7 days in Sarf London
Apr 1st 2012, 7:52 pm
#275
Possum. Amiculum. Latrina
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Footloose
Posts: 3,427
Re: 7 days in Sarf London
Last observations after 21 days in 'South' London (ie, not a gritty enough area for the 'Sarf' badge of honour 
)
There are way too many scarey big dogs (pitbulls, staff bulls) in some areas of London. Owners often have them off the lead and they frighten me.
Next day post is amazing and so cheap. The delights of a small country.
Sundays are wonderful here. Sleepy day,long bubble bath, newspaper, roast lunch, Colombo, Antiques roadshow....
Everyone seems to be squabbling over the fact they haven't received olympic tickets - I don't know how they have been allocated but I seem to have a friend with tickets for 12 events but most with none.
Afro Carribean hair shops advertising things like 'threads, weaves, twists' . They also always seem to be full of people who don't leave.
Moss - fluffy green moss and lichen coming out of cracks and creeping over pavements
There is a European influence to so much here. French on menus, everyday conversation involves phrases like 'je ne c'est quoi' etc
Hoards of school kids are frightening. They have dark uniforms which are all shortened, drawn on, ripped or adulterated in some way. The children seem older,especially the girls.
I've lost the feeling that lots of sentences in the media are badly formed and grammatically wrong.
Central London's property market is a roofer. I was under the impression my N1 house would be sinking in value but it seems central property is up significantly
One Direction are unfortunately pretty big here. (Lots of rubbish about how they are the next Beatles (yawn)
Titanic is being re-released in 3D - jeez.... it was crap enough the first time
Urban foxes scurrying across roads at night
Hedgehogs!!
I've not cringed at the word 'rort' for weeks
The pavement is patchwork - mended again and again in slightly different tones of tarmac
Manky London pidgeons missing feet
Radio Times - such a blast from the past. It even had a 'knit yourself a Sarah Lund jumper' (The Killing)
There is so much that surprises me here - in a bar on saturday and suddenly there was a Burlesque performance. Pub last week and a Reggae band started playing.
Leaflets for curry, pizza and chinese come through the door thick and fast
Robin red breasts and black birds
There is a huge array of crisp flavours and shapes. Skips, monster munch, Smith's salt 'n' shake, nik naks, frazzles, space invaders.....Pickled onion, spring onion, smokey bacon, beef and onion, worcester sauce...
Dvds for £1 in pubs sold by Chinese men
Cold days and bright sun
Being hit on by blokes chancing their arm. It never happens in Australia.
Myanmar is called Burma by the BBC (apparently as it was never renamed by a democratically elected government)
Fanta is pale wee-y yellow colour
Dry cleaners are everywhere - £1.50 for a shirt
Swimming pools are all indoors with warm changing rooms and lockers but are busy and so small (just 25 metres)
30th anniversary of the Falklands war
There are diet editions of all drinks - not just diet/zero coke
Stained glass windows in churches and houses
Iphone apps are used in all aspects of life. Went out for a delicious Nepalese curry last night with a friend and he booked the restaurant from the pub by pressing a button on 'Top Table' which gave us 50% off and we could choose where we sat.
That's probably all folks. My return is looming
)There are way too many scarey big dogs (pitbulls, staff bulls) in some areas of London. Owners often have them off the lead and they frighten me.
Next day post is amazing and so cheap. The delights of a small country.
Sundays are wonderful here. Sleepy day,long bubble bath, newspaper, roast lunch, Colombo, Antiques roadshow....
Everyone seems to be squabbling over the fact they haven't received olympic tickets - I don't know how they have been allocated but I seem to have a friend with tickets for 12 events but most with none.
Afro Carribean hair shops advertising things like 'threads, weaves, twists' . They also always seem to be full of people who don't leave.
Moss - fluffy green moss and lichen coming out of cracks and creeping over pavements
There is a European influence to so much here. French on menus, everyday conversation involves phrases like 'je ne c'est quoi' etc
Hoards of school kids are frightening. They have dark uniforms which are all shortened, drawn on, ripped or adulterated in some way. The children seem older,especially the girls.
I've lost the feeling that lots of sentences in the media are badly formed and grammatically wrong.
Central London's property market is a roofer. I was under the impression my N1 house would be sinking in value but it seems central property is up significantly
One Direction are unfortunately pretty big here. (Lots of rubbish about how they are the next Beatles (yawn)
Titanic is being re-released in 3D - jeez.... it was crap enough the first time
Urban foxes scurrying across roads at night
Hedgehogs!!
I've not cringed at the word 'rort' for weeks
The pavement is patchwork - mended again and again in slightly different tones of tarmac
Manky London pidgeons missing feet
Radio Times - such a blast from the past. It even had a 'knit yourself a Sarah Lund jumper' (The Killing)
There is so much that surprises me here - in a bar on saturday and suddenly there was a Burlesque performance. Pub last week and a Reggae band started playing.
Leaflets for curry, pizza and chinese come through the door thick and fast
Robin red breasts and black birds
There is a huge array of crisp flavours and shapes. Skips, monster munch, Smith's salt 'n' shake, nik naks, frazzles, space invaders.....Pickled onion, spring onion, smokey bacon, beef and onion, worcester sauce...
