Everyone's a little bit racist... sometimes

I'm in an Internet Cafe in Edinburgh - I've paid for 2 hours Internet access, but when I put the code in, I only have one hour and 58 minutes, so I think someone is stealing my time. I may write a strongly worded letter to the authorities.

I feel I should be out seeing the sights. But, it is about 2degrees outside, and I have a bit of a cold. Serves me right from telling Rachel when she mentioned she had a cold that I'd be fine - I didn't have a cold for all of 2008, and I've been around heaps of sick people and I'm fine. Got off the phone, three minutes later started coughing. I'm not really sick... I have a bit of sinus pain, I feel a bit exhausted and I have an occasional cough. I went to Boots (the big pharmacy chain here) to look for cold and flu stuff, but couldn't see anything I wanted to take, may go back and just grab some paracetamol on my way out of the country. In about 2 hours. So, not sight seeing, too cold, not interested. Sorry, Edinburgh, you are wonderful and I will return, perhaps with more layers or in summer. Walking around, I'm been loving the stony gorgeousness. Got some photos, but nothing all that exciting, and moronically forgot to take photos of Rachel and co or David, so really, no point having the camera right now. But, this is tedious. Let me talk fun.

Last I wrote, I think I mentioned drinking bubbles watching Celebrity Big Brother with Claire. The next morning, Saturday (I hate this keyboard. It's dirty, ugly, and doesn't type the right buttons and stuff. It's not me.) I packed up my stuff and left Chingford. Thanks Claire, Kev and Dylan for the bed - it was fabulous! I'll be going back before I leave - possibly not to stay, perhaps just for a day visit. I was to meet Dukes at the National Portrait Gallery at 12:30 to go to the Annie Liebowitz exhibition, and in the meantime went past Kings Cross to dump my big pack into Left Luggage - such a good idea! So, we met, Dukes had booked us in to the gorgeous restaurant at the top of the gallery for 2, so we headed in to the exhibit. It was fabulous - I love a bit of photography, and I really like her work. I'd read a few things about this exhibition in Melbourne, got all excited, then looked at the location and went "Boo. London. What's the point?" and hadn't really considered the fact that I was going to London - moron! Thank goodness for the plethora of advertising in the tube stations which included this exhibition! After spending time viewing the work with a tonne of other people (everywhere is so crawded here. Crowded. Stupid keyboard. Or has my accent changed that much?) we headed upstairs for a delightful lunch. Thanks, Dukes! Fabulous food, beautiful views, great company, was ace. Exiting, we went via a few other rooms and saw some spectacular busts, including Tennyson and Charles Darwin.

We then wandered around the place - as I had been staring at Nelson's column through the window, we headed to Trafalgar Square. And suddenly my knowledge of London is feeling challenged - I am fairly certain that it is Trafalgar Square I was staring at, surely I'm right. Anyhow, there had been some anti-Israeli protests going on - on the TV it looks huge, and judging from the rubbish and posters on the ground everywhere, it probably was. (Having said that, I went past another in Edinburgh yesterday and it looked big, but was only about 3 people deep, bit deceptive...) It wasn't so big when we were there, but the TV vans were leaving, and the light was failing, so I think most had gone home. I seem to have caught up with more news here than I usually do in Aus, so I know a little on what is going on. Hamas shooting rockets into Israel for 8 years, Israel taking opportunity of the end of the Bush era to make an attack into Gaza, so much more politically than I have knowledge of, but seeing lots of images of dead people. Awful. Incidentally, I read a small thing in the paper the other day where George W said he would like to see his brother Jed in the White House next election... surely, surely not!

We left Trafalgar Square and headed to Covent Garden where we sat in the courtyard of the Punch and Judy pub and had a few lagers. Thinking back, this may have not been the best idea for the whole cold thing... it was cold, but was nice, and I loved the added touch of the security guards watching from the level above and being the voice from above whenever anyone tried to take a drink out, or have a cigarette. I took a photo of the roof, and Dukes said the security guy thought I was taking it of him and posed - wish I'd gotten that! Dukes had been trying to reach Shannon, his lady friend, to see if she'd join us. She does a lot of children's performance based stuff, and runs a drama class on Saturday mornings, so was a bit knackered. Suddenly, Dukes suggested a show, and so we finished our drinks and headed down to the Theatre places to check out possibilities of tickets for Avenue Q. Scott had recommended this when I'd caught up with him in Aus, and Dukes and Shannon had been about 2 years ago and were keen to see it again. And yes, tickets were available, we got three up in the gods, awesome. Show didn't start until 8:30, so Dukes and I went looking for a bar.

He took me to a place called the Crowbar (or was is Crobar? Now I am unsure) which is a very cool little bar which plays rock and metal and stuff, served Coopers (surprise!) and we hung out for a few more drinks there. It was now getting close to showtime, I was feeling a little bit tipsy, and we left with a couple of travellers. I felt so naughty wandering through the streets drinking beer... but and geez, could have used a glove! Met Shannon at the venue, she's awesome, and went in. When they had gone last time, they were right down near the front as there used to be restricted seating at the front, but no longer. This time, we were in the third row of the upper balcony, but the angle and height did not take away from the enjoyment of the show. I must admit, I spent more time watching the puppeteers rather than the puppets themselves (for those who have not heard of Avenue Q, it is a group of Muppet style puppets, but it is an adult show. Including a sex scene that rivals Team America in its humour. It includes wonderful songs like "Everyone's a little Bit Racist" and "It sucks to be me". It is very funny, and has a few non-puppet characters, including a representation of Gary Coleman which never ceased to make me laugh - I'm surprised that he hasn't complained and/or sued. It's really not flattering.). Was awesome. Loved it.

On the way to the bar, we came past a car with a big camera attached to it. It was CCTV montioring for traffic - perhaps something to do with the congestion charge? I got a photo, and then Dukes went to put his hat or scarf over the camera - and the man jumped out, ready to get a little angry. We all giggled and left.

After this, we had a quick drink at the bar across the road before it shut (crazy 11pm closing) and grabbed a cab back to Dukes and Shannon's place in The Oval (the suburb. Not an actual sports ground.) Shannon made a yummy pasta and seafood delight, we ate chips, drank the last couple of beers in the fridge, watched the end of Wayne's World 2 and I decided it was time to go to bed when I realised I was sitting on the couch, drinking white wine with ice in it, and cheering the professional darts competition - despite having no understanding of what was going on. And it was 2am. Great night!

They are in the process of vetting new housemates, which meant I had a bed to sleep in, so comfortable, and I hit the sack and slept like a log.