tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60833052012-01-26T16:36:43.553ZPaul and Marc in LondonPaul is in London, Marc joins him. What happens next?Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3011100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1106870142678396392005-01-27T23:55:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:35:00.950ZNews: The games people play Monopoly has a new version coming out which is a bit of a Reality check where the prices of properties are much more expensive, and London's airports replace the railway stations. London's major modern landmarks also heavily feature... The games people play II And this is the last posting from this site. After a little over a year Marc and I are calling it a day Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1106747320299180092005-01-26T13:48:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:35:00.831ZNews: Its official Monday was depressing Yesterday the papers were asking So how blue was it for you? after a researcher pinpointed that 24 January is the most depressing day of the year as bills mount, January's salary is still a long way off, and it is cold and the nights are long... Oh and those New Years resolutions have been discarded by now as well so there goes all those hopes and dreams Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1106742205052905272005-01-26T12:23:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:35:00.665ZNews: Our home is girt by sea... Had it not been for the news that Trafalgar Square will have real sand and simulated surf "for those missing home" I would have forgotten that it was Australia Day. Live music, beach volleyball and a barbecue will be taking place as the temperature hovers between one and three degrees... If I do manage to leave work at a sensible hour (not likely I suspect) I Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1106594162819904992005-01-24T19:16:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:35:00.503ZCold Therapy at the Movies To get over my cold/flu on Sunday I took myself off to see A Very Long Engagement. It was good chicken soup. Although can a dog fart really cheer one's heart?? Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1106591046342415162005-01-24T18:24:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:35:00.271ZNews: A cutting finale Christian Slater was saved by a minder when someone attacked him as he tried to leave the theatre after his final performance of "One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest" on Saturday night. The minders fended off the attacker and Christian went off clubbing. He and his wife are on a trial separation so that's the way it goes... Christian does want to stay in London and do more Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1106590624478364902005-01-24T18:17:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:35:00.133ZNews: Taking a stand against crap A law lecturer was fined £150 for damaging the nativity scene at Madamme Tussauds last year. The Becks waxwork vandal was discharged, but he said he was taking a stand against crap. While that's all very well and good, he probably should not have paid his entrance fee using a credit card...Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1106590363147534802005-01-24T18:12:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:35:00.006ZNews: Losing it Londoners are forgetful people it turns out... Well those who ride in black cabs are, with the latest news that Cabs collect mountain of mobiles. They also collect iPODs, PDAs and Hampsters. I could do without a rodent (such as the one that is gnawing through the boards in the kitchen) but I could not do without my iPOD or my IPAQ... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1106346934793640052005-01-21T22:35:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:59.886ZAll the news for the tube If you get to work early enough (and usually that counts me out), you can pick up a free newspaper at the tube station on the way to work. It is a shit paper based on the Daily Mail but you can read it from cover to cover in 10 minutes and leave it on the tube for someone else to read it. Now there are plans to open the free paper monopoly to competition Now the only Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1106345264513636172005-01-21T22:07:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:59.762ZAt home for a few days... Spent the last few days getting over a cold... or rather a flu so have watched lots of silly television. Daytime television is all about how to add value to your property (or add security to it which in turn will add value). Tonight, while Marc has a work function to go to, I am watching Celebrity Big Brother evictions. It isn't as much fun now that Germaine Greer andPaul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1106092375040728372005-01-18T23:52:00.001Z2006-11-11T01:34:59.658ZTheatre: Heute Abend Lola Blau Marc had a work function tonight so I took myself off to the local New End Theatre to see Tonight Lola Blau. Its a fictional story of a Viennese Jewish Diva and her times and trials fleeing Austria, working in the US and then eventually returning to Austria to perform again. The work is based on the composer's experiences - Georg Kreisler - although the marketing Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1106058679102994962005-01-18T14:31:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:59.391ZNews: Flags and other structural changes Rainbow flags in soho bars are to come down because the gay pubs that fly them didn't obtain planning permission for the "structural change to their building". The Mayor of London (who has no power over the issue except to issue press releases) said that it constitutes a ban and 'attacks identity'...Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1105919453467072872005-01-16T23:50:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:59.264ZSunday at the V&A: While Marc worked, Paul went to visit the Victoria & Albert Museum at Kensington. The V&A has a new gallery on architecture, but it is famous for thousands of glass cabinets full of stuff in darkly lit rooms - this one had 19th Century vases. After a while your eyes adjust but I was worried about tripping over the Chippendale furniture on display (or anything else for that Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1105744469357564712005-01-14T23:14:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:59.124ZShopping in Carnaby Street for a bargain... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1105744413491026002005-01-14T23:13:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:59.025ZJewish Museum in Berlin: Went to the exhibition of Libeskind's works (he was the architecht of this museum) tonight at the Barbican. A fascinating display of building designs, art and sets (Libeskind was a musician before becoming a architect as well). There were shots of this staircase in the display - you enter the museum and walk up this staircase to the top and take the museum back down. A Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1105743428335934732005-01-14T22:57:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:58.899ZIce Skating at Broadgate Ice Rink... Not me of course... there is nobody on the ice in this shot... But I do intend to try skating before the month is out and hope to retain one's dignity... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1105723464073764302005-01-14T17:24:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:58.798ZNews: It's getting Nazi Puns aside, the press here are reporting on what the Germans are saying about Harry's stunt... and it has been a chance for the Germans to complain that the English only ever go on about the war... Well it is a touchy subject that is now leading to all sorts of soul-searching... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1105722886578993302005-01-14T17:14:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:58.693ZBerlin sightseer: Jewish Museum Reflecting on the Jewish Museum in Berlin I did walk away feeling uneasy. It wasn’t just the x-ray scanning and metal detection that you had to go through to enter, or the armed security guards on the outside of the building that caused the unease. Towards the end of the collection dealing with attitudes in post-war Germany there was documentation of the guilt, Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1105619545786711952005-01-13T12:32:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:58.565ZNews about the town: Royal Nazis Harry goes to a costume party in the new year and dresses like a Nazi, so there are growing calls for him to say sorry publicly (rather than have his family issue a press release on the matter). Again not the smartest move for the prince, given the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz later this month (27 January). Also, given the furor over the Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1105382668762452592005-01-10T18:44:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:58.448ZMusic: LSO to chill out by... Grabbed tix to a Sunday Night concert at the Barbican with the London Symphony Orchestra. They played Schumann's Violin Concerto which was so pleasant that Marc nearly fell asleep to it (had it not been for a well timed interjection of the timpani), Mahler's Fourth. It was an excellent concert, and post our visit to Berlin's Jewish Museum it had me thinking about Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1105378295602307362005-01-10T17:31:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:58.306ZTV in London over the weekend: Jerry! Jerry! Controversy over the weekend over the decision by BBC2 to screen Jerry Springer: The Opera. Religious groups burned their TV Licenses and tried to make dirty calls to the private phone lines of BBC Executives. The broadcast drew an audience of 1.7m viewers (which means even with all this controversy Match of the Day was more popular with more than Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1105055515212919262005-01-06T23:51:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:58.186ZAll quiet on the blog front...This will be my first and last post from Berlin... Have spent most of today shopping before we taKe the infamous 10pm Easyjet flight back to London...Enjoying a drink at a cafe that has free Wifi so using my PDA to scratch this message out! Some quick observations about Berlin:* Its a very smart city even with all that concrete * It hasn't been to cold... But a bit of hot German sausage and Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1105055134342058062005-01-06T23:45:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:58.077ZScenes from Berlin: Potsdamer Platz and the new regeneration that now covers where the Berlin wall once stood...  Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1105055025148406802005-01-06T23:43:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:57.953ZScenes from Berlin: New Years outside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church... Just a few young men with fireworks throwing them at people. Even before it was dark the explosions began and continued well into the morning. There were men (no women) in this plaza with plastic bags full of these exploding little things just lighting them and throwing them (sometimes at people or under cars)... Those Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1105054276073147892005-01-06T23:31:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:57.839ZScenes from Berlin: Up on the Reichstag.  Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1105053900747621602005-01-06T23:25:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:57.696ZScenes from Berlin: Currywurst in Potsdam (just outside of Berlin). No trip to Berlin is complete without trying the city's main contribution to cuisine... sausage with curry power added covered in sauce (usually mustard but this was ketchup) containing curry powder... Washed down with a good beer it was quite edible. Of course, sausage in Germany isn't like that tasteless stuff they serve in Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1105053456274535652005-01-06T23:17:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:57.579ZScenes from Berlin: Bratwurst at the Christmas Markets... The Bratwurst was fried and with chips and beer it made for a snack stop...  Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1105052723462444822005-01-06T23:05:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:57.442ZBoxing Day at the Heath: There was frost on the grass and everyone was rugged up taking in the view from Parliament Hill... and then came along these two pasty white joggers in shorts and t-shirts... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1105052219231891982005-01-06T22:48:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:57.322ZBack from Berlin I did scratch out a blog update on Monday on my PDA in a Berlin cafe but alas the technology failed me... What it said was a few quick observations about the city: * Berlin was a smart city... even with all that concrete and graffiti... * It was not too cold... and a bit of hot German sausage always helps... * Unlike the Parisians (and Londoners by accounts) the Berliners (the Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1104139340618116932004-12-27T09:22:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:57.193ZPost Christmas * It has been cold. But the ice on the streets didn't deter us (and hundreds of others) from going to the heath as it was such a clear day...* Marc liked the goat gift but disappointed he couldn't see his goat... Something for the charities to consider next time...* Off to Berlin Monday - flying out from Luton which is convenient (at least on paper)Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1103845037521739352004-12-23T23:37:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:57.072ZI started an office tradition a few months back of bringing liquorice allsorts in for everyone to eat. So it came as no surprise that I was given this large tin of allsorts for Christmas. I have left it on my desk for everyone to raid. It was given to me on Tuesday and it is half empty now... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1103844672390197142004-12-23T23:31:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:56.968ZPanto at the Old Vic Tuesday night Marc and I saw Ian McKellen in the pantomime Aladdin at the Old Vic Theatre. Pantomime is big around Christmas time with several theatres offering fairly decent productions with soap stars featuring in lead roles, but only the Old Vic had Ian McKellen in it and as Widow Twanky he gave it class and high camp... Its an experience to go to any pantomime, but when Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1103796954053490412004-12-23T10:15:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:56.832ZNews: Who is Sylvia? With all the talk this month about how it has been a miserable lead-up to Christmas with people writing poison pen letters to neighbours who have hideous Christmas lights on their homes and loony politicians trying to ban carolling, the Guardian has reported that this year's must-have present is... a goat. In fact over 30,000 Goat gifts have been sold... You don't get the Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1103497586379580652004-12-19T23:06:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:56.709ZNews: Scotish food The Scots have the highest incidence of coronary disease in the UK. Perhaps delicacies such as the deep fried mars bar has something to do with it. The mars bar is dipped in batter and deep fried, and according to an NHS study, fish and chip shops also deep fry various other chocolates... and pizzas... Of course the English surely can't be that much better. No sandwich here Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1103496791212721602004-12-19T22:53:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:56.577ZSunday afternoon West End Lane West Hampstead: It was sunny and everybody was out and about so it was just the place to go for lunch. Of course with temperatures across most of England and Wales taking a nosedive in the past 24 hours it was a little chilly... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1103496472493111922004-12-19T22:47:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:56.467ZThe night bus home at 1.10am on Regent Street. It was wet and it was cold... and you couldn't really see that much either... