Shopping Prices

I thought a few of y'll might like to know what I'm spending on the average item... Now remember South Africans times the amounts below by 15 to get an aprox as to what this would be costing in direct exchange and then find out how much the amount is. Not forgetting I earn on average: R3225 per week.

Shopping done today at Tesco:

Peperami Individually Packaged Salami Hot Sticks (5 pack) - £2.18 (on special buy 1 get 1 free)
Digital Photo Magazine - £4.99
Pc Advisor Magazine - £4.99
Serrated Kitchen Knife - £0.78
2L Evian Water - £0.75
British Style Ready Meals (Cumberland Sausage Pie + Cumberland Pie + Roast Chicken Pie) - £4.00 (special buy 3 for £4)
British Style Ready Meal (Beef and Mash) - £1.75
White Seedless Grapes - £1.35 (£1.97 per kg)
Dove Gradual Tan 200ml Body Lotion - £4.98 (on special buy 1 get 1 free)
Travelers First Aid Kit - £4.99
Mud Face Mask (2 applications) - £0.99
Airwick Gel Freshner (lasts 4 weeks) - £1.98
Can of Fizzy Passion Fruit Drink 340ml - £0.35
Vit C Chewable Tabs 500mg - £0.86 (on special buy 1 get 1 free)
Colgate Total Toothpaste 100ml - £1.67
Heinz Spaghetti Hoops - £0.38

Snowy

I want to share my experience of snow for all those who've never had it or don't fully appreciate it.

I have seen snow before when I was 10 or 11 while on a camp in Howick on a farm. We traveled there in our bakkie (US: truck, UK: Flat Bed) and it was so muddy we were lucky that it didn't get stuck *good driving mom* . While there on I think the 3rd day or so it started to sleet one day and we thought that was gonna be it. The next day we woke I can only assume that the camp leaders had gotten a message on their radios coz after breakfast we were pilling up in the vans and went off to see the snow. There were limited pairs of gum boots (UK: wellingtons) and only one size 7 which was my size of course this boy grabs them and refuses to do the gentlemanly thing by letting me use them. So I was "playing" in the snow with my old holey takkies (UK/US: trainers) on. Needless to say that wasn't the best first experience of snow for me. Crappy shoes, no gloves and only track pants. I do remember sitting in front of the fire when we got back thou, to thaw my feet out.

Anyway so one of the reasons that I was so excited to come to England was to experience the snow. It had been bloody cold for 2 months and all I had seen was true frost for about 2 days. I was like a head light when I first saw the frost, it was magical and so so beautiful. If I wasn't going to work I would've taken photos. That was only around for 2 or 3 days and there was no sign of the snow.

After moving to London I was hoping that there was finally going to be some snow. But the lightly hood of that happening was nil, as London is warmer and the seasons were supposed to be changing around now. There were however ppl who were saying that the weather was supposed to just be getting colder.
After being in London for 1 week and getting a job I was off to work for my 3rd day of training. After getting ready for work the sun was just coming up at 8am while I was checking I had all of my things I looked up and saw that it had snowed. First thing out of my mouth? OH MY GOD . I was in total shock, I never say those words. I honestly thought I was dreaming because I had had dreams of it snowing before all which were of course not true. I was so so so happy, I grabbed my cam and found a bag to carry it in. While walking to work I was smiling my head of like a loony person. It was very very clear that I hadn't experienced this before. Fresh snow!!! AWESOME. I missed the first train to work coz I was standing on the platform taking pictures and had a Russian woman ask me to take a photo. I didn't care tht I missed it, I was so happy to finally have the snow. Enduring all of those cold days was really worth it!!!
Unfortunetly it all melted before 11am, the spread was too thin, so that meant no photo's during lunch.

The newspapers were reporting even heavier falls for the next day - and honestly I believed it. Woke the next morning, of course the first thing I did was look outside. No snow. Oh well I thought, one day was better than none.
I was plesantly surprised thou, as while on the bus to the tube I was looking outside and it started to snow. And what did I do? Yip, get that goofy smile on my face, I could actually feel my brain getting happy. I didn't wanna get into the tube, I wanted to get snowed on. I stood outside the entrance for a while with my hand out stretched letting the snow land on me as I watched. When I got out of the tube and onto the train platform at Islington the snow had stopped. I was still happy that I got to experience it snowing on me.

My next experience was to be in 2 weeks.

