

2005-11-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

Disclosure statement: Yes, killing people is bad. Yes, rioting is bad (unless it's against horrible, oppressive regimes). And I forget, what's the general consensus on the Crusades these days. Positive conquest? Negative rioting?
I'm Huge expressed disgust at the Paris riots (i'm huge). Despite slightly, mostly agreeing with him, I have to call him on a few points. I'm Huge says "You have no excuse for what you're doing". London Darling says "well, they kinda do" It was pointed out by a young man, incidentally speaking wonderful English with a charming french accent, that, despite being born in France, young Muslims and Asians were unable to get work because of their background. Without condoning violence, which indeed hurts everyone, it is not impossible to understand the frustration rampant in these kind of ghettoised areas. After all, Europe doesn't have the best track record when to comes to embracing "others".
I'm Huge says " No good will come of your actions". London Darling says "well actually, the riots have been a catalyst to many "something most be done to ensure that our immigrant communities don't get forgotten, then get poor, then get angry" conversations.
I'm Huge says "Most folks around the world knew this before you started killing people". London Darling says "um, got no comeback for this one. Except maybe 'killing people is baaaaad'"
However, it must be said that there is nothing black or white (sorry, I had too) about human nature.And if the world can finally accept that discrimination NEVER ENDS WELL, then fewer incidents like this will grace the headlines.
London Darling does not wish to comment on the unfortunate expletive I'm Huge chose to end his rant.
But that totally sucks about your Metro Pass. I fucking hate when shit like that happens!

more about halloween

2005-11-04T06:36:00.000-05:00

Megan went to a Halloween party where somebody was dressed up as that guy who sells flowers. The guy with neon earrings. The guy that makes you simultaneously wonder maliciously how he actually makes any money and feel guilty enough to want to buy one of his terrible flashy flowers.
The best part is that if you've ever gone out in West Toronto, you'd would get it.
Oh minor Toronto celebrity, how I miss thee.
(The blogspot spell check wants to replace Megan with Magna. It was all I could do not to accept the change).

Thing I miss about Toronto today:
Getting it.

Halloween

2005-11-01T08:07:00.000-05:00

Oh yes. I am jealous that I missed another Halloween in Toronto. It's the best time of year and the best premise for a holiday. I didn't do anything expect try to be happy that my awesome friends were going to a party at my fun ex- house with my awesome ex-roommates. All I can say is that I'm going to a Pride and Prejudice party. Ha! take that Halloween.

Thing I miss about Toronto today:
Picking up NOW Magazine, but not actually reading it.

Our new home

2005-11-01T05:09:00.000-05:00

Staying true to our declaration that we would be in a decent living space by December hasn't been easy, but it's now actually happening. We found a place in Camden (very close to the market http://www.camdenlock.net/markets.html). John can still walk to work, we have about 4 grocery stores plus market fruit and veg as neighbours, and a choice of two tube stops minutes away. And we managed to knock about 80 pounds off our monthly rent.
I wasn't sure about Camden. It's really hectic on the weekends and we're right on the main street. However, there are lots of little coffee shops and independent restaurants and music venues (reminds me of Kensington Market), and it's really close to Regent's Park. And our favourite brunch place is practically underneath us. It should be good.
Everyone's invited for dinner! but like the apartment on Melville, we might have to do it in shifts.

my tomatoes

2005-10-29T03:44:00.000-04:00

John came home with this package of tomatoes. They are special because we originally saw them on TV.

What the...!?

Maybe it's an understated culture jam.

Happy Birthday Jeromy

2005-10-28T02:07:00.000-04:00

I've never actually forgotten Jer's birthday, though he would say I have. What happened was I mixed-up the dates once when discussing his birthday long before it was his birthday. I still maintain that he should have entered this world on the 28th, not the 27th. Nice round number and all. I don't like to think how long we've known each other because it's quite scary, but he'll be at Paupers on Friday and someone should buy him a beer for me. After all, I can take most of the credit for corrupting Jer with alcohol--I think his roommates on Marshall St. can take the rest-- and who am I to break with tradition
BTW . I saw someone who looked remarkably like Douglas, of Josh's cousin fame, at the British Library yesterday. He was playing a xylophone. What was strange was that the xylophone was in a mint green case. Who knew that a portable 70s-style xylophone existed!

Every instinct wrong

2005-10-23T17:15:00.000-04:00

Things have not being going badly or unfortunately. Things have been going annoyingly. For example, I needed proof of address to get a bank account. I have an introduction letter from BT with MY ADDRESS, but it has to be a BILL from BT. BT sends out bills quarterly. It's fine, I've got used to it. Rather than suggesting that the Co-operative Bank call me as proof that the line is actually set-up and I'm not planning on committing fraud, I just said 'okay'.
Then I accidentally uninstalled Microsoft Office. Computer Geek Friends, I can hear you laughing. It's fine. What do I need Word for anyway.

(Pint glass found on the University of London campus)

Covent Garden circa 2005

2005-10-22T12:51:00.000-04:00

Turns out my digital camera has a sepia setting.

