Glorious weather. Wall to wall sunshine. Yes, we are in the UK, yes we do make a big deal about the weather, yes we rarely see the sun so when we do we are going to make a big deal about it.... OKAY!
So on Saturday (the hottest day of the year so far people!) we went along to a BBQ in Earls court. The hostest, who was Turkish, had laid on a beautiful spread of traditional Turkish food and an array of drinks. So I dived straight into the Pimms of course. Those that know me will know I am chatty by nature and when consuming alcohol this is only heightened. Luckily I discovered a new acquaintance of mine, Jessie, is exactly the same so we spent a good hour or so talking utter rubbish which I for one really enjoyed!
The great thing about socialising in London is the variety of people you meet. This crowd were mainly from the corporate world - Bankers, Lawyers & civil servants mostly. Now I hear you... I too have heard the rumours about these banker wanker types.... but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this delightful group of people. Charming, well mannered, down to earth and extremely welcoming I felt almost in awe of their intelligence and some-what inferior. I was dreading the moment someone asked me what I did and all I could think was "you are not Bridget Jones!". So the moment came.... and I hastily say ' I work in Interior Design for Giorgio Armani' and take a deep breath.... (I feel so superficial....!) and in response I hear 'now here is someone cool... your job is actually cool!". I down my pimms. Yes I am cool. Yes I can do this and mix with these guys and Yes I am not doing a Bridget!
So now I am chilled, chatting away getting merry. I spilt some drink down my dress and slightly steaked my fake tan... but not noticeably. I could have got away with it.... I could of played the part and denied this delightful group of people any 'Lucy' moments. I was so close.....
.... So as the evening draws to an end I am sat chatting with a Turkish man about various different subjects. We are having a lovely intelligent conversation.Now this party was mostly made up of the Turkish community, with whom I had been conversing all day. And I ask this gentlemen 'where are you from'.... his reply 'Istanbul'.
-'I see..... this may sound like a silly question but where is Istanbul?'
-'In Turkey of course' (yes of course, I can't believe I actually asked this out loud!)
My response ' I didn't know Istanbul was in Turkey??!!!!' just as the garden goes quiet. Why Lucy.. why? Eyes rolled, blonde status regained.
Lesson learned: Keep stupid questions in head and wait to google when we get home!
Monday 15 July 2013
Friday 12 July 2013
BIG POND
A little yellow fish in a big massive deep blue pond. A pond full of new adventures, obstacles & excitement, a whole new world of endless possibilities and opportunities.
So I am obviously the little fish. Lucy, Lucy-Claire, Lulu, are some of the various names used when referring to me although just Lu is fine. Blonde haired (albeit thanks to the bottle) and ambitious I have chosen to leave the safety and security of the small pond (uttoxeter; a small town in the Midlands) and JUMP feet first into London life. So here I am in the big pond, and I am learning alot. There are many versions of what 'London' is like back home. Busy, loud, ill mannered, to name a few descriptions. Now I am down here though I find I have morphed myself into one of these 'Londeners'.
The first lesson I learnt very quickly is the escalator rule. This is imperative, particularly for the week day London commuter. ALWAYS stand on the right. Whether it be stairs, escalators or in some cases even corridors. Next, always register your oyster card on line. I came across this after a lengthy commute home on the district line when I dropped my freshly topped up oyster card down the dreaded gap. Panicked and aware that I could not afford to re top up on a new card I pulled the emergency leaver on the tube... to the horror and disgust of my fellow passengers. Fortunately the station staff manager to extract the card using a pincer like device fairly quickly..... however the words of a middle aged balding man stuck in my mind.... "what kind of idiot doesn't register their oyster card on line". Me... I am that little yellow fish in this massive pond who doesn't. Every body walks fast in London.... particularly in the week. At first this was alien, sleepy Uttoxeter never has this problem? However I confess I am finding myself now getting agitated by those who are indecisive or meandering around the station.... hello I need to get to work. EVERYTHING is expensive. It took me about a week of pointing this out to everybody before I got the gist.... Yes a glass of house white wine is £15 in Chelsea. And then there is the big north or the river/ south of the river/ east / west divide.