Again the weather man predicted snow. This time I didn't believe. But sure as rain the next morning, there was fresh snow all over. And guess what? It was still snowing. I stood at the window and watched, amazed at how it was floating down and the ways the wind was blowing it. When I left for work it was still snowing, pretty hard now. And me again, I was beaming with light. Smiling as I was walking to the bus. 15 mins walking in the snow and then 10 mins waiting at the bus stop, yippee, I was so so happy. My gloves, cap and jacket were dripping as the snow landed on me and then melting. I didn't care, I wanted it to snow until lunch time so I could get some photos. While I was sitting at work looking at the snow outside I was saddened to see it melting so fast but then it started to snow again and my hope of a lunch time photo shoot was revived. Alas all but a little had melted by 2pm which was my lunch time.

I will never forget seeing that first day of snow and the joy I got will the new experience of walking in the snow and watching the drops falling off the brim of my hat peek. It was truly wondrous what mother nature had created and I felt privileged to have experienced it. Coming from a sunny, hot, sticky climate I was truly blessed.

Thank you northern airflow from bringing the snow.

National Insurance

I went for my NI Interview. I wasn't stressing too much I was just worried that I was gonna give some inappropriate answer that would screw up my chances of getting the number. Or even worse would get me in big trouble and I would have to go back home... I haven't earned nearly enough money to go back home or done enough touring!!!

I was told by the agent that I called to book the interview "Get there at least 10 mins early coz if you don't they won't consider seeing you". So I plan to get there 15mins early. Knowing me I leave earlier and actually wind up getting there 30mins early.

After researching which bus to catch and how long it would take to get there I get off at the stop, walk up the wrong street, look at my map and find the right street. Ah ha I see the building. What the hell?!?!? IT ONLY OPENS AT 9!!! Why tell me to get there early?! So I went to find a sunny spot and sat down, lucky me the two ppl next to me decide to light up and puff away. There's nothing worse than ppl that smoke and that's ppl that smoke in their cars and worse than that is ppl who feel the need to smoke at 7am as soon as they wake up! I sat there for about 5 mins thinking, okay their cigs will finish just now... THEY DIDN'T. It was really bugging me coz being the smoke attracting machine I am, the damn wind is blowing my way!!! I tell you the fire brigade should hire me to stand in a certain place for all the smoke to come towards me so they can see to fight the fires!!! It's ridiculous.
What was I saying?...
So I was getting pissed off but didn't wanna move coz the sun was warming me up and I'd made myself comfortable. The smoke proved too much and I got up and tried to storm off to show my disgust (I don't think it worked). I then stood in what looked like the next best sunny place, but I was leaning against a stone wall, cold very very cold. Still it was in the sun at leadt. As I waited I saw the pile of ppl outside the doors growing, I'll be damned if they were gonna get in before I was!!! Eventually at 8:55 I walsed my way past the ppl and stood in front of the door. It was like the January sales when the security guard opened the doors (2 mins late I might add). The front of house person announced that NI applications are on the 5th floor, next thing everyone turns like sheep being herded by a sheep dog and walking to the lifts. Four of us get in the first lift and then 3 more ppl decide to cram in, hee hee hee, the voice says - this lift is over crowded so the 3 get back off. 2 dudes get off on the 3rd floor and there is me and a chinese woman left. YIPPEE, now I'm thinking about beating her out the lift and hoping that the other lift hasn't beaten ours.
Well I never beat her out the lift (she was too large for me to push past). But at least we beat the other lift. We both handed our reservation letters in and were told to sit and wait. We only waited for about 2 mins and the ppl called out our names.
I got someone by the name of Ruth. She was nice enough. I was now waiting for all these questions. I handed over my paper work (letters, payslips, proof of address, visa details etc). Ruth photocopied everything and then went on filling in the forms. All she asked me was if I had family in the UK and how I arrived in the country as well as when I started work...
The Spanish woman getting interviewed next to me was getting grilled!!! 40 mins later and all the paperwork was filled out. Ruth gave my passport and ID to go to data entry. As I sat waiting for the docs to be returned I saw Ruth interviewing her next person. A Polish man with a woman to interpret. Ruth wasn't impressed that he had been working since August and hadn't made the NI application earlier nor had he learnt any more English than hello and kiss my arse (not literally). I've gotta say Ruth had it easy thou, the lady behind me was interviewing a Polish man too and he didn't speak a word of English but understood it, she was having a really hard time. That dude then came around to ask the girl that was at Ruth's desk if she can come help him... Ha, I wonder how long she was going to be there for... To be very honest, I can't understand how ppl can come and live in a country and they don't know the language, I holiday is okay, but actually living and getting by day to day on no English is just stupid to me. I mean at to not have even learnt any at all, that's crazy...

