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A scramble out the door this morning, through to Liverpool St. station, then a three-transfer Tube ride to Waterloo, and onto Guildford. Of course, we didn’t feel like waiting for the bus, so we hopped a cab up the Cathedral to make it with seconds to spare. Actually no, no seconds to spare, we were late. Had to throw on some borrowed robes (Macbeth reference anyone?) and take places with the quickness.

After that, it was just another graduation, really. More comments later, when I actually have some energy, cause right now I am knackered!

Today, I checked out of the hostel, waived adieu to Laura, sat in the internet cafe for a few hours, then went to Hyde Park to sit in the shade and listen to my podcasts. And I’m ok with that.

I grudgingly posted home a box of laundry and a spare jacket. Totalled 3kg, which was a bit of a shock. The cost was a bit shocking as well, especially having to buy the box and the tape! In fact, I left the roll of tape at the post office by accident – what would I have done with it anyway. I am spending a fortune, being nickel-and-dimed, (although Britain uses neither nickels nor dimes) but there is nothing is nothing I can really do about it.

And then to Mwenda’s place, just for some relaxing and watching of telly. Fancy satellite no less. Tomorrow, to Guildford for graduation.

The shinier, more dangly side of Camden town and the Camden Lock Market. Not much to say about it, really, its a mess of punk rock leather and antique oak tables. And somewhere in between are used books and t-shirts with Audrey Hepburn spinning some records, DJ style. The colours of Camden are something to behold – during a Monday afternoon, anyway, best to stay away after midnight…

To the City of London Museum. A somewhat underrated museum among the London elite of Tate, British Museum, and so forth. But if you think about it, London is actually a pretty intense with the history:

From prehistoric, through to the Romans, Vikings, Normans, middle ages, renaissance, reformation colonialism, Victorians and through to present day. Of course, I was only there to take pictures of random machine parts, and typography from back in the day. Interesting to note that some of the candy and packaged goods have very similar labels to today’s packaging. Like that of Mars Bar for example. Oh just shut up and check out the photos.

Sunday mornings the artists come out to Hyde Park to sell their wares. Paintings, clocks, and the like. Ponies – gotta love it. And of course Speakers’ Corner, where religious zealots, socialists, and anti-Americans of all sorts come to yell and scream for no apparent reason.

Oh the suburbs. A small town in Buckinghampshire, called Amersham, where Damian lives. Damian, of course you’ll remember, was my tutor last year at SIAD. So, why not have a BBQ out here? Laura had to see the small-town Britain as well as the big city.

White skies, but no rain, thankfully. Along with watching the England match, not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Out for another party, this time on the campus of LSE. Always and adventure when you turn up to a party and there is damn near no one there. Forced to make friends, I suppose. The place starting filling up and eventually became really, really loud.

Bonetti had a good time, she staggered home at some point. I left a bit earlier and took the Night Bus. Of course, since Oxford St. is still down for the count, got a nice little detour of central London on a Saturday night. Seems everyone is having loads of fun, and here I am on the bus.

Make your own captions…

Woke up late and scrambled over to watch Australia v. Ireland in rugby. Then, the early part of the afternoon was spent on the streets of Covent Garden, looking at T Shirts, street performers, cool buildings, and just admiring the view.

St. Paul’s Cathedral, Millenium Bridge, Southwark Cathedral, Open-air Market, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe and the winding alleys of old Londinium. Strangely, it seems that I’ve been here before…probably because I have. But its always fun. And its new to Bonetti, who nearly shit herself upon seeing Bridget Jones’ House.

There is a basement with lots of smoke, loud music, low ceilings and one helluva crazy party. Bonetti found it more ironic than I did that young Londoners rock out to 1950s American Rock-n-roll, like Chuck Berry, for example. This is sort of the jive/rock/blues scene and the kids roll with a distinct more of dress, hair, and make-up. The only way I can describe it is “non-punk”.

One of those nights where I had to turn on the slow-synchro flash and just rock out in the classic head bobbing fashion. I found it hard to breathe, so dancing was out of the question.

Reminds me of Last Night’s Party, except less exclusive, and with less nudity. Unfortunately.

…Scott and Laura are on the scene. We covered a lot of turf today, being day 1 and all.

From St. James’ to the Palace for some sort of ceremony, apparently, then onto whitehall and Trafalgar, a stop at the National Gallery, then over to the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey (finally, the inside!), stop to watch the USA lose to Ghana in the World Cup, and back to St. James Station.

Then to Oxford St. – Topshop, which by the way is completely manic, and westward, on foot, back to Queensway and our little resting place. The night is young.

Not a bad day’s work walk.