Chelsea farmers' market

The last couple of Saturday mornings, I've been going to a farmers' market in Chelsea near Sloane Square. It's a relaxed atmosphere which sells organic meats, vegetables, fruit juice and cheeses straight from the farms and dairies of rural Britain, plus bakers selling all manner of breads, meat pies -- venison, pheasant, or game -- and gourmet mini quiches. My mother, my cousin Juliet and her mother have all enjoyed this particular farmers' market, and I think it may become a regular Saturday morning staple for me as well. The Halifax farmers' market is raucous and crowded by comparison, this is a much more civilized and relaxed atmosphere in which to roam about randomly, sample wares, and perhaps recover from the previous nights' indulgences. Speaking of which, long story ... :)

À la prochaine!

The bus

The train system across the UK is an amazing thing. The tube in London, or the "subway" for us North Americans, is an extremely convenient thing. However, day in and day out, the squealing wheels and brake dust can get a bit grating.

For the last few days, therefore, I have been taking the tube in the morning when it's full of commuters, but taking the bus in the evening when things are a bit more quiet: this way the bus doesn't take long at all to get from Liverpool St to Charing Cross, about 15 minutes usually. In rush hour it would probably be double that, but we've been a bit busy at work lately, so it's been more like 9:30 or 10:30. It's a bit more relaxing, plus this has given me the ability to take pictures like this one, from the front seat of the upper deck of a double-decker bus.

Peace!

TV licensing

I have made a donation to the BBC on the order of 130 gbp, or about C$300.

They have a TV licensing thing here, whereby you have to have a license to own a TV, and renew it annually. Yes, really, it's not just some sort of dubious scam to filch pounds from the pockets of hardworking London taxpayers. It goes towards funding the BBC, to bring us quality programming such as The 10 o'clock News, Six Nations Rugby, Top Gear and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.

They have "detector vans" that search for people who haven't paid their license, using rotating antennae. I knew about this, but I had assumed that the landlords had paid the license already, since the TV came with the flat. When I got back this afternoon, there was a letter in the post saying they hadn't, and detailing the subsequent court proceedings and substantial fine if I don't pay it quite promptly thank you very much. However, I'm perfectly happy paying the fee, so long as I can take the license with me when I leave at the end of June: I rang them up and paid it, and they say all I have to do is ring them up three weeks prior, and they'll refund the balance.

Anyway I find the whole thing quite amusing I must say, although I find a lot of things amusing lately. :)

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

A new blog

I'm visiting central London at the moment in a vain attempt to remain employed. If things go well, I should be here until the end of June, minus a couple of trips back to Canada for the odd weekend here and there. If things go badly, I'll be back shortly ...

London is an interesting place. It really is the centre of the known universe: everything and everyone can be found here. It is truly fascinating just to wander about randomly in this city, especially from a born-and-bred small town Nova Scotian such as myself. I have a pay-and-go mobile phone with a camera, so that I can take pictures of things that catch my eye: many of these pictures may be found here.

I am living in Villiers Street near the Victoria Embankment, home of both Charles Dickens and Ben Franklin, about 2 minutes walk from Trafalgar Square and 5 minutes walk from Big Ben. A couple of really good jazz musicians frequent the street to gather change from passing tube passengers, and as I write this someone is belting out an Italian opera (I'd only be guessing as to which one).

I'm notoriously bad at remembering to keep my blog updated, but I will give it a shot this time as much as I can.

Cheers!