Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Picture commentary
So the London Eye was actually pretty cool. As you can see, there's a wicked view from the top, including some famous building with a clock. I think it has a catchy name, but you probably wouldn't recognise it...
If you look carefully in the neighbouring pod, you'll see Mike Richardson reading a newspaper, apparently under-awed by the sight. I don't know what he was doing in London, or why you didn't wave hello, Mike!
That river is so bad! Apparently there's been a massive cleaning/pollution reduction policy in effect for about 20 years or so. Even harder to believe, apparently it's had a huge positive effect! The barge is about 20 metres long. The eye is quite high.
I have some other photos of Mum, Ali and I on the eye, but in most of them I take up almost the entire frame. Can't think how that happened...
Emily actually was stealing that bike. She had got through two by the time I got there (broke them, don't ask me how) and thought she'd help herself to another. Serial bike thief, and never caught. Thanks for letting me stay Emily, it was wicked! Oh, these are the bike racks outside the Hague Centraal railway station. There are about fifteen rows of bikes like this.
PS: Could someone please comment so that I know I'm not just writing this into the ether?
Pictures!
I haven't got this fully down yet, but here goes.
The London Eye!
And this is the bit that screwed up before, so finger's crossed...
The Chocolate River!
Phew! it worked. Doesn't that barge look teeny tiny?
Next! Cheesy family!
And lastly, The Bicycle Thief! (Ah, good times)
Someone let me know if you can click on these and view them bigger... And nice one Emily! She actually got accused of stealing this bicycle while I was taking this photo. But come on, there were plenty of bikes to spare!
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Strange things
London is full of things. Words, places, people. Weird stuff.
What is 'fly tipping'? All I know is it's forbidden across the street from my house.
In town tonight I kept on seeing people in sets of three. A guy and a girl, together (holding hands) with another guy tagging along. Like three-for-two deals they have in supermarkets. Once there was a tall girl with her taller boyfriend. She held the umbrella. Her boyfriend was eye-level with the umbrella, catching the drizzle. The tag-along guy was short, fit comfortably right under the shelter.
Walking around Soho, I was handed:
a prayer card for pentacost
a little silver icon of Mary
and a flyer inviting me to try out for Gay Porn Idol
When it's grey and gently raining, at least it feels fresh. On warm days I slide under the ground and come out feeling like I just worked eight hours at McDonalds. Tonight I saw a movie called Sunshine, then walked around in the drizzle watching my breath fog in the red and pink lights of West End theatres and strip clubs. A woman yelled out to me, calling me Honey. I walked past a church. I stopped in a square with a fountain and a stone Roman guy with a pot belly.
I even had the best falafel in London, served by a guy from Lovely Slovakia.
I saw people I'd like to meet, but didn't. I looked in the windows of restaurants I'd like to eat in. I started to know my way around back streets, and gave all my change to a guy sitting on wet cardboard. It was wicked. Got any change? I gave him change. Got a fifty pound note? *cue laughter*
There is a food bar near where I live called the Juicy Pattie Shack.
And somewhere in all that there is an important lesson. Learn it well.
What is 'fly tipping'? All I know is it's forbidden across the street from my house.
In town tonight I kept on seeing people in sets of three. A guy and a girl, together (holding hands) with another guy tagging along. Like three-for-two deals they have in supermarkets. Once there was a tall girl with her taller boyfriend. She held the umbrella. Her boyfriend was eye-level with the umbrella, catching the drizzle. The tag-along guy was short, fit comfortably right under the shelter.
Walking around Soho, I was handed:
a prayer card for pentacost
a little silver icon of Mary
and a flyer inviting me to try out for Gay Porn Idol
When it's grey and gently raining, at least it feels fresh. On warm days I slide under the ground and come out feeling like I just worked eight hours at McDonalds. Tonight I saw a movie called Sunshine, then walked around in the drizzle watching my breath fog in the red and pink lights of West End theatres and strip clubs. A woman yelled out to me, calling me Honey. I walked past a church. I stopped in a square with a fountain and a stone Roman guy with a pot belly.
I even had the best falafel in London, served by a guy from Lovely Slovakia.
I saw people I'd like to meet, but didn't. I looked in the windows of restaurants I'd like to eat in. I started to know my way around back streets, and gave all my change to a guy sitting on wet cardboard. It was wicked. Got any change? I gave him change. Got a fifty pound note? *cue laughter*
There is a food bar near where I live called the Juicy Pattie Shack.
And somewhere in all that there is an important lesson. Learn it well.