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1103496187686685902004-12-19T22:43:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:56.355ZJust another Saturday night at Canary Wharf: at a friend's birthday party there was a mix of french bubbly and Veuve Clicquot... in the bathtub no less... The flat was rented for the party for the weekend and for a luxury docklands appartment it was fitted out with an overabundance of white laminate and square basins... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1103236937337225712004-12-16T22:42:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:56.246ZNews: Don't panic... no celebrities were harmed Brad Pitt and Matt Damon couldn't flog Oceans 12 today at Claridges Hotel after fire broke out in the hotel's kitchen - which is run by Gordon Ramsey - and forced all movie stars to evacuate the building. This is a good hotel to hang outside of lurking about to spot celebrities if you don't have anything better to do with your life. Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1103236556359976232004-12-16T22:35:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:56.143Z"Phantom" windows at Dickens and Jones on Regent Street. The reflection in the window is of the new Apple store that opened opposite. Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1103236456466967612004-12-16T22:34:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:56.015ZStage Door, Covent Garden Tuesday night... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1103236409641555742004-12-16T22:04:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:55.905ZCatching up Found out that another friend Jorg (ex Brisbane/Sydney) has arrived in town so we caught up with him last night for a sensible drink and dinner. For a school night it turned out to be a long night, but there were plenty of people out and about doing shopping or just enjoying the silly season so we were in good company. Plus the weather was so mild and pleasant... We went for drinks Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1103233201511025012004-12-16T21:40:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:55.775ZNews: the end of the affair All the talk yesterday morning was around the growing allegations against the Home Secretary and his very odd behaviour on Monday night where he crashed the backbenchers Christmas party and serenaded them with an off-key version of Pick Yourself Up (an old Fred Astaire song that Sinatra also recorded). Before much analysis could be given into the bad timing of his Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1102981104277590552004-12-13T23:38:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:55.675ZNews: a blow for taste Last week it created a stir when Madamme Tussauds at Baker St (not really a tourist attraction for the culturally sophistimicated), put Posh and Becks as the all-star lineup in the nativity scene for the tourist attraction. Today someone had the good sense to attack the wax Beckhams so the display has been closed. The choice for Posh and Becks to play Joseph and the VirginPaul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1102979977079208822004-12-13T23:19:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:55.576ZSaturday night West Hampstead 10:36pm... A little less crowded, but the tree decorations on the lamp posts are festive... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1102979876796365242004-12-13T23:17:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:55.450ZSaturday night shoppers at Oxford Circus Tube... It was cold and crowded but everyone was in a good mood as a constant surge of people entered the tube station heading home with packages and boxes and the like...  Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1102726017764297382004-12-10T23:22:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:55.349ZNews: parking atrocities News today was that a south London council scooped the parking tickets award for the craziest parking ticket issued on a moped that was involved in a traffic accident. Londoners don't like parking tickets, even if they are parking on double yellow lines, single yellow lines before time or on the double red lines because basically, parking is such a bitch in this city. Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1102533516450595382004-12-08T19:18:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:55.208ZOut of action This week has been a hell of a week. Been off work since Monday after coming down with a stomach bug. Was so sick I missed seeing The History Boys so I definitely was unwell (Marc ended up seeing it and not rubbing in too much about how fantastic it is)... And then Marc has caught the flu as well (so much for flu shots as well)... Anyway on the plus side I didn't have to travel Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1102276153651546012004-12-05T19:31:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:55.090ZWhen Australians Party Marc and I were at a party until early Sunday morning. It was a birthday party where a lot of Australians were present so when it came to singing "happy birthday" it was quite loud and "for he's a jolly good fellow" became "for he's a jolly good sheila"... At one point I was asked by a Londoner why Australian gay men living in London usually partner with other Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1102187456723943082004-12-04T19:10:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:54.519ZA foggy Friday at West Hampstead. It was after 9am when this was taken... