When I was in Bangor I used to crave sausage dinners from Ying Wah in Upper Bangor. There was nothing more I would look forward to at the end of a long week than heading up the hill to a little reasonably-priced carton of deliciousness with gravy. I have got a serious yearning for one right now, believe me when I say that if I had a car in London I would have got in this afternoon and driven there and straight back having stuffed my visage with two pork saucissons, peas and chips.

Isn’t it funny how you get miss little things like that? I miss the sea and the hills, I miss going to church on a Sunday and I miss sipping a honey latte in the new Debenhams, a late but precious addition to my life in North Wales. There are many things I don’t miss, of course, let’s not get rose-tinted here - and there are many things to like about London, including the most amazing building in the world which I also happen to work in. There are many things I don’t like about London, of course, let’s not…you know.

Gosh, I’m exhausted. They’ve been working me like a dog, and I’ve got my day of seminars, groupwork and whatnot tomorrow, starting just off Milbank at half eight. The pace of life and the working day here are ridiculous, I don’t think the economy would much worse off if we were allowed to start the day at ten. That’s probably half the reason the whole thing has gone tits up now, who works that well at eight-eh-yem anyway? Certainly not those naughty bankers who’ve been playing FTSE while Rome burns.

I’ve got myself into a pattern, though, I am of course a good Christian boy and placed great importance on getting myself to a church somewhere, and to a certain extent I’ll go anywhere to church, but finding a library - now that’s a commitment. I’ve been searching all over London for a library that has copies of Autocar magazine, and on the 4th go I strike it lucky, albeit an hour away from the house, on Kensington High Street. It’s a classy joint, lovely ambience - it’s not the House of Commons, but it’s relaxed. Reading Autocar at the library saves me a few quid a week - these are the clever money-saving tips you need when you’re living in the Most Ridiculously Expensive Place In Britain on five hundred quid a month.

Also, I think they do books.

You’ll recall if you’re a Longtime Reader, Firsttime Caller that I did what was termed ‘the Great Poll of 2006‘, it’s kind of funny to look back. Clearly I didn’t listen to any of my readers, just 6% (er, that’s 2. I think I voted for the masters in Automotive Journalism) of respondents suggested I run for president of the Students’ Union and then apply for the internship I’m on now. Here was my thinking in 2006:

“I’d love to be a car journalist and write for Autocar magazine or some such, but is it a worthy job? Another thing that has been at the back of my mind for years is running in the Students’ Union elections to become President for a year. Like all of these things this isn’t a given, I’m not sure I could win an election at Bangor. What I am sure of is that I’d be a great president, if simply because of my zest and enthusiasm for the job (in all modesty, folks!”

And now I find myself back in the same position as nearly three years ago…I’d still love to be a writer, I think I was a good president and I got on the internship I was talking about. It seems I’ve exhausted my options…

Anyway - this is the latest update from the Forest Hill Control Room, all lines reporting a good service and ready for bed. Have a good one.

Tags: this'n'that

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