Secret Cinema: Back to 1955

The first rule of Secret Cinema is 'tell no one', but in the case of this community, the cat has been out of the bag for a good while. When the tickets to the community's Back to the Future event came on sale, several newspapers stated how the booking system had failed and how they would reopen the following day. Prior to these articles, I had not heard of that this would be the community's next event, and so, being a true 80s kid and a die-hard BTTF fan, I just knew I had to get tickets.

On the day when the ticket sale opened, I queued for an hour to get through to the bookings website, without luck. A few hours later, I tried again and managed to get tickets for both me and my boyfriend for a Thursday evening show, one week after the initial opening. But things didn't go as planned.

A week before the premiere, just an hour before the show was about the start, the show was cancelled. The same happened for every single performance until our show date, 31st of July. With the angry comments and the lack of communication experienced by fellow ticketholders, my enthusiasm plummeted. And finally, when my boyfriend announced me on Wednesday that he could not make the show due to work commitments, I felt defeated. What made matters worse was that resale of the tickets was prohibited – the organisers stated that they would carry out ID checks at the gate – and that cancelling or changing the dates was not allowed, either. I felt stuck and cheated, and decided not to go.

Last Thursday, a friend of mine contacted me and asked me if I was interested in going to the event on Friday. One of her friends had cancelled and they had a spare ticket. I decided to join them on the last minute.

I quickly put together a 1955-style costume of sorts and acquired a 1955 identity – an extra feature that the organisers promoted – and so I became Michelle Bush, Proof Reader at the Hill Valley Telegraph. At 5.30pm on Friday night, I was on my way to Hill Valley (or in this case, East London).

When the gates opened, I got to step into an amazing, inspiring replica of the world of the BTTF films. I got to visit both George McFly's and Biff Tannen's home, walk around in Doc's timeless house, skip rope with high school kids and play pinball at the punky Cafe 80s. I jumped in Biff Tannen's red convertible, sat on the backseat while he gave my friends a ride from the Town Hall to Lou's Diner, and was abandoned by him when he went up to fight George McFly. I ate a cheeseburger with fries and drank white wine at the green, surrounded by hundreds of fellow 50s kids.

The evening was crowned by a screening of the film – we sat on the village green, witnessing when the film was reflected against the silhouette of the Town Hall. As the film progressed, we got to see real-life actors complementing the storyline, acting out scenes around the replica set as they happened on screen. From Marty trailing the cars on his skateboard to Doc sliding down from the clock tower, the events were breathtakingly cool and inspiring.

As an aspiring screenwriter, I could not help but note how fantastic the film's screenplay was as well. My friend, a fellow screenwriter, was equally impressed. There is nothing unnecessary in the film; every little detail has a meaning in the bigger picture. I definitely need to read the script at some point.

So overall, the experience was an amazing one. I have never been to an event like this – and I doubt I ever will again. Such an inspiring, cool and fun evening, albeit a pricey one. With tickets costing over £50 each, all the food and drink were added on top... Not great with a student budget!

So despite the bad press, I would definitely recommend the BTTF Secret Cinema experience, or any Secret Cinema experience. I would love to go to another one – let's see what the future holds!

Michelle Bush, Proof Reader,

"The Foghorn" – Broadcast Date for my first Radio Monologue!

Exciting news! As part of my course, I wrote a short radio monologue under the topic of "Voices From Another World". My little piece, called The Foghorn, centres around a lonely lighthouse worker who attempts to fix a broken foghorn while a ship approaches on the foggy seas. Meanwhile, his mind is occupied by a tumultuous relationship he can't get over.

Now, the fruit of my labour has been recorded by my university's Sound Arts students, and it will be broadcast on Resonance FM on 28 May at 2pm (you can listen to it online anywhere in the world and a podcast should be available later). It will also be played through The Exponential Horn, the UK's largest loudspeaker, at the Science Museum, but I don't have the exact details on that yet.

My first professional credit – brilliant! I haven't heard the actual recording yet, but I have faith in the students.

The Importance of a Good Structure

Concept sentence, action-idea, premise, tagline... It sounds really easy – somebody wants something for a specific reason but it is impossible because of a specific obstacle. And that should be the core of the screenplay where all of the events and actions stem from. So basically 'nail down the premise and build your film from there'.

