Inspired by the Uninspiring

 Shepherds Bush, September 2003.AB and I on our first night in the flat.




Busy weekend just gone.. Saturday was spent with the Tom watching the 6 nations. England and Wales won so we both were happy enough. Tom and I have watched the England v Wales match up 9 of the last 10 years and it reminds of of University days in the Social Bar. Sunday I met friends to watch the Ireland game (they lost a close game to France). I thought it was best to watch it in a Irish bar, Waxy O'Conners, and get used to being surrounded by green shirts. Left shortly after kick off to head to the Butlers for a Sunday lunch. 


After a great meal (including the best carrots I have had) and wine, talk moved to me moving. That of course led to reminiscing about moving here in the first place. When Andy and I moved here we know only a couple of people between us and we had no idea what living here was going to be like or for how long it would  be for. All we knew was that we were both in drama schools and it was going to be exciting.. and it has been. I might write about that next. 


Not the most inspiring post I've written but it has reminded me of a few things I do want to write about. It hasn't been a waste! 

Waterloo

Waterloo Bridge 09:00 14/02/11




Not written anything for a while but will soon. I could have got to work earlier this morning but I went out of my way to take a walk across Waterloo bridge. Your in London but can see London...

Painting a bad picture

Attended the opening night of the Green Week Exhibition at Central St Martins. It was a successful night for the curators. The work was varied and good all round. My particular favourite was a series of lockers containing items the artist had found. They all had signed tags attached to them and you are encouraged to take an item with you as long as you promise to appreciate it. Enjoyed the essential private view red wine in a plastic cup and a few crisps of mixed flavours. When everyone had left we locked up and had an unnecessary pint of IPA in the Shakespeare's Head near Holborn tube with JR and RW. Then another. I bounded on to the tube with a full confidence that I could make the 45 min journey home in 18 mins to meet the Tesco delivery I had ordered (22:00-23:00 slot). It turns out that a 45 min journey takes 45 mins. A 45 min journey can also end in a telling off on your own doorstep by a Tesco delivery driver. I would have argued but I fully deserved it.

Woke early for a squash rematch with JR. JR, stung by his last defeat raced to a 2-0 lead. With a mixture of good play and outrageous fortune I levelled it to 2-2. With the unnecessary IPA  starting to influence matters we were both shattered at the start of the decider. The game got what it deserved and we ended up on 8-8 with me serving and JR calling to my  and possibly his surprise, that we play to 9 (the wise choice is 10). Jack killed my serve and he had his turn to  serve for the match. It was a fantastic point and  with us both wanting to win it happened..... I played a deft drop short to the bottom left corner. Jack got there and played a even defter (more deft?) dink that grazed the wall and fell at his feet. My lanky legs propelled me forward, desperately forward. I thrust my poor quality but overpriced racket low,narrowly missing the retreating JR. It was close.....I missed.......................I called a let.......the next point.....I won........I win.........but I didn't win...........not really..........and not really winning hurts far more than losing.

My Bedside Table

The book in the picture was excellent. It just under 1000 pages and if you do read it take notes as you go. It is full of abbreviations, code names and acronyms. It also follows a topic (eg the Cambridge Five) from start to finish and then jumps back in time to follow the next topic. The notes idea only occurred to me 40 pages from the end with a realisation that was sudden and maddening.

Would I have taken this photo if I was reading a terrible book?....maybe not. The fact is though I am unlikely to be reading a embarrassing book for a simple reason. I live in London. Living in London means tube travel. Tube travel means everyone seeing what you are reading.  Is it vanity? or maybe insecurity? who knows....probably both. I love seeing what other people are reading and I have bought many books based on seeing them being read.  .

 Not that I haven't read embarrassing books whilst I have been here.I have read all the 24 Sharpe novels...in order (Sharpe's Tiger though to Sharpe's Devil).. including a Christmas special ( called,surprisingly, Sharpe's Christmas). I bought them all for around 10p each on Amazon and quite a few are propping up my wardrobes.

A friend of mine has a rule regarding particular editions of books. He refuses to read books that have been made into films and then have an edition with  a cover that features the films actors or branding.

Only one of the Sharpe books had had a sleeve with Sean Bean on it...Sharpe's Eagle. The only way friend will find out will result him being killed by a falling wardrobe. He would not be happy.

The First Time I Went to London

Before moving to London at 25 I had visited the capital maybe only twice that I can remember, and both when I was quite young. The first time though was very memorable for 2 reasons.

Firstly it was a trip to Wembley to watch Nottingham Forest in the 1989 Littlewoods Cup  Final. I remember it being very exciting to go on a trip to watch the football with my 2 uncle Daves (1 blood,1 Married in) and their mate Stan. From what Dave says Stan was a darter and pub singer of some note. Apparently he does a fantastic Johnny Cash. I saw him last year and though he must be in his 60's and still has a teddyboy quiff. I can't imagine anyone epitomising  to the East Midlands more. We were stood right at the front at one end of the stand. The pitch was at a slightly higher level than the stand and it with the fence that was the way of things then, the view was not the best,. Forest won the game 3-1.

Secondly it was the first time i saw a condom. It was inflated and bouncing around the terraces with cheers. Being young, I didn't know exactly what it was at the time. What I did know was that Dave's amused 'funny looking balloon that Johnny' comment was a gentle education.

The M1 on the way back was grid locked. The weather was red hot and all the cars seemed to be full of Forest fans on their way home. Every one had their windows open and were chatting about the game and singing. A group from a coach were walking among the cars handing out biscuits to other Forest ssupporters in their cars. I got a custard cream.

Court short..less

The day started with a game of squash with Hacker Jack Rowley. The quality of play varied wildly but we are both competitive so it was well fought. Jack's mind games of leaving me waiting and booking two different courts over the time we were playing didn't throw me..much, and I grasped victory. Squash is a game that is daunting to start, especially at 8:30 in the morning. It is going to be exhausting and frustrating and rarely fun. I always find it a better memory than experience.

I am hoping to play again on Friday

What I don't intend on repeating on Friday is forgetting clean boxers to change into. I realised this horror post shower. A short but uncomfortable trip to Sports Direct (I miss our old office off Oxford St and it's quality pant purveyors) plus £4.99 and I was in possession of two pairs of navy Londsale cotton boxers. I have a friend who never wears boxers.

He must be a button fly man.

Waiting for training..

What I can see as I wait to deliver training in LCC, Elephant and Castle. Weather grey. Buildings grey. Even the chairs are grey.