Hanging out
On Saturday HD and I felt like going out. We wanted to do something inexpensive and fun so we decided to go to the movies, but not just at any old movie theatre, no we wanted to see a movie at Leicester Square. This is where all the major movie premieres happen in London and what better place to see a flick on a Saturday night (last night Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx were there for the Miami Vice premiere). So off we went to Leicester Square. It was a hot night on the tube, I assume it's due to being so far underground but I don't really know. Any little breeze that you're lucky enough to feel is refreshing, even if it is stale air.
So, we didn't end up going to the movies - we were going to see X-Men 3 - because you have to pick your seats when you purchase your tickets and the only seats that were available were in the 2nd row from the screen. That's too close, I can't see the action and feel like I'm going to be sick. Instead we just walked walked around and enjoyed goings-on. Both of us enjoy people-watching and there's plenty of that to do down there. As expected there were lots of tourists and I brought my camera this time to join in the snapping fun.
This is the Switzerland clock and there are set times when a little show is performed - figures of shepherds and animals and other things emerge from one door, do a little twirl, and disappear behind another door. It was kind of neat but HD was less than impressed.
This is the garden in the middle of Leicester Square - it used to be a drug haven for junkies with lots of used needles lying around but there was a clean-up in the 90s and it's locked at night to keep out the unwanted activities. That's Shakespeare in the middle.
Since this is where the movie premieres happen there are bound to be some signs of Hollywood. Besides the three theatres flanking the square there are a few stars on the ground with handprints of actors.
This is my ice cream - Oh My Apple Pie - from Ben & Jerry's. Yum, but the crust part was a little salty.
Random pics
Too many words lately and not enough pics! Here's a few that I didn't post and some I'm borrowing from HD's computer. :D Enjoy!
Tower Bridge
Guard at the Palace
Me at the Palace Gates
Pub down a sidestreet at Oxford Circus
Green Park by Buckingham Palace
Front door of flat
View of the garden (i.e. backyard) from my bedroom window
Message from Redcat and I
NHS
Sorry for no posts the last week but it's been a crap week since I was ill. On Sunday, after going to the Rhythm Factory to hear what we'd hoped was going to be some good tunes, I awoke feeling kind of crappy. Figured it was because of the late night - we got home at 4am - so I just chilled out in the house and relaxed.
But then Monday came around and I'm at work and my head is pounding and my skin was just so sore. I knew that I was feverish but I was able to get through the day and when I got home I took some Advil and felt a bit better. Tuesday morning I woke up still a bit headachy but went to work - because there are no "sick days with pay" here in the land of the temporary worker - and it was just a brutal day. I got absolutely no work done that day, I couldn't think straight. When I got home that night I went straight to bed and figured I could sleep "it" off. Wednesday morning and the headache and sore body won't go away so I stayed home to rest. It didn't help because Thursday I went back to work, felt like crap, and so I bit the bullet and went to the walk-in clinic in Soho Square run by National Health Service (NHS), the UK's health system, like our OHIP, well used-to-be OHIP. I really really really should've gone earlier but usually when I'm ill bedrest is all I need. Not this time. Turns out I got some viral infection, hence the fever and headache, so they gave me some antiobiotics and suggested I get some paracetamol for the pain. Man, as soon as I took the first pill when I got back to the flat I felt 10 times better and gradually it's gotten better and today I feel pretty much like myself.
I'm glad I went to the clinic, I just wish I'd gone sooner, but I will next time, let's just hope there isn't a next time anytime soon. The clinics are free and open to anyone who is a resident of the UK and pays into the NHS; I fall into both categories. No appointment is necessary which means you can be waiting for a while before you get checked out - my wait was about 2 hours. They are staffed by nurses and the three I saw were all very nice. The last one gave me a list of GPs in the area and recommended both me and HD get ourselves registered, so we'll do that this week sometime. All in all a good experience but not one I care to repeat.
Guest of the week
So we have our first official overnight guest this week - Supa's little sister. I shall call her Dr.N, because that's what she is, a doctor working towards her GP something or other - I'm not 100% clear and please Dr. N, when you read this feel free to correct me.
Anyway, it's been cool - we don't have an extra bed although we're planning on getting an air mattress because more guests will soon be arriving - so for this week Dr. N has been bunking in with me. Dr. N lives in Nottingham and is in London for the week doing a course in dermatology. To save some cash, because London really is expensive, she's crashing with us and in the process we have done a bit more sight-seeing of this great city.
