lindsey and her smoking habits

No wonder I feel a bit strange when I am in the house. With hardly any windows opened, I've just be informed by Lena that its very common for people to mix tobacco with weed and that Lindsey does it all day long. Gosh and I have been feel not 100% since I've moved in.
On another note, on Friday a film directed by Woody Allen called "WASP 09" will be filmed on our street the whole day. The cast includes Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas, Naomi Watts, etc. They will be filming at the exterior of 17 Powis Terrace! Not far from number 5!

brick lane and east london

Today Helena, my Russian housemate took me to Brick Lane market in East London. This famous area is well known for its roughness and the dodgyness as I witnessed what people were selling. It was like a bric-a-brac market with a focus on vintage clothing. There was a huge diverse range of food stalls which was pleasing, a lot of African, Morrocan, Spanish, Japanese, Malaysian, numerous Indian (one that we can barter with for a free bottle of wine) and poor Chinese food.
Lena took me to Brick Lane first and my impression of it were not surprising, most people packed whatever used items of clothing or house hold items and lined them up along the pavements and placed a price on it. Not many tourists around, it seemed more like local people here trying to find bargain vintage clothing. East London is certainly poorer and it showed in the buildings which were covered in grafitti. There were rubbish every where on the streets and lots of black Africans and Indians dressed in hommy clothes looking like gangsters hanging out in the dodgiest parts of London. It wouldn't be safe there at night. There were people selling all sorts of junk you could find. The orientals here were selling pirated dvds and they would go into a corner with a customer to discuss which film they wanted to watch. Me and Lena realised as we scooped past that there were actually selling porn and trying to be discreet. It was funny to watch.
After this she took me to Spitafield markets. It was more up market and classier to walk through and it was under cover. More cafes and places to eat. Lena found a goldish necklace with a gun and a rose on it. She thought it was very clever, so she bought it. Mind you she didn't stop going on about it for the rest of the day and worst to come when she put it on, she kept asking me if I liked her necklace. I bought a cute little stringed necklace with a square ceramic pendant. There was a cute loveheart handpainted onto it so it looked really simple and sweet.
Next up we found our way to the flower market. A very famous place apparently. The entire street lined up with florists selling flowers that I'd never even seen before. It was beautiful. Everyone was waiting for the end of the day to arrive so that when time comes, all the sellers will try to get rid of everything. You could easily buy 3 huge bunches of roses for a fiver! My favourite were sunflowers, they were gorgeous, bright and big.
It was a very good day indeed. I got to see the other side of London which I didn't have chance to the last time I was here. We were both very tired by the time we got to the tube station.

random

Quite glad to be in London at this time of my life. Now I can say that I was out of boring Adelaide and not having to deal with the boredom and settled life that everyone has succumb to. Least I can go out whenever in London and go eat or see some theatre or go to a museum. If I feel like it I can go away on weekends to a different country and go on an adventure. Least then I can go back to Adelaide and be more settled.

portobello market

Finally got there! Around 2pm, I had managed to get off my butt and walk down to the market which only took a few minutes. I was very pleased that I'd finally made it after being here for 2 weeks. There was such a diverse range of things to see. It was amazing. I lived extremely close to the fruit and veg part of the market and the food looked amazing. Of course there were plenty of tourists on a Saturday but no doubt, I saw stalls with seafood being deep fried in a huge wok, paella being cooked in these massive circular pans, chirozo sandwiches with a Greek salad, Africa food, crepes of all sorts.... the choice was extensive I wanted to try it all.
Then further up the street were clothing stores of all sorts, Indian stores with beautiful lanterns, some commercial branded shops and down the other side of the Portobello road were the classic antique stores. It seemed to stretch for miles.
It was extremely warm being in the sun today, in Adelaide this weather would be very cool but it was because the humidity was present which made it ten times worst somehow. every where I went I felt sticky and hot. Not many shops had any air conditioning so I wonder how they would survive if the day was 35C on a humid day.
Apart from that I didn't have enough time to walk the whole market because Manchester had asked me if I could lend him 40quid for the week as he had lost his wallet after his big bender. I had to go meet him at Westbourne Grove, he couldn't remember where my place. When we met, I gave him a good piece of my mind and told him off for being so irresponsible. Now I will wait to see if I will get my 40 quid back on Friday.
Anyways, Lindsey bought some pork chops and I quickly pan fried them up with some cajun seasoning along with some boiled potatoes and broccolini. Now I will relax on my Saturday night and watch something on television. I miss home today. I miss Toffee and going to visit Steve in Bridgewater.

