64 posts tagged “out and about”

This is the concluding half of the last post, as I had such a great time I think it's worth telling.

I caught the bus to Brixton as advised by my drinking companions. I think it was probably one of the last busses of the evening, as it was quite full. I always forget about using the bus when I visit London, but should use it more often, as you get to see some of the scenery between destinations. The Tube has an almost magical or Sci-Fi feel for me, it's like the Star Trek matter transporters. You pop down a hole and some time later you pop up out of another hole and you're somewhere else. I think it's the fact that you don't see any of the sites between the two locations. It does fragment your internal map of the city into areas surrounding different tube stations though. I've been surprised in the past to find that some Tube Stations are only a short walk from each other. Travelling by bus gives you some idea how all the different parts relate to each other.

At Euston I find I've mis-read the timetable and the last train has left. This is not a problem as I'm in relaxed travelling for fun and for me mode. If I won the lottery I'd probably not be at home very much. The next problem is where to stay. I'm kind of tempted to just sit in the station all night and read my book whilst waiting for the first train of the day, but it seems a waste to be down in London and not spend more time there.

There is a Travel Lodge or some such chain hotel visible from the station across the square, so I trog over and enquire about rooms. it's full, but the receptionist is helpful and suggests a direction to walk to look for more hotels. I wander for about an hour, stopping at each hotel and enquiring about rooms, but they're all fully booked. This starts to get depressing. Eventually I'm advised by one receptionist that if I keep walking in the direction I'm going the hotels get more expensive and I should try The Royal National Hotel. What a mental place. It's massive and even at 01:30 or so in the morning it was noisy and active. It seemed to be full of Stag or Hen parties and every visiting foreign school party in London. They had a room though, which was all I needed.

Up and showered Saturday morning, if not bright and early, in plenty of time for my Full English Breakfast. The Restaurant I'd been told I needed to go to for breakfast was like a huge school canteen and just as noisy with all the people in it. The English Breakfast was self-service buffet style, excellent! Four rashers of bacon and Four sausages for me then, with a couple of fried eggs, tinned toms and beans. No black pudding though. The Spanish people at the next table looked a bit horrified at the English version of breakfast.

I don't have to rush back to Wolves, as I'm not working until 21:00, So I've got most of the day to spend on more wandering around London. I Check out and off out into Bloomsbury to find The British Museum. I love a good museum, but then I'm dull like that. I'm not even bothered with all the interpretation that museums seem to bother with now-a-days. I just like great big collection of interesting stuff to look at all under one roof. The Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford is probably my favourite Museum of all time, but The British Museum is a very close second.

A quick check of my Snap Map makes me look like the tourist I am and I'm heading off in the right direction. To get totally blown away by a Giant Plywood Sculpture in Bedford Square.

Plywood4

I didn't know it was there and would've perhaps detoured to have a look at it if I'd known, but coming across it by surprise made it all the more magical.

I arrived at the British Museum around 11:00 and it was already busy with a lot of rude foreign kids being shepherded about by teachers or tour guides. I was in there for around the next 5 hours.

The Museum was busy, especially all the famous Egyptian stuff, so I headed off to find some quieter parts. A Poster advertising an exhibition of shields from the Papua New Guinea regions caught my eye and is more interesting than it sounds, as they're still making (and using) them today, only the designs have changed a bit from the traditional ones.

Shield2

I said I'm not bothered by interpretation, that's not entirely true. I do like a good label on an exhibit. One of the shields had a design that indicated the person holding it was un-killable. This then acted as a challenge to the warriors of the opposing tribe. A sort of:
"Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough"
in pictorial form. Further on in the Museum I came across an, I think Celtic, it might've been Pictish, shield and was struck by the similarity in shape from the other side of the world and thousands of years apart. I suppose a shield is a shield and much like Convergent Evolution something designed to stop shit hitting you on one side of the world in a different time will resemble something designed to do the same thing in another time and place.

