there's.a.new.geezer.in.town

Okay, I've decided to dust off this blog that I never used. Going to use it post random thoughts on our time here in Europe. This first post is going to be a lenghty one.

Might as well start with our first 3 weeks in London. Observations so far:

• The weather has been good ... sunny and blue skys. Go figure. But we are bracing for the worst come Dec. Heard talk about some syndrome Londoners seem to get from the lack of sunlight in winter ... apparently people are more grumpier. I just reckon they're just upset from losing the Ashes every year.
• We've worked out all the decent shopping areas (that we have been to so far). Mainly Oxford St, Regent St, Carnaby and the back streets around Covent Garden. Plenty of nice winter clothing to buy that will be totally useless back home in Oz.
  
• Now we're earning the local currency we've stopped multiplying the cost of everything by 2.5. That helps. A lot.
• There are friends and a $hitload of expats here. So it hasn't been to difficult settling in.
  
• Aston Martin's, Porsches, Mini Coopers and Audi's galore here. I hope I haven't forgotten how to drive. Some say I never knew how to in the first place ...
• Love the choice of stuff in the supermarkets here. And it's cheap too. They seem to love their pre-made meals. Even saw peking duck in the supermarket the other day.
• We love all the old architecture in London. Can't wait to see the rest of Europe.
• There seems to be a Starbucks on every block. And a sandwich shop where ever you look (Pret, Benjy's). I'm gonna be sick of sandwiches. Correction, I already am.
  
• Love the portable card readers they have at all the restaurants. No more waiting for them to swipe your card when you pay the bill ... the do it at your table. You can even organise to split the bill with the machines.
  
• Gotta install central heating back home in Sydney when we get back.
• They weren't joking when they said it was hard water here ... you can actually tell the difference. Skin feels dry and you see ads for lime scale remover on TV all the time.
• The Tube. Firstly, the trains are designed for Hobbits. It's stuffy. And seems to be breaking down half the time - I mean, things mustn't be good when there are signs at every station informing you what kind of service each line is experiencing (ie. good, bad, closed etc.). But the Oyster card does rock.
  
• Cyclists everywhere ... grown 75% over the last few years. Tour de France starts in London next year too. I drool like the bike nerd I am at all the machinery that past me by as I walk along the street.
  
• Lingo. All of a sudden I am an oriental here. Asian = Indian. Pants = Underwear, so you say trousers. Thongs = Flip Flops. They have no idea what a bum bag is. And they think they are better than us.
  
• Chinese food. You would think the British link with Hong Kong would help the local food here, but all I can say is it is crap. It either looks and tastes all wrong. Or it looks right, but just tastes bland. I mean, we had yum cha today, and all I can say is the prawn dumplings and the dim sims tasted the same (ie. tasteless). Dunno what the deal is, must be the quality of the meat or something.
• I think we must sound like food snobs to all the locals.
  
• What is the deal with street parking here. You can park any side of the road you want. It's confusing to me ... I mean only the habib's do that back home. Everyone does it here.
• Speaking of habib's, the cops gotta get better cars here. I mean an Astra isn't gonna be able to keep up with the cyclists, let alone a getaway car.
  
• Not only are the trains on the Tube smaller, so are the soft drinks here. I knew something wasn't quite right with the cans of coke. They're 330ml, not 375ml. Jipped!

That's all I can think of saying right now. Will post up more stuff as they happen.