St. Pancras

2005-10-21T13:48:00.000-04:00

VIEW FROM OUR WINDOW
Despite having quite modest accommodations, this is our view. St. Pancras was built in the 1850's (see above). Today it hides a building site (notice the crane to the right of the tower). Common belief is that King's Cross is horrible and dodgy, but I think its fine. If this is dodgy--amazing architecture, history on our doorstep (but no drunks), people ringing our buzzer at three in the morning--then bring it on!
We got internet and cable hooked-up today. We immediately watched 'The Daily Show', but didn't laugh as much at that as we did at 'Have I Got News for You'. I can only assume that I've lost my North American sense of humour( jury is out on whether or not that is a good or bad thing).
(btw. We is John and I. I haven't become completely insular and insane due to lack of human contact)

My apologies

2005-10-17T07:27:00.000-04:00

Sorry, sorry, sorry about not updating my blog. Yes, the hot water is fixed. Great joy on Birkenhead St. But then the bit that connects the tap to the shower part broke off. Sigh. Now that's fixed as well, and the shower is fantastic.

This Saturday was the first time I'd really looked around and thought ' holy shit' I'm in London. This was a result of several things. Saturday was gorgeous. It felt like the beginning of summer. It was warm. There was a breeze. And, because it was 12:30 on a Saturday, the usually congested streets were almost car-free and the sidewalks people-free. I walked down Southampton Row to The Thames in an easy twenty minutes. Sunlight was glancing off the water, and all the recognizable buildings were just outlines (imagine the label on HP Sauce). I was meeting Megan's friends at the Tate Modern (thank you, Megan, for sharing your friends who are awesome and fun).

We looked at this.
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/whiteread/default.shtm
Actually much more interesting and dramatic than one would imagine. I liked being dwarfed by huge blocks of white plastic that can be touched without getting tossed out of the gallery.

On Tuesday I went on a school trip with Nadine (meg's friend) and her students. They were lovely, smart and exhausting. Imagine herding 20 tiny people into an old-school double decker bus and getting them off again in the middle of Piccadilly Circus. The point of the trip was to see 'Sing along Joseph'. Yes, you've read correctly. It was Donnie Osmond --in all his shaved chest glory-- on the big screen. It was quite a lot of fun.

Tomorrow is the big internet installation day. Soon my blog will have pictures and be updated daily (ahem)

dodgy dealings

2005-10-07T08:45:00.000-04:00

The hot water heater is being fixed right now! and the BT guy is coming round to hook-up our phone. Progress. The landlord stopped by last night to pick up rent and look at his crumbling empire. He also left a carton of Marlboro Lights and asked if I could leave it outside my neighbour's door. Could my neighbour -Paul- be some sort of lackey for the landlord, paid for his dirty dealings with smokes? It might be like prison bartering. Maybe I should sneak him a shive, sorting out plumbers and getting light bulbs is a dangerous business.

not in hot water

2005-10-06T07:58:00.000-04:00

Our building has been without hot water for a week. or at least do when I have hot water again. It's not that funny right now. And when there is hot water it alternates between dangerously hot and icy cold. Christie St.'s sad little shower is looking pretty good right now. Oh Joni Mitchell, how right you are!

books

2005-10-04T10:24:00.000-04:00

so I came across the book The Collector Collector outside a bookshop in Kings Cross. It was free, part of this cool scheme.

http://www.bookcrossing.com/

But I'm the first to get it. I assumed that it had travelled miles, stuffed into backpacks and handed between sweaty palms on buses. But no, it went 3 minutes up the road. I'm going to leave it somewhere good. I want this book to go places, man.

Missing you all

(and don't believe anything that Patricia writes in her blog. shhh, don't tell her this, but she exaggerates)

Congratulations Antonia and Brian

2005-09-27T05:26:00.000-04:00

When I first walked into apartment 303 in September of 1996 I think the first person I met was Antonia and her mum. They were cleaning. We lived together for the next four years. My favourite memory of Antonia is the time she cranked the music and danced on the stairs with a towel over her head. ( exam stress)
I miss living with Antonia, but now she'll be living with Brian in a strange, grown-up way: They're getting married!
She asked me to link to her wedding blog. So Laurier friends, check it out.
http://somedaysihavefun.blogspot.com/

In a more self-obsessed way, I've been thinking a lot about September. It's the end of summer, so everything (included patios and warm, summer nights) dies. But the cool weather brings new possibilities. For school, for jobs, for that perfect halloween costume.
Here is what I've been doing over some significant Septembers.
My 27th September- I'm in London. Not sure exactly what I'm doing.
My 23rd September- I'm in Toronto. Just starting Ryerson.
My 22nd September- I'm in Sydney. I'm done with travelling and ready to come home.
My 21st September- I'm in Jasper. Against my better judgment, I'm starting to really love it there. So I leave.
My 18th September- I'm in Waterloo. Meeting Antonia and most of her wedding party.

It's exhausting. My Septembers have been stressful.

