New London 2004 Index of Images.
It snowed on my birthday for an hour or two, a brief blizzard that blanketed the city in soft white, only to melt completely by this afternoon. I took a few photos and let the dog romp around in it, howling at anyone she happened to pass. I was going to post the photos yesterday, but my Internet connection was down all day yesterday (thanks, Colt Telecom for your wonderful DSL!). Also, I was trying to find an easier way to post photos while still having complete control over how they are displayed. I tried a few little shareware programs, but nothing really did the trick. So, until I get things running right, I will just have to be satisfied with less than perfect.
Posted by shannon at 09:10 PM | Permalink
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Today has been good. Good and cold! Heh. It's my 35th Birthday.
I snapped a few photos with my phone as I took Misha for her morning walk. I decided to go up to Chelsea and get myself some birthday treats after the usual park stroll.
Frosty "all-weather" pitch
The grass beneath my feet crunched with frost even though it was late morning, a sign of how cold it was out. I took a photo of the all weather sports pitch, because it seemed as if it was covered in a thin layer of snow, even though it was just frost. As Misha and I approached the Kings road though, it really did start to snow! The air filled up with wisps of fine flakes, and the deliverymen started to rush around with their handcarts. I overheard one saying "I think we should hurry up and get back soon, I don't want to get stuck in this like last time, it took over 4 hours to get back!" Of course the snow didn't last, but the dog did enjoy having it tickle her nose for a bit as we walked in the flurries.
Seasonal Sales
Most the shops along the street were having massive winter sales, all of which I could resist only because I lack funds entirely. As I peered into the window displays I drooled over the markdown tags, dreaming of a designer winter coat at a rock bottom price. For now I will have to make due with my four year old wool pea coat I bought on a whim in San Francisco. I just had the pockets of this coat replaced and I can't say I have any complaints; I'm warm and I can carry dog treats my the pockets without them falling into the lining anymore. What you want and what you need are easily sorted when you are skint.
I stopped in a bakery and bought a single slice of strawberry and cream cake, walked some more and went into a French food store where I got some mouldy looking goats cheese, sourdough bread, plump green olives and Swiss chocolate. I passed by Rococo, the chocolate shop, which had a very odd Valentine's window display. The theme was that chocolate was a "medicine for love" or something. One side of the window had chocolates among all sorts of pharmacy items: plasters, cold remedies and hot water bottles. The other window had at first what I thought were maybe balloons, but on closer examination revealed that they were blown-up coloured condoms with confections inside. Ew! Can you get an idea from this photo:
Candy-filled condoms
Before going home I took one last stop at Coffee Republic for a birthday latte. It was there that I wished I had my real camera on me instead of the phone. I wanted to take photos of all the women on the street dressed up in outlandish outfits to keep out the cold. Tall boots, huge fur hats, crazy pelt jackets, woolly scarves and long flowing coats. One woman was dressed beautifully in all black, with a head of shockingly bright burgundy hair. The Kings Road can be a fashion parade! While I was sipping my coffee I got phone call on my mobile from a man at the British Museum telling me my interview was successful and offering me a part time job. Yay!
I got about half way home when my phone rang again. This time it was my mom, wishing me a happy birthday. It was great to hear her voice. We don’t really talk too often because we live so far away from one another. I should call her more, but trans-Atlantic scheduling can be a pain sometimes. I have to find the right time to call my mother-in-law and thank her for the wonderful birthday gift she sent. (Flannel-lined jeans, just in time for the ultra-cold weather. And they fit perfectly too.)
Its dark out now, and the wind is really blowing hard. Damn, it snowing again! Hard too! Glad to be inside with a nice fire going.
Posted by shannon at 05:43 PM | Permalink
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I haven't written here in a while, so I figure I would give it a go. Things have been pretty much the same, nothing new to report.
This afternoon I rode into town on my scooter, and I swear Jamie Oliver passed me on his scooter in Trafalgar Square, and then I followed him up Charing Cross for a bit. Being on the scooter you are much more aware of other people on the road, whether they are in a car or a two wheeled vehicle. Anyway, he was wearing a cream helmet with a light blue-stripe and I could have sworn it was the famous chef. Anyone know what colour helmet he wears??
I then went to Border's and got a nice wall calendar for the bargain after-Christmas price of £2. While I was there an American older woman stopped by the information desk to voice her disapproval of Border's being across the street from Foyle's, and how chain stores are driving independent bookshops out of business. She went on to say how where she comes from, in Long Beach, California, it’s a shame that it has been "allowed" to happen. I informed her politely that there are many successful independent bookshops in the immediate area, thriving ones. But she proceeded to complain, although I couldn't understand why she would come into Border's and complain the staff there, as if they should pack up and leave and send their CVs to Foyle's across the street because Border's ruined Long Beach for her. I think it is perfectly reasonable for any bookshop to want to set up business in Charing Cross, an area known for its bookshops, but I guess if you are a chain store you are supposed to stay out and stick to strip malls in suburbia to sell your wares. The Border's employee informed the woman that the previous occupier of the shop was a Books Etc. (which is owned by Waterstone's, the nation's largest chain bookshop) and that Border's isn't nearly as large as some of the other chains in the UK. This still did not please the woman, as Border's, she pointed out, is a multinational company. I think maybe she was just disappointed because she travelled halfway around the world only to discover, horrifically, that London is just like Long Beach, it has Border's and Starbuck's! Of course, if she would have only walked down the block, she would have seen dozen's of other bookshops, as well as a trillion other coffee shops. I think it just takes a bit more effort, and it's easier to complain.
The whole "all chain stores are evil" idea really gets me annoyed. I can understand how upsetting it is to see smaller, charming, quaint businesses driven out, but mostly I fail to see the benefit. I find it unfair to ban businesses from operating just because they are successful. If you offer better service, better products, better whatever, I think that people will seek you out, no matter if the price is a bit higher. (Am I the only one that hates to even walk into a place like ASDA, owned by Walmart, because the place is always a mess and no one is around to help you? So what if you save 5 pence for a loaf of bread, waiting in a long queue for 20 minutes isn't worth it.)
I once worked for a multi-national chain, and I found their business practices to be just as sound as when I worked for a small company of 10 people. In fact, the larger corporation had a wealth of benefits that the smaller company could never offer. Of course, not all conglomerates play fairly, (*cough* Microsoft *cough*) and I also don't want everyplace to end up looking the same. But I believe you don't have to fight such bad behaviour by doing more of the same and not allowing companies to prosper. I may be becoming a bit more conservative since moving to London, although I can say that the NIMBYs in San Francisco always turned my stomach.
Well there ya go, some opinion that I'm sure most of you who read this won't agree with. That's ok, there are many things you say on your blogs I don't agree with either!
Posted by shannon at 10:22 AM | Permalink
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