Not London, not now...
My outlook of London has changed. Its not a bad thing, and I don't think badly of it, just maybe I have seen all I care to for now. My desire to maybe live here is gone.
I went to the Uncon on the first weekend here. I was uncertain what I would do for the week after I got invited to Marsden.
The Tower - Then on Monday I went to the Tower of London for the second time ever (I was 19 when I first went in 1996) and it was good to see it again. I recall thinking that I did not get to see much of it in 1996 - that we were there for about 2 hours only, but this time around I realised that it was not very big and I saw it this time in 2.5 hours (only because it shut at 4.30pm when it gets dark and I'd arrived at 2pm). It was certainly great to get a new perspective of it 15 years later - I don't remember much from back then. My knowledge of history was greater this time than back then and it was good to see locations this time - To see it in the 11th and 12th century and then the 16th century would be amazing - so many walls and building have come and gone since then within the palace.
Greenwich Park - On Tuesday I went to Greenwich. The same awesome chinese restaurant was still there that only cost £5 to eat a huge meal - lunch was great - my memory of the town was the same as 5 years ago in the summer - the only difference was the season being late Autumn and the Cutty Sark being burnt down and construction going on around the riverside. I found my way to the Park behind the town after walking through the Market again and walked through it. After reading that book Fred loaned me about the pagans that worked in the park, I was curious to see it. It is hillier than I imagined. The Observatory is in the centre where the Greenwich Meridian is - where the east and west hemisphere meet. The squirrels were out as well as the wood pigeons, ravens and even some jackdaws. The Autumn colours were amazing and I even got the see the meagre remains of the Roman ruin and also the Anglo - Saxon burial mounds. Amazing! Was there till almost dark again.
Natural History Museum & National Gallery - On Wednesday, Dana whom I met in the hostel came with me to these places. I wanted to see the amazing Wildlife Photographer competition so we went along - Dana is skint and it cost £9 so I went in by myself and met her after - I also ate in the restaurant there and then we went to the National Gallery and pretty much saw the whole thing - home after dark.
Tufnell Park - On Thursday I was online in the hostel till close to 2pm. At one point, I decided to google the house from 'Spaced' in Tufnell Park. I had a feeling the house really was in that part of London. And I was right - the fictional address is 23 Meteor Street, Tufnell Park, but the real address is 23 Carleton Road, Tufnell Park. I also discovered that I was within walking distance of it - it takes 11 mins to walk to Finsbury Park stn and I realised that going straight down Seven Sisters Road, would take and extra 20+ mins. So I decided to go for a walk. It was sunny and not too chilly, I had a late lunch while I walked - chips and a fried piece of chicken, and walked there without looking at the map I wrote, coz I'd memorised it. I realised how long ago Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Jessica Stevenson had been there filmed Spaced - it was in 1999-2000. So long ago! Seeing I was only there taking a few pics, I was on my way home almost directly. I walked past the Odeon cinema and saw Tintin was on the following night so thought about going to see that.
Tintin and the Secret of the Unicorn - On Friday I had no desire to really go out - besides, I had surfed the internet all day and messed about with new music I had aquired from Dana. In the evening, and to get out for some exercise, I had decided to go to see Tintin. I had to walk back to Tufnell Park area, and knew it would take 25 mins. It started at 5.30 so I left on dark at 4.35 and walked there. I was a little early but got my ticket, 3D glasses and sat in the cinema to wait. The film was awesome, full of adventure, and inspirational. I wanted to go home to write my own story - these things always inspire me. Was home by 8pm and had dinner. Nice to get out and walk.
St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch - Saturday I decided to do some ancestry. Mum has suggested I get down to Shoreditch church - famous for the Oranges and Lemons rhyme. 'When I grow rich' say the Bells of Shoreditch.' The hastle to get there on this day was horrendous. The Victoria line was down - so I could not get to Highbury, then onto the overground. I had to go on the Piccadilly line to King's Cross, then planned to get the Hammersmith Line to Whitechapel - not working either. Had to get Circle Line to Tower Hill and then a bus to Whitechapel, then the Overground to Shoreditch. What should have taken 10+ mins took over an hour. Then I walked to Shoreditch church, took photos of where ancestors Ben Arber married Ann Wall in 1803 (albeit blitz destruction). I walked south and found I was near Liverpool St stn - annoying! - I could have walked from there to Shoreditch easier than a bus to Whitechapel. Gawds! Not wanting to return to the hostel, I then head to Chinatown near Shaftsbury Avenue, had some dumplings and then head home (walking to Holborn) on a busy Piccadilly line.
Sunday - was taken up spending the day in the Arsenal Tavern Hostel where I've been staying, and hanging out with Daisy from Sweden who lives here and studies at uni. They even put movies on the overhead projector and the community feeling was awesome. Had a good day in - wrote some of my novel even! (1,555 words).
Today, being Monday the 21st I am heading to Marsden to Caitlin's house. She has even found accomm for me in Marsden if I want it - in an attic for £45 or £50 a week. Maybe - it depends on my work I suppose. Its cheap, but is it accessable to Manchester? We'll see as the next step of my working holiday arrives.
Tufnell Park location of 'Spaced' flat