Well how was today going to equal the previous day.... it wasn't!
Today I decided to have a leisurely stroll around Kensington Gardens, but somehow ended up in Hyde Park before ending back in Kensington Gardens.
I managed to see the Peter Pan statue
The Princess Di Memorial fountain
I even managed to dip my feet in before the hypothermia kicked in (man that water was cold!)
But no sign of the mad dogs and Englishmen....
but spotted some ducks and swans....
Made it down to Kensington Palace. Went into the room they think Queen Vic was born in...
and went to the exhibit of Diana's dresses...
my day ended at the restaurant owned by Bill Wyman (of Rolling Stone fame) called Sticky Fingers (named after the Rolling Stones album). I had some lovely potato skins and a mojito (have I mentioned how cheap drinks are?)
No lyrical title today, it's PURE EXCITEMENT. Yes, I met my Britpop crush.
Day started off quietly at "home" before I headed to London Bridge Tube to meet my friend to head towards Shoreditch High Street to attend the Art Car Boot Fair in Brick Lane. We were wondering what we were going to do on the Sunday when I read on Twitter that Jarvis Cocker would be one of the guest DJ's at the Handbag Disco at said fair which was for charity. Well that was our Sunday shenanigans sorted.
We made it to the fair in plenty of time and I nearly joined the front of the queue... whoops, no "Rabbit Manoeuvre" today. Fortunately the line wasn't too long (we've so lost our touch since the 'Finger years). We suspected a lot of people were there for the actual art. Just before gates opened a woman from the BBC was walking down the line interviewing people. She stopped and interviewed the people in front of us. One of the questions she asked was "what are you looking at getting your hands on?" (as in the artwork). I said to my friend I hoped they asked me so I could say "Jarvis Cocker" hahahaha.
So we made it in and had a wander around and grabbed a bite to eat and drink and sat and waited.... and waited. But eventually after my friend was putting out the subliminal messages "he's going to walk past him soon" and soon after she proclaims "THERE HE IS!" Off we went and cornered him. He wasn't very chatty, but was extremely obliging. Actually when he posed with me for my photo some bloke from the fair just came up and started talking to him. At first I was thinking "bugger off, this is my moment" then I realised Jarv was just standing there with his arm around my waist. Ok dude, keep talking! My friend and I got photos and got some signatures. Unlike me I think I was a little nervous and kept apologising saying I hope we weren't being pests. hahaha! I asked if there were any plans to return down under. Unfortunately not. Looks like I may have to come back over here to see them play :op
I think I've peaked too early in my holiday. This was the greatest moment of my life. He was so lovely. I think I'm glad my friend wore her "lucky purple shirt"
Hm I think I may struggle finding lyrics specific to the areas I'm in once I leave London. help!
Well while London slumbers I am attempting to try and catch up on my blog. This is the blog for the official 3rd day in London (I think I'm officially losing count).
Today I started using the buses as recommended by my cousin. I walked down to my home Tube, Angel and caught the number 4 bus to St Paul's. Got there with no trouble (if only Brisbane was so easy). Actually noticed we passed the Museum of London, so when I got off the bus I headed up there. Unfortunately the Roman section of the museum was closed in preparation for reopening some time in June.
The item that impressed me most in the M.O.L was a viking outfit...
After I left the Museum I had a bite to eat outside the Museum cafe before heading towards St Paul's. Took a few photos of a few "old" predecessors of the blue plaques before spotting a gorgeous little Lutheran church called "St Anne and St Agnes"
Made it down to St Paul's and had a wander around the area
It was time for me to think about heading over to South Bank where I had to meet my friend so I had my first walk over the Millenium Bridge!
Had a wander through Southbank until I reached the London Eye which was the agreed meeting place to meet my friend.
Met up with my friend whom I hadn't seen since she made a fleeting visit to Brisbane in 2010. She was going to take me out to Peckham to see "59 Lyndhurst Grove" the title to a Pulp b-side. But we decided it was too far to go as it was starting to get a bit late. So instead we went to the hostel she was staying in to check in before hitting Camden.
First stop in Camden was The Good Mixer. This is a pub in Inverness Street which in the mid 90s was the "local" for the Britpop Musos. Frequent regulars included Amy Winehouse, Robert Plant (not that he's Britpop!), and members of Suede, Pulp, Oasis and Blur. It is also regarded as the place where the feud between Oasis and Blur commenced. We had a drink there to honour Britpop and took a couple of photos.
After paying homage to Britpop at The Good Mixer we wandered through Camden / Camden Lock seeing.
We had a wander through the Stable Markets and had a bite to eat there.
then my friend pointed out one of Camden's iconic rock venues.... The Roundhouse
We ended our night by having a drink in honour of Amy Winehouse at another of her "locals" The Hawley Arms before going to visit her home. This poignant moment was ruined by the neighbours rocking up whinging as they got out of the car "they didn't come while she was alive". Hm, that would have been stalking.
I saw my first cat! Reminded me of my Psycho Pussy but not as gorgeous. Despite our "blues", I miss PP :::sniff:::
I'm getting behind in the blog. Now that i've caught up on Faceache and waiting for the world around me to kick start I will make an attempt at catching up!
Another glorious day in London. I did start off wearing a cardie but it was ditched after I'd walked a block. This morning the first item on the agenda was to set off to see the site were Kenneth Williams was born. It was only a couple of minutes away from my cousin's.