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1101861543433249572004-12-01T00:39:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:54.394ZNews: The great outdoors The National Archives is releasing fascinating stuff about complaints and police investigations into indecent behavior and male importuning in Hyde Park during the 1960s. So not much has changed... Although nowadays it seems much more structured...Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1101860486185197912004-11-30T23:52:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:54.288ZMusic: Poddies Now that I have finally have my iPOD, I have found that I can do all sorts of neat tricks. I can listen to the recently purchased double CD of Caroline, or Change, switch to Rufus Wainwright before jumping over to a track I downloaded off iTunes for 79p: Lime Jello Marshmallow Cottage Cheese Surprise. While there is some overlap, what's on Marc's iPOD and what's on mine is a Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1101682493621131472004-11-28T22:54:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:54.168ZTea anyone? Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1101682319102698512004-11-28T21:17:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:54.050ZThe night Victoria nearly got it from the N17 It was a surreal ending to Saturday night. There we were just outside Liverpool St Station having been awfully unsuccessful at finding a place that served both dessert and drinks at 12.30am and we saw this smartly dressed man in a fabulous coat walking with this woman, and then the woman started walking away from him to cross the street. The only Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1101676573906166322004-11-28T21:16:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:53.923ZChava Alberstein: Front row at the Barbican... well everyone else was taking photos so I thought I would sneak one too... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1101512006714073902004-11-26T23:33:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:53.805ZReading a left-over Evening Standard on the way home this week there was an article on using recycled tube seat covers as fashion items... Just think... millions of past asses on your top... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1101511342574378382004-11-26T23:22:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:53.702ZFriday night on the way home at Green Park tube: that black dot centre right is a tube mouse. They are too small and too quick to capture... But they entertained those waiting for the next tube... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1101508492281419322004-11-26T22:34:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:53.596ZLife after Ute I am glad it wasn't just me who thought Ute Lemper on Monday night was fantastic... The Times described it as one of one of "the most thrilling displays of multilingual, multifaceted musical virtuosity that London will enjoy this season" The rest of the week was just work and lots of listening to Ute (well for me anyway)... On the plus side: * Series two of Peep Show is on Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1101250285032876582004-11-23T22:51:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:53.482ZJust another opening of Parliament: Pop out of Westminster Tube and who do you see? Marc waving to the Queen as she rolls by, as Marc goes to work... Well okay Marc doesn't have a 1.3 megapixel camera phone, but that black blur with the horse in front is the Queen! Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1101169577331549212004-11-23T00:26:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:53.360ZMusic: The frivol in London Eight months ago I bought tickets to see Ute Lemper and it has been such a long wait. I don't think I have ever booked that far in advance for anything before. It also indicated a commitment to stay in London, and well hell, waiting to see an Ute Lemper concert is as good a reason as any. The benefits of the long wait meant that we had second row seats. This wasn't Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1101056445429284532004-11-21T17:00:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:53.233ZSaturday night shoes at Baker St tube station: Marc's new shoes are white now... but I have stepped on them twice already, and the usual London grime should change that! Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1101056308612913842004-11-21T16:58:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:53.124ZFriday night at the corner of Wardour St and Old Compton Rd Soho: Its only 8:56pm so it is too early for the outdoor porta-urinals to be in demand... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1101056096904899422004-11-21T16:54:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:53.028ZOxford Street Christmas Lights 2004: they look more like searchlights... