Day 10: Back to the City (not Exeter).

(Weekend brief) 

The weekend has been pretty good but the non-stop lifestyle has paid off; Knackered. On Friday (as mentioned in Thursday's post) I got up and went straight to work; it was my first day on the tills which was exciting, apart from a man giving me abuse for something that wasnt even my fault- other staff said "welcome to retail". I also got my staff discount card (25% off) in which my photo on it looks like I want to murder someone. 

ID photo for staff discount

Friday Night 

Straight after work, I caught a train (yes more trains) and made my way up to Exeter where I went to a gathering, had a 'few' drinks, then returned home late afternoon on the Saturday. Still people on the train got excited over #Dawlish, i'm like please, this was so last month. 

Once home, I ironed and packed ready for my return to London today. 

(Today's post)

 "Making my way downtown,

Walking fast,

Faces pass,

And I'm home bound.

Making a way, 

Staring blankly ahead,

Just making my way,

Through the crowd. "

Just a little song to start off the post. Today I made the journey back to London, following the continued start of my work placement for the next week and a half. 

I had planned to complete loads of work on the train but saw someone I knew (Aaron Rahn) and ended up sitting with him for the journey... as you can probably guess, I got no work done as we just talked for the 3 hours. 

To my dislike the train was full of crying children all making their mark on the journey and making a real mark on my hearing. The train was non-stop from taunton to reading so went really quickly meaning a quick escape from all the noise. 

When arriving into Paddington I made my way to the tube which was busy as usual and reeking of 'Weed' (marijuana).* Stoners filled up the carriages along with their strong scent, rosey cheeks and squinted eyes. They were off all ages, old and young; Yes im pretty sure a granny was high. For most of my journey all I heard was "i'm so hungry", "I have the munchies" and "oh my dry mouth"- side effects of the drug. 

 Due to tube closures and I had to take a diversion which took longer than planned but luckily the rain had stopped once I arrive at my 'final destination'. When I arrived at my Uncles, him and his girlfriend were abit drunk due to being at an "All you can eat and drink, Japanese restaurant" all day, their excuse was that their wine glasses just kept getting topped up 'yeah, yeah'. (they asked me not to include this but I thought it would be for the best). 

I am now catching up on all my work and revision for the Easter Holidays- I promise I have done loads... 

To all you lucky people who get the day off tomorrow, please think of me whilst I slave away in the office; although I do enjoy it. 

*Today is 420, the 20th day of the 4th month- also its Easter Sunday but that has no relevance. Here is the definition for those who do not know: 420, 4:20, or 4/20 (pronounced four-twenty) is a code-term that refers to the consumption of cannabis and by extension, as a way to identify oneself with cannabis subculture or simply cannabis itself. Observances based on the number 420 include smoking cannabis around the time 4:20 p.m. (with some sources also indicating 4:20 a.m.), on any given day, as well as smoking and celebrating cannabis on the date April 20 (4/20 in U.S. form).

Day 5: On the move and Drugs, lots of drugs. (Going it alone)

Today I moved location from the North the South (of London obviously)...

Right so we woke up very late again and everything was a bit of a rush, but I managed to pack in time and still go out for breakfast; kind of wish we didn't. 

We walked through a place called Alexandra Palace* and found a local cafe, went in and ordered...it all seemed normal until we realised the owner of the cafe was busy dealing drugs to many of his customers. 

What would happen:

1. The customer would come in,
2.  Sit down,
3.  The owner would then go over to them, place it on the table,
4.  Take the money,
5.  Then they would immediately get up and leave.

 Could you be any more obvious? We ate the greasy breakfast with caution and got out as quickly as possible. 

*Alexandra Palace is an astonishing place, it holds picturesque views of the whole city and the actual palace was where BBC first broadcasted. 

Alexandra Palace 

After this it was time to get on the move, this is when I regret bringing the amount I did. I now had to go it alone on the tube and around the city. I hoped for it not to be busy but silly me, its London of course it will be. As I struggled through the long tube station tunnels to get to the platform I knocked people, I got in the way and I became one of them annoying tourist where I had to stop every minute to relax my arms from the strain of all my bags. I became what I complained about yesterday (oh dear). 

tube app

After 54 minutes, 20 stations and 2 changes, I made it probably with alot more muscle than I previously had. If you know me well that means none. The last change I made was onto the DLR- docklands lgiht  railway, which is an above ground train service (still ran through TfL). The trains have no driver and are automatic, I sat right at the front and oh my, it was scary. At the speed they go it was like a rollercoaster especially with all the hills and bends the line has. 

DLR 

Once I finally found where I was next staying, I took a walk over (well under) the river to Greenwich to find where my work placement was for the next two weeks. To get over the river there isn't a bridge, instead there is an underground tunnel...you could definitely tell you were underwater due to shiplike underground smell of fish and stale water. 

Over in Greenwich I quite easily found the building but (no it wasn't that simple), I was stopped by a pair of youths and asked ''do you want to buy'', obviously I presumed they meant drugs, I politely replied with "No thank you'' and their response was "Oh are you sure, you look that kind of guy", I was shocked, what did they mean...I don't look like a stoner?- so thats twice in one day I have had an incident with drugs. #sayNOtoDRUGS


I resisted the walk back and got the DLR, once again another rollercoaster experience. I then became independent and did my first ever lone shop in Asda and got all the essentials for my breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

Tomorrow I start my work placement at FE Week on the magazine Campus Weekly. It should hopefully be an exciting and valuable experience, so check back tomorrow for an update on my first day. 

(HOLIDAY OVER :( )