Job News!

Job news - I have one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will be a health care assistant in a Orthodox Jewish nursing home, which will be more than interesting seeing close up a different religion and culture. I will also gain a NVQ in health and social care which is a bonus! 8am are some scary words though! Haven't heard that in a while!!! EEK! As my friend points out no more being a lady of leisure :(

Pictures: animals of leisure (lucky buggers) taken in Clissold Park, Hackney. There are also an animal enclosures including deer, pygmy goats, rabbits and hens. As well as an aviary and duck ponds.

Sheldon Square Part II

What do they say about saving the best till last? Ha! I love these statues. The lone man was actually a set they were opposite each other but my camera couldn't (or wouldn't) take them together, in fairness they were quite a way apart.

Sheldon Square Part I

When I think of London I think of history. London dates back from Roman times and the Tower of London from the early Middle Ages, London is full of beautiful old architecture when people put real effort and imagination into things. So this post is to show a different side of London, the modern side.


I came to Sheldon Square when I thought my life was to take an ironic twist - I went for an interview for a job at the job centre! They turned me down but I was lucky enough to find a great advisor who has helped me a lot and who I can't thank enough!

Angel

These pics are of Angel in Islington.

According to Wikipedia: 'London has a wide range of peoples, cultures, and religions, and more than 300 languages are spoken within its boundaries'

So it seems impossible to find your angel but its not...

Paddington Bear at Paddington Station

Paddington is a bear who usually wears a duffle coat, a rather shapeless hat and, on occasions, Wellington boots. Many people also know that his favourite food is marmalade and that he originally comes from Darkest Peru.

Paddington arrived on Paddington Station in London which is where the very first story begins with the words:Mr. and Mrs. Brown first met Paddington on a railway platform. In fact, that was how he came to have such an unusual name for a bear for Paddington was the name of the station.

The writer Michael Bond was born in Newbury, Berkshire, England on 13th January 1926. His first book, A Bear Called Paddington, was published in 1958. In 1997 Michael Bond was awarded to OBE for services to children’s literature.

The tube

I've been using the tube a lot recently - so it deserves a post!! I found a very interesting web page (link below) dedicated to everything tube!!!

Go where we may - just not too any of these stations (!):

Lots of stations have closed down, but are still sitting there in a strangely unnerving way (unnerving, anyway, for anyone who has seen Quatermass and the Pit).
They are: Aldwych (closed 1994), Blake Hall (1983), British Museum (1933), Brompton Road (1934), City Road (1922), Down Street (1932), Lords (1939), Marlborough Road (1939), Ongar and North Weald (1994)South Acton (1959), South Kentish Town (1924), St Mary's (1938), Uxbridge Road (1947), White City (1959) and York Road (1932).

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A408890)

Two Flower

It was sooooooooo hot that day!! On the plus side lots of ice lollies!!

The cirtificate from Monument (front and back)

Olympic flag outside City Hall

Statues outside City Hall

Trapped London, Monument

This is from a little while ago when London was hot and sunny. I had a friend come to stay from the mystical land of Congleton (in the London Dungeon my friend was standing on trial for loving a horse a little too much when we were told Congleton doesn't exist).

He insisted on going to the London Dungeon. I have not been there in the four years I have lived in London for a very good reason - I was scared. Because I had been previously been dragged to the one in York and had lived to tell the tale I agreed. The difference being the London one has rides!! (descriptions taken from the website):

'Boat Ride to Hell
Are you afraid of the dark? Are you petrified of drowning? Do you hate the feeling of falling backwards? Face your fears with the Traitor, Boat Ride to Hell at The London Dungeon!'

reality

Owen - did we just go down a big slope?

Me - erm. yes. I think we did...

'Extremis: Drop Ride to Doom

'You have been tried and sentenced, now you must accept your fate and let the hangman guide you to the end. A final rush of adrenaline as you plummet into the dark depths to embrace your doom!

reality

I was scared going up, cos we kept going up...I didn't get the flip in the tummy feeling I was expecting. In the picture I was laughing, so it was good and Owen did look a little scared - that might be because he wasn't allowed his glasses.

Next for the tourists was Monument - all 311 steps of it. It was built between 1671 and 1677 to commemorate the Great Fire of London and to celebrate the rebuilding of the city. The fire began in a baker's in Pudding Lane on 2nd September 1666 and was extinguished 5th of September, after destroying the greater part of the city. 311 steps up a spiralling staircase and at the end you get a certificate for a mere £3!! The only down side is that it’s very narrow at the top and London is covered my mesh, as in the trapped London in the above pic.

The giant Kangaroo in the bra and knickers, by Elle Macpherson, outside City Hall can be explained thus:‘Twenty lifesize kangaroo statues will be descending on LondonBetween Wednesday 24th and 30th June 20 life-size kangaroo statues will be descending on London.Each will boast its own unique design, with the roos created by a mix of celebrities, students, artists and sponsors.Known as the Kangaroo Island Hunt roos, they will be located at landmarks throughout central London, and the public will be invited to find the roos in return for winning a trip to Kangaroo Island!The 20 kangaroo designs have come from various celebs, including model Elle Macpherson, GMTV presenter Richard Arnold and South Australian artists Peter Coad and Emma Hack.’

There is no similar excuse for the giant egg next to it!!!