you think you know when you don't

I am regreting my abrupt decision to going away with Dave to Berlin in early August. Last night I went out with Dave for a Japanese meal to talk about our trip together. I had the feeling during the day at work, he didn't want anyone else to know about the trip we were about to go together on, in case people thought that we were a couple. I felt like yelling at him and saying who cares, you are going home in a few months and there ISN'T anything going on between us, I will make sure and clear about that to everyone should they ask. Yuck, go out with Dave, enough said. Dave works in CSU which is basically specimen reception and preparation. Before I left back in January 09 to go back to Oz, I got him in contact with Jackie from Reed Health who has now switched him over to having a better pay package.
Our dinner didn't really go as smoothly as it should have. As you begin to get to know a person once you're out of the working environment, you begin to realise how different you are to them. The only thing I had in common with Dave was that we work together in the same medical industry and we are both from Australia. Everything else differed greatly. He preferred paying for branded clothes in high street shopping areas where as I can easily go into Primark or Uniqlo or H&M to find my bargains. Our talk about the trip was quite was unsatisfactory, I suggested that we stay at a hostel to meet other people while he said that he likes to have his own time alone and rather a hotel. So he suggested that I can stay in a hostel while he stays at a hotel. Go figure.
I think it came to the point where he became really comfortable with me at that stage. With what and how he felt about me, he started describing about my character as a "outsider" describing to me my actions of the way I've come into the laboratory to work. He said that I am a person with attitude, I felt extremely offended and asked him what he meant. He said that I walked around the lab like I was stuck up and that I was better than everyone else. Then because I confided in him about how crossed I was about the lateness issue with Alison, he said that I shouldn't be complaining because I should be greatful that I have a job and that I should be happy that I have a job to go back in Australia. Having him say to me when he didn't know me at all, I was deeply offended. I told him that I was extremely greatful for my job back in Adelaide and that I am very happy I have that to go back to when my UK trip is over. I explained that there must have been some misunderstanding but he didnt want to listen.
After this, Manchester texted me and wanted to meet up, I suggested to him that we all meet up and explained to Dave that Anthony was a great chef who has earned a michelin star is about to star in the youngest masterchef launching on TV in September. He has also scored a place in Hell's Kitchen after masterchef.... Dave had no incling nor reaction to anything I said, his reactions were mundane and monotonous. Nothing I said seemed to impress the poor guy. So I bluntly said that he was someone that was hard to please... to my surprise, he willingly admitted that he was. With that, the mood of the evening was set. After dinner, Manchester was running late, Dave departed back towards Tooting and I headed for Bayswater to meet up with Manchester. I am seriously having second thoughts about our trip. Even on facebook, he checks everyday along with gmail. He has not added me on as a friend on there so I have taken it off today. I might start looking for hostels in Berlin.

trips booked

Today was a stressful start to the day, I got up extra early to catch my 328 bus because I was late yesterday due to road works on Earl's Courst Road. So thinking that I'd pulled it off, the 328 decided to terminate at High Street Kensington station stop, it was only about half way to work, everyone got off and waited for the next 328. But as we got on it, the display said this bus will terminate at Earl's Court Road. I got off at Earl's Courst station and waited for about 10mins and realised that there were not going to be any buses anytime soon with the traffic and there were already a group of people all waiting for the bus. Candice and a few other people from work were waiting too... we ended up walking to the hospital and bet the bus. It took us 20mins to get there, so I was 20mins late. It wasn't so bad until Alison had a go at me as soon as I walked in the door, even though it wasn't my fault she still said that she would like me to start earlier and that maybe I should walk to work. I was thinking are you mad? I just walked in rain for 20mins to get here as soon as I can and Andre is still not here and she is having a go at me.... I was cross alright.
To cut a long day short, Dave had mentioned that he'd booked some flights to Berlin with Ryanair. He said that I should come if I can still manage to find some flights. Well I figured that I should take every chance I get to go with friends if the opportunity arises to go somewhere in Europe, this way you have a friend and you can split the bills with each other. I got home, found some flights with BMI and will fly on 7th August until the 9th August in the evening, short but at least I will get to see another part of the world.
Oh the other trip I managed to book was a package deal with a tour group with Anderson tours to go to Holland and Belgium, that is Amsterdam and Brugge. I will stay 2 nights in a B&B and have evening meals and be picked up from Baker Street station! Woohoo, certainly looking forward to this particular trip. I leave on 29th August in time to avoid the Notting Hill Carnivale and be back late on the 31st bank holiday. At least now, I have something to look forward to now.

