London doesn’t cope well with properly cold weather. You would think, being a European capital, that the city would have some degree of familiarity with how to behave in the cold. But it doesn’t. Examples: * when it snows, drivers have no idea how to drive anymore. Cars are abandoned at the side of the… Continue reading Cold
Tag: London
Love this city… (but sometimes I hate it too)
I always dreamt about one day living in London. I'm not quite sure what I pictured this life would be, but presumably my dreams did not involve things like: queuing for a bus, cramming onto a crowded Tube, getting wet feet from a hidden puddle under wobbly paving on the footpath. But these are as much… Continue reading Love this city… (but sometimes I hate it too)
A Peter Pan kind of life
I had a friend who was leaving London and throwing a leaving party to get together with her London friends one last time. She said something that stuck has with me. (Something apart from useful tips on shipping the contents of your house to Australia and what you can and can't sell on Ebay or… Continue reading A Peter Pan kind of life
London Bridge Station
I hate London Bridge Station. Whenever I go there it's either to go see a doctor about something medical, so I'm probably sick and/or in pain; or I'm heading to visit friends South of the River and this is my second change and third train. (Any northside Londoner will tell you the South may as… Continue reading London Bridge Station
The world of work
It's been a while since I was out in the market looking for work. But something happened this week that reminded me of my temp days, working for agencies, looking for something permanent. Here's an example of a typical prospective job conversation I would have with someone from an agency. Hi Michelle, it's Kate/Amanda here… Continue reading The world of work
Bus anger
People get unreasonably angry about ridiculously small things and it amuses and frustrates me. Last week, when we were still in the low transport volume "twixtmas" season (I hate that word by the way), I was taking the bus to the station in the morning instead of walking. Partly because it was nice to be… Continue reading Bus anger
The first week of 2020
Yes it's that time of year when people make resolutions that they don't keep. I'm going to break it down smaller, and try and set myself things to think about and do each month. Having had another spell of ill heath at the end of 2019, I'm starting 2020 with a commitment to building up… Continue reading The first week of 2020
Books, books, books, and theatre
One thing about our Walk the Lines project was getting to know which suburbs of London have the charity shops with the best selection of books for sale. On Saturday we were heading out to Hammersmith to go to a play, but we went early because we remembered a street with a concentration of charity… Continue reading Books, books, books, and theatre
Walk the Lines (5 or 28 or The Final)
The day after our Heathrow walk dawned fine, and our legs were not particularly sore or achy. We had discussed it the day before but all the signs combined correctly to confirm it. "Let's do this," we agreed. "Let's walk the last stretch today and finish this thing." And so it was, around 9 a.m.… Continue reading Walk the Lines (5 or 28 or The Final)
Walk the Lines (4 or 27)
The last of our long walks and it's a strange one: we are walking out to Heathrow airport.Yes you read that right. Walking. To. An. Airport. However before we see the hallowed halls of Heathrow terminal 4, we have to start somewhere more familiar, like Acton Town. But this time we are not partaking of… Continue reading Walk the Lines (4 or 27)
Tales from Tobhamhor 