Regent's Park part 3

Regent's Park part 2

The house meeting went well; two boys (that shared a room) were the main problems of the house. One has left and the other has been asked to leave. It is a shame because they were nice and have been quiet lately but the house is messier since their arrival. Most of the glasses, plates, bowls end up in his room. He leaves his stubble all over the sink, and it is disgusting for people who use the sink to wash their face! Its mainly the party atmosphere (and the food stealing) that is a pain. You used to not know how many people were living in that room. He has at least three friends over every night, forcing some house mates to lock their door when going downstairs to watch TV. Naturally the boys requested more girls in the house! It turns out that I am not the only girl in the house anymore!!! : ( two guys moved in the room downstairs and then I saw a lot of an, I must say, older (than them) female. She was at the house meeting. And now it appears there is another lady living with them. Four people in one room?!?


My fave house mate (my party boy) has left for his home - Rome this morning. I'm very sad and will be more lonely - but at least I have an invite to Rome!!


And the zoo called me yesterday. They offered me the job! But I couldn't take it! I got offered only a 12 hours contract when I stated I needed a 30 hour one. They woke me up for that! I'm annoyed because in the pre-interview, 1st stage, they asked me and I told them full time and the lady was quiet keen to put me down for also wanting part time hours. It struck me as strange then, like they had already filled the full time positions. I told her no, just full time. They said they would see and get back to me. I doubt they will. I was told that they may have filled all their full time slots with people who scored higher in the main interview! The cheek! They are a zoo!! They should be aware that caging people for long periods with nothing to do in a darkened room isn't the best idea, then they expect me to dazzle them at interview, they were lucky they didn't lose a limb!! Grrrr!

Regent's Park part 1

I love the detail on the house, the statues, roman columns - but look at all those chimneys!

The BT tower versus an old style lamppost

I had a job interview today - at London Zoo! I made sure friends and family members made no 'what as a monkey?' joke. Luckily they just joked (hopefully) about me stealing them baby pandas or big game. (If I'm to be arrested - or mauled - for anything it would be stealing me a Meerkat, sorry guys). The job title is seasonal retail & admissions sales assistants. I took the scenic route to get some good photos. The area round there is so pretty and the park especially so. I will definitely go back to get some quality time there. However the interview was LONG. I felt like a seasonal potential staff member – as in disposable. The start time was 1:30pm, and naturally I arrived early. I was given a tombola ticket; it was rather foreboding to be given a lottery style ticket at a job interview – is that how they choose?!? – And rather impersonal – You’re not important enough to read your name off a piece of paper. The interview was done in two stages, one they check you’re eligible to work in the UK and a quick question; what toy would you recommend to blah blah blah out of the ones on the table.


Stage two was the interview. The rest of the time was spent in the quite dark auditorium. They had two large flower pieces that looked like you would find them in a funeral home rather than a zoo. I left after 4pm. What were we doing in the darkened auditorium with the morbid flowers? NOTHING. Literally. We sat for HOURS doing nothing. Just staring into space and daydreaming. We were offered no refreshments. When the interviewer before mine came in and asked for somebody else I laughed, not cos it was funny, nor in a bitter way but because I was slowly losing my sanity. I think I didn’t do so well because of that – may have come across as a bit of a nutter after being spoken to and being let loose from my cage after so long!


I’ve got to go – the house has a meeting due to the stealing of food, noise and dirty dishes!!!

A request

I recieved a request from Elise over at http://elise-wwwwords.blogspot.com/ where she blogs about ballet:

'Hi, I hope you are going to check out the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and post your pictures here ?You can do tours of the building; you don't have to pay a fortune to see a performance, and it's a massive building not just a theatre.'

statue of Dame Ninnette de Valois

Located a few steps from the Royal Opera House, La Ballerina takes its name from the enchanting statue of a ballerina which stands directly opposite the restaurant

I haven't had a tour of the building - but it is on my to do list! Here is the information on tours:

'Visit the Backstage and the Front of House areas of one of the world's leading theatres as it prepares to open its doors for the evening performance.

The Backstage Tours include an introduction to the colourful history of the theatre, an insight into the redevelopment of the Royal Opera House and a look at aspects of current productions. As the Royal Opera House is a fully working theatre, each tour is a unique experience, and may include opportunities to see The Royal Ballet in class, or the magnificent backstage technology in operation.

The tours can run three times per day Mondays to Fridays, at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm, and on Saturdays at 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm and 1.30pm. All tours last approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. The cost is £9 per ticket [concessions: £8 (senior citizens) and £7 (students/unemployed/children).'

Thanks for the request!!!

By the Canal Harringay

London grub

Above are pictures of my plate covered in jellied eels. I would love to tell you a romantic story about strolling along the Thames and being tempted by these beauties at a traditional stall. But I bought them at my local Sainsbury's supermarket. I wasn't sure what to do with the jelly, not being a fan, I scraped it off safely and into the bin! I ate these lovelies for you dear readers because:

Jellied eels are a traditional dish from London's East End that originated in the 18th century. In the East End there used to be lots of jellied eel and pie and mash shops, and although most did not survive into this century, a few are still going.

The Thames is a good habitat for eels. They were easy to catch locally, and it was easy to keep them alive in barrels for long enough to bring them to market, so the supply was easier than that of other kinds of fish. Because of this they were common, cheap and easily transportable.

I admit they do not look neither yummy nor moreish. But they are not that bad - I even bought more the other day. Second time around I liked them more and didn't feel sick at all!

British Library and St Pancras Station