Shield5

One of the great things about visiting a museum by yourself is that you can explore the bits you want at your own pace, linger over the items that interest you the most and pass by those that don't bother you so much. Visiting with someone else is always a compromise between even two very close peoples tastes. With either one or the other of you being a little bit restless as the other pauses at something that fascinates them. The disadvantage is that when you find something you'd like to point out and go
"Wow! Just look at this."
there isn't anyone there to do that with. Things like this bizarre detail of a curiously sheepish looking creature on a piece of porcelain.

Creature

At least I've got a blog so I can share it when I get back.

The other thing, is that you tend to get photos that don't include you in them, unless you find some one you can ask. Luckily the steward in the room I had this picture taken was nice enough and understood what I was trying to achieve. I think I made his day, as he said he'd looked at the statue a lot and not noticed what you could do with it pictorially.

Nudeme

See museums can even be fun if you approach them with the right mental attitude. The Statue itself was from Mesopotamia (I think) and had an inscription on the back that said it had been erected for the enjoyment of the people of the town. Sort of like an Ancient Page 3 Girl maybe?

Speaking of Photographs. One of the rooms I visited had a case with Netsuke in that were very finely carved and detailed. Two in particular caught my eye, but try as I might I couldn't get a decent picture of them. Ok I was only using my phone camera, but I suspect that if I'd had my proper camera with me, which is a bit outdated now, I'd still not have been able to get a good picture. I made a note of them, thinking I'd look them up on the net when I got back. Somebody might've posted a picture of them I hoped. Guess what. The museum itself has posted pictures of them. There is an online searchable database of around one and a half million of the Museums objects, nearly 400,000 of which have at least one picture of them.
So check out the two Netsuke that had particularly caught my eye and I couldn't get a good picture of:

The first is an almost Heavy Metal/Goth style lizard on a Skull it's about an inch and a half tall in real life and is exactly defined by the word exquisite.

The second amused me as it was described as 'Long Legs Long Arms with an Octopus.' and is a humourous little figurine just over 5 inches tall. Look at how the carver has managed to depict the hairs on the belly, legs and arms of the two demons.

Four or Five hours of wandering around a museum makes for weary legs and sore feet, but a sit down with a restorative cup of tea whilst writing postcards in The Great Court revived me for the walk back to the Station. Where I caught a train back to Wolves and worked 'til three in the morning at the poxy Club night.

I know this has been a long post to read and a bit worthy with all the educational type links, but I'm trying to get over how Museums inspire the dilettante in  me to look stuff up when I get home. How the 'net has made it so much easier to find out a bit more about something that grabs your interest when you're out and about. I know all this is ancient history as far as bloggery goes, being news from a few weeks ago, but as I've been working away and then come back, and as I've bumped into people at home and they've asked where I've been and what I've been up to. The day and a bit I had meeting Netpals for a drink and mooching round London had been one of the highlights of the time. Now I think back I feel lucky as it feels like I had a small very pleasurable holiday.

Last Tuesday evening, the 7th, saw a colleague and myself heading down to our nations capital to get comfy in a hotel so that we we're ready to start work at 08:00 Wednesday morning in Hyde Park. The show had finished Sunday night, we were just there for the 'out'. So no glamour & no glory. They were paying us though, so what's the problem?

We arrived in time to have a couple of tasty beverages in The Sussex Arms. An OK-ish proper pub, but with a Juke Box that could do with turning down several notches.

Wednesday, saw us loading trucks all day and being asked if we could do Friday as well, because they'd had to stop work when the torrential rain had fallen Tuesday, so were a bit behind. Fine for me, but colleague had to get back for another gig on Friday. As the Sussex was so noisy we decided to try The Victoria which was in the other direction from the Hotel. You've got to give a pub called The Vic' a try if you're in Lahndahn haven't you. Kind of posh, with expensive food, but a good pub. The Fullers Discovery was lush though, and that's what kept us there.

Thursday was loading more trucks. At the end of the day colleague headed back up North, whilst I went back to the Hotel and a different room that was probably the smallest Hotel room in the whole of London. I only needed it to sleep and shower in though, and it was fine for that. This also left me on my tod for the evening. Not a problem I can amuse myself. I wasn't going to eat at the Vic' again. So after a shower and change of clothes, I went for a bit of a bimble towards Paddington Station. There were plenty of places that looked fine to eat in, but nothing that really grabbed me. The Burger King has closed in Wolves town centre and I do like a Burger King Burger every once in a while. So Burger King it was. I picked up a couple of Postcards and headed back to the Vic' for the Discovery and to write the cards WHilst a bunch of Yuppy style twats made a show of hemselves in the street outside the pub. Back to the Hotel and bed.

