The British Library, quick thoughts

Just zipped here from Waterloo, where I did nothing but look. £12 for the London eye, £8.50 for Dali, £9 for the Aquarium (fish 'n chips not included) - walking is thankfully still free, as is the classic view of the HP sauce building which I caught in a classic rare photo that only about 123 million people have.

So, I'm inside the British Library and I haven't opened a single book yet. It's a bit overwhelming and I shall have to return early in the morning to spend a day here.

I'm upset that there's no free wireless access, so I'm using up my expensive (but cheapest that can be found), 4000 minutes for £40 BT Openzone.

I'm also starving, but £6 for a small wedge of bread with limp lettuce and a gulp of water is too much to bear. I'll hunt down a Tescos. Not quite as cultural as the Library, but a damn side cheaper.

I think it's international limping day here at BL, I've seen three people limp past in the last 10 minutes.

So what now ?

Hmm, pack up the laptop and stroll around. Possibly I'll open a book, but which one ?
There appears to be a slightly larger collection here than can be found at the central Randburg library. The building is a bit bigger too.

bb_matt limps off in search of rare reads and Tescos £1 salad sarnies ...

They think I'm a writer !

They think I'm a writer !

Well, wobble me backwards down the off-ramp, I've been called a writer !

What does a writer look like ?
From my limited experience about such things, a writer doesn't actually have a "look"
Certainly an image of sensible clothing with pipe accessories for men and bicycles for women comes to mind, along with heavy jackets, boots and scruffy plaid shirts, specs and wanton sex in green fields or barns seems to be the order of the day, but these ideas can be challenged in the same way that the longest sentence in the history of the world could do with a fullstop.

I suppose a plaid shirt with a black denim jacket containing a hash J as worn by a wildly drunk overweight oddball will have to suffice, I never was very good at naff.

Hold on, there's a problem here, I'm not a writer at all. I have no degree, have never been published ...

I'll just pretend, after all, I have to keep my fans happy ! (all 1 of them)

A little bit the worse for wear

I met an old friend today who I haven't seen for 5 years, so I'm a little bit tanked up for 7pm on a Thursday evening. Never mind. I don't feel like writing at all, but I'm trying to get myself to write regardless of my mood.

I'm really overwhelmed by the level of friendliness I'm finding on this rainy island, despite the fact that people say London is a lonely place.

I have been warned that I should give it more time - the initial social thing can die off in winter, but I'm not phased - can take or leave it.

I haven't had a place to call my own for almost a month and although I'm missing being able to sing odd songs, burp and fart at will and wonder around in my space swinging low, I'm happy as a smiling budda for now. I remain flexible as always, able to assimilate into whatever situation I find myself in.

I came here expecting the worst, but I arrived with an open mind and a purpose of sorts, perhaps that has helped me.

Raymond hasn't really changed, he's still a really down to earth stand-up guy. He still can't really judge people the way they are, but because he is such a damn fine person it makes him more accessible. I enjoy chatting with Ray. We can talk about anything. I will be meeting Jill on Sunday, Rays wife. We've always got on fine, but Jill is always on Rays case, yadda yadda yadda - non stop.

Grant called me earlier, my brothers brother-in-law, asking how I'm doing - I think he wanted to go for a pint, will maybe call him now to see if he wants to meet me in Wimbo for a pint, otherwise, there's always tommorrow. I'm a bit too pissed right now to meet anyone, to be honest.

So, I post this lacking in humour and any other type of enjoyable reading stakes because I owe it to myself to try to write under all conditions. Inspiration is miles away, there's none here at 19.04pm - maybe later ?

Possibly after a nice bite to eat.