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

NEW_JOB

[ATLANTA - 2nd Day @ 2nd Job]

Today was my first real day of work at my second job at the pharmacy ...



Yes, that's right ... I'm a "pharm tech" (that's a chemist's assistant ... but in America!).

I actually started on Friday but was stuck at a desk futzing about with an interactive computer program about patients' rights, privacy laws & regulations and such ... FOR HOURS & HOURS.

But I passed my exam ... and got a name badge ... and my medical-esque blue work jacket ... so it's official!

Today was my first real day of pharmacy work. I really enjoyed it !!!

But I am knackered ...

My feet hurt. I am not accustomed to standing for eight hours.

Only time will tell if I can survive Monday ... reportedly the busiest, most stressful day in the pharmacy ... and then I go straight to work at The Fox for 5 or 6 more hours!

That means I'll work from 10 AM until about 11 PM.

Oi ... I need the money!

Richard

CROSS-POLLINATION

[Atlanta - High on Vicodin - Recovering from oral surgery]

It seems I have two blogs now.

The time I spend on MySpace has increased and I have a blog on there, too. Though sometimes posts get repeated here on my primary blog, there are some unique posts on the MySpace blog.


Click on the above image for a look at my blog on MySpace.

The MySpace blog will always be secondary to this one.

This is still the primary source for Big Bunny news and Richard of London updates!

See you in the headlines ...

Yours with bunnyfeets,
Richard of London

MEN: I know what I want!

[ATLANTA - Over 100 degrees Fahrenheit today!]

I received an email today from an online dating service that I had long forgotten even joining.

The groovy part is that my advert on there contained a long lost blurb I'd written about what I like ... but, alas, it has been recovered.

Hurrah!

Here it is in its entirety:

==

International vegetarian musician on the run ...



SWEET BUNNY SEEKS NON-WHORE for love, life & laughter ... and a bit of monogamous perversion!

:-)

Singing vegetarian Londoner who has gone into exile ...

A thinker. A singer. A bit manic. Educated. Globetrotter. Passionate vegetarian. Non-smoker. No drugs ever. Agnostic. Politically-aware. Too fat. Posh & difficult yet festive & entertaining ... I can be quite silly and am generally a rather happy person (despite my troubles!).

I am myself (whatever that is) and I do not 'act' anything.

Life is short. Be free. Live loud!

You?

I have a very open mind when it comes to types of guys, looks, body types, usw. I do not tend to be sexually attracted to anyone who is larger than 'stocky', wildly effeminate or an obvious poseur. I *do* like 'regular guys' and normal bodies. I prefer someone who is comfortable being himself and who is not consumed by what other people think, assume or might be impressed by ...

When it comes to a long-term relationship, I am 100% certain that I could never settle down with a non-vegetarian or a smoker. Other than that, I try not to establish too many rules because one never knows what one might miss by prejudging! Character is what counts ... yet there must also be sexual chemistry. I have found that to be undeniable.

==

Funny, eh?

It was written before my last relationship but everything stated there is still correct & relevant.

I know what I want ... but I'm not so afraid of being alone that I can't wait for the real thing.

Like Macy Gray once said, "Love is gonna get ya, baby !!!"

But lest we forget the wisdom of Hazell Dean: "I'll be no fool for love ..."

And as Paul Heaton of The Beautiful South wrote, "Love takes time, we all agree ... and time is not the easiest to cheat ..."

Real love is worth the wait.

Richard the Big Bunny

LIBERATION

[Atlanta - It's feckin' hot, folks!]

Enough of this heat & humidity already ...

I couldn't take it.

I shaved my head!



It is now MUCH easier to stay cool.

:-)

The heat here has been oppressive lately. Truly intolerable!

I stay indoors mostly & try to keep from melting.



Rumour has it that it's all the same in London.

At least I have swank air conditioning here in America ...

Hurrah!

Richard the Skint Bunny

EXPLOSIVE!

[Atlanta - Sunday - On a break from work]

On Friday morning, I woke up with an "upset stomach" (read: sneaky explosive diarrhoea) and a high fever.

By Saturday, the fever was gone ... but the other difficulties remain.

:-(

It's Sunday ... I'm working a double ... but on a break between shows and over at Fresh 2 Order (free internet access!).

Despite finally being able to eat a lovely meal, I am still not feeling very well.

MJ sent me this to cheer me up ...



It made me chuckle.

Thanks, Mister MJ !!!

Richard the Exploding Bunny

INDEPENDENT_FUNK

[ATLANTA - One month further down the road]

Long time no scooby, eh ?!?

Sorry about the lack of an update here ... I've been a busy bunny.

Let's see ... a month has gone by ... what have I been doing with myself?

The schedule at The Fox has been slow so I've been working a lot less. This is *NOT* good, as I find myself uncomfortably poor. I should have found a second or new job weeks ago! I really hope to find something within walking distance from home.

My attempts to have a social life again have been curtailed by my lack of funds but I was going out a lot more at first. Oscar's is still a favourite here, if only for the music videos and the nearby location. I have also been dropping into The New Order now & again. It's been called a 'wrinkle bar' (due to its older clientele) but I rather like it. Everyone is friendly and even the top-shelf alcohol drinks are CHEAP.

There has been a bit of mischief, a few mistakes, some backfired attempts at "doing the right things to move on" but only time can heal some wounds. Mourning the loss of my relationship with Jim continues. Having finally had enough of him being an impetuous old fool playing house with his child-bride-to-be, I deleted him from my mobile phone a few days ago. I sobbed more loudly than I ever have before so, clearly, that must have represented something huge for me. I have felt very peaceful since then so I suppose this means I have finally 'let go'.

Moving on to good news & a brighter future, I am making new friends. A truly lovely person named 'MJ' has come into my life. He has helped me through the last of my dark days and I seem to be getting back on track. I appreciate the hand-up he's given me more than he knows. I have made a few other new friends as well ... including a vegetarian Brazilian and even Jim's ex-boyfriend-before-me Michael.

No real news about going home to England but I will be in London for a visit in late August or September. I am not moving back just yet but I do have to go relocate my belongings from their current storage place in Walthamstow. I will be moving the lot up to my mate's in Hull. (Thank you, Ben!)

There is no real 'plan', per se, but I do know *how* I am returning to England when I do. It is all set and the delay is, essentially, a money issue. I need to save up for the application fee (almost $500!) and I will need a fairly substantial sum to live on for a while till I am able to legally work. It is very complicated and the delay was, indeed, necessary. Androo continues to be my 'rock' and I miss him so much!

I let the anniversary of my return to America ('exile', if you will) pass without mention to anyone. I have been back here for a year & two weeks now.

I MISS LONDON.

Showing old photos to MJ the other day really reminded me of what I have there. It will be nice to have my life back.

It is just a matter of time now.

Oh, one last thing ... I shaved off that dodgy beard! The full goatee I'm sporting now is much more fetching.



What do you think?

Let's just hope it pairs well with my soon-to-be shaved head ...

It's too hot for hair here!

Richard the Big Bunny