LONDON: The Final Countdown

[LONDON - Monday & Tuesday]

Well aware that my time was running out, I got an early start on Monday.



The tube took me to Tottenham Court Road where I did a bit of shopping on Oxford Street. Ironically, I spent most of my shopping time in Sports World for cheap comfy sportswear and a bit of time in the Virgin MegaStore.

I wandered straight up Oxford Street in the rain to Berwick Street, where I had lunch at Cotton Café ... like the good ol' days! Their vegetarian 'English breakfast' is a rather good bargain.

After lunch, I headed down to the Soho campus of Westminster Kingsway College. My last real job in London was working there as an Academic Counselor in Admissions. It was nice to catch up with former co-workers and find out what has happened to those who have moved on (or, in this case, mostly just transferred to other WKC campuses).

My time after that is a bit of a blur, as I just spent a bit of time wandering around, thinking, reminiscing and even getting teary-eyed as I sat in Soho Square on Kirsty's bench.

Eventually, I ended up at First Out having a pot of tea downstairs by myself. I had postcards to do (not that any of the got mailed!).



My mate Alister joined me during his lunch break and we had a chance to gossip & bitch like we once did regularly.

Monday night, I headed up to Androo's in Mill Hill ('home', of sorts!) for dinner and an evening in. Androo is my best mate but this was the first spot of quality time we would have during my jaunt through England. We cooked dinner together and laughed at video bits & bobs he'd been saving for me.



Bless 'im! I miss Androo the most ...

On Tuesday, I got a rather late start but did manage to meet up with my friend Emile for lunch along the South Bank.



Emile is possibly the sexiest older man I know ... but I know lots of sexy older men ... so it's hard to choose just one!



After lunch, we walked along the Thames and made our way to a familiar pub near London Bridge. After wine & a good natter, we hopped on the rush-hour tube and I kept my hand not-so-subtlely on his arse the whole time ... just to keep my balance!

[*larf*]

The time had come for my evening at Retro Bar. I had emailed & texted nearly everyone over the weekend that I'd be round Retro after 6 PM on Tuesday for drinks & goodbyes. For a while, it was just Colin, Pip, Alister and myself but eventually the colourful cast expanded to include Kosher Marc, South African Dirk, Welsh Mark, Gerry with a 'G' ... even a few internet strangers and former OUT in the UK mates!



In a bit of a peculiar twist, a wee lad named Matt took a shine to me and I was too drunk to really resist.



Good for the ego! Unfortunately, this meant a few of my late arrivals got a bit neglected.

APOLOGIES!

After walking Matt & his mate Posh Steph to Embankment, I returned to Retro but a few of my mates were already gone. Retro closed soon so we said our goodbyes and I made my way to & through the tube station.



I like that shot ... artistic, innit?

My intention was to go back to Canning Town pack my things and get back on the tube at 5 AM. Of course, I was bladdered ... so I fell asleep on my bed and woke up 4:30 AM in a mad panic! However, I did make it to Gatwick on time and all went well with my flight and return to Atlanta.

My soul is recharged from my time in London but I am no more happier than before about being anywhere else.

Thanks to all my mates in England, new & old, who made my time there fun & productive.

I adore you lot!

Richard the Big Bunny

Hull & Brighton

[England - All around & back again.]

This will be short, as it's very late and *I* am very knackered!

Three cities in three days ... hundreds & hundreds of miles ...



Ben came to my rescue on Friday afternoon and we loaded my things from Johnathon's loft in Walthamstow into a rental car and drove them to Hull.

Relocating my stored things (ie, all of my wordly possessions!) was the most important task at hand for this trip to England. Done. Thanks, Ben! You're my hero.



We returned to London on Saturday morning and loaded up the car again. I sent Ben back to Hull with the remainder of my things and dashed home to shave & shower for my date.



Dr Grant and I met at Retro Bar but soon wandered out to find food. After dinner at Pizza Express and a few more cocktails at Retro, we ended up at his place ... in Brighton!



And he made me a proper English breakfast [read: "walloping fry-up with Quorn sausages"] this morning ...

Who says Virgos aren't spontaneous?

More photos soon,
Richard the Norty Bunny

Camden & Soho.

[London ... the beat goes on!]

Met up with my mate Marc today after school (he's a teaching assistant) at The Edge, off Soho Square. To my suprise, most of The Edge was closed for renovation ... so only the downstairs was available for use (small!).

After that, we ran a few errands up and down Oxford Street. Holland & Barrett. Boots. Tourist tat. That kind of thing!

For my own amusement, I priced the Clinique Facial Scrub for Men at Boots.

* * * £30.50 * * *

That's about *four times* the price ($16.50 in the US) ... I nearly fainted!