Replacement workmate was heading down from Wolves disgustingly early to meet me at the Hotel 07:30 Friday Morning and we were going to the Park from there. Off to the Park to Load yet more trucks, but YIPPEE! Finished by around 12:30 and still paid for the whole day. That meant I'd stop in London and meet up with Em' for a Birthday drink. If we'd been working all day I would've been knackered, smelly and not very good company, so would've headed back to Wolves.

I couldn't face walking across the vast expanse of Hyde Park to get to a Tube station. Hyde Park is Massive, even more so when you've spent the last couple of days on foot in it. So I hopped in the Car with my pal and headed out of town with him to get dropped off by a Tube station. I'd got my Oyster card and the whole afternoon free for a bit of Flânerie. That's a posh way of saying, bimbling about aimlessly, enjoying the sites and soaking up the atmosphere in a leisurely way, because you can, because you've got the free time and inclination.

I'd been dropped on The Edgeware Road by a pub called The Green man. I sat inside for a while, using my phone to access Facebook, to say Yes I was going to Em's Event and checking the location on Google maps. The internet - It's Ace. The Mobile Internet - WOW! How useful is it? I'm still kind of blown away by the whole living in the Future type thing that being able to get the internet on my phone does to me. OK I've not got a Hover Car and silver suit, but mobile Internet kind of makes up for that.

Once I'd sorted the evening out I took another pint and sat outside for a smoke. Edgware road has some interesting people wandering up and down it and the pub was opposite Paddington Green Police Station. I'd heard the name on the News, so it was interesting to be sitting opposite it. It's that sort of thing I love about wandering around London.

Eventually it was time to hit the Tube to Euston to check on train times. I'd looked on the Mobi' web, but wasn't convinced I knew what was going on. The Mobi' web does have it's limitations. So as I like the Tube (it's a novelty to me) I didn't mind travelling on it in nearly the Rush hour.

At Euston I grabbed a Pasty and some information. I couldn't use my Oyster Card to get to Streatham, so I got a day tripper, or whatever they call the card and followed the instructions to get to Streatham. I was now travelling in the rush hour, but I kept my big bag out of the way, stuck to the right on the escalators and generally didn't get in the way of the busy busy Londonites. On the Tube I think I might've freaked a couple of lasses out by staring. Sorry. One had such an outrageously perfect complexion it looked like she'd been dipped in Nivea every night and fed on nothing but Evian. The other by contrast, was kind of Orange, but had the longest eyelashes I'd ever seen. The thing that made me stare was that they had some sort of lardy gunk on them. Not mascara, it looked almost like dried Araldite. Weird and fascinating enough to keep me staring rudely.

London Bridge Station and I was on the Overground (Is that the correct term?) to Streatham. Looking out the window and being amazed how much terrain there is in London. I'd love to have seen the landscape before all the buildings were built. At Streatham station I checked Google maps on my phone again. I'm not going to be wandering around a strange town with an expensive phone in my hand. So get bearings, look at street names on the map. REMEMBER street names and directions, then start walking as it's not far.

To my eye outlying bits of London have their similarities. Streatham high road and the Edgware road have things in common, the Ethnic grocery shops, the internet cafes and News agents, but there is a slightly different vibe. Kind of like seeing Cousins or Uncles. You can see that they're from the same family, but there is a difference.

I got to the The Pub in plenty of time and then the nerves began. If you've met anyone off the internet before, you'll probably have half an idea what I mean. Will you recognise them? Will they recognise you? Are you intruding on their 'real life' by being some weirdy that turns up from their 'virtual life'? What will their RL friends think about a netpal? Will they think it's strange that you're there? OK. You'll have read each others blogs over the course of years, that makes things easier. You do 'know' each other, but you won't know a thing about any of the none net people there.