being a tourist for the day

Today, I managed to meet up with Candice in the afternoon and she showed me a little around London on the way to the British museum and the Tate Modern. It was a great day, we managed to meet at Oxford Circus and walked our way through Carnaby Street, Old Compton Street and through Soho. Had some coffee in Sacred Cafe and then some nutella crepes from one of the stalls on the streets.
We only had half hour to go through the British museum when we arrived, so we managed to see the Eygptian Exhibition which was pretty cool. Saw some mummies and I think it was the mummy of Cleopatra. Then we were kicked out of the museum as it closed at 5:30pm.
At the Tate Modern, I'm not really sure why we were there as I couldn't appreciate most of the art on display. There was one thing that we definitely wanted to see, which was giant table and chair on display. We wondered through some very obscure art and even sick violent art pieces made from blood. We passed through an video exhibit made by Paul McCarthy, what I saw was a video of a man in a room with a mask on while he was nake with one hand tugging at his penis.... I don't know what art that is but apparently this artist addresses the taboo issues in sexuality, violence and repression. Very interesting. Finally when we found the giant table and chairs sculture, we were well pleased and wanted to stand underneath the table to have our picture taken, only to be told that we were not allowed to take any photos! I managed to sneak one in just when the minder wasn't looking.
It was an interesting day indeed. We walked a fair bit, had some tea at a pub on the River Thames and then walked over the millenium bridge towards St Paul's Cathedral to the tube station back to Notting Hill Gate station. A very productive day indeed. I'm pooped.

smokers

I am sick and tired of people smoking in front of me wherever I go. It seems that whenever a smoker gets chance to be outside they take every chance to chain smoke their way before they have to get back inside again. All them gits will regret it later in life.
Even the place I'm staying at they both smoke, I try to steer clear of it as much as I can. Lindsey chain smokes her rollies and Lena the Russian girl occasionally does it when other peers are present. Its making my eyes hurt and my hair stink. I try not to speak to them for too long when they are in the lounge. Whoever thinks smoking is cool are utter idiots.

dinner with dave & candice

Today after work, I headed out to Bayswater for some Chinese with Dave and Candice from work. They are both Aussies, Dave is from Melbourne and works in the reception area booking in bloods while Candice is an old uni colleague from Adelaide who happened to know Karen Thompson whom I worked with briefly at WCH before she came to live in London. Funnily enough, Candice works in transfusion and we'd met on my first trip in London back in November. The world is a small place indeed. So after our little meet up to have some yummy congee and noodles in Bayswater, we headed to a cafe for a hot chocolate. Coincidently, Karen called Candice on her mobile just as she was talking about giving her a visit after our drink. I found out that Karen literally lives down 2 blocks away from my place, I walk past her street every morning to catch the bus. So off we went for a visit at Karen's. I met her housemate called Amy and we got engrossed with all sorts of interesting travel stories. All of which I have yet to experience, but now that I have met them, they said they will be planning loads of things to keep me occupied with, which I am really greatful for. Amy is seemed like a very outgoing extroverted person. She works as a midwife in one of the hospitals in London. A few dates have been planned for us to go see some theatre, a 'welcoming neighbourhood party' for me and another date for a night out somewhere.

the landlady

I am never sitting on the toilet seat ever again. After my long day of work and walking around the shops in High Street Kensington, I came home to a very talkative Lindsey as I walked through the door. I think she must have felt a bit lonely because she started rambling on about her life stories and the hardships she's had with her mother who was an "utter cow". Why I will never sit on the toilet seat again is when she told me about her trip to the doctors today and that she's had an abcess down in her bits for about 18 months now. She's had recurrent infections and now admittedly said she's got a staph infection. She's a lovely lady but when it comes to hygiene, I get the impression that she has not really looked after herself properly and it makes me cringe everytime I go to the toilet to see the left overs stuck randomly around the bowl of the toilet. Today there was even the very familiar brown stain on the seat.... I am going to buy some wet ones when I go to the shops next.

