It starts out as a lovely Friday afternoon, the sun is out and as usual on a sunny day, I'm stuck inside.
Work is very relaxed today, with most people headed off the glastonbury festival.... otherwise know as concert in the mud... with tents washing away in flash floods and everything else just being covered in mud. Since I'm working in Covent Garden there are lots of nice places to go to for lunch. So I met up with Pete and Kev in the market and had lunch in the sun, it was lovely. Once back in the office i found that the usual here was for people to go in relay teams to the pub for a pint, something you wouldn't really find back home. And then 5:30 comes around and the entire office goes to the pub for a few, on the company account no less.
So after a beer or two with colleagues it was racing back home to pull on something warm, as the rain had started bucketing down and then off to the London Eye for a bit of sightseeing. Met up again with Kev and Pete and we even got our own capsule, good thing to because the capsule ahead and behind us were filled with kids... It's amazing how much you can see from up there, I thought I saw the Eiffel tower but realised that it wasn't infact that close, i really must brush up on my geography over here.
After the Eye we went in seach of somewhere to eat, and after much walking around in the rain we came across a nce little mediterranean place in Soho, and after that it was off to Sports Cafe for cocktails.
Since it was a 2 for 1 special on cocktails at sports cafe it was a bit difficult getting up in the morning, and being saturday that meant rugby, Tim recommended that we all meet in a little french bar in Battersea, whose name i can't remember, let alone spell or pronounce. So there we were 7 South Africans and lots more french, all cheering at the top of our lungs, Luckily we won otherwise the mood might have been a bit less jovial. And after the rugby, being in a french bar, i had a craving for garlic snails, except over here they are little pieces of rubber in a shell, which you are supposed to hold with a little pair of tongs.. think pretty woman and you'll get the idea of how i handled that one ;-)
After that we met up with Eric and Jacques in Canada water for the Ddisselblom concert, which was held in a sports centre. We arrived there to the smell of boerewors and not an english word to be heard anywhere. The opening act left much to be desired but when the main act started it was really good, and for all the slower songs the obligatory lighters came out and waved from side to side.
So all in all a good weekend, now it's time to get back to work....
Monday, June 27, 2005
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Touring London - Sun 19 June
Sunday morning started with the sun beating through the window announcing the second sunny day in a row, which is not a regular occurance, after rushing through a cold shower (it was too hot to add any more heat) and a quick coffee it was off to Leister Square to catch the Original Sightseeing Tour on an open top red bus with Kev and Pete.
Kev brought Baballaas, his green frog along for the ride, so with the sun baking down on us we set off, but were quickly off the first bus at Green Park because the tour guide was as interesting as a blank sheet of paper, and we figured we'd try our luck with another one. The second was much better and took us around some interesting sights in central. Our next stop was at Buckingham Palace... where we tried to get one of the Bobby's to hold the frog so that we could get a pic, but they flatly refused (must have missed something there) so we just walked around the front gates and i dipped my hands in the water in the fountain opposite the gates, which was refreshingly cool in contrast with the heat of the day.
After there we headed towards the bus again for some more sightseeing, stopping next at the Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill's museum. It was very interesting to see what things were like back then, and listen to mock ups of some of the conversations. The museum itself was fascinating, they have used sound and lighting and touch screen computers to give you a feel of things likke Churchill's paintings, quotes and time lines. It was incredible. It also took Kev forever to get through ;-) whereas Pete and myself were content with browsing through and stopping to look at things of interest, Kev looked at everything.... maybe some twice. So when Pete and I had finished we sat outside under a large tree and watched the people go by, including a roller blade party.... one man on a bike with a boom box followed by some 60 people on blades, it was fun to see.
Eventually when Kevin rejoined us, some 30 minutes later, we headed for the next stop which was St Paul's Cathedral. Being a Sunday though, all the attractions were closed to the public, so we only got a chance to watch part of a service and look around the back, so we decided that we'd have to go back and do the other things during the week sometime.
Following on to the Cathedral we caught the bus down to Westminster Pier for our boat cruise. Unfortunately we were sitting on the wrong side of the boat, the commentary was running for the people facing the other way, but it was entertaining anyway, especially when another boat passed us and the wake hitting our boat pretty much soaked us all.
