MyTube

Your best friend in London will be a tube map. Guaranteed. Designed in 1933 by draughtsman Harry Beck, it is was revolution in spatial design. Of course as with anything fresh, and innovative, it was instantly rejected by officials. Ol’ Harry must have known that he was onto something good though, [...]

Personal pain and embarrassment

Regret is something you perform over a past act. By the time you’re reading this, it will most likely be the emotion I’ll be most inclined to be wallowing in.
Its cause is imbecilic. After toying with my new UK drivers license, a childish thought invaded my mind. “Goodness,” I thought to myself, [...]

How (not) to open an English bank account. Almost done.

It’s almost over, and victory is certainly in the air.
In my possession is now a small piece of plastic labelled rather unimaginatively, ‘DRIVING LICENCE’. It doesn’t have to be much more. It bears my name, my face, and my address. Clutching it and my passport, a visit to the bank was [...]

How (not) to open an English bank account. Part two.

It’s a fortnight since I decided to forgo the smart option and attempt to open a bank account without commercial assistance. Oh have I learnt plenty since.
After my blog, an email appeared from my brother to the effect of “don’t be an idiot.” He’s right, of course. 1st Contact does take away [...]

Orwellian Nightmares

A number of years ago, back in New Zealand, I was blissfully going about my business and stumbled upon an ad for this funny thing called ‘Big Brother’. I had heard it bandied around here and there for about a year, but had never really thought to ask about it. My flat didn’t [...]

Hastings

To pique your memory of British history, in a field outside of Hastings a French king and his army took on a bunch of Anglo-Saxons and after some fracas, earned himself some land. It was the last time Britain was successfully invaded, and it all happened circa 1066AD.
Less medieval, but also significant, is that [...]

Sign me up

1. Go to London.
2. Ignore the tourist-traps. Take photos of signs.
3. Post online.
In a South African department store. At least Kobus looks happy. Oh. Wait.
Found in Putney — check out the fumes from the turd.
They’re called ‘tides’. Hastings, where more than the beach is dull
The mysterious empty yellow triangle [...]

How (not) to open an English bank account. Part one.

Kiwi’s are told that is a frustrating task to open an English bank account. Let’s see about that.
If you are planning to make it to the misty shores for more than a cup of Earl Grey and a tour round London, your best bet would be to go online to 1st contact or inlondon, [...]

Back to Kabwe

This isn’t strictly about London. England plays Brazil in a friendly today at Wembley. I was swimming upstream a sea of red shirts at Kings Cross, and think it’s best I stay away from that part of town tonight. The photo? The best footie match I’ve seen, in Kabwe at sunset, [...]

London calling!

Welcome to the old world, and a new blog.
As it was so perceptively pointed, Into Afrika doesn’t quite do it for someone who’s making a start in sunny London. So voila, an empty canvass, a new header, and a different brush.
This won’t be travel; it will be a different space. It won’t be [...]