Monthly Archives: September 2008

Can men & women be friends?

Posted on September 11, 2008 by | 3 Comments

So is it possible for men and women to be friends? It has been something that I have wondered about before, and I guess it is something I am wondering about again. It seems to have been not just a question for me but even for the comic strip Em above.

Having just spent a year in a predominately male environment, I now  have lots of lovely male friends. Some married, some almost married, some with girlfriends and some single just like me. so is it possible that we will stay friends now that we are out of the closeted MBA environment? 

The legendary film ‘When Harry met Sally’ tried to address the question… chick flicks are in fact a wealth of untapped wisdom in my view… Sally of course felt that it was possible, Harry felt, pretty much, that guys always want to sleep with their female friends. And as the film reaches its wonderful and heart felt end I guess Harry was right, as it all ends happily ever after for Harry & Sally! 

So what are the implications of this chick flick wisdom?

Do all my fantastic friends fancy me? I think not…

Does it mean that the friendships will get watered down with time, wives, girlfriends and children?

 I hope not.

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Good press

Posted on September 8, 2008 by | Leave a comment

There are definitely not many good news Tube stories out there. Even a quick look on the Transport for London site warns of tube delays and even the closure of one of the stations in 2009. Although to be fair that is quite a bit of notice but I do suspect that when the day comes and the station is closed everyone will declare that not enough warning was given.

However, I feel that is quite one of the most remarkable systems in the world. Particularly considering that the first tunnels were opened on the 10th January 1863, that it carries a a vast number, some say close to 3 million, people every day and with some lines running up to 23 trains an hour. Quite amazing! 

Anyway, I have two good news stories on the Tube… In the last week I have had a lovely Tube man help carry my suitcases up some 30 odd steps and the other day as I ran for the closing doors of the tube faltering at the last minute unable to throw myself into the narrowing gap. The doors magically opened to let me in! Excellent!

So while sometimes it is a little crowded, and often quite smelly – it is way better than the public transport I have ever experienced in Australia. So yippee to the tube I say.

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loopy

Posted on September 7, 2008 by | Leave a comment

It would seem that there is truly something for everyone in this massive city. This morning I puddled along to ‘I Knit day‘  at the Royal Horticultural Halls just off Vincent square SW1. I do think you need to give these things a shot, who knows maybe there was a knitter hidden within me waiting to be released or better yet a very cool job. Although this was clearly unlikely given my inept attempts at textiles all those years ago at school. But hey always good to be optimistic!

My goodness what a funny gathering of women. Most of whom appeared to be Bridget Jones crossed with your local librarian types and clearly very earnest about their yarns.

So together we witnessed the creation of the worlds largest blanket using the worlds largest knitting needles – now there was a work out – a great big knitted dresser and a side table with wooly cups of tea & fuzzy chocolate eclairs. There was also a women scheduled to speak named the Yarn Harlot who apparently has the hotest knitting blog ever. hmmm. My desire to wait another hour or more was not quite there, despite the prickling of curiosity that her name creates.

It was an intriguing thing to see in London and did reinforce that really there is something for everyone in this city. Just it seems knitting is not for me.

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living in transit

Posted on September 4, 2008 by | 2 Comments

Well I have now left the green fields of Cambridge for the delights of transit living in London.

Essentially I have 3 bags of must have items.  Although as I rummage through my bags each morning I am rapidly discovering that what I thought was important in my little room in Cambridge may not actually be that important now.

So while there are clearly many things that you can live without, we can all go without our own room for a while (thank you to everyone who is loaning me a bed or sofa bed in the coming weeks) – the one thing that I am finding a major pain in the neck is not having easy access to the internet. I am so incredibly dependent on that wireless connection for job leads, communication and even just to write this blog!

In fact as I write this I am still on the same pot of tea in a cafe off Tottenham Court Rd – some 60 minutes after logging onto their free internet. I can see that I am going to spend a lot of time in the next few days taking a long time drinking a cup of coffee here just so I can connect to the outside world.

I may well be one of the first people to ever get value for money on a coffee in central London. Well you have to look on the bright side of life!

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Advanced Aussies get up very early in the morning

Posted on September 4, 2008 by | Leave a comment

On way between Maida Vale and Camberwell today with all of my necessities cramed into 2 bags – I stopped at the very fancy Galvin at Windows Restaurant for a 7am networking event. Early doors I know!

As I shleped my two bags into the fancy reception of the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane a very helpful door man came to help. I did confess immediately not to being an actress in disguise nor properly minted but there just for Breakfast.  He still very kindly helped me with my cases and even tucked them out of sight. On reflection – he probably could tell I was not an actress or monied just by the fact I was carrying my own cases! But hey such craziness of thought should be forgiven when someone has been up since 5.50am.

Anyway, up I went on the lift to the Breakfast networking event. Advance is an amazing organisation of Australians who live in London – focused on people with grown up jobs. And in my case someone who is looking for a grown up job! After 2 cups of rocket fuel strength coffee… I was alert enough to chat. And had a great time speaking with an Auditor and a Lawyer, possibly made a handy contact at a consulting company. So all in all well worth getting up in the morning!

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