Guns Of Brixton

Hello there,

It's Tuesday and I'm four days late with a 're-visited' blog, let alone a new one. I am coming back to England for a few days next Tuesday. I shall do a new entry before then, don't you all worry. But until then have a peep into what was going on in my life in February 2007... I have put my new comments in bold as brackets weren't working that well, as I had sometimes used brackets for other things in the original blog. It's crazy I tell you.

Marc x

Guns of Brixton

My blogs are very rare. More rare than a steak that not only has not been cooked but is actually still a cow. But anyway I digress and I am here firstly to talk about London. (Crazy eh? A mere few days before I come back home after 5 months away I am writing about my home town. It was like my trip home was meant to be, or something). I have been here over ten years and I am starting to think its time to move on (And I did, over a year later. Some would say changing countries is a bit crazy but there you go. I not one to do things by the half, or even three quarters) When I was in my twenties I loved London and I didn't want to be anywhere else. I loved the hustle and bustle, it was great that it was busy all the time too. Where else in this country do you have a choice of 100 gigs a night, or a 100 plays or as many restaurants, clubs, museums - or anything you can think of? Even when I was a bit poorer than I am now I always found something to entertain me. This may have been getting free tickets and going on 'London Tonight' to debate with Nicky Campbell about sex aids (true story) or it may have just been going for long walks and exploring this massive, crazy City. But sadly now London Town gets me down.

There are various reasons why. The fact that the public transport system is so rubbish doesn't help but its more to do with the fact that even though I am out a lot I now like being in more. I could get a house rather than a flat if I moved out in London - and I would like that. And at times I don't feel safe. London is bonkers in that you are in a 'good' area one second but then a street later you are in a bad area and before you know it you are being beaten to a pulp. I was getting the bus from outside Brixton station on Sunday night. I wouldn't normally get a bus from Brixton station as I always get hassled by dealers or smack addicts but I had too. I was getting back from North to South London but loads of tube and train lines I would normally get where all having sodding engineering works (!) So a bus from Brixton was my only option.

Whilst waiting for the bus some drug type dudes basically demanded some money from me. It was a joy to see everyone else in the queue move away so I could deal with it by myself. There is nothing like that London community spirit. I had a choice to either argue or give them the money. I started to protest but then the other dudes moved closer towards me, so I gave them the cash I had on me. I guess I should feel lucky. They didn't take my phone or ipod, they probably just wanted the cash for a quick smack fix. I'm not sure if this counts as a mugging but if it does its the sixth time I have been mugged in ten years. And that is too much. North London is beating South London 4-2 at the moment. I wonder if it will go to penalties. (I wasn't very happy when I wrote this entry was I? Perhaps it was because I had been 'asked' for money in such a fashion? It's quite weird for me reading this though, as normally I make myself laugh when I read my stuff - which is a good job as very few others do - so I am missing the jokes today).

I also used to love the rudeness. I liked the fact people ignored each other so you could go about your business without some nosey neighbour saying 'Hello' and trying to have a conversation. I liked that you could be whoever you wanted to be as people were so disinterested in you it didn't matter if you walked down the street naked (Which I have never done fact fans, I think I just said this as an example). I've changed though. I want to see people smile on the train. I want to say 'Hello' to someone I pass on the street without being called a weirdo. So where would I go? I don't much care for the seaside, and I may get bored in the country. I'll have to have a think and watch more 'Relocation, Relocation' which I love anyway (This blog is scaring me a bit. At the time I had never, ever thought about leaving the country. I 'choose' somewhere inadvertently with no public transport and where everyone says hello to you. Perhaps LA found me? Obviously it didn't but its still bonkers all the same).

This blog has been a bit on the sad side so far. So lets talk about nice things. I would just like to say how much I like Diet Coke with Cherry. It's so delicious. I have a can every day and I love it so much. It is just brilliant. (I still get Cherry Diet Coke but I now prefer Sprite Zero)

And I've got myself a tailored suit. It's just like Doctor Who's - though I've gone for different colour pinstripes as I didn't want it to be exactly the same. It looks the bomb.

I went to a party last week which was at the top of the Gherkin. It's so high up that when you go up in the lift your ears pop like they do when you are in a plane. The view from the ceiling is skill.


Has anyone tried 'GeoBars'? They are healthy but so delicious I am addicted to them. (I get Kellog's Cereal Bars over here, they aren't as good).

I need your help. I have tickets to see Arcade Fire and Bright Eyes on the same night. Who would you go and see? I love Arcade Fire so much. They are one of my favourite live bands but I also like Bright Eyes who I have never seen live. Let me know your views. (I choose The Arcade Fire. They were skill. I saw Bright Eyes twice later in the year and they were brill both times)

I have just got tickets to see the Pet Shop Boys at the Hammersmith Apollo. Wicked! (And they were ace too).

I went to see Billie Piper in that play 'Treats' but she was ill and cancelled. I was quite cross but those crosser than me got up and left and demanded refunds. At half time even more people left. Em and I stayed as we had half time wine waiting. I love half time wine when you have ordered it before the play has started. It's like the wine is then a present. For the start of the second half I got some ice-cream. I love ice cream but it always makes me cough. Does anyone know why that is? Anyway the play was quite good. I was still a bit cross though as in one scene Billie Piper's understudy is just in her bra. I would have liked to see Billie Piper in her bra. Not for rude reasons but simply because you could say to someone when the conversation got dull "I saw Billie Piper in her bra.". This could then lead on to a great chat. (Billie Piper has developed a lisp these days. I wonder where that came from? She had in the new Doctor Who and it was dead off-putting)

I think I'll end it there for today.

marc x