Monday night Dr. N and I went to Leicester Square to find her favourite Thai restaurant. After we walked around in a circle we found it - Busabi Thai. It was very good food and the atmosphere of the restaurant was lively - very much so for a Monday night. After dinner we sat in Leicester Square and waited for the Switzerland clock to do it's show - I didn't bring my camera so I can't show a pic of it yet. Suffice it to say, we didn't see anything because the last "show" was at 8:00pm and we were there at 8:15pm, didn't read the sign, and sat around for 45 minutes.
Tuesday we chilled.
Last night HD and I met Dr. N at the South Bank down near Waterloo station. This is right along the River Thames and is home to the London Eye. It was great weather and a relaxed atmosphere. Again, no camera with me, so pictures will have to wait which if fine because I'm definitely going back there. It's a nice place to hang out at after work or on a summer evening. After we went to Leicester Square again and ate at a Vietnamese restaurant recommended by one of Dr. N's friends. Good food!
Tonight is her last night so we're meeting at the National Gallery for some art. I'll tell you how it is.
Slang bits
Cheers darling - Usually used after a transaction of some sort when things are exchanged. I always hear it from the guy at the corner store called Rose Red (the store, not the guy). I think Nella would think he's cute whereas HD is adamant that she would not find him cute. Therefore, Nella, please get your butt down here asap so that we can test my hypothesis and see who's right.
Babes - HD's new word that she got from Big Brother. Singular and not to be used romantically. Usage: to address a friend, or someone who might be your friend but also might stab you in the back at any moment, as per Big Brother. So, you could say, "Babes, I didn't mean to eat your dinner! Babes I'm sorry!" or "Babes, why would I give you a dirty look? I love you babes, I do. I think you’re the dogs." (The dogs will follow.) These are quotes loosely taken from Big Brother, which I've tried to avoid but due to HD's usurption of the TV at 9pm every night, I now am semi-hooked on it. Plus, with only 4 other channels to choose from BB is high art.
The dogs - another term learned from BB. I have no idea what it means but they all say everyone's the dogs and it's always meant to be positive. Kind of like: you guys are great! But instead: you're the dogs!
Ta - this is easy. It means thanks. And it's cute and compact and when the British say it it sounds cool and hip. But try saying it in a Canadian accent and it sounds wicked strange. Ta - like my tongue suddenly went numb.
Smashing, Brilliant, Fabulous - all standard British filler. Always heard used on the phone, sometimes for no apparent reason other than finishing the sentence.
Brill - when you hear something wonderful and that saying "that's so wonderful" isn't enough, or you've run out of time, you just have to say "brill!"
There'll be more. Bye babes'! (see it doesn't work in plural!)
Rise Festival
Yesterday was the
Rise Festival at Finsbury Park and it was fantastic. It was a free all-day music festival with the aim of promoting an end to racism - always a good cause. It started around 12pm and HD and I made our way down around 3pm. I have never seen this area more crowded, there were so many people milling about, sitting on blankets with picnics, and everyone was having a good time.
Crowd shot
Entertainment-wise there were various stages playing different types of music. The Urban Music stage was mostly hip hop, spoken word, and rap. The Cuba stage was really a tent playing, what else, Cuban music. There was a stage for comedy and another one called the Mela Stage which was mainly East Indian music acts. The main stage was called Rise and that's where the majority of the people were.
Rise Stage
Of all the acts listed we only knew one, Common, and HD really likes him so we went to check out his performance at 4:45pm at the Rise stage. It was great and luckily they had two massive screens so that short people like us could see what was going on. That's another thing, there was tons of tall people all over the place and they all seemed to want to stand right in front of me!
Common
Anyway, after that we walked to the other end of the park, left through the exit, and sat on a hill watching the goings-on (this was down by the Urban Music stage). It was a bit quieter and less crowded and we both enjoy just people watching. Here are some dudes who apparently didn't mind our people watching - either that or they coulnd't hold it any longer - hee hee.
Doesn't need any explanation
After our break, we went back and were ready to leave. But first HD wanted to get a Jamaica flag and Trinidad & Tobago flag from one of the vendors so she's ready for the Nottingham Carnival in August. As we were going there we walked past the Mela Stage and saw an elderly Indian lady performing some fantastic Indian dancing. So we stayed to watch and after her act was done this amazing DJ came on and played some of the best music I've heard since I've been here. His name is Nerm, funny name, but both HD and I were like, wow! The crowd loved it too, they couldn't get enough of the music. It was big mass of arms, legs, hands, heads - everyone jumping around and having a great time! He's playing next weekend at some Factory club and we're thinking of checking it out.