From there I headed back past my London home back towards Filthy MacNasty's but took a turn down Percy Street down to Percy Circus where Vladimir Lenin lived back in 1905.
From there I headed back to Pentonville Rd (yes, it's named after the prison, but the prison is actually on Caledonian Rd!) down to St John Street. Here I saw the Red Lion Theatre where it is believed Thomas Paine wrote passages to Rights of Man of which the US and French constitutions are based.
I continued along the street stopping briefly in a little cafe for a "Al Pacino" Panini. It was very yummy - ham, mozzarella, Spanish Onion and olive oil. the bloke behind the counter asks "You're Australian?" Asks me where I'm from. After I tell him I am from Brisbane he proceeds to tell me he has a brother in Melbourne. yeah mate, I'm sure I know him.
After consuming some sustenance I headed down to the Islington Museum.
Local area investigated it was time to head towards my musical homage of the day and take in a bit of Aldgate and Whitechapel. This is where my day didn't go exactly to plan.
I consulted my Tube map and figured out which trains I needed to catch to go to Whitechapel. According to my map I had to catch the Tube to Bank and change to the District Line to go to Whitechapel. Jax was first thrown by the talking voice on the train not telling me to get off here to change to the District Line. I still got off, confident in thinking I knew what I was doing. I did know... but apparently forgot to go upstairs. So I caught the train back the other way and got off at the next station. Remembered to go upstairs this time! I was reading the sign when an Underground employee asked me where I wanted to go. I said I was after Whitechapel. He told me to go to platform 1.
Over the PA I heard there were delays due to signal failure. In hindsight I think the Underground bloke thought I knew about the delay and was sending me an alternative route. Except I didn't know that at the time and was wondering why he put me on a train that only remaining stops were Liverpool St and Aldgate. Oh well, I wanted to end up at Aldgate. Looks like I'm starting there!
So in Aldgate I spotted the building in London that I am most obsessed with...... THE GHERKIN! (AKA 30 St Mary Axe)
The Gherkin!
Sir John Cass School - the statue indicates it was a school for boys.
Then I saw where the opening scene of Monty Python's Meaning of Life was shot:
I then decided it was time to head towards Whitechapel. Problem was I headed in the wrong direction (my sense of direction skills are A1). But in doing so I did spot the Monument!
Heading back in the correct direction I finally made it to Whitechapel. My sense of direction failed me again. I was looking for the house John Merrick (aka The Elephant Man) was housed in. I thought it was on the other side of the road. Turns out I was on the side of the road where it was. So errr.. I walked passed it!
Also went into Durward Street where the Ripper's first victim was found and walked passed the gigantic Mosque there
It was time to get out of Whitechapel and not before time. It is an awful area.... smells, there are street stalls all down the street on the kerbside. Couldn't get out there quick enough.
So then it was down to Stepney for my musical homage of the day. I was walking down to Commercial Road to see if Stepney's Nightclub was still standing. In my research I had read it was due to be demolished. It is a 1970s nightclub that is still intact. It has been the scene for the likes of cover shoots for Nick Cave and was where Pulp filmed the nightclub scenes for the Common People video. I was sooooooooo happy it was still there. It will be a shame to see it go.
Stepney's Nightclub
By this time I was thoroughly exhausted and there was a bus stop across the road. Luckily a bus came along that went to Old Street Tube (one tube station away from "home") so caught it and then got the train back to Angel collapsing at home tired.... but extremely happy!
Well the title of this blog update is not exactly how my day went.
I made it through Customs/Immigration rather swiftly despite the length of the "Alien" line (again I have sworn next time I will be travelling on an Irish passport, rather than an Australian one) and picked up my suitcase quickly and walked straight through Customs and on to the Underground to take me to meet my cousin. All that went smoothly and caught up with my cousin and headed back to her place.
Had a bit of a yack to my cousin, checked Facebook (hm... all the notifications you have when you're not online for 24 hours!). I decided today I would walk around "my" hood of Islington and check out some sights in my local area that I wanted to see. So plotted my route and off I went. 3 hours later I was back feeling much less jet-lagged and happy I was able to check off some places in my "to see" list.
Important (well important to me) sites that I saw today included
Tony Blair's previous Islington residence!
A section of a frieze in a park behind Upper St, Islington. It was initally in Threadneedle St but after a couple of moves it is now in its current location.
Waiting for confirmation from a friend back home, but I believe this piece of wall art behind a chemist on Essex Rd may be part of an original Banksy.
Thanks to a find on YouTube I found out that this residence is connected to one of my favourite Britpop bands, Pulp. Not sure if one of them/all of them lived here, or it was a band's rehearsal space. The proof I have is found on this video:
So who knows what connection this residence has to Pulp, all the same I paid homage to the spot!
It is rumoured that Sir Walter Raleigh entertained Elizabeth I at this pub.
Where Caroline Chisholm lived in Camden!
Filthy MacNasty's Pub. It was here that Shane MacGowan of The Pogues, and Nick Cave would drink. Johnny Depp has also been seen here. Pete Doherty also apparently worked there (when he wasn't off his chops on who knows what.... or maybe he was?). anyway if it was good enough for the likes of those musical luminaries to have a bevvy there, it is good enough for Jaxster. Alas, I can only rate my vodka, lime and soda a 5/10. But the guys behind the bar looked like a couple of musos. Maybe I was served by the next big thing?