Dvds for £1 in pubs sold by Chinese men
Cold days and bright sun
Being hit on by blokes chancing their arm. It never happens in Australia.
Myanmar is called Burma by the BBC (apparently as it was never renamed by a democratically elected government)
Fanta is pale wee-y yellow colour
Dry cleaners are everywhere - £1.50 for a shirt
Swimming pools are all indoors with warm changing rooms and lockers but are busy and so small (just 25 metres)
30th anniversary of the Falklands war
There are diet editions of all drinks - not just diet/zero coke
Stained glass windows in churches and houses
Iphone apps are used in all aspects of life. Went out for a delicious Nepalese curry last night with a friend and he booked the restaurant from the pub by pressing a button on 'Top Table' which gave us 50% off and we could choose where we sat.
That's probably all folks. My return is looming
Apr 1st 2012, 7:55 pm
#276
FREE TIBET
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 18,840
Re: 7 days in Sarf London
Last observations after 21 days in 'South' London (ie, not a gritty enough area for the 'Sarf' badge of honour )
There are way too many scarey big dogs (pitbulls, staff bulls) in some areas of London. Owners often have them off the lead and they frighten me.
Next day post is amazing and so cheap. The delights of a small country.
Sundays are wonderful here. Sleepy day,long bubble bath, newspaper, roast lunch, Colombo, Antiques roadshow....
Everyone seems to be squabbling over the fact they haven't received olympic tickets - I don't know how they have been allocated but I seem to have a friend with tickets for 12 events but most with none.
Afro Carribean hair shops advertising things like 'threads, weaves, twists' . They also always seem to be full of people who don't leave.
Moss - fluffy green moss and lichen coming out of cracks and creeping over pavements
There is a European influence to so much here. French on menus, everyday conversation involves phrases like 'je ne c'est quoi' etc
Hoards of school kids are frightening. They have dark uniforms which are all shortened, drawn on, ripped or adulterated in some way. The children seem older,especially the girls.
I've lost the feeling that lots of sentences in the media are badly formed and grammatically wrong.
Central London's property market is a roofer. I was under the impression my N1 house would be sinking in value but it seems central property is up significantly
One Direction are unfortunately pretty big here. (Lots of rubbish about how they are the next Beatles (yawn)
Titanic is being re-released in 3D - jeez.... it was crap enough the first time
Urban foxes scurrying across roads at night
Hedgehogs!!
I've not cringed at the word 'rort' for weeks
The pavement is patchwork - mended again and again in slightly different tones of tarmac
Manky London pidgeons missing feet
Radio Times - such a blast from the past. It even had a 'knit yourself a Sarah Lund jumper' (The Killing)
There is so much that surprises me here - in a bar on saturday and suddenly there was a Burlesque performance. Pub last week and a Reggae band started playing.
Leaflets for curry, pizza and chinese come through the door thick and fast
Robin red breasts and black birds
There is a huge array of crisp flavours and shapes. Skips, monster munch, Smith's salt 'n' shake, nik naks, frazzles, space invaders.....Pickled onion, spring onion, smokey bacon, beef and onion, worcester sauce...
Dvds for £1 in pubs sold by Chinese men
Cold days and bright sun
Being hit on by blokes chancing their arm. It never happens in Australia.
Myanmar is called Burma by the BBC (apparently as it was never renamed by a democratically elected government)
Fanta is pale wee-y yellow colour
Dry cleaners are everywhere - £1.50 for a shirt
Swimming pools are all indoors with warm changing rooms and lockers but are busy and so small (just 25 metres)
30th anniversary of the Falklands war
There are diet editions of all drinks - not just diet/zero coke
Stained glass windows in churches and houses
Iphone apps are used in all aspects of life. Went out for a delicious Nepalese curry last night with a friend and he booked the restaurant from the pub by pressing a button on 'Top Table' which gave us 50% off and we could choose where we sat.
That's probably all folks. My return is looming
)There are way too many scarey big dogs (pitbulls, staff bulls) in some areas of London. Owners often have them off the lead and they frighten me.
Next day post is amazing and so cheap. The delights of a small country.
Sundays are wonderful here. Sleepy day,long bubble bath, newspaper, roast lunch, Colombo, Antiques roadshow....
Everyone seems to be squabbling over the fact they haven't received olympic tickets - I don't know how they have been allocated but I seem to have a friend with tickets for 12 events but most with none.
Afro Carribean hair shops advertising things like 'threads, weaves, twists' . They also always seem to be full of people who don't leave.
Moss - fluffy green moss and lichen coming out of cracks and creeping over pavements
There is a European influence to so much here. French on menus, everyday conversation involves phrases like 'je ne c'est quoi' etc
Hoards of school kids are frightening. They have dark uniforms which are all shortened, drawn on, ripped or adulterated in some way. The children seem older,especially the girls.
I've lost the feeling that lots of sentences in the media are badly formed and grammatically wrong.
