Overheard in my building this afternoon Old lady #1 : ...And it only costs a few pounds and they drop you off right at your door. Old lady #2 : Do they? Old lady #1 : Yes... Old lady #2 : Really? Old lady #1 : Yes... Old lady #2 : Do they? Old lady #1 : Yes they do! Old lady #2 : Oh well I'll have to get me one of those...
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14-07-05_1155.jpg
14-07-05_1155.jpg Originally uploaded by Pauly_ . Scenes from London Thursday 11.55 - waiting outside to remember
The sound of a city united and unmoved
Just before noon today we gathered outside our building to observe two minutes silence for the victims of last Thursday's atrocities. As the clock tower tolled 12pm, a wave of silence crashed in as buses cabs and cars switched off their engines, people stopped what they were doing, and there was nothing at all but people on the street saying nothing, yet making an incredible statement.
Some people bowed their heads, but most didn't. It was a time to remember ...
Blogs: We're Not Afraid
As part of the response to the events of last Thursday the site We're not Afraid! is taking pictures sent in by people around the world in support of London. The city is bouncing back in many ways. Yesterday's raids and arrests were particularly important in raising the confidence of the population, but it also raises new questions...
Theatre: Billy Elliot
A chance lunchtime meeting near the Victoria Palace Theatre meant that I snapped up one of the few remaining tickets to Billy Elliot tonight. Now the critics have been raving (well some at least) that this is the greatest British Musical ever. Well, I don't know about that (I may have found it more enjoyable than Mary Poppins but that was pretty good too) but whatever ranking you give it, it certainly was an entertaining time. I was suspecting that they surely must have broken child labour laws given how heavily the show relies on its young male star. And of course no musical is complete nowadays without its star flying through the air (no matter how preposterous this may appear). But all that aside, tonight's Billy (there are three that rotate through the role) was quite good and you get the impression the adult cast are quite protective and supportive of their young stars which gave a great dynamic to the show as well.
As for the music, there a...
At a Covent Garden ball last night: Speaker : Ladies and Gentlemen, given the events of Thursday we had contemplated canceling tonight... But given the prevailing mood in London... (the room erupts into cheers). I went with A to the ball which had a burlesque theme. That basically meant there were lots of tits with tassels , which anybody I think can enjoy. After a vodka and orange and a bottle of cheap white wine (that wasn't so cheap) good times were ensued. During the course of the evening a photograph was taken of me involving two ladies, a whip, a paddle and A. It was nothing like it suggests however... There were also boys in period costume selling bamboo folding fans so I bought one of those. One lady commented that it appeared only the men were using these frilly little fans. Well, it was one of those sort of evenings. As I was wearing some rough denim and A was wearing leather trousers I did suggest that we could spend the rest of the night in some interesting bars around...
