Australian adrift in London.
Suddenly it's September 2007, almost a year since I last posted to this blog. Is it something about autumn that makes me want to revisit postings past? I'm still an Australian adrift in London... not much more settled than I was when I began the blog soon after moving here over three years ago. One day soon I'll write a proper post!
Since my last post, I've had two babies. I'll be back in about five years, like Kate Bush! I think she had a seven year break after having kids!!!
Lastest London gripe is about fireworks. They're not banned over here, so anyone can go and purchase seriously powerful rockets etc, the kind that are only allowed in official licenced firework displays in Australia. For a couple of weeks on either side of Guy Fawkes, people are setting them off every evening and during the night. The last two nights we've been awakened at around 3.30am by stunningly noisy fireworks. There don't seem to be any local by-laws about disturbing neighbours here, either. As soon as anyone tries to legislate to protect the peace (or kids' eyes), this spectre of the "nanny state" comes up... it's a real paranoia. With safety laws that have come in, people are really cavalier, too... the English will tell you not to bother with a seatbelt, especially if you're only going a short distance!
This is not about the weather. It's about English people. In several social groups now, I have observed this working. Take joining a new 12 week yoga class. First class, no one makes eye contact at all. Second class, hostile eye contact, like, "where are you putting that mat... not too close to me I hope". Third class, slightly envious eye contact, with people watching the few chatters who have managed to break the ice. Fourth class, smiles, nods, plenty of eye contact, everyone chatting. This is such a bore. English reserve entirely deserves its cliched status, even in regard to young people. By the way, later I found out that the two women I managed to chat to in the third class are actually Australian, but have been living over here for years! I miss home.
Can you believe that smoking is still allowed in workplaces over here... even offices etc. It was only relatively recently banned in cinemas. A basic ban on smoking in restaurants is probably still years away... and yet the government is to consider using really graphic pictures on cigarette packet labels, of children in respiratory distress from passive smoking and adults with horrible smoking related medical conditions. The National Health Service literature I was given when I became pregnant advised me to stop smoking immediately and avoid smoky environments... that would be a bit hard if I worked in the average office! It also makes going out to dinner either impossible, or vaguely guilt inducing. This is a real whinge, but why is the right to smoke more important than the right to comfort and health for non-smokers? In terms of promoting healthy lifestyles and safety, the UK seems to be way behind Australia... only in the last year can you be fined for talking on a mobile while driving (despite this having been proven to cause accidents), there are no bike helmet laws, even for children (and you often see helmet-less parents cycling with kids with either no helmets, or helmets not secured)... I could go on and on about this! But I won't!!!!!
English people don't call them beanies. They call them "bobble hats" even if they don't have a bobble! Anyway, the weather is getting cold enough to need them anytime you are out of doors. I've bought a lovely black man's one with Thinsulite insulation for about £4 from the supermarket. I look like a hobo in it, but my head and ears are toasty warm. You really need something to cover your ears and temples. It must block out the wind, and be woollen if possible, so very tightly woven. Brrrrrrr! Next on the agenda is a winter coat.
There are lots of unspoken rules over here. It is now late September, and even if it was warm, it would not be seen to be appropriate to sit out in the garden with friends. Nor should you have doors open to the fresh air. This is because "the nights are drawing in", whatever that means. To an Australian, it sounds very Enid Blyton, or maybe Tolkein. This is when you need to start protecting yourself from the weather, when the darkness holds a perceived threat, when you feel glad there are all those bricks, blinds, curtains, shutters, wallpapers, rugs etc between you and the night. Oh well, give me a few weeks, and I'll no doubt be glad, too!