Dearest friends,
This week has been quite a hazy excursion into the world. Going to most excellent museums, going on magical foggy afternoon walks through Hampstead Heath, chilling with new friends, travelling around London's majestic west end, going to see indie rock bands at the various hipsterish places around London's east end, going to random nightclubs that look like something out of an Al Pacino movie and just living at my Aunt's place in Hampstead. It's a very posh sort of life style, but money is limited and I'm kind of missing the quiet country life of North Yorkshire, so I'm heading back there this friday with my cousin, Little Richard. So far, for my current adventures in London have not yet come to an end, my time here has been most triumphant! Definitely only just scratched the surface of London though. I feel that I definitely want to come back. And I will, for Christmas, with all 5 of my family (yay!!), for a week. It should definitely be fun.
On thursday I went to the Tate Modern. A very cool, modern, hip, slightly pretentious, museum for contemporay art. It was very good, I must say that I was amazed. Once again, I only definitely scratched the surface, so I will most likely be going back!
Later that night I ventured down to Old Street to check out some bands at the Hoxton bar and grill. The main band, Airship, was incredible! They were like a post rock/indie rock outfit; totally loud. I managed to exchange a DG cd for 2 of their eps! Definitely a good night. And check them out! Classic Mancunian rock n roll.
Friday I went to the British museum!! It totally brought back memories. The last time I had been there I was 9. Totally seeing it with new eyes. And again, I only just scratched the surface. Definitely going back. Fabulous architecture, fantastic exhibits. The only thing was that the reading room was closed.
Later that night I met up with my new friends, Sam and Tass, both scientists, at a rock and roll joint called the old blue last. Great bands played that night, I don't remember any of them, but great bands indeed. From there we went to a pub, and from there we went to Sam's GF's house and from there to get a mighty tasty lamashan (or however you spell that) and then from there to Sam's place where I stayed the night.
Saturday I got up and had coffee and breakfast with Tas, and we took the tube to west London, and walked to the Serpentine river, close to Hide Park, to meet up with some people, and walking along we noticed the front of the Hogwarts train... it was crazy random.
After a most excellent fireworks display at the Lord Mayor's Show, Tas and I went to get some korean food and then went to our respective habitations... later we met at Brixton tube station for a most triumphant night of disco/house music at the Brixton Clubhouse. The main act was Dimitri from Paris, this suave frenchman with a keen knack for house, funk, and parisian sounds. The other acts, I can't really remember, we're totally awesome as well, especially my good facebook friend Justin Winks, head honcho of Mullet Records (Tesla Boy, Casio Social Club). It was funny, because I had never met him before, just through facebook, but there he was partying away, and i went up and was like "Justin? Its Benedict!" and it turned out that he was this totally nice and cool guy and was glad I had made it out, and I was totally glad too, it was definitely not in the least dissapointing. Check out his music on youtube, just search Casio Social Club. So that was totally cool. We got home from the clubhouse at like 5 am, after taking some really sketchy busses... sunday was a recovery day, I said goodbye to Tass, and went home to Hampstead. And now it is monday.. and all is quiet on the eastern, er western? front.
Keep on rocking the Discotheque!
And thanks for reading!
-Benedict
Monday, 14 November 2011
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
London calling..
Greetings yall!
I am currently living with my aunt in Hampstead. It's great! Taking the tubes, being on my own most of the time, hooking up with family and random family friends, going to nightclubs, Occupying London at Saint Paul's, aimlessly wandering the streets of London in search of somewhere interesting, eating at random eateries, hanging out with my Aunt at night and going on Facebook at the end of the day to see what my friends are up to back in Canada. Life is really good! It's definitely been an experience so far! And luckily I've only gotten lost once.. haha. (luckily there is such as a thing as cellular technology)
The first day was a bit of a mission day. I made it my mission to seek out where this one open mic was, and to get an Oyster Card at the Hampstead tube station. The Oyster Card has been my saving grace. So easy to use. If you've never been to London and are planning to take the tube I definitely recommend getting one of those.
The open mic that my Aunt told me about was pretty cool. It was a cozy folk club downstairs from a chic cafe/bar, like something that Pentangle or Nick Drake would've played at back in the day! Some neat musicians played at the open mic, and so did I. My Aunt and her boyfriend Bob, and my cousin who I had only met once when I was 9 showed up to hear me! It was great. Definitely good to reunite with my cousin again to.