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1101055477638817752004-11-21T16:44:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:52.811ZNews: Meritocracy V Aristocracy part II Oh and tomorrow Prince Charles is to tell a gathering of Bishops tomorrow at Lambeth Palace that he is a firm believer in the Education system and the meritocracy. After this weeks unusual little spat between the Education Secretary and the Prince it seems that the Prince wanted the record to be set straight... And a good thing too... It really was a stormPaul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1101043719535325682004-11-21T13:28:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:52.714ZFriday, Saturday, Sunday... Cold and coffeeFriday night Marc called me to meet him in Soho. After failing to get returns to Sarah McLaughlan at Hammersmith Apollo, he decided to head to Soho to pick up his new frames. Marc forgot to get tix to Sarah and they were sold out by the time he realised his folly. I consoled him by suggesting that Sarah has been to London twice this year so she is bound Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1100824602345203582004-11-19T01:36:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:52.614ZNews: Abbey Road clean up The Beatles may have written a few crap songs, but their fans keep leaving crap messages all over Abbey Road. The locals have complained enough that Westminster Council has agreed to a regular clean up for the Beatles tribute wall. One Councillor questioned the need to write graffiti on a wall where they recorded music over thirty years ago as not the most appropriate Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1100823295109462202004-11-19T01:14:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:52.434ZTheatre: It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that Schweigen-reigen-schone-schutzen-schmutzen sauerbraten...Last Friday night when we got in late, there was an arts programme on the BBC and various critics were discussing The Producers - the Mel Brooks musical that opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane last Tuesday night. One arts crit said, "It was a comedy orgasm!" After seeing it last night Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1100823655456994872004-11-19T00:20:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:52.528ZIs there any other? Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1100644755272965132004-11-16T22:39:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:52.333ZArt in London: Mobile cameras An exhibition in London opens this week highlighting art created by using photos taken from mobile phones. Brit Art icon Tracey Emin, known for such works as "All the People I Have Ever Slept With" (which went up in smoke earlier this year in warehouse fire) has photographed her own feet... Mobile phone cameras are pretty handy. The majority of pictures I post on Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1100639411902890042004-11-16T21:10:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:52.237ZNews: Stitch and Bitch in Brixton It isn't all dodgy fare in Brixton. This weekend, the Ritzy Cinema (a London Landmark... and located in Brixton) is holding a knitters session of that new Bridget Jones movie. Knitchicks are the group responsible. The cinema lights will be left on and that should enable knitters to do whatever they do best. Although it is called a "stitch and bitch" session so Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1100467243875733342004-11-14T21:20:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:52.152ZHampstead Heath Sunday at 4pm: Before winter sets in (although it was still bloody freezing), it is a good idea to see the parks and gardens while the trees still have leaves on them. With half an hour of daylight left, it is the best time to go.  Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1100466791364939642004-11-14T21:13:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:52.049ZHampstead Heath Sunday at 4pm: Walking from Parliament Hill Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1100466487548195122004-11-14T21:08:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:51.857ZHampstead Heath Sunday at 4pm: The view from Parliament Hill looking south over London Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1100466384919345162004-11-14T21:06:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:51.763ZHampstead Heath Sunday at 4pm: The approach towards Parliament Hill Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1100444031286814842004-11-14T14:53:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:51.677ZSunday at the Hampstead Cricket Club... They were closed so we figured they wouldn't mind us capturing the view... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1100443926683483802004-11-14T14:52:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:51.590ZSaturday night shopping - Regent Street: The Christmas Lights on Regent Street were switched on last Monday. Next week they will be switched on on Oxford Street...  Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1100443653284643032004-11-14T14:47:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:51.500ZShow: Taking it up the Amazon with the Translucent Frogs of QuuupAlways on the lookout for something strange and unusual to go to, I convinced Marc that heading to the Kings Head Theatre to see this quirky show on Friday night would be a good thing. Plus I managed to get a good deal on the tickets. The Kings Head is really a pub around Islington that just happens to have a space out the back thatPaul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1100207801357070772004-11-11T21:00:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:51.407ZNow you see 'em Marc took back his new specs yesterday. He had been seeing double vision over the weekend and it wasn't because of his new super powers. They were out by 10mm as somebody couldn't count at the optometrists... He won't be able to fight crime until at least Tuesday now. Actually I reminded Marc that my comment about the "fighting crime" with his new glasses was simply because of Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1100129604988488012004-11-10T23:33:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:51.304ZFinding Bridget The movie isn't that great, but Film London has a spot where Bridget Jones was filmed. Spotting the locations did add some sense of drama to the movie... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1100126892733204132004-11-10T22:48:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:51.214ZTV: Musicality Only in the UK would you get a reality documentary on a group of young hopefuls that want to break into musical theatre - and it is commercial television: Musicality. Of course the output of the creative industries in the UK dwarfs the GDP of most nations so perhaps that helps. Anyway it has been an interesting little documentary to watch as computer programmers and box office Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1100124719629074432004-11-10T22:11:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:51.104ZHeading home: Swiss Cottage tube at 8.21pm.  Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1100051411036106702004-11-10T01:50:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:51.011ZTick tock tick tock It is 1.47am and I am still awake... Have just put the finishing touches on a job application that I had been working on this evening... In other parts of London I hear Bridget Jones had its premiere. I told a colleague that it wasn't as good as the original but she was a fan of Colin Firth so I said well there are plenty of shots of him strutting about London so you will Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1099867426654139792004-11-07T22:43:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:50.918ZSmoke and mist and fireworks on a Sunday night in London...  Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1099867158564890242004-11-07T22:39:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:50.804ZGuy Fawkes and Fireworks in the mist To mark when those rowdy Catholics tried to blow up parliament (rather ineptly as well), we decided to join our friends at the Cleveland Square Fireworks display. Cleveland Square is a private garden in central London and this event draws a few thousand people to partake in a bonfire, light-show and fireworks display at close range. Last year's display lookedPaul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1099864885420035412004-11-07T22:01:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:50.707ZHow to order coffee in London: In Australia it is called a "long black" but don't ask for that in Europe as they will look at you as if you are a weirdo. Black coffee here often means "shit filter coffee" so Marc's preference is to ask for a double expresso with hot water on the side. Got that? This cafe in West Hampstead knows how to make coffee too...  Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1099864702366720442004-11-07T21:58:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:50.609ZSunday full english breakfast in West Hampstead... Hey it was lunchtime so it doubled as lunch as well...  Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1099864462013039962004-11-07T21:54:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:50.522ZMild escapism at the Barbican: Bridget Jones In preview this weekend was Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. Marc and I went as we needed a break from work and preparing for job interviews. The plot really wasn't much to speak of, and there was odd middle section where Bridget is in Thailand and ends up going to prison, but in the end Bridget becomes a better person and that was warm and fuzzy Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1099762721876104292004-11-06T17:38:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:50.420ZAutumn at West Hampstead: Marc walks home with shopping, blissfully unaware that I had stopped to take a photo with my phone. This week a colleague at work asked about my phone. I told her that I was just dazzled by its flashy lights and smart design. She told me that she expected that would be my motivation. Hmmm... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1099762177190355962004-11-06T17:29:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:50.322ZFashion at the Maccas: This young gent was snapped ordering a happy meal in central London wearing this interesting fur jacket. Incidentally, the latest thing for head shavers is this new ergonomic headblade scalp razor. Bald is in if you have the head for it... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1099761809686390082004-11-06T17:00:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:50.224ZMore gay hate crimes: Thursday morning a tourist from Europe was repeatedly stabbed on a Night Bus by some sub-human as well. Not the brightest of thugs either as CCTV on the bus has a good photo of him so it is only a matter of time before he is caught. The victim's injuries were not life-threatening and is expected to be released from hospital this weekend. Smoke and Bangers There was the Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1099760097960294522004-11-06T16:54:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:50.084ZFriday night in London: We skipped most of the Guy Fawkes fireworks and headed to Soho where a demonstration and rememberance service was being held for David Morley who was killed last weekend in an apparent homophobic attack. Thousands were in soho in Old Compton Street and this stretched over to St Anne's Church in neighbouring Wardour Street. It was a statement for tolerance and justice. Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1099611387501945602004-11-04T23:36:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:49.999ZNews in London Six have been arrested over the barman murder from the weekend. It seems that there was enough CCTV and witnesses to identify them. Also two have been charged for nicking Wil Young's things at his Holland Park home. His laptop containing lyrics to new songs he was writing has not been recovered. I don't think we will miss anything... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1099610739887320892004-11-04T23:25:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:49.912ZDays like this: Ok so it now gets dark at 4.30, but the little light we have can be so gorgeous... just another sunny day in South London (this was taken just after 2pm)... Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1099352543452901102004-11-01T23:42:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:49.794ZNews: Murder and elections Today's news was all about a Soho nail bomb survivor murdered early Sunday morning on the Southbank. It is suspected to be part of a series of homophobic attacks that took place on the Southbank in the wee hours of Sunday morning near and around the Hungerford (train) bridge. A bit of a concern for such a series of attacks to take place in such a busy part of central Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1099351105285184852004-11-01T23:18:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:49.703ZCaught up with Patrick and Florent in London Sunday... Daylight saving is over so it was dark and it was cold for visiting frogs... Hungerford bridge is dark to the right...  Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1099159865834614482004-10-30T18:11:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:49.594ZTheatre news: Sondheim 2 At Ballans last night, Stephen asked me "You must have been really bored before you got here..." Well time moved a lot slower back home, but whatever city you live in, you need to know where all the good stuff is. For Theatre in London, you can't go better than Whatsonstage.com, which gives its take on Thursday's session with Sondheim and hisconcerns about dumbing down Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1099152512865918362004-10-30T16:08:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:49.511ZAutumn in London: After brunch in Belsize Park Saturday with some friends, we went for a wander around the neighbourhood and up to Primrose Hill. The neighbourhood is home to various celebrities that I don't care much about, but on such a brilliantly clear and sunny day it is just great for walking and wandering.  Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1099152185029572332004-10-30T16:03:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:49.425ZConcert: Rufus Wainwright - a little bit LiberaceLast night we caught Rufus Wainwright at the Barbican. Rufus is a hard man to pigeon-hole in the world of popular music. He is a little bit pop, a little bit folk, a little bit country and a little bit camp. Actually his performance is a lot of camp. At many points last night Marc and I wondered how someone who could sing so straight act so camp, Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1099001928447649622004-10-28T22:18:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:49.322ZAt the theatre: Something peculiar, something SondheimAt the National Theatre tonight we saw Stephen Sondheim. He had just seen the matinee of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Forum" and was interviewed on the stage ahead of tonight's performance. Naturally it was an audience of Sondheim groupies - little old ladies, theatre professionals, theatre students, gay men.  But during the course ofPaul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1098824527441209802004-10-26T21:02:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:49.241ZNews: Fathers exposed Today the Daily Mirror reveals the background of the Fathers for Justice campaigners. Looks like the dream run of publicity is about to fade as nobody wants to know what Spiderman did in a men's toilet...Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1098639605412482502004-10-24T17:40:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:49.135ZIn London: Lunch on Saturday Marc and I caught up with a former colleague of his for lunch on Saturday at The Bombay Brasserie. Marc's friend said that the food was amongst the best Indian in London so we went there for the lunch buffet. We did enjoy ourselves, although I insisted on being a philistine and eating with cutlery rather than doing the Indian thing of eating with one's right hand. Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083305.post-1098629162151074032004-10-24T14:46:00.000Z2006-11-11T01:34:49.021ZTheatre bits: Dreyfuss out, lane in... The posters around town still have Richard Dreyfuss on for "The Producers" but The Guardian today gives a definitive lowdown on what went wrong for The Producers? Here's hoping Nathan Lane isn't off on November 17. The date I have booked for tix to the show...Paul In Londonnoreply@blogger.com