Time for a post

It's been ages since I had a post here. I think I am losing interest in this blogging thing. In fact, I think a lot of people around the world are ... perhaps that's due to privacy issues. 3 years ago, blogs were all made public and everyone proclaimed themselves to the world. Nowadays, people write blogs and turn on the 'private' function. 

Today, Facebook reported a drop in hits to their site for the FIRST time since they started ... now, that's a phenomemon isn't it? Friendster would have reported that kinda of story 2 years ago but I guess they had reasons to keep quiet about it. I think the days of mass social networking will be over - perhaps it will slowly die off for another 3 - 5 more years? The rise of private social network seems back on the rise again - remember when member forums were the rage, it's probably going back that way. But anyway, that's not the point of my entry today. Today's entry is about ... London. Where else, right? 

I think one of the main reasons I don't blog anymore is because I am doing a lot more copy writing during my day job now - thinking of grammar, vocabulary, punctuation, tenses, phrases ... and you know ah, it's quite embarrassing because after writing the text for a product brochere, my colleague pointed out a whole page full of errors to me. I really thought my England was top-notch before I came here. Well, maybe A2 standard la. But really, I think the actual grade is C6 ..

So, I want to share my top 3 things I love and hate about London after 4 months and 3 weeks here. Damn, it really feels like I been here for longer than that. Perhaps the winter had made the nights longer ... 

No 3 for Top London Hate: HSBC UK

Banking system or should i say my beloved HSBC bank. Ever since joining HSBC UK, I can seriously say I have been losing money banking with these jokers, not making money. The savings rates in UK are much higher than Singapore but it's only recently till I figured why banks here can pay such rates. That's because they're ripping their customers off in so many other ways. Since I got here, I have had to pay £75 worth of overdraft fees. Compare that with probably £15 of savings interest that I have earned so far, it's a NET LOSS. The worst is - it's not because I have no money in my bank, it's just that I tend to put in very less money in that particular account to control spending. And stupidly enough the system lets you over withdraw so that it has a reason to charge you money, not like back in Singapore in which if you have no money, you simply can't make a transaction. Anyway, it's partly to blame but the amount of money I am paying out is ridiculous! And I think I have one more this month!!

No 2 London Hate: Taxes

Yes, it's money related again. But I really think it's a dumb system whereby a huge chunk of your salary goes to the government (about 22%) to support jokers and lazy bums who do not work and claim benefits every month. 

In addition, another 10% goes to the National Insurance - which is kinda like CPF but the money is not yours. It just goes into a big pool where the old people can tap into when they're sick. This 10% of everyones' salary also goes to support the national medical system. I have not had the chance (thank god!) to use this yet but I am seriously considering going to the doctor's more often just to get my money worth. Oh, did I also mention consultation fees are covered, but medicine isn't. So, get your own medicine from the pharmacy, boy!

No 1 London Hate: The London Underground/ Overground/ TfL 

Oh my god, the transport system here really sucks. When I first got here, it's a novelty to be sitting in the Underground trains and hear out for things like "Please mind the gap between the train and the platform'. But I have got sick of it by now and after countless delays and hours (combined) of waiting and wasting my youth at train stations, I've just about given up on the system but you know what - millions of Londoners like me don't have a bloody choice. We continue to pay increasing fees every year for a shittier system year by year. The system is so bad that the computer literally just erases off the next incoming train schedule if it has run too late. At other times, the computer will show that the train is late and arriving in 5 mins time - but the next thing you know, the train appears. It really shows the system is soooo bad it doesn't know where its own train is!! I am really glad my current office is only 4 stops away from my home, so my pain is indeed limited in the mornings & evenings.

I am beginning to feel real agitated now thinking about these, so I shall move on to the positive side of things. 

No 3 London Love: News & Freedom / Lifestyle/ Standard of Living

One of the top things I love about living in London is being able to absorb so much new information. Every morning, there's are about 4 -5 free publications that are being distributed to the whole of London reporting about everything in the world - from a drugged out Amy Winehouse to the economy crisis. I read and learn a lot every morning - and it's a good feeling to be able to be more knowledgeable about the world around you. Obviously to a certain extent as well, the media here is a lot more laxed towards reporting - and commentators do not hold back when talking about their opinion about policies, the government or anything else under the sun for that matter. I think the freedom is speech is high here (that said London is under heavy security camera surveillance in large parts of the city) - and it's something I haven't really got used to. Obviously, living in Singapore for so many years has that kind of effect on anyone. 

There's also a lot of freedom and tolerence towards new ideas and concepts - I am not sure about the religion aspect though. And because I am living on my own too, I am experiencing freedom like never before (!). Well, it goes as far as my house mates start to complaint if my TV volume is too high (haha!). 

I think my work life balance has also improved massively because the working hours here are very strict. Perhaps my work is and  I am fortunate for that. The work is not as intense as my last job but I think I am still contributing to the success of the business in some ways or another. Yet, I leave almost everyday at 6 pm (very late already ok! others go off on the dot at 531 pm) and get home by 645 pm, wondering what to do for the rest of the night. 

No 2 London Love: Proximity to Europe and Centre of the world

London is the centre of the world .. sorry Singapore isn't even if the garmen say it is. Neither is New York, Hong Kong or China. The UK has a very strong economy and I can literally 'see' the money spilling down some of the buildings in Canary Wharf (the banking CBD district). I went to Greenwich couple of weekends back with Candice and you could literally almost sense that you are at the centre of the time zone. In the evenings, the observatory shoots out a laser towards the sky indicating the centre of the time zone. 

The £ remains strong (even though it weakened against the SG dollar since I got here!!) and going everywhere else, especially Europe is so much cheaper. Travel is cheaper as well, and I really cannot imagine earning Singapore dollars and trying to lead a decent lifestyle in Europe with the prices of some of the clothes & food. Fortunately, I have a relatively decent income which allows me to do some travel every month and have some savings too - and greatly thankful for that.

No 1 London Love: Music & Entertainment

Where else in the world can you get so many world class acts in one city!? I can literally feel the proximity that I am to the biggest stars in the world. Kate Moss (ok maybe she's rubbish model ..) just bought a house that 5 mins from my place! Sir Paul McCartney also lives one Underground station away. And my local park is the one that is the setting for 4 Weddings and a Funeral (Hampstead Heath park) movie.

There are some of the best clubs in London and they have the most amazing line up ever - Ministry of Sound, Fabric, The End, Pacha - and Turnmills (I really hate Turnmills even though it has the best lineup amongst all)l It's closing finally, good riddance to the shitty bar, the sticky floors and some of the most unfriendliest bouncers in the world. Oh did I mention I am watching UNDERWORLD LIVE next week at my 'local' community arts centre?

During the summer, the best festival organisers show their powers in full force. The Gatecrasher Summer sound system happens in May and I think that really kicks off all the festivals around UK. The o2 Wireless Festival happens in Hyde Park in July with Fatboy Slim and Underworld (again). There's also Glastonbury and a whole load more of outdoor shindigs. Local pop bands such as Take That and Spice Girls also make London a regular place to perform (at the o2 Arena). 

The list goes on and my fingers are getting tired ... so I shall end here and please take care. Miss you all back in Asia!