Some things never change and London *is* the most expensive place to live in the world.



Still, walking down Oxford Street felt familiar and comfortable to me ... despite being a frantic stampede, per the usual.

Marc & I then took the tube north to Camden Town to rendezvous with Androo at The Black Cap. Androo had my UK mobile phone and I had several of his eBay winnings that had been sent to me in Atlanta. We had a LOVELY time sitting outside in The Black Cap's lovely beer garden. The weather was perfect and I got rather tipsy after a couple of Stellas (I'm a lightweight!).



Androo went off towards home, as he was tired from working all day (with Jordan [Katie Price], no less!), so Marc & I carried on back to Soho for dinner. Eating at First Out was like seeing an old friend and the vegetarian nachos were comforting. Thankfully, some things never change.

Marc left me after dinner ('school night!') and I wandered around Soho reflecting and relishing every bit of the London I have been missing in the past year.



After a few drinks at The Duke of Wellington by myself, I too decided to call it a night and return to Canning Town.

Better rest up ... Friday is "moving day."

Richard

London: I'm home!

[LONDON - 20 September 2006]

Wow ... it certainly feels like home here.

No real complaints about my flight other than that it landed at Gatwick (not on the tube) instead of Heathrow (directly on the tube system). But that was not all of my 'journey' ...

I did have a moment of frustration & mild panic. It was slightly overwhelming to have been awake for so long, to have landed so far outside of the city, having only £5.20 in cash money (which was all spent literally in minutes using the pay phone), a credit card that refused to work (at first) and no one meeting me to hold my hand.



Welcome to Big Smoke! I'm used to it ... and I absolutely love it here.

Mind you, all of the faffing about & bother could have been avoided if I'd planned better (or at all). To avoid disappointment, I never really made any plans for this trip over. I was not even sure if this trip was going to happen until Saturday (thanks Marc!) ... and even then I did not get a ticket until Monday night (for a Tuesday departure!).

Obviously, I sorted it all out and felt instantly better once I had £30 in cash in my hand and was back in London proper (after waiting an hour for the cheaper, post-rush hour train ticket from the airport).

The next two hours were spent on the tube to North Acton (far west) to get a key to Alan's flat and then journeying back to East London to his flat. I finally arrived here at about 12:30 PM ... sweaty & knackered!

Did I go right to sleep? Of course not! I had to make a dozen phone calls and do a few things online. I finally laid down for a nap at about 1:45 PM, setting the alarm for 3:30 PM.

The plan was to get up, shower and meet Androo at around 6 PM at First Out (gay vegetarian cafe ... yes, really!), as they are the only place in London with good nachos.

When I woke up at *5:30 PM* and finally stopped screaming, I ran to the phone and rang Androo with pleading apologies ... left on his voicemail.

Turns out he was still shopping in Camden Town and suspected I *might* oversleep.

:-)

Smart boy.

Thus, I decided to stay in tonight, watch some telly, make more phone calls, chat with Alan and make some plans for my remaining time here in good ol' Eng-er-land.

I'll be in Hull for two days so I won't really have *that* much time here in London ... so I best have a game plan.

So many people to see, so little time ...

Richard

BIRTHDAY_BUNNY

[Atlanta - What's another year?]

Wednesday night was my do-drop-in birthday party ...



I got stuff ...



Bunny stuff!



I was not expecting any gifts ... so I was pleased with the amount of bunny birthday booty!

:-)

It was a do-drop-in party and many people came & went.



I don't think more than 10 people were here at any one time ... so I was able to focus on the conversation & adoration ... until that 7th or 8th glass of Champagne!



Friends, drinks, music, gifts ... I actually had a very good time!

It was nice to feel loved & appreciated on my birthday.



My guests seem to enjoy themselves, too. It was brilliant to see everyone and just mellow a bit.



Now I'm off to London to see my friends there and to shuffle my belongings to a new storage place.

Expect details from the road ...

To Hull & back!

Richard the Big Bunny

LDN: That's city life ...

[ATLANTA - British Saturday Night on the telly]

Lily Allen's song LDN has been my 'song of the summer' ... keeps me smiling!

It's been in high rotation on my iPod since I got a promo earlier this year.

And now that her song SMILE went to Number One on the UK charts, LDN has been re-released with a new video:



Mind you, the original video has its simple charm:



London is lovely, innit?

Everything seems to look as it should
But I wonder what goes on behind doors
A fella looking dapper but he's sittin' with a slapper
Then I see it's a pimp and his crack whore

Well, it's lovely in parts!

It's all about attitude & perspective, methinks ...

I MISS MY LONDON LIFE !!!

[*sigh*]

Carry on, Miss Allen.

Richard the Big Bunny



You might larf, you might frown
Walkin' round London Town