I sat for the next 30 mins waiting for my documents to came back. I wasn't worried about the waiting, but I did have a monster pee on board!!!
EISH, WENNA how can I publish that?! well I just did...
And I was beginning to wonder how I got off so easily. Coz the foreign language speaking ppl were getting grilled, mother's maiden names, first thru to current addresses, how long are they staying, why are they here, are they going for English lessons - and more...

And that was that, it was off to find the bus out of this dodgy town and then off to work. ARGH, wake at 6am and only get home at 11pm wind up sleeping at 1am or so after watching a movie.

Life is tough I tell you but it's all worth it in the end!

No Jacket Day

Today was the first day without a jacket for me, granted it was midday and the sun was shining. Still thou that's saying something!
This dude called me think on the phone t work today and started swearing at me, bloody wanker... He'll get what's coming to him, in fact I have it on good authority that he is gonna drive into a pole in the near future, cutting his head on the steering wheel leaving a nasty scar. Yip, karma is a killer.

So my question for toady is: why is it called soft ice?
I saw an ice cream van while getting on the bus after work this afternoon and it had soft ice written on the front and sides, of course with the pictures of products all over the outside. And ice isn't soft so why call it soft ice? Ice is hard and not that tasty (even thou I love eating it) so how did soft ice come along? It's soft serve and ice cream as far as I know and the English mate I have from work whom catches the bus with me couldn't explain it either... MMMM, me thinks it don't make sense.

The latest topic that I'm seeing in papers most of the time is "Child Poverty". The parents of kids who are living in one roomed places that include the kitchen and bathroom in that one room are complaining that the government isn't doing anything for them. You know what I think? Stop having children DAMNIT! If you know you can't support yourself properly use a condom, take the pill, both of those are free. Should you get pregnant after using those two, learn from your mistakes and close your legs!!! The thing is a lot of girls are having r have had kids coz of the governments arse about face policy that they would give houses to all the single girls under 18 and older than 16 if they were moms. Now look what take that funding away and what have you got? A problem of too many kids, poverty and a vicious cycle. But on the same token, it takes two to tango and I believe if the mother know who the father is she should report him and then extra taxs should come out of the fathers pay cheque, that would surely encourage a hard penis to go abit softer more often?

What did I do this evening after making my supper, oven cooked ready meal? I proceeded to spill it on my hand and burn it. God, I'm a numbnut!!! I burnt myself with tea once and that lasted like 4 days, at least I didn't have to work for 2 days. Now I have no choice. Lucky I click with the right hand... But I'll really need to go to the pharmacy and buy some medical supplies now. Funny how I thought about it a few weeks ago and now look. Well they do say always follow your instincts.

Another Nations rugby match was played today and where I work in Richmond, Twickenham Stadium is just a 30 min walk away. So all the fans come by train to Richmond and then catch buses for 50p to the stadium. What does this mean at lunch time? Over crowded pavements, roads and shops. Not to mention full buses going home and drunk ppl leaving the pubs just when you wanna go home. The matches usually finish at 5pm so ppl stay for that final beer and leave at 6pm when we leave work. There are of course the good things. The feel of the English patriotism. And even ppl dressed up. In the first match the England vs Scotland match there were ppl all over in white shirts and other ppl in kilts. It was totally awesome, seeing really Scottish ppl in there dress, socks, shoes and lack of underwear too I'm sure.

Check: another experience off my list.

I really wanted to go and watch the England vs France match today. Little old me goes and looks for internet prices thinking innocently, ja they'll be like £70 or so. NO FREEKY WAYS, £270 at the cheapest are you bloody mad?! So that was no no, maybe I can find a special package for the world cup, question is would I go by myself that is?

