*dimsumdolly* - the different morsels of the life of a foodie

Update

So after having fun in Spain, I’m back to the daily grind of work. At first I wasn’t looking forward to it, but now that I’ve started, I’m actually enjoying it. I guess I’m enjoying it mainly because it gives me something to do, and it gives me a taste of working life in London. Also, I get to meet new people and, more importantly, be around people.

I’ve come to realise that although I’m not the kind of person who’s the life of the party, I enjoy being around people for the most part. Although of course, me-time is also important. However, I’ve been getting too much me-time since coming to London and it’s starting to get depressing. In Singapore I had a good social life, but now I have zero. Close to zero anyway. Except for occasional meet-ups with Joe and Keith who very kindly include me in activities when they can, I’m alone pretty much the rest of the time. I guess it doesn’t help that I’m not the most outgoing person in the world!

So I’m glad that the job is letting me be around people at least on weekdays. And my colleagues are really nice. Now I don’t even look forward to weekends ‘cos that would mean being all alone. Oh, the trials and tribulations of moving to a whole new place all by oneself!

Anyhow, it’s particularly difficult to have a social life when you don’t have much money. That’s the reality of it! Also, it takes time to get to know people. Anyway, I guess I’m not really here to live long-term nor to sink roots. My main aim is to travel and see new things and often you just have to do it on your own. I’m getting used to being alone pretty much all the time. Yes, it does get very lonely, but I don’t think I have much of a choice!

I guess one could go to bars and pubs with friends to hang out and meet other people, but I’m hopeless in such settings. I’m really like a fish out of water in these watering holes. I still feel awkward in those situations where people just stand around and drink. The only kind of “water” thing I’m totally at home with is anything that involves paddling. And I’m quite hopeless when it comes to making new friends. It takes me awhile to warm up to people and I’m pretty quiet for the most part. People probably think I’m a super boring and super dull person.

The job itself is nothing very new to me. I’m doing pretty much what I was doing back in Singapore, just a more specialised area of being a production editor. Previously I was involved in both development and production editing. I’ve dived into the thick of things and I have enough work to keep me going. Even though the work is not totally new, I’m still learning new things about how things are done in the UK, the company protocol is different, the markets are different etc.

I’ve noticed that people in London often pack or make their own lunch because it’s cheaper to do so. Otherwise, the most common thing that people buy for lunch is a sandwich. Or perhaps a salad. Sandwiches are by far the most popular. I’ve eaten countless sandwiches since I got here – the number of sandwiches I’ve eaten so far has very much exceeded the number I eat in Singapore in a year! It gets really boring after awhile…nothing like the variety of food available in Singapore. You wonder why these people have no desire to get away from the traditional sandwich, salad and baguette. Really miss the hawker fare back home.

Londoners are also always in a rush. Although statistics seem to point otherwise, I feel that London is more stifling and crowded than Singapore. Maybe this is because the streets in London are narrower. The underground subway system, fondly referred to as the “Tube” by Londoners, is awful. It’s stuffy and dirty and you’re packed like sardines in rush hour. The buses are a lot better, but just that it’s slow due to the heavy traffic. It’s no help that the roads in London are very narrow, allowing for two lanes max. Wherever possible, I’ll walk as it’s probably faster. Walking is the best way to see London I think. You can discover alleys and streets full of character that way.

Even though London is a very exciting, culturally and historically rich city where there’s always something to do, I don’t think it’ll ever capture me like Sydney does. I really miss the sea and there just seems to be fewer outdoor activities available in London. And the weather’s just so crappy that all you want to do is hole up at home or maybe hang out in the museum. You see, while I do like arts and culture, there’s only so much time I can stand being in museums. I’d much rather be outdoors doing some sport where I can be in the sunshine and in touch with nature.

But one thing I really love about London is its literary scene and the availability of cheap books. I LOVE the second-hand book shops here. You can get books in very decent condition from £1! Just the other day, I bought a brand-new hardback book from a bookshop along Charing Cross Road for £2.50!

I’ve also shifted out of my friends’ flat and now I’m staying in Queen’s Park, an area in the west of London. It sounds posh, but it’s not. Like setting up home, I had to buy bedsheets, towels, etc. Had to pay £100 to the previous occupant of my room for the bed, wardrobe, drawers etc. The room’s tiny and it faces a main road, so it’s really noisy. I’d have to be really tired to be able to block all the traffic noise out of my head and fall asleep!

Anyway, last Saturday morning I went outrigger canoeing. The club that I contacted is probably the only club in UK which does OC. They have two OC6s, some OC2s and some OC1s. I went in the OC6, sitting at seat 5 just in front of the coach. Their canoes are stored at the University of London Boathouse at Chiswick and they paddle along the Thames River.

It was nice to be paddling again but it’s not really much fun OC-ing on flat water. I’d rather be dragonboating then…at least it’s a sport that’s meant for flatwater. OC-ing along the Thames River is super dull. But OK, at least it was a good break from the crowds of Central London. It’s already getting to me and driving me insane. As we paddled, I saw many ducks, swans and other birds. My favourite sighting was a mother duck swimming across the river with her brood of four ducklings following behind. They were such a cute sight!

I’ll check out a dragonboat club first and then decide which one I want to join. I’d like to join one of the clubs ‘cos at least it’s something for me to do. Plus it’s something I enjoy.

Anyway, it's 6.30pm now and I should get out of the office. I'm the only one left! The weird thing is that this 35-hour work week concept is so foreign to me. Like it seems un-godly to leave at 4.30pm and this is really like normal working hours for me back in Singapore! Anyway, I usually stay back to catch up on emails and blog.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Posted by DSD at July 13, 2007 6:21 PM