Paul in London

Overheard at the gym tonight: Muscle Mary: You know I had no idea that they were living together. No idea. None. None at all. Just no idea!

Scenes from Victoria Tube Wednesday 22:57. Four weeks on from 7/7 some figures: Seven million Londoners One London 6000 police on the streets Thursday A 15% drop in weekday tube commuters 600% increase in hate crimes One cunt in a cave

Concert: Ravi Shankar A was very impressed that he was adding to my cultural enrichment by getting me a ticket (due to a last-minute cancellation by a relative of his) to see Ravi and Anoushka Shankar in concert at the Proms. It was a wondrous and uplifting evening of musical meditation. Well for the most part. The first half consisted of a piece by Param Vir Horse Tooth White Rock which sounded interesting in parts but it also had some very loud percussion sections. I had warned A previously that loud percussion can make me jump unexpectedly and this was no exception. It was a pity that I wasn't sitting with A so he didn't see this very undignified jolt. But his relatives who I was sitting with did, and this amused them for the rest of the performance... Well, one can't always be dignified and graceful. After this loud and noisy piece, Shankar's Sitar Concerto followed. It was a welcome relief and I think most of the audience felt this way... You could fee

Afternoon Banter A: I have a spare ticket to see Ravi Shankar at the Proms tonight. Are you free to come? Paul: Sure, I only had my fallback plan of going to the gym. But what will be "the make up" of the audience? A: Oh it will be a night of a thousand saris. Have you got yours?

Movie: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory After a hectic day in the office I decided to go and see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory . It was playing at the Ritzy Cinema in Brixton, which is a grand old theatre that is a feature on the high street which has great seats and a good sound system... No trip to Brixton is complete without a visit to the cinema (although try and get to see a film in the main cinema and not in the extended bit)... As for the movie, I recently had a discussion with a Gene Wilder devotee who was passionately arguing that nobody could come near his comic genius. I thought that was all very well but that first movie had all those dreadful songs and departed from the book in several key places. Besides, I thought Johnny Depp would make this far more interesting and he did by becoming Michael Jackson. There is a scene towards the end where Wonka tries to lure Charlie away from his family into his big glass elevator so they could live together - and alone - which su

31-07-05_1655s Originally uploaded by Pauly_ . Scenes from Soho Pride Sunday 16:55 - Just another excuse to show off some more flesh from Soho Pride really. No other reason...

Crimes and Meat It isn't everyday you have a crime scene out of the window. This morning around 4.30am a group of youths stabbed a boy. The story unfolds but will be front page of the South London Press Tuesday. And Scotch Beef ads are back on TV. They show a very muscular man in a kilt eating a big ol' hunk of beef. I had some last night. Delicious. Overheard at the Gym Tonight Man #1: So how much more have you got to do? Man #2: Well I have to do my abs... Man #1: Yeah... Man #2: And I think I might do my obliques... Man #1: Yeah... Man #2: And I think I might do some stretches... Man #1: Uh huh... Man #2: And then I might do a bit on the treadmill... Man #1: How about I meet you later?

Scenes from Soho Pride Sunday 19:07 - A few sensible drinks outside Rupert Street... Standing amongst the shaved headed lads...

Scenes from Old Compton Street Soho Pride Sunday 17:08. A view from above of the carnival atmosphere... It was also the chance to look down and do some serious people watching...

Scenes from Soho Pride Sunday 16:50 at Soho Square. Today the punters came to Soho for a big gay street party. The weather even warmed up enough to make wearing a shirt unfortunately optional for many... Still there were some nice fit people out and about. Walking home from the theatre on Saturday evening at this same location I saw some gentlemen who had featured in some straight-to-video films that are popular amongst the gay community. They were wearing t-shirts that proclaimed what Eastern European production company they belonged to. A was not familiar with Bel Ami so I had to explain their cultural significance...