Protestors

So today I saw my first ever peaceful demonstration. Protesters outside The GSK Pharmaceuticals company. Apparently they do research on animals and that was the subject of the protest.
It was all a bit sad really coz even thou the case is a great one, there must've only been about 30 people protesting all in all. Accompanied by a big drum, four mega horns and of course the essential: posters and police. The chants were "SHAME ON YOU" and "NO MORE CRUELTY". I applaud them thou for sticking to their convictions and having the balls to do something about those convictions. Even if it does all just amount to hot air.
The building itself is 20 mins from my house and is stunning. Fully glass and really a wonderful piece of architecture.
I used to be very anti animal cruelty when I was a kid, I'm pretty indifferent now. But above all of that I still think drug tests should be carried out on criminals, not animals. Coz criminals are the real animals. What did a bunny rabbit ever do wrong? I'm actually tempted to go outside and chant with them, but I would be a hypocrite coz if it was GSK's drugs and research that was to save my life, I would buy the drugs.
Long story short - I'm stoked I got to see my first peaceful demonstration, posters and all. Not like back home where ppl just strike and march up the the city hall for more money.

It's awesome to see different things and firsts that you don't think you would see normally had you not traveled. I saw this dude riding on one of those trick bikes when I was on the bus the other day while stopped at a robot. It was hysterical, a grown rather large man riding a trick bike at 11pm at night with bag on back.
London is also the only place, I've seen, where it's acceptable for a business man in a suit to carry a back pack around instead of a briefcase and no body says anything.
Linked to the spring post, woman are starting to wear skirts again, with thin stockings, I mean really ppl, it's still cold outside!!! Plus when I go to bed a 2am most of the time, there are birds chirping, I'm being to wonder if they are just as happy that it's spring as the humans are or if the light pollution is making the city too bright and they think that for like a good 6 hours the sun is rising...

Spring Has Sprung

Today was the first day of ppl cutting their grass in about 4 months. It's so nice to be experiencing this coz back home it's summer and spring all year round.
I've been noticing things for a few weeks now. One of the biggest things that has really impressed me is last week, everyday that I woke and walked to work a new tree had bloomed, having the whole tree covered in flowers.
In partiular I've been keeping an eye on these little pods, growing on a creeper that is cascading over a wall on my work walk route. These little pods started off as what looked like baby acorns. Last week they popped out of their casings and looked like caterpillars all covered in fur. During the week the fur got thicker and whiter and this week I see that there are now pollen heads off of every strand of fur/hair. I can't wait to see what happens next.
I think coming from a country where flowers are so abundant and frequent that you start to over look them and don't ever see the process that the plant goes thru in order to bloom that beautiful flower. I find that I'm paying more and more attention to things now.

As well as the plants changing, the weather is too. There are more sunny days and the wind is starting to pick up more. Also when it rains it's not that soft drizzle any more, the rain is getting heavier and if it does rain it's for the whole day not just in patches. But I've got to say that there are more non-rain days than rainy ones. And by that I mean, cloudy or sunny. And really you can face the cloudy days, at least you don't have to drag an umbrella around. I still haven't even brought one... I just wear my huge big army jacket and get told I look like a man, some ppl really should get their eyes tested!!! The sun is also warm now, meaning you can actually stand in the sun to warm up, not like in winter where it's just as cold as the air is. I can't wait for summer when all the trees have their leaves back and the air is hot.

You really don't think that you'll see some thing as simple as the seasons changing to be a big experience but it has turned into an appreciation for me as well as an eye opener as to how much you really can neglect.

Royal Botanic Gardens / Kew Gardens

I hadn't managed to take any photos for 3 weeks while I was getting used to my new job and time schedules. So I made a point of getting out of bed on one of my days off. I had said to myself that if the sun was out then I'm going to The Royal Botanic Gardens (which I ride past everyday).
Seeing as the sun was out and the clouds weren't building up too fast, I packed my camera, battery, memory cards, put my huge jacket on and walked out the door. I was going to use this trip for a photo project too. Shooting on my 70 - 300mm all the time. I had packed my 18 - 55mm kit lens just in case, you never know when a totally awesome shot is going to jump out and hit you. One doesn't wanna be unprepared.
When I got to the gardens, I've gotta admit that I was a little shocked to see that there was an entry fee. In SA all botanical gardens are free. So I stood by at the entrance wondering if I really wanted to pay £12 out of the £20 that I had left til payday (4 days down the line). I decided to pull my socks up and do it. So I whipped out my £20 to pay and was pleasantly surprised to find that the fee was only £9.50. Yippee, I was feeling good already.