John and I have both agreed that we like Stoke-Newington. It's a lovely part of the city and is still quite close to the center. Biggest problem for John. It's too nice. Biggest problem for me. The scary amount of young families. Think Parkdale. I'm not sure if I'm ready to move to the family-friendly section of London. Isn't London supposed to be swinging?
Oh, the other bit of excitement is that we're getting a landline. Now keeping in touch won't be terrifyingly expensive. Though given my exciting news of late, I wouldn't blame anyone if they didn't want to keep in touch.

Brunch

2005-09-20T09:35:00.000-04:00

Week Highlights: We found a good breakfast place in Camden with Patricia this Saturday. Not a greasy mushroom in sight.
Got a spangly new duvet and pillows (those who have spent time budget travelling will understand the excitement)
I'm sorry about not updating the blog more often, but the job search thing has been occupying most of my internet time. I'm looking into wireless options for my laptop...stay tuned.
Just applied for a job at the BBC that I am actually qualified for. Cross fingers, please.

John and I went to see this sculpture the day it was unveiled in Trafalger Square
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4247000.stm
Verdict: we approve. nice lines

My feet are sore

2005-09-11T14:40:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I lied. London is rainy and cold and foggy. Maybe it’s only nice once in a while to lure the unsuspecting, those who succumb to its siren song of history, architecture and grand, leafy parks. Somehow it’s all managing to seem romantic, minus getting drenched by a van driving through a small lake that had formed beside the sidewalk. Despite the rain, we’ve been exploring London on foot. On Friday night we walked up through Leicester Square, avoiding Piccadilly Circus and ended up in Hyde Park. It was very quiet (that’s the strange thing about London. Seven million people allegedly live here and it is often very quiet). We stood on a bridge and listened to strange-looking ducks making strange- noises. Willow trees dipped pastorally in the mist-cloaked water. Slightly eerie (and randomly placed) pot lights glowed in the murky air. It was romantic and creepy at the same time.
Then to the Thames by way of Big Ben. After debating whether or not the London Eye actually stops to let people on and off (anyone know?) we walked through Covent Gardens and the hundreds of people drinking on the sidewalks and roads outside the pubs.
Down a side street we spotted a huge maple leaf and homesickness forced an investigation. The maple leaf was over a pub called, shockingly, The Maple Leaf! Trying to peer through the windows and not seem Canadian was difficult, but it just looked like every other pub in London. Could it be filled entirely with Canadians? Would that be very good thing or a remarkably bad thing? I’ve always been really jealous of the Winnipeg ex-pat community in Toronto. This could be my change to be part of an ex-pat community. But a pub called The Maple Leaf. Why, oh why does Canadian “culture” outside of the country smack of lame? (btw. There is a Quebec embassy in London!? Are we sure Quebec hasn’t separated).
Saturday arrives with…more walking. This time our sights are set on the Tate Modern. A place neither of us have been. It’s great, but as usual, I run out of steam after about an hour. And while I like contemporary art, so much is dark (depressing) and thought-provoking (doesn’t make sense). We see a Monet (I find that in person, his large scale works display a sense of movement entirely missing from the ubiquitous university poster version). I am excited by the chance to see a Pollock, and have to admit that I find Rothko moving. But not the wanky description beside the painting about the darkness of humanity blending with hope or something.
Then we go to the best market ever. Borough Market. Stalls of gourmet olive oil, fresh bread, cheeses, flowers, wine, organic produce, tarts, meat (ahem). John buys a venison burger and talks about it for the rest of the day.
And to round-out our London experience, we spend Sunday afternoon watching Eastenders and eating hobnobs. Perfect.
The Arcade Fire is on Top of the Pops. right on. That makes up for The Maple Leaf

Settling in

2005-09-08T07:46:00.000-04:00

It’s hot and sunny here. Seriously. All this ‘London is raining and cold’ talk must be to keep out the tourists. Right now we are staying at our old moldering hostel, but found a place round the corner that is cheaper and nicer (nicer meaning not moldy)
Inexplicably, I’ve started staying bin and cash point (with no prompting), however I still refuse to say loo. I refuse. Or jumper.
We met up with one of John’s friends from work for a drink on Tuesday. As we were meeting him at 3:45 I assumed that meeting for a drink meant one drink. Five hours later…
Completely off my head. I can’t keep up with these people. I even tried Megan’s trick: ordering shandies. I was laughed at and ultimately ignored. Sigh, sorry liver!
Thanks for the send-off on Saturday. It was a bit hectic, but I couldn't have managed it without you all.
Well I must run. I'm off to spend the afternoon wandering along the Thames.

first posting from Christie St.

2005-07-04T16:06:00.000-04:00

Just getting my blog bearings. My purpose in having my own blog is not as self-indulgent as it might seem. As I am moving to London (yes, it's true), this blog will mean that I will be able to keep 'in touch' with greater frequency and elegance than I have during past travels. I will try to be interesting and post a lot...
Here is a picture of the charming hostel room John and I inhabited for 6 weeks during my trip to London last October. Please note that it is a stone's throw from Kings Cross station, further cementing my claim that I was staying 'right in the thick of things'.