The Book of Sifty

The cheapest street on a Monopoly board 6:06AM

So isn't interesting how things turn out? How some things come along when you least expect them.

The last two weeks I've been working at a law firm in London. This law firm is big. Very big. I got the job through some office temping agency that I signed up with. Apparently I got the job since I know something about databases. They use Lotus Notes, which is pushing the term 'database' to call it a database, since its not relational, and just generally sucks. Anyway I manage about 30,000 contacts of the firm. Update addresses and run reports. The job title is DBA, but I think data entry would be more accurate.
So that was the last two weeks work wise.

Last week I was staying in Bermondsey. It's out east a bit from where I was before. In fact if you have a look at the cheapest street on a Monopoly board its just near there. (Old Kent Road).

Friday night I decided that it was probably better to have a quite one and stay at the flat. One of the guys, Marcus, I was staying with before rang up bored and kicking around the flat by himself. So since all the people I'm staying with were also having a night in we invited him around and I went up to the station to meet him. (Also to restock supplies at the off license!). Had quite a good night watching telly and yarning about all sorts of things.

Saturday morning it was up and straight into the beers. I packed up all my stuff and carted it around to Marcus's place, where I was staying before. I'm back there for a week while one of the other flatmates is away. This place is a pretty classic London flat. It has four double bedrooms and a large lounge, in a block of 1920's four storey brick buildings. The complex is named as an Estate, which over here usually means big, grim, concrete 1960s housing block. But in this case it a quite nice place, courtyard with trees and pretty close to town proper. Its also in Zone 1. Which for cheapish accommodation is totally unheard of. If you don't know London its transport system is divided into 'Zones', numbered 1 through 5. Zone 1 is a blob that is basically the centre of town and most of the business district. The other zones form ever-increasing circles out from here, with zone three being where most Kiwis and Aussies live. Its can take more than 40 minutes on a train to reach Zone three. More at rush hour. Zone 5 is like another planet.

Anyway at this flat I'm paying '30 a week to sleep on a couch. At some points there have been more than 10 people in the flat. Sleeping on various couches, floors etc. A classic Kiwi/Aus/SA flatting arrangement, sort of a railway station for travelling people.

You selling? 3 for 10 ! Sign me up. 6:18AM

So Saturday evening Marcus and I had invited around quite a few people for some drinks. The timing of this had a little to do with the person who was away, whom most of the invitees hate. So it turned into quite a party, plenty beer and music. At about 9pm we stashed some beers in coat pockets for the tube ride, stoppe din at th elocal for quick round, then headed out to Craigs flat for his party. Some of his flatmates were leaving so there was a DJ or two and many revellers. Yet again I met some people who'd been to the same school as me, this seems to feature in any party thrown by antipodeans.

At about 5:30 am we decided it was time to head home. We some how found a taxi back for '15 (its like a 30 minute drive!) and bed was very welcome.

Sunday it was up and a quick walk up to the Thames for a pub lunch. Later on at a different pub my manager the week before at the law firm rang, apologising profusely for ringing at a weekend, and asked if I would mind coming in for another weeks work.
Excellent.

Then it was around to my friends place to pick up some forwarded mail from Cambridge.
Em sent me the new Salmonella Dub album! New choons
Things are good indeed!.