London Calling

Sat Dec 3
Tried (unsuccessfully) to catch up on much needed sleep on the 9hr flight to London, but at least the iPod saved me - mad gift!
Arrived about 11:00 London time but had to circle round the city a few times as there was some delay. This was mad however, as we got a really good look at the city. I couldn't get over just how vast it is. It's just a sprawling mass of building as far as the eye can see in every directions and just doesn't seem to end.

Tried to call Stipo from a pay-phone at Heathrow but there was some problem with the phone card. Eventually got through but he didn't answer. Stipo is a Croatian who lived in Adelaide but moved to London some years ago. Not sure what he does, but he is also a semi-professional musician who does mixing for artists in his studio. He had given me directions to catch the underground train ('tube') where he'd meet me at Russell Square station. But I had to text him to let him know I'd be there!

So I bought a £10 pre-paid Virgin UK SIM card and texted him - however my phone was dangerously low on battery power as I hadn't been able charge it since leaving Adelaide (in hindsight, I should've charged it in Syd while I had the chance).

Caught the Picadilly line to Russel square for £3.80 which wasn't too hard as his instructions were clear and everything's well signposted. The tubes are great! Clean, comfortable, fast, efficient, not so cheap but they make it extremely simple to get around London (hey, I could easily get to where I was going catching it for the first time, while jet lagged, exhausted, starving and carrying all my lugguge). Overall a very good public transport system which makes anything in Aust look feeble and primitive in comparison = 9/10.

It was about a 45min trip from Heatrow to Russel Sq and unfortunately, as I had expected might happen, my phone died before I could text Stipo to let him know I had arrived at Russel Sq. Luckily, I happened to overhear a young couple talking at the station in familiar tones.
"Are you guys Aussies?" I asked.
"Yeah, we're from Sydney!"
"Mad! I'm from Adelaide! Let's be best friends!!"

Anyway, we chatted and I asked if I could use their mobile to send an SMS and they kindly obliged. Mad friendly Aussies! Saved me good! Anyway, Stipo soon came (it's a 5min walk from his Partner Isabella's flat in Holborn) and we caught a London cab to his studio which is near the Soho district (£5.80) at round 4:00pm.

Now, when he said I could stay in his studio, I didn't know what to expect. But in all honesty, I would've been happy with 5ft of floor space to huddle into. London is such an expensive city, to stay anywhere would cost an absolute fortune, let alone right in central London's west end where his studio is! I was eternally grateful that he even took me in at all at such short notice: the woman I was originally staying with, Di Thomas, called a few days before I was due to leave saying that her daughter had given birth prematurely and she had to go to Turkey immediately - leaving me with pretty much no place to go. Luckily, Stipo happily agreed and there was also James Osbourne who lives in Brighton (2omins outside London) as a back-up.

Stipo and Isabella.

The 'studio' is actually a tiny apartment crammed with all kinds of equipment from ceiling to floor; speakers, laptop, mixer, keyboards, guitars, microphone, wires amd cables everywhere and all other kinds of electrical gadgets I couldn't identify. It's very small and germaphobetastic (well, what do you expect in London) - but I loved it! There's not a scrap of floorspace (not that I need any) but a double bed to sleep on. Stipo lives with Isabella so he's rarely there (only for work) and usually some other guy named Toby stays there but he's not here this week. So Stipo showed me around, showed me the 'Iron Curtain', gave me some maps of London and basically handed over the keys saying, "Get some sleep - we'll go for a walk tomorrow".

Studio: the clutter of equipment, my bed (far right).

I mean, it's not the most luxurious place (think 'Trainspotting') but I love it: I can use the 2Mb broadband connection, watch TV, plug my iPod into the mixer and play it on mad speakers and I have the place to myself, so I can come and go as I please - which is awesome!! (except there will be times when Stipo will have to record stuff so I'll have to clear out). Madness!

So before I crashed I made a few phonecalls and was starving so I headed out round 6:00pm and round the corner from the studio was a Fish and Chippie. £5.60 for fish and chips. Worst.Ever. So greasy it made me feel sick. Meh......

Tried to hold out as long as I could but was too exhausted and crashed at about 8:00pm. Woke up at 2:00am wide awake. Nah, mad jet lag.......you're alright! And that's why I'm here on the net blogging it up! But might be meeting James today so really need sleep.

So far, I'm enjoying my trip immensely - and the London leg is shaping up to be just as good as the Vancouver experience. If it continues at this rate, this could possibly be the best thing I've ever done in my life!!

P.S. DAVIS CUP FINAL - CROATIA 2: SLOVAKIA 1
OH, BABY!!!!!
Shame I couldn't see any of it on the plane and I probably won't today...........meh, Shaun - you taping it good?? Nah, you're alright!