So when first moving down here I lived in Bow (East for those of you less geographically minded). I work in Chelsea (west). Early on I noticed the difference in tube occupants as I travelledd the hour long tube ride to work. The further west in the morning I went the smarter the occupants, mainly comprising of business men, young with fresh faces, clean shaven with their hair meticulously manicured into position. Fullham Broadway is the main culprit for this clientele of passenger. In the evening as I reached Algate East the more alternative & 'edgy' they would become. Headphones in, music blaring, tattoos, alternative hair colouring, many a piercing. I enjoyed the contrast of living in the gritty urban east of London and working the slick, polished west. And for a while I thought this to be the only divide.... oh no! Whilst out with some friends on Kings Road I casually mentioned to a brunette 'chelsea girl' (I hate using that stereo type but honestly it is such an apt description for this girl) that I was thinking of moving to Clapham. A flash of horror dashed across her face and her response was one of worry and concern for me with a dash of snobbery.... "oh no darling... I would never live south of the river". I for one enjoy all of this pond. I however have settled on the west. I have moved and am living in Wimbledon now (much easier commute) and am still working in Chelsea. Am a regular at inferno's and am partial to cocktail on Kings Road.
So far I have to say I think I am working this big pond out... but I'll keep you posted
So I am obviously the little fish. Lucy, Lucy-Claire, Lulu, are some of the various names used when referring to me although just Lu is fine. Blonde haired (albeit thanks to the bottle) and ambitious I have chosen to leave the safety and security of the small pond (uttoxeter; a small town in the Midlands) and JUMP feet first into London life. So here I am in the big pond, and I am learning alot. There are many versions of what 'London' is like back home. Busy, loud, ill mannered, to name a few descriptions. Now I am down here though I find I have morphed myself into one of these 'Londeners'.
The first lesson I learnt very quickly is the escalator rule. This is imperative, particularly for the week day London commuter. ALWAYS stand on the right. Whether it be stairs, escalators or in some cases even corridors. Next, always register your oyster card on line. I came across this after a lengthy commute home on the district line when I dropped my freshly topped up oyster card down the dreaded gap. Panicked and aware that I could not afford to re top up on a new card I pulled the emergency leaver on the tube... to the horror and disgust of my fellow passengers. Fortunately the station staff manager to extract the card using a pincer like device fairly quickly..... however the words of a middle aged balding man stuck in my mind.... "what kind of idiot doesn't register their oyster card on line". Me... I am that little yellow fish in this massive pond who doesn't. Every body walks fast in London.... particularly in the week. At first this was alien, sleepy Uttoxeter never has this problem? However I confess I am finding myself now getting agitated by those who are indecisive or meandering around the station.... hello I need to get to work. EVERYTHING is expensive. It took me about a week of pointing this out to everybody before I got the gist.... Yes a glass of house white wine is £15 in Chelsea. And then there is the big north or the river/ south of the river/ east / west divide.
So when first moving down here I lived in Bow (East for those of you less geographically minded). I work in Chelsea (west). Early on I noticed the difference in tube occupants as I travelledd the hour long tube ride to work. The further west in the morning I went the smarter the occupants, mainly comprising of business men, young with fresh faces, clean shaven with their hair meticulously manicured into position. Fullham Broadway is the main culprit for this clientele of passenger. In the evening as I reached Algate East the more alternative & 'edgy' they would become. Headphones in, music blaring, tattoos, alternative hair colouring, many a piercing. I enjoyed the contrast of living in the gritty urban east of London and working the slick, polished west. And for a while I thought this to be the only divide.... oh no! Whilst out with some friends on Kings Road I casually mentioned to a brunette 'chelsea girl' (I hate using that stereo type but honestly it is such an apt description for this girl) that I was thinking of moving to Clapham. A flash of horror dashed across her face and her response was one of worry and concern for me with a dash of snobbery.... "oh no darling... I would never live south of the river". I for one enjoy all of this pond. I however have settled on the west. I have moved and am living in Wimbledon now (much easier commute) and am still working in Chelsea. Am a regular at inferno's and am partial to cocktail on Kings Road.
So far I have to say I think I am working this big pond out... but I'll keep you posted
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