Feathers & Costumes

The Notting Hill Carnical has come and gone; leaving tons of rubbish in it's wake. Last night the partying and the music was heard all the way to my room with an astounding clarity into the small hours - and I live at least five minutes walk from the very very outskirts of the festival area.

Walking through town this weekend (or just trying to get to your front door), the most extraordinary random sights awaits you. My quiet little street had been temporarily turned into a stable; police horses and dung galore. The streets - even here in Queensway - are lined with litter in such an arresting amount it feels almost surreal. You could literally swim in it. I'm not kidding.

Sunday night I spent walking and socializing in Notting Hill with work colleagues; trying to navigate my way through literally mountains of dead chicken parts mixed with interesting unidentifiable masses of goo and horse shit (pardon my French). Finally we ended up having an improvised party in the middle of a street still in use by random vehicles; there were no place else to stand.

The carnival in itself was a welcome diversion but not too impressive. I imagined an overflow of feathers and costumes and glitter and dancing; and these things did certainly exist, but in a much smaller scale than anticipated. Some groups idea of dressing up for the carnival train seemed to be plainly wearing the same colored ridiculous and heavily advertisement-filled t-shirts. However, there were some notable exceptions; like one little boy dressed up as a butterfly (or something to that extent) happily posing for pictures in an adorable and confident way.

And these things; messy and noisy and trashy as they may well be (notable is the fact that seemingly all shops in Notting Hill and its surroundings had all their shop fronts and windows boarded up by plywood well in advance to avoid having their shops mugged/plundered/randomly destroyed) - is why I love London. How cool is it to walk into a massive and happily singing/dancing carnival train just five minutes walk from your front door? In my mind, very cool.

I am officially an airhead

Step one:
I purchase food from company canteen.

Step two:
I place plate on desk (main place for food consumption nowadays; qiute sad but that's deadlines for you!).

Step three:
I endeavor to check my emails. Computer decidedly not cooperating; exchanges sites randomly/creates self-made scroller texts/insistently bases the arrow cursor at very bottom of each application.

Step four:
I look very puzzled.

Step five:
I make slightly worried enquiry to my boss (THE main boss) regarding the state of said computer; requiring possible solutions.

Step six:
Boss One & Boss Two (yes, both THE main bosses) examines my computer.

Step seven:
Boss One contemplates v seriously; well nasty things these viruses... Quite frightening indeed. But on the other hand, it might help if you remove your plate from the space button on your keyboard.

Not-so-quick update

Oh have I been busy! Work tempo got put on over-drive two weeks ago; massive deadline after enormous deadline. But it's still fun, I still like it. Am settling in now, think I got it (mainly) under control. That seems to be the view of the management too; grand! Nice people, nice environment, feeling needed; cool.

Free time has been spent mostly arguing with more or less freakish customer service people re random missing packages/cancelled deliveries. 1) my hair straightener has disappeared while being delivered ("there is no record of it being delivered at your address yet, miss"; no shit!), 2) my docking/speaker set for my iPod was apparently cancelled and undeliverable "for unknown reason" ("the courier couldn't seem to find your address, miss, are you sure it's correct?"; "you delivered my iPod at exactly the same address two weeks ago"; "aha, ok, yes, but..."). Intriguing.

Liking my little apartment too. Eventual nightly visits to the "little ladies room" major inconvenience; get dressed/walk down big stairs/walk up little stairs/forgot keys/go back and repeat. But apart from that; feel comfy and relaxed at home as should.

J & boyfr visited in ultra-speed - arrived 19.30pm, left 08.00am - much fun! Very timed, very scheduled bayswater-paddington-edgware rd bar round finished up in old quarters; drinking with the Ex's best friends (as per usual it seems). Good old fun.