Greetings from the Southside

Well, I’ve moved accommodation two weekends in a row now and have ended up south of the river.  It’s thrown my posting off because I’ve spent more time on, admittedly important, things like finding accommodation and looking for work.  I’m liking the new place, though I’ve only been here a few days but it’s close to the river (the Thames that is) and it’s nice to be living in a house/unit again instead of hostel like accommodation.  Having to take keys or swipe card with me everywhere even inside the building was getting a bit wearing. And when I’m done with this other stuff, I’ll pop up a few more photos of stuff that’s actually interesting.

London travel tip

When you’re standing at the ticket window at Charing Cross station with staff ready to sell you a ticket, this is not the time to answer your phone and tell the person on the other end ”Yeah sure I can talk now”. If you could possibly see all the harried commuters standing behind you, please know that you’re holding them up.

Where was the Hogwarts Express????

Platform 9 3/4

All’s well that ends well

On Sunday I had my trip to the National Theatre at Southbank to see a production of All’s well that ends well. While it was a good show, I didn’t come away quite so buoyed up as my visit to the Globe but I think it had less to do with the cast and more to do with the story. As you like it is one of the pastoral comedies and has a very light touch but All’s well that ends well is one of Shakespeare’s tragicomedies and as such, some parts of it had a slightly darker tone.

There were some quite funny moments, many of them featuring the character of Parolles but it is definitely one of the Shakespearean stories that makes me wonder why on earth the lead female character would want the lead male character.  Helena goes after Bertram in spite of his disdain for her, his abandonment of her, his wooing of another and generally dodgy attitude towards women.  I have similar issues with Hero and Claudio in Much ado about nothing.  He treats her with contempt for sins she had not committed and yet she still marries him.  I don’t get it. 

Apart from that, it was a very enjoyable story and the real highlights were the set design and costumes.  And that probably makes me sound like a geek but the set was fantastic and the costumes ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous and every historical era in between. I don’t have pictures of either of these things because you can’t take photos inside the theatre but here are some pics outside showing Britain’s continuing love affair with looming concrete edifices.

 

National Theatre

NT from the second level

NT forecourt with entertainment

NT grass garden and theatre goers enjoying intermission

As you like it

Although I haven’t posted any of my pictures from last weekend (and I had a lovely trip to Greenwich) I thought I’d put up a couple of pics of my visit to the Globe Theatre to see a production of the Shakespeare comedy As you like it. It was great fun and I really enjoyed it.  It’s been ages since I’ve been to the theatre and it made me wonder why I don’t go more.  The actors were excellent and the play very amusing.  If you visit London during the Globe season (usually June to October) I suggest getting tickets because it’s well worth it. You can buy groundling (standing) tickets for 5 pounds (it’s just occurred to me I don’t know where my pound symbol key is), with the other tickets ranging from 15 – 33 pounds.  I had a 15 pound ticket which is classed as limited view but because most of the action happened toward the front of the stage I didn’t really miss anything.

filling up before the performance

it's a bit blurry but this is best picture I took of the stage

You’re not allowed to take pictures during the performance, so this is all I can share about the inside of the theatre. There is also a short run of Love’s labour’s lost on at the Globe before the end of season that I might try and see as well. And to continue on the Shakespearean theme, tomorrow I’m going to the National Theatre at Southbank to see a Sunday afternoon matinee of All’s well that ends well.

There’s always another option in Camden

possibly? maybe?

I just bought me a piece of the internet

…and I am thanking the internet gods for pay as you go mobile broadband access.  Although I had free access in my current accommodation, it wasn’t really working and I’ll be moving about to places without wireless – so it was time to get that sorted. I would post some pictures now but I have to go do exciting things like travel to the Globe Theatre and watch a production of As you like it.  Tough I know.

I’m still here

… just in case you were wondering.  I have heaps more photos to post but I took a couple of days off because I was too busy (or lazy) to put more up.  The uploading is not a quick process.  And now the wireless is a bit patchy, so I’ll be lucky to post this without reconnecting to the network half a dozen times. 

More photos soon - I promise!

Westminster Abbey

So these are the pics I took the other day at Westminster Abbey.  As I did not deign to pay the entry price, they are only of the outside.  That said, I don’t tend to take pictures inside churches anyway because it doesn’t usually feel right to do so.

main entrance

the entrance plus some extra

decorated alcove

it's a long way to the top

clocktower from another angle

alcove detail

The tally so far…

• Squirrels: 6 (although I may have seen the one across the road twice, Regents Park, Hyde Park)
• Rats: 1 (Regents Park)
• Men in straw boater hats: 3 (Borough Market, Central line tube, Camden)
• Men in velvet top hats: 1 (Camden)
• Famous people: 1 (but I’ve seen them twice – Camden)
• Hyenas: 3 (Regents canal towpath by the Zoo)
• Invitations to take a ‘personality test’ while outside a Scientology Centre: 1 (Tottenham Court Road)