Then a face you recognise, who's probably just as nervous as you, is smiling and walking up to you and saying.
"Hi. You got here all right then. Sorry I'm a bit late. My friends have got a table out the back, come and join us."
You get introduced to everyone and find that everybody there has met through the internet in some way, and they don't think it's strange you're here, and you have a cracking night out with some lovely people at a great pub, and too soon you've got to leave because of public transport. If you've never met up with someone you know off the net before, do it. You meet some of the best people.

The Locals tell me the best thing to do is get a bus to Brixton, then the tube to Euston, where I arrive to find I've missed the last train home. This wasn't a problem as I was half expecting it to happen.

That adventure is a tale for another time though. I've typed enough, and you're probably bored reading this by now.

...last time I rented a film it cost me £13 in rental and late fees. I popped into CEX and bought a couple of second hand videos for £5. That makes tonight video and pizza night. I'm sitting in the local pizza place now waiting for them to cook my extra large Hawaiian. Yes fruit can go on a pizza.
Once that's done I'll pop into the corner shop for a bottle of cheap red and then make my self comfy in front of the monitor with 'Conan the Barbarian' and 'Conan the Destroyer' to entertain me. If the films finish in time I'll catch last orders in my local.

It's good to finish a long run of work and then live like a king.

...I think they're going to be a problem. I'd been back from the pub for about half an hour last night. Around 01:00 there was a knock on the front door. When I open it, the small lad from next door is standing on the doorstep with no shoes on and holding his hand out with some coins in it.
"Mum says, can she buy a lighter off you?"
I'm stunned.
"You shouldn't be out without your slippers on"
I tell him, whilst thinking "You shouldn't be out at all, at this time of night"
I tell him to go home and I'll pop round with a lighter for his mum. I dig out a lighter and pop round. Their front door is ajar. I knock and woman who is out of it in some way opens it. I introduce myself as her neighbour and tell her if she wants to borrow something to pop round herself and not to send her kid round with no shoes on. She's grateful for the lighter.

I walk back from the Pizza shop tonight. Two minutes after I get back there is a knock on the door. I assume it's the bloke from the couple upstairs. He was out cleaning his car as I got back. I thought he'd finished and was trying to get his missus to let him back in again.
It's the small lad from next door along with the older lad.
"Mum says can she borrow 50p to get some milk?"
He asks.
"No I've not got 50p for her"
I sigh and close the door.
They're going to be a problem. I can feel it in my water.

Coming from the nokia 9500 via GPRS cool eh?

Much blogworthy stuff has happened over the past few weeks, but I've not had the inclination to post. I suppose I'm 'on hiatus' as they say. I think I just need to get my blogging mojo unstuck.

Coming from the nokia 9500 via GPRS cool eh?

We've got a comedian on at our place tonight. Apparently he's got some mad stalker bloke who's threatend to kill him. A picture has been circulated amongst all the crew and the security are having a great time being all extra secure and gossiping worse than old women about the 'situation'.

So we might have a bit of excitement tonight. Probably not though.

...on the Lego Advent Calender and making little models. Here's a group photo of the contents so far. I'll be back after midnight again today, so I get to open on then.

There seems to be a pattern. A little bloke, then two things associated with him. It's so neat wondering what's going to be behind the next door.

Coming from the nokia 9500 via GPRS cool eh?

Advent group.jpg

...I like my beer or proper cider at my local pub as well. I didn't have time to build the thing behind the door or post the advent calender picture the other day, even though I opened the door to find out what was behind it.
I was dashing around yesterday because Cha0tic Special Circumstances Section had a project on. Which meant me leaving town. So I haven't opened yesterdays door. Being away from town meant I couldn't open todays door. Arriving back in Wolves I was torn. I could go to my local for last orders, or open calender doors and play with Lego. The pub won as it will shut, whilst the Lego isn't going anywhere. This way I have my cake and eat it. Cider now and Lego later.

Yay!

Coming from the nokia 9500 via GPRS cool eh?

local.jpg

...a work barrier, whIch I assume is for the workman from yesterday. Sorry there's no picture. I only had time to open the door this morning, Find out what the Lego was, then head out to work. I'll build it and take a picture when I get back later.

Coming from the nokia 9500 via GPRS cool eh?