Tag Archives: London

Birthday Molly

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I had to get up early but couldn’t because I was still tired from staying up half the night while I should’ve been in bed asleep. But I had more important things to do than sleep so the night owl in me decided to stay awake till 05.00 in the morning… I prepared the canapé for MvdM. his party, took me longer than I expected but I was ready on time. I was supposed to meet up with them at their place but decided to meet up at the Tube station, it saved me some time actually. MvdM. called me while I was on the Tube and I told him I would be on the next one coming in, in the front carriage.

It took us about 45 minutes to get to the other end of town and find our way to Holland Park where we were supposed to meet up with MvdM. his other friends. I’d brought a blanket along so we looked for a spot to sit down and have a proper champagne picnic. At first it was just the three of us but after some time more and more people came and brought a variety of food, all very nice! We spent all day and evening eating, drinking and chatting [even in Dutch, there were three other Dutch people which was nice] until it was getting dark. We had to clean up our stuff, pack things and go to the other side of the park to watch the balloons…

We had a great time and it was quite a spectacle to watch, but I have to admit after a while it became slightly boring. Perhaps I wasn’t drunk enough *hehe*. We decided to crash at some pub nearby. It wasn’t that cold, I was wearing my new woolen dress and it kept me warm all evening. But I started to develop a serious headache so I quit drinking and ordered a latte instead. I also set fire to this fancy stainless steel pillar ashtray, guess I was slighlty pissed after all. I went in to ask for a glass of water, the girl didn’t understand me I guess because she wasn’t English, so I asked again and said: ‘listen, I’ve set fire to your fancy ashtray, could I have a glass of water to put it out please?’ God, she was thick, but I got my glass of water in the end, I guess she didn’t believe me and thought I wanted a free glass of water, until she noticed the heavy smoke…

At 22.45 we took the Tube back home and I was wondering if I would come along with MvdM. and W. and order a cab at theirs or would stay on the Tube and take a cab from opposite the Tube station… I decided to stay on the Tube. It was getting late and I was worried about how to get home. Stubborn me decided to walk home from the station, which wasn’t a clever thing to do in hindsight. I’m not easily scared and I know I can deal with certain situations but this was a bit silly to be honest. I got home safely but it will be the last time I ever walk home at that time of night [23.45], it’s asking for problems. I was lucky because I managed to get away from three potential situations because I had my finely tuned antennae to help me detect anything dodgy. I promised myself not to do this ever again, it’s not worth it. I either have to go home on time or take a cab nomatter what the expenses will be…

I need to understand that this is not Amsterdam and I don’t know my way around here as I do in Amsterdam: I know all the dodgy areas and I also know what to do if something would get tricky as opposed to London. I’m happy this area isn’t as rough as certain other parts of London but it made the frontpage not too long ago and I really need to realise that I have to adjust to the situation instead of trying to be the tough girl…

Covent Garden

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I’m still working on my portfolio. I need to finish one online and a physical one and since I have a five years of backlog it seems to turn into a never ending story. Also because I’m working on both at the same time. I need to reorganise, rebuild websites so I can print them on photo paper and collect some of the freelance stuff that I’ve done over the years. I realised some of my stuff is still in the Lowlands in storage so I needed a workaround and decided to leave out some projects.
I had lunch with AS., the day started grey and cloudy but by the time I arrived at Tower Hill the sun was out and it was warm enough to sit outside. I waited for him at the gate and then we walked over to ‘Pret a Manger’ where we bought lunch, I had the mouth-watering Smoked Salmon and Egg sandwich [plus horseradish sauce] and a Mocca. I seem to be addicted to these sandwiches…
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We sat in the park enjoying the sun for an hour, talking and watch people, then AS. had to get back to work and I had to go to Covent Garden to the London Graphic Centre to exchange some protection sheets that I ordered a week earlier. They were delivered right on time but unfortunately with the wrong holes so I sent an email Wednesday evening and Thursday morning they called me to arrange something. I’m happy with the good service! While I was there I noticed a 55% discount on the Artcare portfolios so I got myself another A4 portfolio for only £ 11,- which is cheap! I paid a lot more in the Lowlands but I reckon that’s because it’s made in the UK…
When I went to Covent Garden the Circle Line train was suspended and I ended up having to use four trains just to get to Covent Garden, it was so crowded on the Piccadilly Line that people were waiting in the corridors and on the platforms, then when I finally arrived, the same crowd decided to get into the three elevators of Covent Garden: like cattle, no way I would go in the elevator so I decided to take the stairs instead, 193 steps to the top [193 x 22cm= 42 metres]. Boy… that’s the equivalent of climbing to the top of a 15-storey building. But I did it, better the climb up than packed like sardines in a tin. I was totally out of breath when I finally saw daylight again, I didn’t take a break, I kept climbing those endless spiral stairs.
I only severely f*@£$ up my knee again, just like I did climbing that munro in Scotland, but then again, it was all worth it… I had a great time walking around Covent Garden and took the train back at 15.30 before rush hour. When I got home, the sky had turned grey again but it didn’t matter, I had a lovely day!
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Covent Garden Tube Station
A tall man in a frock coat, tall hat and gloves is said to be pacing the tunnels and has been seen since the 1950s. When he appeared in the staff rest room the staff demanded a transfer – no wonder they look so miserable.
The ghost is supposed to be actor William Terriss who was fatally stabbed near the Adelphi Theatre in the Strand in December 1897. Apparently William regularly visited a baker’s shop which stood where today’s Tube station was built. It is also said that if you are on the last train he can be seen sitting in the next carriage along.
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