TUBE RAGE ALERT

Yes that would be me. I think I have been here too long. No I didn't punch, slap, pinch or bash anyone, but sometimes I think I'd like to and that could be bad (note to self may have to use that punching bag at gym on certain days!!). I merely swore, out loud, not at anyone in particular, so yes other people would have realised I was well peeved.

I just get aggravated when people, who really don't deserve a seat - MEN - in general will dive for them. This has happened to me several times, but this time 2 men dived past me on the same tube to get seats that I should have had. Why am I more deserving? I am probably not. BUT I have to travel further (not that they know this) AND BUT I am commuting *. Neither of them were, they got off many stops before I did and were dressed casually - SO NOT commuting.

* have random day dreams about London Underground coming up with rules on where you can stand on the platform and what carriages you are allowed in depending on where you are travelling to and at what time you have to be there...with your commute being built into your Oyster card and having to swipe in on the carriage too. Oh and tourists not being allowed to travel between 8am-9am and 5-7pm. Far fetched, super difficult to administer, but I can dream can't i!!!

However, no generally am not more deserving, I am just thinking that because I don't rush for a seat that I should not get one. I actually have to be quicker and pushier, but being like that would make me more of a Londoner than I really ever want to be. I don't want to be like them, that is my point, I want to get a seat on the train without the slow motion pushy dive past people, cause it makes me feel bad for doing it.

As I have only been commuting from Kentish Town for a couple of weeks, basically at the moment my morning is spent strategising. Where I should get on the tube, so to easily get to stand nearest the seats, then so to be by those people who may get off the earliest, so that I might get to sit for just a little while before I get to work. Its stressful to do this, I get de-stressed by having the seat just for a little while, which makes me a much lovlier person (note - I am NOT ever a morning person in general) when I actually emerge in one piece at St James park in the morning.

The other day, a seat became available right in front of me, a man moved aside I sat down, then he under his breath (loud enough for me to hear though) bitched to his girlfriend that he had actually moved for her to have the seat. Well tough! (note - they got off at the next stop anyway).It was right in front of me, that is when it IS up for grabs and I AM actually ALLOWED to just sit down. THAT is when it is mine and that is when I am not being pushy, I am just taking what is there...

So if I get made to feel bad about doing that then imagine how awful I would feel if I had actually, made a Mark Schwartzer move for the seat!

Thank you for enjoying my rant for the day...that will be all...class dismissed....

A cosy new home

We are now officially in and suprisingly, how time flies, we have nearly been in a whole month. It only took a week to unpack everything and there are still a few boxes of papers hidden safely away and I am sure will be neglected till we need to move again. Why then have you waited to see more photos? Blame the internet people - soo sooo slow, we only got it active on Friday, it only took 2 weeks, grr.

As you can see I have made it very homely and it is indeed lovely and cosy. Did I mention the spare bedroom for would be visitors?? Hint hint. As you can also see I have plenty of books and more are really not required, though I just bought a guidebook on France, does that count as a book? Its reference and super important for upcoming travels, so I am going to say no.

We have already used our fully equiped kitchen - you'd think since its been 3 weeks - and I have even stepped in it too. Yes - donned tools and cooked....hard to imagine but it did happen! I have made a delicious stirfry from scratch, wihtout managing to burn down the flat and also I made pasta too. Mark is ever so helpful, but he gets in the way and is banished to the sofa.

So here are a few pics! Enjoy
The Living area

Our kitchen dining area...dining just for show we never eat there!

Mark hard at work in the kitchen

And the main bedroom

Quote me...

"Gratitude, humility and praise are the way to kindle love in a good heart, ... But when gratitude and admiration are expressed constantly they can have the opposite effect.

They become a kind of drug for the one who is on the receiving end, who then starts to demand admiration and gratitude at all costs, by means of violence, blackmail or threats. In so doing you can cause the person on whom you shower gratitude and admiration to believe in his superiority and above all his superiority over you.

In place of a companion from whom you expect love you create yourself a master who regards himself as a good, who gives orders, takes decisions and issues pardons and rewards where appropriate. But all those functions belong to another Lord altogether. The human reward for gratitude and recognition tends to be ingratitude.

The person who has tried to obtain love by means of gratitude and service tends to receive the opposite."

The Ultimate Intimacy - Ivan Klima

This quote, or rather extract, I found rather interesting, not because I believe necessarily that I have suffered like the character, but I can empathise with her. It can definately be true in relationships that one can shower the other with love, praise and gratitude and that it not be respected or taken as love that should be returned in the same copious quantities that it is given.

North Londerners once more

We have done it we have moved back North, it is a move that has been said never happens, once South never again North. I suppose since we are Australian and not English the rule does not apply.

So we now are living in Dartmouth Park, which is a tiny pocket suburb surrounded by Highgate, Tufnell Park, and Kentish Town. We are about 3 minutes from Tufnell Park tube station (Northern Line, so easy Southern access) and 10 minutes walk (all downhill) to Kentish Town tube and overground (which takes us to Kings Cross or West Hampstead in mere minutes). We are also a very short 10 minute walk to Parliament Hill, where you can go fly a kite! Or sledge even when there is snow...

Welcome, this is the front of our flat (1st floor) in the snow...

The lounge room

The Kitchen, just off the lounge, so Mark can multitask with cooking and watching TV at the same time

The Hall way and second bedroom...note to potential family and friends wanting to visit London!! hint hint

The Bathroom

The Bedroom, which has a view all the way to the Gherkin!

Ok so these photos are of the day we moved in, so its now nice and homely and those pictures will come soon too.

Stay tuned for pics of - Snow...snow and more snow along with long belated blogs on Xmas