Perception

In the eighties, the years of Thatcher, we had an image of the UK as a country full of poor looking British lads. When we think of London now, we think of the hippest place on earth. But if you are walking around here, you see plenty of people who are run away of the eighties. It is all a matter of perception.

Warm water

One of the nice habits of London:
Once you wash your hands after going to the loo, you get warm water. Don't know why. I think it must have something to do with the medieval knights, they must have washed their hands with warm water.

The wrong side of the road

Someone explained me why the British are driving at the wrong side of the road:
In the time there were no cars and roads were used by knights on horses, they drove at the left hand side. Doing so, they could take there sword, with their right hand, and defend themselves when somebody came from the other direction.

That sounds so great that one almost wonders why on the continent they didn't do so.

Fashion week

It is fashion week in London. Not that I have a lot to do with it. But I went to an opening party in New Oxford Street. I have noticed there that blond Amy Winehouse-wigs are fashionable now. I saw three people with one, one was male. In the Lot 55 Club there is a nice living room were you can almost relax.

Catalogue retailer

Today I was out for a computer headset. I first entered a shop run by an old Pakistani couple. When I asked the man if he had what I needed, he said: "I think so but I wouldn't know where, it is quite a mess in here." I looked around me and realised I had to rest my case.

I ended up in Argos, a catalogue retailer. I have never seen something alike on the continent, but here in London, yes. A catalogue retailer has shops with catalogues where customers can look at. Each item in the catalogue has a code and next to each catalogue there is an old machine where you enter the code of the product you are interested in. The machine answers you if the item is currently in stock. If so, you can write the code on a paper and go to pay. Once you have paid, you can receive your stuff.

If this system is really more efficient than a normal shop? I have my doubts.

Hackney Carriage

Yesterday, I took for the first time a London Cab. They should call it London Crab. The car I got into was recent but technologically spoken, it feels like a car from the seventies. The real name of a London cab is Hackney Carriage, I found out:

Most hackney-carriage operators in the United Kingdom use conventional four-door saloon cars, but in London and several other large cities, specially-designed hackney carriages, manufactured by just one company — LTI are used. These vehicles normally allow up to five passengers in the back, but some are rebuilt and licensed to carry six. Luggage usually goes in the passenger compartment or travels in the front next to the driver — these vehicles have no front passenger-seat. A door has replaced the original open side. All models can also accommodate wheelchairs in the back.

Merit Awards Night

Yesterday evening at the Merit Awards Night for the ad industry. Very tired now.