Having kittens

It's been a long, long time since I lived with any animals (apart from a few flat mates during my student days who could probably fit under that description.)

And the last one (animal, not housemate) I "owned" - in as much as any human can own an animal - was a dog, back in 1981 or so. I have never owned a cat.

So I did a lot of soul-searching before deciding on getting a pet while living in London. I did think about it a few years ago but in the back of my mind was the plan to go back to Oz "in a year or two" and get one then.

Though that's still the plan - the "year or two" now being "in a few years" - I figured why wait... and wait .... and wait .....

Besides which, my partner was really keen to have some intelligent conversations for a change.

So, meet our two little Battersea Dogs Home girls - Gizmo and Pippa.

Similar christmas days

And so I spend my 13th christmas day in London. Every year I have the same classic English christmas and I love it. Lots of wonderful, traditional christmas food: turkey, veg and christmas pudding. Followed by watching films I have already seen but that seem strangely more enjoyable when watched on christmas day with a bunch of people I often don't see for the rest of the year.

And, of course, phoning my friends and family in Australia.

This morning I chatted with my sister-in-law in Queensland. What had they done on christmas day? Had turkey, veg and christmas pudding and spent the afternoon watching films.

Classic - maybe its not uniquely English after all. The only difference was around 30 degrees in temperature.

Tips about London

who better to provide tips about London than people who have "been here". Lots of tips on free things to do and see.

From the Guardian's web site

BBC NEWS | England | London | Routemaster makes final journey

There was nothing quite the same as travelling on the top deck of the number 12 routemaster to Peckham.

The experience was even more surreal late on Saturday nights. I remember one such evening, getting the bus home at around 11pm from the west end. As usual, the top deck - in fact, the whole bus - was packed.

Now on the routemasters, the golden rule was that only the conductor could ring the bell to tell the driver to stop the bus. Us mere passengers were only to tug on the cable.

Some drunken revellers decided it was easier to simply ring the bell for the conductor when she was downstairs. So you can imagine the scene when the conductor came upstairs - shouting to all passengers within earshot: "if one more #@*£ing person rings that #@*£ing bell, you can all #@*£ing walk".

She then went back downstairs, leaving 40 or so passengers cowering in their seats.

Only on a routemaster, and only in south London.

Christmas in London

Visit London - Christmas site

As an Aussie, I have fond memories of baking hot christmas days - swimming in our family pool, riding my bike in the sunshine and playing football with my brother and mates.

Sadly, I also have memories of "traditional" christmas dinners - hot roast ham, chicken, vegetables, gravy and my mother's home made christmas pudding - though we were at least spared from having to get dressed up like turkeys to eat it.

We also used to send and receive christmas cards with winter scenes on them - really bizarre in temperatures of 35 degrees celsius to receive a card with a snowman on it from your neighbour.

Why did my mother do it? I think she felt that it just wouldn't be a proper christmas if she didn't. By proper, she meant English - even though she had never been here. So despite the heat and humidity, a traditional English christmas it was - every bloody year.

So I love christmas in London. It brings back memories of what my mother used to try and give us every year - except this time around, it IS the "proper" christmas.

Matt's London Blog

meet my friend, Matt - and check out his excellent personal blog about living in London

What can you say about the Elephant and Castle?

BBC NEWS | England | London | Dozens profit in cash-grab stunt The "elephant" has to be one of London's worst eye sores. A big bright red building, badly in need of repair - though its been that way for years, it seems. I'm amazed that anyone ever shops there - still, its better than when it was painted bright pink, I suppose.

Jono Coleman presents BBC London Breakfast show

BBC - London - TV and Radio - Breakfast Show: 6am to 9am

For all those Aussie ex-pats living in London - actually, for anyone, as you can listen to his breakfast show over the web.

Trick or Treat, or just plain dangerous

Being an Aussie, I find it intriguing the way Londoners behave at Halloween. I mean, I live in south London - the place where the budget for decent street lighting ran out.

So picture this scene - its 8.30 pm at night, dark and rainy. There's a knock at my door - 2 young kids standing there in the darkness wearing masks. On any other night, I'd probably call the police - or be arrested myself for giving sweets to children.

But no, at halloween it seems perfectly acceptable for young kids to knock on the doors of strangers and also to expect to be given "treats".

Do their parents know / worry / care?

The last of the routemaster buses

link

what a sad day for London. Along with red phone boxes, they typify the city - and are very popular not only with people who live here but also with tourists.

oh well - another one down to mayor Ken.

maybe one day they'll bring them back again. Until then, they will only run on two tourist routes.

watch out for them, as they are now a dying breed.

From people who have been here

Who better to hear about London from than from other travellers who have been here.

Abbey Road

I get lots of requests to add a Beatles walk to my web site and so its next on my list to do.

In the meantime, this link may be of interest - its about peoples' visits to the famous Abbey Road crossing.

http://www.43places.com/places/view/201230

Commuters stranded near station

only in England ?

Let's talk about the weather

why not, most people in London do.

It's very odd. For a country so small in size, the weathermen spend a lot of time analysing it. Even the news bulletins for London provide an analysis of the weather across different parts of the city. Places that are less than 10 miles apart.

It's going to rain - or it isn't. Probably all we need to know, surely.

We can figure out the rest based on the time of year.

Why Australians come to London

BBC NEWS | England | London | City culture 'lures Australians'

I have to agree with their reasons for coming here - to travel around Europe and enjoy London's culture and museums.

Shame they didn't ask what they don't like about coming here. It would probably be the food, crowds, prices and litter.

Travelling on the Underground

BBC NEWS | England | London | 'Fix found' on troubled Tube line

ah, the Underground - as unreliable as ever. I see the northern line has been out of action for the past few days.

My first job in London back in 1989 was in the city. That meant I had to use this line 5 days a week. Its not for nothing that its also known as the misery line. It was enough to make me leave my job and find somewhere local to work.

How people can use it everyday to travel to work is beyond me. I guess most have no option but in my experience it is always hot, overcrowded and smells really bad. And now we are expected to pay around £2 for the privelage of using it to go just one stop.

Fortunately, in my current job I rarely need to use it and when I do, it is the more modern jubilee line - a slightly more pleasant experience than on the northern line.

Give me buses anyday - ok, slower but heaps cheaper and a lot more pleasant.

Who am I?

probably a good thing to start with - I am an Australian who has spent the past 16 years living in inner London.

When I first arrived, my immediate impression was how expensive everything seemed to be compared to Sydney prices anyway. That gave me the idea for my website, London for free, which I created back in 1997.

Since then I have had thousands of visitors and hundreds of emails from people across the world, asking me questions about London and thanking me for the information I provide on my site.

Sadly, as I work fulltime and am also studying, it is a continual struggle to maintain content on it. Which gave me the idea for this blog.

As well as including interesting links and news I find about London, I will also share my thoughts on what its like to live here day by day.

I hope you find it worth visiting, and maybe come back to it now and then.