Paul in London

The move? I may have found a new place to live. Will have to sort out the details tomorrow but it is a small flatshare in central London. I discussed this option with my colleague at work and she pointed out: * I go home late * I like old buildings * I got on well with the potential flatmate So it all seems like the logical thing to do... But that means that this weekend will mean I have to start moving... Moving Which books are yours? Which tapes and dreams belong to you and which are mine? - From "Where Do You Start" Johnny Mandel and Marilyn & Alan Bergman In reality however: * All the computer magazines and tech books are not mine * All the books about literature and art (and the Tube) are mine * Most of the CDs and DVDs (of Elaine Stritch and Betty Buckley) are mine. Simple. Cleaning There is a product that has been around for a few months called Cillit Bang which has caused a bit of minor storm amongst the domesticated since it is one of the few cleaners on the mar

Scenes from Westminster Tube 9:15pm 

Living: The hunt continues Went to Ravenscourt Park (near Hammersmith) to see another place. Definitely would take it if offered. Don't know if I passed the "beauty contest"... Since I was late coming from work (again). It was the first place where the person offering it described a 10 minute walk as 10 Minutes. This was unusual given the London exaggerations such as: * A five minute walk really takes ten to fifteen minutes * Close to shops and transport links means forget about getting to them without a car * Modern furnishings = Ikea * 8" = 6" Its all part of the games people play in London. Sometimes you just have to go what-evaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. Actually I say that at work a bit and for a skinny white guy saying that, it gets lots of cheap laughs. News: Ken not sorry London Mayor - that's the Mayor of the Congestion Charge and general publicity - Ken Livingstone is in hot water for likening a reporter to a concentration camp guard. While most reporters

Scenes from the tube 22:20: Heading home from a flatshare hunt in the east end of London. Seat coverings in garish yellow and "back the bid" logos... As for the place at Mile End... Great place and unusually large as it is a warehouse conversion...  

Music: What I am listening to... Today despite the 2500 my iPOD tells me I have on it, I realised I need more music for the gym. I do have music but it is the same music I had two years ago and it seems so 2003. Music is all about association and I didn't need to re-live two years ago. So I went to HMV to get Kylie's "Body Language" album, and picked up a reissue of Liza's album with the Pet Shop Boys from 1989. But thinking of Bernstein's Candide from last night I did like the following lines from the final number Make Our Garden Grow : "Let dreamers dream What worlds they please Those Edens can't be found. The sweetest flowers, The fairest trees Are grown in solid ground." A stanza for those very sensible realists out there in the world no doubt... Moving: What move? Oh that move Before I move out of the current quarters, it is probably worth noting for the record that from today I officially living alone in West Hamps

Saturday Night at Leicester Square 8:49pm: Thousands waited and watched the cars of stars go by at the BAFTAS. I was just walking by. Forgot that Cate, Leo et al were attending and already inside. 

Up and down on the Piccadilly Line Today looked at: 1. A place near Holburn - Excellent place in a sensible London location, but I don't think I will get it as I didn't think I bonded with the person there. Later today saw the guy at the gym I have just joined. We both had iPODs on so follow-up conversation was not required... 2. A place near Earl's Court - Nice place and large room sharing with a couple. It was made clear that the spotless kitchen was "the way it always is". I started having flashbacks to leaving coke cans on kitchen tabletops in Haringey. Still the couple were interesting enough and we chatted for a while. Providing I didn't use the kitchen for anything more than getting a glass of water I guess I could live there. Actually, the kitchen was in a very odd place. It was an alcove off the living room and there was no dining area. The area they used as a bedroom was the obvious choice to put the kitchen I thought but I guess that would make th

News: Crushes and constitutions In the past two days: * Charles proposes (and nobody seems to care) to his long-term mistress. Constitutional experts and the tabloids seem to show most interest. Thursday night Camilla was in a red dress so The Sun splashed the headline The Lady in Wed ... Weally... * Ikea store opens in North London and people are crushed and several hospitalised while trying to get a £45 flat pack sofa . Emergency services couldn't get to the store as people had abandoned cars on the motorway in search of a bargain. Once again proof to never get in the way of Londoners and their insatiable desire for a bargain. A stabbing was attributed to the store opening as well until it was determined to be an unrelated gangland incident that happened nearby Music: Candide Went to BBC Concert Orchestra's Candide tonight. The audience seemed a bit ambivalent to the concert until "Glitter and Be Gay" was performed by Carla Huhtanen (it was that sort of audience)..

News: Now f*ck off and cover something important you tw*ts Alastair Campbell's advice sent by blackberry in error to BBC's Newsnight team . Know your technology.

Scenes from the Metropolitan Line Monday 9.59pm. Rush Hour has passed...