Paul in London

Weather Changes Continue Still foggy and misty. However just after 8am I got a text from the former flatmate saying he was glad that we caught up and guy-who-took-room-after-me was after my number and would I mind sharing it. At this point I realised it was the standard two days before somebody makes enquiries about getting numbers. Earlier than two days is not the done thing (you don't want to look desperate), but I was surprised getting it so early while I was in an 8am meeting... When I finally got out of the meeting I spent about half an hour crafting a response, as I figured this was a message that was going to be read fairly widely. My former flatmates are such awful gossips. Bless their hearts. Overheard in gym tonight Muscle Mary #1: Now that he's gone I don't want to have anything to do with him anymore. Muscle Mary #2: Yeah the break-up can be tough... Muscle Mary #1: Of course, if he pays to fly me to New York, I'll be there! After 9pm at the gym, everyone

Weather changes Weather today was misty, wet and cold. What happened to Spring? Given the lousy weather I decided to skip gym and come home early. It was not related to: Catching up with old flatmates from Haringey and having three or four (or possibly five) Becks over the course of the afternoon Flatmates wanted all the gory details of the breakup but I just said there weren't any. "When somebody just can't stand the sight of you anymore you know it isn't all about you... So just move on" I told them. Have made mental note to include that line in any future book on postmodern advice that I may write... Staying out extra longer with the guy who took the room after me. Wasn't quick enough to make silly jokes about "sharing the same bed"... This was probably not a bad thing Heading out again around 11pm to catch up with a nice Jewish boy from California in Central London. This time it was vodka. It was all very responsible (and quite enjoyable at the t

Scenes from Tottenham Court Road: Old bomb shelter in background... Old VW golf in front... 

Movie: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou Finally caught The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou tonight. Its a great film but it is nearing its main run in London cinemas so I saw it in the bowels of a cinema on Leicester Square. This was rather unfortunate as given its depth underground, the red lights that were throughout the cinema and the smell of bleach that permeated the air, you could have been forgiven for thinking that it was an "adult" cinema... But this was Leicester Square not Piccadilly Circus circa 1970 so it was very legitimate commercial fare, although the film itself was a relief to be a little different from your standard issue three-act movie comedy/drama...

Scenes from Embankment Tube 22.58. A quiet night underground... 

Technology and the thoroughly modern lifestyle Today it occurred to me that between my flatmate and I we have 3 televisions 3 VCRS 3 dvd players / burners 2 computers 3 digital cameras Its a lot of junk to have... Not to mention the PDA and the iPOD. All this technology reminded me of being in Fopp yesterday (which is a great music, dvd, books and record store) and heard a new track from Daft Punk's latest album - Human After All "technologic": Buy it, use it, break it, fix it, trash it, change it, melt - upgrade it, charge it, pawn it, zoom it, press it, snap it, work it, quick - erase it, write it, get it, paste it, save it, load it, check it, quick - rewrite it, plug it, play it, burn it, rip it, drag and drop it, zip - unzip it, lock it, fill it, curl it, find it, view it, curl it, jam - unlock it, surf it, scroll it, pose it, click it, cross it, crack it, twitch - update it, name it, read it, tune it, print it, scan it,

TV: The return of Dr Who Last night while I was off at the National, I did set the VCR to record the return of Dr Who. Naturally fans gathered to mark Doctor Who comeback . Although not a fan, any show that features a man-eating wheelie bin can't be all that bad...

Scenes from Tottenham Court Road Saturday 3pm. Scientologists and Protesters collide outside their main shop (for non celebrities) in London. And I have to walk past this every day... A few police were on hand to make sure it was all kept civil...  

Theatre: His Dark Materials Part II Snapped up a front row seat to see His Dark Materials Part II at the Olivier theatre. Based on the stories of Phillip Pullman, they have turned it into two three hour plays that cover epic journeys, religion, morality, good and evil and so on and so on... I figured Part I may have covered a lot of exposition in its three hour length, and so the three hours of Part II may have been more about the action. It actually doesn't work out like that ( given both parts have different stories to tell ) but anyway. Sitting in front row meant that as the stage rose and sunk and moved around you did tend to miss out on the action, but you also got the sense at times you were part of the action. It was quite a spectacle and something that really used all the tricks of the Olivier Theatre. Even more of a spectacle were some of the actors and puppeteers, (although that has less to do with the overall appeal of the show and more about my personal taste)... It wa

Scenes from Skanky London: Centre Point plaza at Tottenham Court Road Saturday afternoon...