I was greeted by a most amazing sight, a green floor peeping thru in patches, between a whole stack of purple and white flowers, Crocuses. I was truly in awe, I've never actually thought of spring as a season until now. Of course I took pics of those and the pigeons that were walking about. I tell you what the pigeons are huge here!!! They are the size of a baby chicken the you pay R90 for in a restaurant.
I received a nice little map with my receipt of entry so proceeded to read it and find out where I was to go first. Off to the glasshouses that I see everyday on the way to work and so desperately what to go into. I was side tracked on the way how ever, by The Palm House and the beautiful gardens surrounding it, not to mention the statues of animals representing different countries. click click click and click .
Seagulls were flying about and my attempts to capture them in flight were terrible so those were deleted.
Going into The Palm House is a whole nother experience! It's sunny outside, yet still unbelievable cold and inside it's hot humid and just like home. I seriously wanted to whip out my bikini and just enjoy the heat. My camera didn't enjoy it too much thou, from being at about 8 or 10 deg C outside to being instantly warmed to about 30 excluding humidity was, well a wet experience for my camera. My glasses, the lens, viewfinder and LCD screen were all misted up. I didn't wanna risk damaging my cam so I went outside in a split second.
Now to find my glasshouse... But again I was distracted, I saw this view point atop a hill, it was so secluded and peaceful that I had to go and see what pics it would yield. The Temple of Aeolus was it's name, it was beautifully placed, I really enjoyed sitting there and looking around, just smiling to myself while taping my foot to my music. I reckon I looked like a right nutter...
Finally, to the Princess of Wales Conservatory. This place was awesome. As you walked in you could unzip your jacket and stop chattering your teeth as th first climate you hit was a semi-arid one. Filled with cacti and plants that live in those conditions I spent a good 20 mins taking pics of just that section. And the sunlight was streaming in making for a photographers dream with backlight plants and sun streaming onto prickly surfaces. I found myself again, just smiling and enjoying every moment of this experience, my £9.50 seemed to be paying itself off already.

Hunger was starting to set in so I went to a converted manor built in 1791 to get something to warm me up. Sitting on the bench outside, enjoying the sun a seagull flew up and stood in front of me talking, asking for some muffin... At £1.50 a muffin, there's no ways I'm going to give him any. I even drank my latte with no sugar coz I totally forgot. It was organic coffee thou so it tasted very good never the less. After taking some pics of Kew Palace I wondered off to the Temperate House.
This is the largest, oldest still free standing Victorian glasshouse today. it's realy pretty big and the outside is just wonderful. There is a whole wing dedicated to plants in South Africa. Do you know that SA holds 6 or the 8 different climates that plants can grow in and we have the largest amount of different species at 22000 different kinds!!! Amazing, no wonder we keep on winning the International Flower Show at Chelsea (32 years running now). So we can't play rugby but we can grow flowers...
I then stopped of in the Evolution House. This building is dedicated to showing the evolution of plants from 300 million years ago. It was then off to the Japanese section of the gardens but not before stopping off at the Pavilion Restaurant to see what snacks they had. The Japanese section has a huge Pagoda and this giant sized zen garden hosting display to the Japanese Gateway which is part of a gift to the Japanese from one of the kings in the 1400s. The gateway is made out of two of the original doors to replicate the original gateway built. The original gateway is 5 times the size of this replica.

I was walking towards the river walk when I spotted these stunning birds eating under a tree. The were brilliant red with fan like tails and feathers that they lifted to spread around their beaks. I snuck past them to get a good place to photograph them, I felt like a spy. Once I had my 300mm lens back on cam I was focusing and the birds were attracted to the noise. They started to surround me 7 - 10 males. I honestly at one point think they thought I was food and were going to attack, so I stopped and just admired. The day was turning out to be so brilliant.
While I was waiting for the sun to set I walked to Queens Chorlotte's Cottage which was built late 1700s as a place for the Queen to take her guests to picnic and have tea, what a life. It was then off to the Badger Sett and Minka House to see how badgers and Japanese ppl live and how their houses are constructed respectively.
After walking thru the Bamboo Gardens I then went to the Palm House again and sat down on some stairs waiting for the sun to set. Low and behold , what should happen? nothing other than a swan swims up to me and talks, asking for food. I opened my hand to show that there was nothing in it and he starts pecking at my fingers. It was really soft, I was so shocked and he stayed by me for about 10 mins just to make sure I wasn't holding out on him.
Unfortunately I didn't get to see the sun set as the gardens closed at 17.30 and the sun was only due to set at 17.40.
All in all thou, I filled both of my memory cards and had a better time than I expected for 6 hours. I would say photo project and great day out complete. I was really surprised as to just how many ppl there were and how many ppl had really great cameras, lots of like minded ppl here. The best thing when you're lying on a bench to get shot, no one looks at you funny, they just acknowledge and don't think you're wierd.

