A Lost Appetite

I apologise to those few readers who enjoy my experiences in London written here on this corner of the internet. Personally I have been finding it very difficult to find any sort of employment or experience in the world of journalism right now here in London. It’s all about who you know, about getting your foot in the door and all this other malarky I keep telling myself on a daily basis.

This is not the place to discuss my current state of unemployment, however. I have been in a bit of a funk recently because of my situation. It is amazing how quickly a lack of budget and buzz expunges a want to explore all the corners of the wonderful city of London. When I first moved over I was filled with all of the zeal of the stereotypical tourist. I wanted to see it all and explore all there is to offer in the Capital. I had my camera and notebook in my bag and my little blue oyster card brought me to plenty of wonderful locations around the city.

Now I fear I have lost my wanderlust for London. I hope against all hopes it is a temporary state – just like my unemployment. It does mean that this blog will not see as much action as I would like. Part of it is budget, and most of it is passion. Right now I am trapped in this city, a city I moved to because I believed it would offer me something my place in Ireland never could. Think of my relationship with London as being on a break. Until things get better we will remain apart.

I am confident it will only be a short bump in the road, as these things take time. I look forward to seeing and discovering all the secrets this place has to offer, but for the time being I must focus on sending out CVs and Cover Letters. Look forward to lots more in the future, and thank you for your support up until now.

Avenue Q

There’s not much time so I can’t go into extreme detail. Avenue Q is closing its London after a nearly 5 year run on at the end of October. The show began as an Off-Broadway production in New York, therefore the cast is only 8 people strong and don’t expect any huge dance numbers, revolving stages or transforming buses name Priscilla. However Avenue Q is one of the funniest musicals I have ever come across. I had heard some of the songs before, (The Internet is for Porn being a popular YouTube meme) but I wasn’t prepared for the tears I would be shedding while clutching my stomach in the theatre seat.

In a few words, Avenue Q is basically Sesame Street for adults. It is full of songs, lessons and advice about how loud to be while having sex, what to do with a degree in english and how it’s okay to be gay. Yes, there are puppets which I feel make it easier to get away with some of the dirtier lines. Keep an eye out for The Bad Idea Bears, they are my favourite. Unfortunately the London production is coming to an end, however if you get a chance I highly recommend going to see it. I warn that Avenue Q is not the usual West End production, but the performers are extremely talented, it’s full of laughs and the music is brilliant. Not a bad way to spend a night.

Carnaby Catwalk

Forget about Oxford Street and Reagent Street. As far as I am concerned the best place for a bit shopping is on Carnaby Street, and the shops there wanted to show off this fact by having a bunch of models strut their stuff on a runway as long as the street itself. The music was blaring, the models were fierce and the clothes were great. Apart from the old couple in front of me taking photos like it was Big Ben – I felt like a regular Anna Wintour.

I didn’t go looking for this show, simply stumbled across it. The whole thing was a wonderful surprise, and I picked out a few pieces I will definitely be hunting down in the shops found on Carnaby Street. Hit the jump for a few more pictures of pouty girls and pompous guys in some nice clobber.

Time And Relative Dimensions In Space

A real life Public Call Police Box can be found outside Earl’s Court Underground Station. As a Doctor Who fan I was very enamoured with it and I highly recommend a visit if you want to be really cool like me…

Snog

Frozen yoghurt has yet to have the impact and popularity it has in the States here in the UK, but one company is trying to appeal to the cool, hipster and web savvy customer. With a catchy name and an even kitschier decor, Snog Frozen yoghurt shops make sure you feel instantly apart of a clique of people who are too cool for ice-cream.

As a healthier alternative, you won’t get your artificial sugar fix here, however the frozen treat is just as appetising. Offering a plethora of toppings, large portions and three types of yoghurt (natural, chocolate & green tea flavours) – there is something for everyone at Snog. It is the perfect after dinner digestive for those with sensitive tummies, the shops are beautifully designed and a pleasure to sit in if you can find a free seat. However a Snog can be easily enjoyed as an on the go snack.

The lights were too cool not to snap a picture of

Thames Clipper

I highly recommend every person take a ride on the Thames clipper when visiting London. Not only is it a practical form of transport, but it also gives great views of London from the River Thames. It’s not that expensive and Oyster card users with weekly or monthly passes get a discount. If you want the best view of Tower Bridge then you better climb aboard the Thames Clipper.

The o2 Arena

Apologies for the lack of updates friends, but I really haven’t been up to much recently as all has been very busy with things that do not make for good blog posts. However this evening I did make a trip to the o2 Arena, of previous Millennium Dome fame. I didn’t attend the Rod Stewart concert that was going on, but I did walk about – go to one of the restaurants and the cinema. Needless to say I feel the old girl is showing her age. The once pristine white cannopy is now a bit yellowish brown and once you are inside it takes away from the impressive sight that it is. The selection of entertainments is sparse. There’s the cinema, the roller rink and various chain restaurants that is just not acceptable for anyone visiting London to taste some great original food.

As I said, I wasn’t inside the main venue, which no doubt is very impressive. My advice would be not to travel to this particular destination unless you are actually attending a concert as otherwise it feels like the very worst kind of tourist attraction – filled with all the creed held by the worst American Mall type locations.

Did you know?

That artificial food colouring isn’t really approved here in the European Union (cause it may kill you slowly or something), therefore when making a rainbow cake one has to make do with natural food colouring which isn’t as vibrant. However I do believe it remains impressive and was delicious all the same. I’m very proud to have given my entire Friday to making it!

Sweet Popcorn?

I approach the drinks and treats desk at my local film theatre and ask for a large coke and a medium popcorn. The baseball hat wearing clerk nods and then grunts at me, “Salted or Sweet?”

As a reflex I ask for salted popcorn and make my way to the screen. I sunk into my seat and tasted my popcorn. Indeed it was salted but I could sense that this popcorn lived next door to a sweet popcorn and because of this there were sweet undertones to my salted variety.

I miss popcorn that’s popped in coconut oil, slathered in butter and laced with cholesterol. I guess there’s a market here in London for sweet popcorn but I will never be able to get my head around it. It’s something I will never agree upon – at this point in time the Irish cinema experience is leaps and bounds ahead of the British one.

Fiona Banner, Harrier and Jaguar @ Tate Britain

From the Tate Website:

Banner places recently decommissioned fighter planes in the incongruous setting of the Duveen Galleries. For Banner these objects represent the ‘opposite of language’, used when communication fails. In bringing body and machine into close proximity she explores the tension between the intellectual perception of the fighter plane and physical experience of the object. The suspended Sea Harrier transforms machine into captive bird, the markings tattooing its surface evoking its namesake the Harrier Hawk. A Jaguar lies belly up on the floor, its posture suggestive of a submissive animal. Stripped and polished, its surface functions as a shifting mirror, exposing the audience to its own reactions. Harrier and Jaguar remain ambiguous objects implying both captured beast and fallen trophy.