The second day I took the tube down to the Embankment and tried to find the Tate Modern. I ended up wandering to Trafalgar Square where I took a look around the National Gallery. I wanted to go to Canada house, but it was closed for renovations. Later that night I met up with my mum's bestfriend's son at the Macbeth to watch his friend's band play, they were a sweet band! I then met his brother and his friends, which was cool, its nice to have some company. From the Macbeth we went to a retro hip/hop R n B nightclub! That was pretty cool too (since I've never actually been to a nightclub)! We then made our way back to his flat where I stayed the night.
The next day (today) I got up, and said goodbye to my new friends, and made my way by tube to the London Bridge. Wandered around Hayes Gallery, and then made why over the bridge up to Saint Paul's. As I was heading over there were soooo many police in riot gear, expecting a march with potential crazies.. that's the thing right? The easiest way to get to an Occupy is to follow the police! And that's exactly what I did. At St Paul's cathedral, which is absolutely monumental, there is a mass amount of tents set up for the Occupiers which is pretty cool! So I went to sit on the steps of Cathedral with everyone else, and from the speaker from below someone was saying that Peggy Seeger was going to be playing, as well as Billy Bragg, Chumbawumba, Leon Rosselson and a few others. They were all great! I got up pretty close too. We were all singing along to old traditional protest songs.. the evening ended with a pretty sweet set by Billy Bragg!
From St. Paul's I took the tube back to Hampstead... the tubes at that time of day are soooo packed! But I'm glad I made back in one piece!
Cheers everyone!
I am currently living with my aunt in Hampstead. It's great! Taking the tubes, being on my own most of the time, hooking up with family and random family friends, going to nightclubs, Occupying London at Saint Paul's, aimlessly wandering the streets of London in search of somewhere interesting, eating at random eateries, hanging out with my Aunt at night and going on Facebook at the end of the day to see what my friends are up to back in Canada. Life is really good! It's definitely been an experience so far! And luckily I've only gotten lost once.. haha. (luckily there is such as a thing as cellular technology)
The first day was a bit of a mission day. I made it my mission to seek out where this one open mic was, and to get an Oyster Card at the Hampstead tube station. The Oyster Card has been my saving grace. So easy to use. If you've never been to London and are planning to take the tube I definitely recommend getting one of those.
The open mic that my Aunt told me about was pretty cool. It was a cozy folk club downstairs from a chic cafe/bar, like something that Pentangle or Nick Drake would've played at back in the day! Some neat musicians played at the open mic, and so did I. My Aunt and her boyfriend Bob, and my cousin who I had only met once when I was 9 showed up to hear me! It was great. Definitely good to reunite with my cousin again to.
The second day I took the tube down to the Embankment and tried to find the Tate Modern. I ended up wandering to Trafalgar Square where I took a look around the National Gallery. I wanted to go to Canada house, but it was closed for renovations. Later that night I met up with my mum's bestfriend's son at the Macbeth to watch his friend's band play, they were a sweet band! I then met his brother and his friends, which was cool, its nice to have some company. From the Macbeth we went to a retro hip/hop R n B nightclub! That was pretty cool too (since I've never actually been to a nightclub)! We then made our way back to his flat where I stayed the night.
The next day (today) I got up, and said goodbye to my new friends, and made my way by tube to the London Bridge. Wandered around Hayes Gallery, and then made why over the bridge up to Saint Paul's. As I was heading over there were soooo many police in riot gear, expecting a march with potential crazies.. that's the thing right? The easiest way to get to an Occupy is to follow the police! And that's exactly what I did. At St Paul's cathedral, which is absolutely monumental, there is a mass amount of tents set up for the Occupiers which is pretty cool! So I went to sit on the steps of Cathedral with everyone else, and from the speaker from below someone was saying that Peggy Seeger was going to be playing, as well as Billy Bragg, Chumbawumba, Leon Rosselson and a few others. They were all great! I got up pretty close too. We were all singing along to old traditional protest songs.. the evening ended with a pretty sweet set by Billy Bragg!
From St. Paul's I took the tube back to Hampstead... the tubes at that time of day are soooo packed! But I'm glad I made back in one piece!
Cheers everyone!
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