Brief interlude – waiting on the platform for the train last night, I was half-amused, half-creeped out by the member of Underground staff announcing the impending arrival of the train. He stood near the platform edge and on his loudspeaker walkie-talkie type piece of equipment, advised passengers to “stand behind the yellow line” and to “allow passengers off the train first” – all very reasonable and day-to-day kind of stuff. I should note that this employee was about 12 feet away from me at this point. Then a man came in between where I was standing and the announcer and stood on the yellow line (which is still about a foot from the edge)– note that he then was about 5 or 6 feet from me. The announcer, staring right at this (hapless) man, raised the loudspeaker to his mouth again and repeated “STAND BEHIND THE YELLOW LINE”. The poor passenger, embarrassed and slightly taken aback, shuffled back a step or two (defiantly, I held my ground with one foot crossing the forbidden yellow line – I showed him!) Then the uniform started rubbing a thumb over the microphone so that on the PA system there was this “ee-ee, ee-ee” sound. Oh-Kaaay, then as the train is pulling into the station, he announces “this train is for Heathrow – that’s an airport – where big planes fly in and out of” in a very slow voice. Couldn’t tell if he was trying to be funny and add a little excitement to what must be a very mundane job or if he was genuine. Weird.

I had baklava for breakfast this morning – yum yum.

This is the last week before I get paid - FINALLY!! It's only been a short lifetime since I've had a paycheque. Hence the tame stories. I've planned a meal and night out in Notting Hill for this Saturday - blowing the money that's really already spent. As for this past weekend - let's see. Friday night I met up with a girl from T.O. who has just moved to London - Really pretty, great hairstyle, friendly and chatty, landed a job and a flat in less than 2 weeks - naturally I hated her! Actually, she was too nice to hate, I have to admit (grudgingly). We are similar in many ways, which is a smidge weird, but cool. I took her to a pub in Leicester Square and she told me that she had her wallet stolen from her handbag a few days previously. (I warned her about the thieving bastards but they got her nonetheless - welcome to London). The table of rowdy men next to us grew progressively louder, so we had to sit quite close to one another to hear. Then the typical happened - one of the men started to chat us up, or attempt to ("I bet I can guess what your name is - You're a vowel aren't you? etc etc.", but I wasnt in the mood for it (I cant imagine why not!) and was uncharacteristically rude to him (not that he noticed or minded). After finally managing to discourage interruption from him, another one of his mates decided to sit next to me and continue where the other had left off - it was all very frustrating and in the end we finished our drinks quickly and buggered off. Men.

Saturday was lovely and sunny so of course I stayed in bed watching tv until 1:30. I had a Twix and a can of Fanta orange for my brekkie (shocking behaviour). I hauled my lazy ass out to enjoy the day - headed into Hammersmith to meet up with some friends and we walked along the Thames, stopped for an ice cream (yum), popped into the William Morris museum then stopped at a pub and on a bench with our backs to a wall we basked in a sun trap until the shade took over and made it a bit too chilly. What a great way to spend an afternoon. Onwards and upwards - we hit a grocery store for provisions then headed into Fulham to whip up a tasty meal of soup, baguettes and beef nachos (heehee). One of my friends, who nannies, was housesitting for one of her employers, so we whisked ourselves over to Mr I'm a Producer for the BBC and Mrs I write for a large and successful magazine's (or something to that effect) house to have a girlie sleepover! I luxuriated in a bath so wide and deep I floated! What fun. Sunday I was up bright and early to hit Camden with my cousin. He was on the hunt for a birthday gift for his girlfriend. I helped. Later in the evening I met up with one of my auntie's and she took me out for a Mexican and film. We saw The Shipping News, which was wonderful.