Central London's property market is a roofer. I was under the impression my N1 house would be sinking in value but it seems central property is up significantly
One Direction are unfortunately pretty big here. (Lots of rubbish about how they are the next Beatles (yawn)
Titanic is being re-released in 3D - jeez.... it was crap enough the first time
Urban foxes scurrying across roads at night
Hedgehogs!!
I've not cringed at the word 'rort' for weeks
The pavement is patchwork - mended again and again in slightly different tones of tarmac
Manky London pidgeons missing feet
Radio Times - such a blast from the past. It even had a 'knit yourself a Sarah Lund jumper' (The Killing)
There is so much that surprises me here - in a bar on saturday and suddenly there was a Burlesque performance. Pub last week and a Reggae band started playing.
Leaflets for curry, pizza and chinese come through the door thick and fast
Robin red breasts and black birds
There is a huge array of crisp flavours and shapes. Skips, monster munch, Smith's salt 'n' shake, nik naks, frazzles, space invaders.....Pickled onion, spring onion, smokey bacon, beef and onion, worcester sauce...
Dvds for £1 in pubs sold by Chinese men
Cold days and bright sun
Being hit on by blokes chancing their arm. It never happens in Australia.
Myanmar is called Burma by the BBC (apparently as it was never renamed by a democratically elected government)
Fanta is pale wee-y yellow colour
Dry cleaners are everywhere - £1.50 for a shirt
Swimming pools are all indoors with warm changing rooms and lockers but are busy and so small (just 25 metres)
30th anniversary of the Falklands war
There are diet editions of all drinks - not just diet/zero coke
Stained glass windows in churches and houses
Iphone apps are used in all aspects of life. Went out for a delicious Nepalese curry last night with a friend and he booked the restaurant from the pub by pressing a button on 'Top Table' which gave us 50% off and we could choose where we sat.
That's probably all folks. My return is looming
Apr 1st 2012, 11:44 pm
#277
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: 7 days in Sarf London
Nice collection TE.
How come no one hits on you in Qld: thought it was a macho joint up there?
Loved the burlesque reference : my wife and I enjoy that scene and have friends who are into the Melbourne scene in a serious way.
It does seem that british schoolkids can't just wear their uniform as is...a lot more modification.
How come no one hits on you in Qld: thought it was a macho joint up there?
Loved the burlesque reference : my wife and I enjoy that scene and have friends who are into the Melbourne scene in a serious way.
It does seem that british schoolkids can't just wear their uniform as is...a lot more modification.
Apr 2nd 2012, 8:18 am
#278
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Western burbs, Melbourne
Posts: 2,261
Re: 7 days in Sarf London
I smiled at the leaflets through the door.
I am amazed at just how many charities (!) collect textiles via plastic bags in your letter box. We probably get 3-4 a week. £5 per tonne goes to charity while the bosses drive flashy cars.
Litter everywhere amazes me too. It is just everywhere and no one bats an eye.
I have spent a fair bit of time visiting hospitals over the last few weeks - they all look really run down but the staff are lovely. The hospitals I have visited in Melbourne always look shiny clean.
Its strange the stuff you notice from time to time. Today I am enjoying the trees full of blossom, despite the doom-monger media telling us snow is imminent!
I am amazed at just how many charities (!) collect textiles via plastic bags in your letter box. We probably get 3-4 a week. £5 per tonne goes to charity while the bosses drive flashy cars.
Litter everywhere amazes me too. It is just everywhere and no one bats an eye.
I have spent a fair bit of time visiting hospitals over the last few weeks - they all look really run down but the staff are lovely. The hospitals I have visited in Melbourne always look shiny clean.
Its strange the stuff you notice from time to time. Today I am enjoying the trees full of blossom, despite the doom-monger media telling us snow is imminent!
Apr 2nd 2012, 8:59 am
#279
Daffyd Duck
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Paradise
Posts: 5,636
Re: 7 days in Sarf London
squirrels! i miss squirrels abd chipmunks!
Apr 2nd 2012, 9:06 am
#280
Waiting to be a grown-up
Joined: May 2010
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 4,695
Apr 2nd 2012, 9:15 am
#281
Officially Bewildered
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
Posts: 5,523
Re: 7 days in Sarf London
There are diet editions of all drinks - not just diet/zero coke
Sounds like you've had a great trip TE, it must make the thought of returning to Australia worse for you? Or is enough to help you gird your loins for however you long you have left?
Apr 2nd 2012, 2:19 pm
#283
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Sydney, NSW
Posts: 7,580
Re: 7 days in Sarf London
I hate squirrels- just tree rats. But I miss hedgehogs, robins and blackbirds, and the English spring with primroses, daffs and later hawthorn and bluebells.
Apr 2nd 2012, 2:22 pm
#284
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 23,400
Re: 7 days in Sarf London
The only thing I miss with regards to UK wildlife, although I have never seen one - are badgers, Ive seen a squashed one but that doesnt count.
Yesterday outside my office window I had a group of red tailed black cockatoos - I was mesmerised and nothing can equal that, not a robin, nor blackbird or anything.
Yesterday outside my office window I had a group of red tailed black cockatoos - I was mesmerised and nothing can equal that, not a robin, nor blackbird or anything.