first day back at work

I went back to work today, after 6 months of dithering, learning to massage, going out with friends and not having a care in the world about the worries of working life. It has been a absolute priviledge to know what it was like. It was a stress-free, relaxing and most calming lifestyle.
Being back at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital all came flashing back full of unnerving memories. There was an expectation by the staff at the lab for me to have remembered absolutely everything in my one month's employment with them in December last year. Mind you, I STILL haven't gotten over my jetlag, either that or I was coming down with the flu or something. I was not use to this type of summer weather. It was too cool to stand in the shade, yet if you stood out in the sunshine, I felt sweaty immediately from the humidity and heat. I was experiencing hot flushes quite frequently. But overall, London's weather has been most impressive since I was last here. It hasn't rained much yet.
I felt sickly and ill at the end of the day. My whole body ached with pain and I felt like I was about to faint with exhaustion. Luckily, it was more convenient for me to catch the one bus home instead of heading for the tube during peak hour. The 328 bus dropped me only a few minutes walk away from my place in Notting Hill. Not only that but the bus route passed all the high street shopping areas and I literally could catch this bus to any shop I ever needed in the future.
Tonight I am going to try to relax and try to relieve my achy body with an early night. I don't look forward another day's work tomorrow, I really need to ask for at least a day of training to recap everything that I'd learnt before.
A few notes about London city, it's a city separated from the rest of England really with the tube system and everything, you don't get to see any of the countryside available to you when you are on the motorway in Britain. It's extremely different to the rest of England. It's very cosmopolitan and it's way to busy and crowded at most times. It has extremely good retail facilities and because it has so many diversed cultures, there are all kinds of different shops from all over the world here. You need to have a handful of good friends to spend your time with in London, otherwise it can be quite cold and lonely here.
Well I am going to watch some British television now before heading to bed. Wow its 9:30pm now and the sun is just about setting slowly, by 10pm it should be dark. Amazing because I'm tired from the jetlag but it does not feel like 9:30pm with the sun stilll up in the sky.... how very perculiar for me.

my new place

Today, I have moved into my new rental place in Notting Hill. It's only a short walk from West Bourne Park station. It's an old Victorian flat and I am sharing with a live in landlady and a young Russian girl and 2 cats. Both seemed very nice and friendly. The landlady has lived in the place for 23years, she has 2 kids who are now grown up and sadly her husband passed away 4 years ago.
My room was a spacious double bedroom at the end of the flat with a television, CD/radio player and I also had wireless internet available. I was definitely pleased that I had everything included. Apart from the messy kitchen area, I had nothing to complain about. Now I finally have my own space and I think there's even a direct bus to work. I'm only minutes away from Portobello Road and there is a covenient deli open around the corner. Now I can rest up and recover from jetlag. I am missing Toffee and it would have been nice if I had someone else here with me. I miss spending time with Steve, now we are both alone on the opposite side of the world, thank god for the internet.

dubai

I have just arrived at Dubai airport, woohoo free internet. It is 4am in Adelaide and I am terrible exhausted from the long, tiring wait in Kuala Lumpur with AirAsia. Well now that I know what it's like to travel with budget airline overseas and landing in a so called "domestic international" with international departures and finding out when I arrived that it was the wrong airport. Luckily I came out 3hours early for the flight with Emirates after resting in their domestic airport hotel called Tune Hotel and I paid 45 ringgit for a tiny double bedroom with bathroom for 3hours. Once I realised that I needed to catch a taxi, I had to go back into the domestic terminal and go to a taxi stand to get a taxi voucher which comes as a fixed price apparently, it was going to cost 32.40 ringgit to get me to the international airport, I just scraped through with what James had given me before I left Adelaide luckily. It took about 25mins to get to the airport and I dawdled my way through check in. I changed 50 AUD so that I could get some yummy Malaysian food before my flight, I exchanged at 1AUD = 2.7 ringgit so I got about $135RM. The international airport was massive, I had to catch a little connecting train to my gate and there I was able to sit at a small cosy restaurant and ate my delicious nonya laksa with a cold lychee drink.
Now at Dubai airport, I have 4 hours to wait for my connecting flight to Heathrow. I've looked through some shops and was tempted to buy those Dubai souvenirs. There are those long bongs where you can smoke dried fruit through them, can't remember what they are called now. I even wanted to buy those fancy arabian pots with cups. My little rucksack was beginning to feel heavy so I decided to go to my gate and rest until my flight is due. Now that I've learned my lesson, I will travel through direct flights next time, wherever I am going to.

adelaide airport

It is now 9:38pm on July 8th 2009, my birthday.... I am at the airport waiting for my flight to Perth. The plan is to fly to Perth via TigerAirwaiys and then wait for like 6.5hours before I can catch the budget AirAsia from there to Kuala Lumpur! Crazy but hey I gotta give it a go since I have so much time on my hand. From there I board the lovely Emirates airline all the way to Dubai, transit for a couple of hours before landing all the way in London! I suppose I am getting the best of both worlds, a shitty budget airline to Perth for $83, then $336 to KL and then $1500 to London. I think its that's a pretty good price considering its peak season with the school holidays. Anyways I must go and board the flight now. People queuing up, I am in seat 5F. My second UK trip is about to start.