It was nearly 7pm by the time we got off the boat and then the mad race started to get back for the start of the GP... as we turned the tv on we saw what we all had feared, only 6 cars running, so the watching of the gp became more of a having chinese for supper and discussing the repercussions than anything else...
Then for me it was off to bed, sunburn and all. Because Monday morning i start work again...
This temp thing is getting pretty old, I want a real job, and a salary would be nice. But all i can do is wait and hope.
Kev brought Baballaas, his green frog along for the ride, so with the sun baking down on us we set off, but were quickly off the first bus at Green Park because the tour guide was as interesting as a blank sheet of paper, and we figured we'd try our luck with another one. The second was much better and took us around some interesting sights in central. Our next stop was at Buckingham Palace... where we tried to get one of the Bobby's to hold the frog so that we could get a pic, but they flatly refused (must have missed something there) so we just walked around the front gates and i dipped my hands in the water in the fountain opposite the gates, which was refreshingly cool in contrast with the heat of the day.
After there we headed towards the bus again for some more sightseeing, stopping next at the Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill's museum. It was very interesting to see what things were like back then, and listen to mock ups of some of the conversations. The museum itself was fascinating, they have used sound and lighting and touch screen computers to give you a feel of things likke Churchill's paintings, quotes and time lines. It was incredible. It also took Kev forever to get through ;-) whereas Pete and myself were content with browsing through and stopping to look at things of interest, Kev looked at everything.... maybe some twice. So when Pete and I had finished we sat outside under a large tree and watched the people go by, including a roller blade party.... one man on a bike with a boom box followed by some 60 people on blades, it was fun to see.
Eventually when Kevin rejoined us, some 30 minutes later, we headed for the next stop which was St Paul's Cathedral. Being a Sunday though, all the attractions were closed to the public, so we only got a chance to watch part of a service and look around the back, so we decided that we'd have to go back and do the other things during the week sometime.
Following on to the Cathedral we caught the bus down to Westminster Pier for our boat cruise. Unfortunately we were sitting on the wrong side of the boat, the commentary was running for the people facing the other way, but it was entertaining anyway, especially when another boat passed us and the wake hitting our boat pretty much soaked us all.
It was nearly 7pm by the time we got off the boat and then the mad race started to get back for the start of the GP... as we turned the tv on we saw what we all had feared, only 6 cars running, so the watching of the gp became more of a having chinese for supper and discussing the repercussions than anything else...
Then for me it was off to bed, sunburn and all. Because Monday morning i start work again...
This temp thing is getting pretty old, I want a real job, and a salary would be nice. But all i can do is wait and hope.
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Johnny Clegg and other stuff 18 June 2005
It started out as a quiet day at the office, followed by a bit of boredom releasing internet surfing. And that's when it hit, Johnny Clegg was playing at the Carling Apollo Hammersmith, after a set of frantic phone calls we had people interested and tickets.
We arrive at the concert with about an hour to spare and spend that time standing in line to pick up the tickets we booked on line. Seated and the show starts. You know the feeling when music just sends shivers up and down you? That was what most of the concert was like. People standing and singing along, even if they didn't know the words. All in all it was amazing.
Slept off the beer from the concert and gave my voice a chance to recover, because even much to my surprise I knew most of the words and Eric and I sang along at the top of our voices. And was off to meet the crowd to watch the SA vs France rugby at the Temple Walkabout, which is becoming a regular occurance. Tim as ever was dressed up enough to go to work and the rest of us took the opportunity, which comes once in a couple of weeks to wear shorts and t-shirts. It was a "scorching" 29 degrees with clear blue skies. Unfortunately we only drew the rugby so that means next time the guys will be screaming at the tv with much more force in the hopes that this time it'll pay off.
Following on to our stint in the Aussie pub we went aboard the Queen Mary which is more a supported piece of metal than an actual boat, every time another boat went past the wake it left sent our boat rocking, something about the motion of the ocean and the sun topped off with beer sent a couple of people running. There is definately something about the sun and the water that is very relaxing.