DJ Nerm
After his set was done this other act came on called Bollywood Brass, totally not my thing and it was just too gimmicky, so we went to get HD's flags. Then back again hoping to hear the DJ come on again, which he did. He played until it was time to shut down and the rest of us just danced in the field.
Random people pic
Housewarming!
HD and I hosted our own barbecue/housewarming/Canada Day shindig at the flat on Saturday. It was a beautiful sunny day, high of 30 degrees or so but not overbearing, so a great day to cook some food outside with friends. I put the speakers downstairs and the night’s music came courtesy and my iPod and Supa’s.
It was a small affair – about 8 people in total – Supa was the first to arrive since he was an honorary co-host because we basically only know the people who came through him! We got these disposable barbecues from Tesco for a little over £1 and some hamburgers and hotdogs, a few snacks, drinks, and potato salad. It started around 4pm and they watched England get beat by Portugal while I stood around and watched HD’s masterful bbq skills in the backyard. After the game most of us gathered outside in the back because it was such a comfortable evening and it would have been a shame to just stay inside. The rest of the night, while some people watched Brazil vs. France, was spent outdoors just talking and drinking while the sun went down. Everyone left around 11:30pm because the tube running times seriously suck here and cabs are costly.
Sunday was spent just relaxing. Watched some tv, sat outside and we watched Napoleon Dynamite again for what seems like the millionth time. And today is work again. It’s 4pm and I’m not busy, as per usual. Pictures will be posted tonight, provided the computer will connect to the free wireless access.
Oh yes, I said they watched the game, that’s right, we got a tv for the flat on Friday. After ordering it online on Monday from Argos, they called me on Friday to tell me that particular model was sold out and that they only update their website every 2 weeks – what the hell! So, I went to Argos, the actual store, after work and got one. Had to take a cab from there, my first ride in London’s famous Black Cabs. From Tottenham Court Road Tube to Finsbury Park, it’s about £15. That’s not bad… once in a while. The cabbie was nice too and didn’t grunt or complain about lugging the tv in and out of the cab and I gave him a deserved tip.
Happy Canada Day!
Well, another weekend has come and gone in London and this past weekend was a good one. It’s Canada Day weekend at home but there were also celebrations for it’s birthday over here. On Friday, Trafalgar Square was transformed into Canada Square for an evening of “all things Canadian” – supposedly. HD had to work that evening until 11pm so I went to check out the event by myself, which was fine. It was pretty packed and they played a lot of music from the martimes – apparently this is what foreign places think Canadians only listen too, but then again it's the same music you hear at celebrations at home. The performers were semi-country-fiddle types – it was all entertaining but all the same. Although, the highlight for me was watching a really short set by Ron Sexsmith – that was very cool. I went to the Café to see what they were selling – I wasn’t hungry but if I was I would’ve got a bag of proper chips – Ruffles All Dressed or Ketchup – because one thing that is definitely worse here than at home are these British crisps (chips in Canadian, because chips in the UK are fries in
Canada) – they are all like Lays, which are probably the worst chips out there (remember Wasabi and Spicy Curry, Sisy?) – and they come in flavours like prawn (shrimp) cocktail, lamb curry, beef prime rib, roasted chicken, tandoori chicken, etc. I’ve tried to like them but man, it’s definitely an acquired taste.
Ok, enough about chips/crisps!
After Ron Sexsmith they played some more typical tunes like that one that goes “Way hey hey it’s just an ordinary day and it’s your state of mind” by Great Big Sea and the “I’ve been drunk for a month and I’ve been drunk since I left…I’ve been sick from the drink, take me home for a rest” (which always reminds me of my frosh week at Guelph, just b/c the song was out then, not b/c I was actually like that, gosh!), and all these people were jumping around and sloshing their beer everywhere – it was time to go home.
The thing was, even thought it wasn’t my cup of tea, it was clearly Canadian – this celebration was exactly like the ones they have at home, minus the fireworks and barbecue, my favourite parts!
This is the Switzerland clock and there are set times when a little show is performed - figures of shepherds and animals and other things emerge from one door, do a little twirl, and disappear behind another door. It was kind of neat but HD was less than impressed.
Since this is where the movie premieres happen there are bound to be some signs of Hollywood. Besides the three theatres flanking the square there are a few stars on the ground with handprints of actors.