Acceptance with no prejudgment.

On Anon - Piccadilly Circus

My brain as only just recovered from last night. I was graciously invited to MissCass' BDay celebrations.
So I finally got to meet some BO people.
Piccadilly was cram packed with ppl. Tourists fighting for the best picture taking spots and Londoners pushing and shoving just to get to where they are partying for the night. After meeting ppl in Burger King, we then joined the queue for On Anon. I had looked on their website a few days before had. Being me, I made sure that I memorised the map that they provided on their site. Which way the roads ran and all the road names. Pity I didn't learn to do that when I was still in school... I might actually have a real job by now... BUT, beeg but, I wouldn't be living and traveling in the greatest city in the world - yawn - how boring would that be? So we entered On Anon after a picture of the Queen was handed over totaling £10. CRAZY ARSE PPL CHARGING SO MUCH TO GET IN!!! So was is worth it? Well the night was, not too sure about the club thou. This Durbanite is used to space and freedom to dance how ever. Being England and every where is pressed for space, we were fighting the whole night, dishing out elbows and getting them back in return. But the more you drink the less the pain becomes. And it doesn't hurt to be out with a little pack of dynamite that lights up and steps into the action to protect you when ever she sees shit is about to start or you're not getting as good a time for your 10 Queens that you should've *wink*
I actually thought the layout of the club was pretty cool.
Basement - toilets and cloakroom, £1 per item... I say "WHAT THE FUCK?!?!" you charge me 10 to get in and 1 per coat, if only I knew how to box, now you can see why my £6.50 per hour doesn't go anywhere!!! Never the less.
1st Floor - lounge area, a bar and tv's with flickering flames on them. Very mellow, a place I know a few friends would start off for like 3 hours before hand, have some muchies... *whistles* You know who you are...
2nd Floor - the real BO place, buzzing bar, chairs and tables in lounges off a teeny tiny dance floor, I reckon it only held 50 ppl. Hip Hop, pop and commercial music. As well as the spot for the night.
3rd Floor - another bar and dance floor. The floor to be if you are looking to get a work out and burn some calories with house, club, dance and electro music.

Our spot for the night was a spot next to the DJ's booth with a table for drinks, a table for empty glasses and a few chairs. As with all nights when you stay in one place, you make friends with your neighbours, which is what all good BO's should do... And we did. The tequilas came and went down and water was a no no drink after 1pm when the BDay girl showed up 3 hours late... *shakes head* 3 extra hours in a hotel room, I can only think what was going down...
We danced, drank and rested in between, sharing the one chair that wasn't taken. Now the whole time you're looking at your watch, knowing the club is closing at 3am. WHAT THE HELL?!?! And I thought London was supposed to know how to party. Ag shame the staff need to sleep... Stuff that! you work in a club, you sleep during the day damnit!!!
So how do they get you out of the club? Start by switching the lights on so that you can see what that girl really looks like that you've been perving over all night, I reckon that gets rid of a lotta guys pretty fast. Then stop the music so you can hear just how drunk that guy is that you've been perving over all night is, and bang a whole lotta chicks leave. Then close the bars so that the groups that where there just for themselves and a good time leave. But wait there are still ppl like us left, trying to figure out the next plan of action and if it's viable. How do you get rid of us? Send the bouncers to shout "Alright, that's it, lets all make our way downstairs time to leave". Does that work? To a certain degree, coz we got a BDay girl who choons - we'll be there just now. Eish *laughs* 15 mins in the queue to get your coat - if you didn't leave it in the car that is *wink* and next thing you know it we're in the street, looking for cabs, bus stops and giving goodbyes.
All in all a wicked first night out in London doing the full party on thing. Tx ladies, much obliged, nah wrong word - the pleasure was all mine, and a few guys too I'm sure *wink*
I was really shocked at how many ppl there were at the bus stop, it's like all the clubs simply empty and viola the buses are loaded...

It's something else thou, crossing the roads in Piccadilly Circus and knowing that this city is your home, it's beautiful. The building are inspirational. You've just gotta stop and take it in, thinking about the villages that were here before the buildings, the first cars that drove on cobble stone roads and the wars that nearly crumbled everything. The history just washes over you, filling you with this feeling of ... WOW.
I'm sure the experience is different for every person that first moves into London and what they are there/here for, for me I feel privileged.

Simply that.