So hopefully tomorrow will be just as sunny and warm for a open top bus tour with Kev and Pete and a late afternoon thames boat cruise before the Grand Prix.
So until another time, good night.
We arrive at the concert with about an hour to spare and spend that time standing in line to pick up the tickets we booked on line. Seated and the show starts. You know the feeling when music just sends shivers up and down you? That was what most of the concert was like. People standing and singing along, even if they didn't know the words. All in all it was amazing.
Slept off the beer from the concert and gave my voice a chance to recover, because even much to my surprise I knew most of the words and Eric and I sang along at the top of our voices. And was off to meet the crowd to watch the SA vs France rugby at the Temple Walkabout, which is becoming a regular occurance. Tim as ever was dressed up enough to go to work and the rest of us took the opportunity, which comes once in a couple of weeks to wear shorts and t-shirts. It was a "scorching" 29 degrees with clear blue skies. Unfortunately we only drew the rugby so that means next time the guys will be screaming at the tv with much more force in the hopes that this time it'll pay off.
Following on to our stint in the Aussie pub we went aboard the Queen Mary which is more a supported piece of metal than an actual boat, every time another boat went past the wake it left sent our boat rocking, something about the motion of the ocean and the sun topped off with beer sent a couple of people running. There is definately something about the sun and the water that is very relaxing.
So hopefully tomorrow will be just as sunny and warm for a open top bus tour with Kev and Pete and a late afternoon thames boat cruise before the Grand Prix.
So until another time, good night.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Things I've learnt in London
Well I've now been in London for just over 6 months, it's amazing how quickly time flies. Things have been crawling along slowly, jumping from temp job to temp job all over London. You get to meet a lot of people doing temp work, but it's not good for the nerves when you are sitting for a week without work..... work = money, so it's important to have both.
Going out in London has been an experience. From the sound of Koos Kombuis and David Kramer coming from Zulu's in Leytonstone, to the mellow sounds of the blues from the Blues Bar just outside Soho there are so many different places to choose from, one to suit everyone's taste, even if the retro bar Kevin thought would play his sort of music turned out to be a gay bar (with a barman who was shouting "does anyone want to be serviced by me" Needless to say with Eric in the lead we exited very quickly). But the british not being big drinkers and all, the damn things call last rounds at just after 11. Now what self respecting South African student would really stop drinking at that time? You do get the occasional bar with a 2am licence but they are few and far between, with loud music and annoying people.
There is a chain of bars over here called the Walkabout, they are full of Aussies and snakebites (pint glass: half cider, half fosters and topped up with cranberry juice) there are 6 or 7 of these scattered around London itself. The music is good and the people are friendly, plus they show most of the SA rugby games. I've discovered as well that paying £3 or £4 for a beer is normal. When i come home, if I manage to spend the same amount of money in a night that i do here, someone will be carrying me home.
But talking about home I do miss it, Ddisselblom is going to be playing soon (25th June) and i'm definately going to be there.
But until i next get a chance to blog... fair well and happy drinking
Going out in London has been an experience. From the sound of Koos Kombuis and David Kramer coming from Zulu's in Leytonstone, to the mellow sounds of the blues from the Blues Bar just outside Soho there are so many different places to choose from, one to suit everyone's taste, even if the retro bar Kevin thought would play his sort of music turned out to be a gay bar (with a barman who was shouting "does anyone want to be serviced by me" Needless to say with Eric in the lead we exited very quickly). But the british not being big drinkers and all, the damn things call last rounds at just after 11. Now what self respecting South African student would really stop drinking at that time? You do get the occasional bar with a 2am licence but they are few and far between, with loud music and annoying people.
There is a chain of bars over here called the Walkabout, they are full of Aussies and snakebites (pint glass: half cider, half fosters and topped up with cranberry juice) there are 6 or 7 of these scattered around London itself. The music is good and the people are friendly, plus they show most of the SA rugby games. I've discovered as well that paying £3 or £4 for a beer is normal. When i come home, if I manage to spend the same amount of money in a night that i do here, someone will be carrying me home.
But talking about home I do miss it, Ddisselblom is going to be playing soon (25th June) and i'm definately going to be there.
But until i next get a chance to blog... fair well and happy drinking
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