february24th

Yesterday

February the 24th, 2004.

tomorrow

Oh God! I know you may think that i forgot to update this diary, but, don't worry, i didn't! I was just really busy lazying around and i couldn't be bothered sitting in front of a comp. Though, here i come and i have two bloody weeks of higly interesting stories to catch up!
            Firstly, last weekend, i went down to London, as usual. In the coach i was sitting near a quite nice guy, with whom i had a little chat about music, cinema and, "you know... stuff...."(Chandler's style). Once in Victoria, I embarked on my favorite adventure, namely crossing London from west to east by tube, train and bus between 5am and 7 am. Seriously, i really love it. It's so quiet! When you see how crazy the city grows during the day and how mental londonners can sometimes be, it's a real pleasure to have this beautiful city only for myself (and some other early birds). Once at Darren's, I slept til midday and then lazed all day to recover....At night we ordered chinese food and popped over the video shop, for a change. We rent some vids (Belleville Rendez-vous, A Few Good Men and The Rat Catcher), that we watched straight away after, wolfing our meal down.We unfortunately didn't have enough time to watch the Rat Catcher. Indeed the following day we were meant to meet Nico and Maria at Wanagama in Covent Garden at 4pm, and this time, Darren and I were definitely determined not to be late! It's true that we tend to be late, and we honoured that tendency quite well the last times we had nights out with them....But this time, we wont be late, we thought! we did our best to leave home earlier than necesseray, thinking that they would be reallly surprised seeing us there before them. Though, when we arrived at Abbey Wood Station, our plans were foilt : there were works on the railway. Nice to be warned, guys.Thus, we were compelled to take the bus to Greenwich and then the tube to Covent Garden. We arrived 1h late. I was so ashamed that i didn't even want to go anymore. I couldn't get enough nerves to show up in front of them! We finally met them, Maria was frozen, Nico starving but they both were gentle enough not to kick our ass and yell at us. How do they manage to do that? no idea, they are just too nice....They'll never accept to go out with us again, that's for sure!!! Anyway, we had this meal and then we looked for a pub around Covent garden. On our way, we came across a stand-up comic dressed in a leopard skin, juggling with daggers. Besides, that stupid kid he asked for help nearly killed himself, trying to catch up the knife he just threw above his head. Youth.....We went on walking and finally found a pub, were we talked for a little while.
          Later, we all left eachother and Darren and I started to go in search for the Great Ormond Street Hospital, as i had found out 2 days earlier that a second statue of Peter Pan had been erected there (the first one being in Kensington Garden), and i couldnt stand one more day without seeing it! We finally found it, and stayed there for a while, mesmerized by magical Peter. Unfortunately i hadn't got my camera so i couldnt immortalize this moment but it will be for another time. I'll be back .
           Then, we went to China town as i wanted to taste sushis (sounds weird but it is right, yet!). We went in a tiny Japanese restaurant (invaded by french frogs, though) where I finally tried that sushi thingie. To be honnest, that was very good! And God! that green mustard is a bit of a killer, isnt it? Nice indeed but not that filling though...Consequently, Darren brought me in a cafe in Leicester Square to have a bagel (other thing that i'd never tasted, what an incultured girl!). I also had a gigantic strawberry tart , just to emphasize my weakness on my diet. Later, Darren brought me back to Victoria Station, and i left for Newcastle, again....

          The beginning of the week was just boring, as usual, but I was meant to go to "Stonelove", the indie night in Foundation with Coraline, Mailys, Camille, Hannah, Strawb and Rachida on thursday night, so i thought it would get better. Ahem, once again, i got it wrong. Just before going, Djam (aka Strawb) gave me a call to tell me that Rachida was tired, so she was staying at home, and consequently, she was staying too. Hannah, who was still in pyjamas felt a bit despondent, and to be honnest, i was a bit ill too, so we finally cancelled. Instead, Hannah and I went to the video shop and rent Down With Love and The Gift. We watched these two films and went to bed at 4am.

           On friday evening, Darren arrived in Newcastle. We went to eat in an italian restaurant which was actually pretty rubbish , and later had a burger in one of these Big Market crappy take-aways. On saturday, we met Mailys, Coraline and Bella ( her chinese flatmate) to go and eat at the chinese buffet. We had a really good time,, and also a good laughter later on, as apparently Bella didnt really appreciate Darren's allusions to a story that i m not gonna talk about anyway. A bit of a weirdo, Miss Bella? God, I'm mean, she was nice (yes, but she was weird!).....Later, Darren and I went and bought that wicked belt i saw the day before at Maverick. I didnt want to buy it at first as the girl told me it was 9 quids. When i finally made up my mind to buy it, another girl at the check-out told me it was �5. �5? that bloody bitch just wanted to screw me or what? Well, no need to get stressed, I finally paid that belt �5, so why am i complaining? Then, we tried to find a quiet pub but it was definitely impossible as the home game in Newcastle was just over, and that every premise containing beer inside was taken hostage by these geordie fellows. We finally ended up in Starbucks, having a piping hot chocolate with lots of whipped cream on top.There was that weirdo, staring at me and mumbling. What can i say but typical? At night we went to see Elephant at the Tyneside Cinema, (Newcastle Independent Cinema). OH MY GOD! I'll review this film soon on this page but man, that was.....a very odd and fascinating experience.....I havent recovered yet!

            On sunday, it was snowing in Newcastle. Consequently, Darren and I stayed at home, eating Subways sandwiches and FRESH COOKIES (YAMMMMMY!) and watching La Boom and Les Bronzes Font Du Ski, good examples of the "paillard et grivois" french humour....On sunday night, Darren left and I stayed alone watching crappy programmes til late at night. I finally watched South Bank, and the guest was Jamie Cullum.I heard of him before, and i was quite interested as he plays the type of music i'm normally into, and indeed i really liked it. Consequently, on monday I went and bought his CD for the modest price of �9.99 and was quite delighted when i listened to it. Very nice... and relaxing....

                Today, I had a look at the Printemps De Bourges Festival programme and I started to make plans to get there, and to try to find out how much money would be needed for it. Once back on earth, I went and met Riviere and Camille as we were meant to go and book our tickets to Asian Dub Foundation gig, on the 6th of March, but apparently everybody is a bit confused and nobody is able to tell us if it is only a sound system or if they actually come and play on stage.....we definitely have to find out tomorrow. Tonight, it's Shrove Tuesday and I'm invited at Riviere's to go and have some PANcakes.... "something very simple", she said, "just pancakes and alcohol".....alright...will i go, will i not? suspense still remains....