SIGH. More of then than once, I have heard the term 'development hell'. Getting caught in a limbo of honing this, changing that, amending this, correcting that. Bringing a secondary character forward as the protagonist, making the antagonist the protagonist, cutting characters and merging storylines. Cutting useless plot dimensions and focusing on the main storyline sounds simple but it is harder than it appears. The temptation to add complications and twists is a hard one to resist.

During the past few months, I have been focusing on nailing down the basics of the film. This has consisted of writing the premise, moving onto a 2-page outline and finally working out a 5-10 page treatment of the film. With each step I've taken, I have received valuable feedback that has been really, really useful. Workshopping with my fellow students has led me to notice a lot of inconsistencies and ways in which I should hone the focus of the story. For me personally, this has meant changing the themes of my piece and eliminating useless plot twists. It is safe to say that I have learned far more during the past two months than I did last year.

In terms of my film project, I feel like I am in a relatively good place. Next up, I need to do a bit of re-writing on that, take a few ganders at my secondary TV project and finish work on a small extracurricular project, which sees me write a five-minute radio monologue that will be broadcast on Resonance FM. It is a really exciting opportunity and collaborating with the sound arts students, who will be taking care of the practicalities of the sound world, has been really enlightening and refreshing. Stay tuned for updates on this one - my first real production credit! :-)

I also got promoted at work, which makes me a very happy bunny indeed. It is not a major change, but it is nice to feel appreciated. My employer has been really good to me in terms of allowing me to work four-days-a-week due to my studies and even giving me a promotion while on that limited schedule.

Also – in the beginning of February, I finally moved to a nicer home and so far, I'm loving it. After all, an aspiring writer not only needs to write a good structure for her feature films, but also needs to establish a 'good structure' for her life as well – a nice bed to sleep on, a quiet environment to write in and good transport links wherever her quill might take her.

Overall, I am really happy about everything right now – I wish that life could always be this rewarding, thrilling and exciting! :-)

Bang - it's 2014!

The new year has begun with a bang: during the first week and a half, I already finished an essay and a two-page project outline for university. On top of that, I returned to my job in the office and begun to pack up my things, as I am moving to a new place at the end of the month. However, I have to admit that I quite like being a busy bee.

I spent an amazing Christmas in the English countryside with my boyfriend's family. It was my second Christmas without my family, so I felt very homesick, especially on Christmas Eve. However, Christmas Day was amazing! Everyone made me feel very welcome and loved so I ended up having a really nice, relaxing time. Having time off from everything was really good as well. I allowed myself to do nothing for a good five days, and then slowly returned to work-mode by picking up university work. And on Monday, I returned to work in the office.

Writing-wise, I have just begun work on my final university project, due in December 2014. We were asked to choose between writing a 90-page feature film or 60 pages of original TV, and I really struggled with my decision. While I've always wanted to write television and create my own show, I was under the impression that most production companies, even when their work focuses on TV, ask to see a film script instead of TV script. According to my understanding, this is mainly due to the fact that film tends to tell a complete story with a distinct beginning, middle and end, illustrating the writer's ability to keep a story together.

Fortunately, we were told that while we were to choose one or the other as our main project, we could pursue the other as a minor project. I felt relieved that we could do both, but the dilemma persisted. Which one should I choose as my main one?

After careful consideration, I finally decided to focus on a feature and pursue TV as a second project, aspiring to write a script for that, too. Now I don't want to say too much about my two projects, but I do have distinct ideas for both, but they might still change considerably. The feature is a science fiction thriller set in space while the TV project is a dark drama set in post-WWI London.

So yeah, that's it for now. Blog-wise, I've changed the layout - do like the new background? I made it myself from illustrations of Charles Dana Gibson. A romantic writer girl at work...

Screen talk with my acting idol, Ralph Fiennes

Last night, I had the great privilege to hear the acting guru of my adolescence, Ralph Fiennes, speak at a talk organised as part of the BFI London Film Festival. Interviewed by Francine Stock, Fiennes shed light on his career and his upcoming, second directorial feature, The Invisible Woman, in which he plays the lead as the classic author Charles Dickens. In the following, I will share some of the most interesting aspects of the talk from my own personal point of view.

Ralph Fiennes (left) interviewed by Francine Stock at BFI Southbank, 18 October 2013.

The talk began by tracking down Fiennes's beginnings: how a student of painting would become interested in theatre design, and how the same boy, now enrolled on a foundation course, would come to realise that he actually wanted to be "in the set", rather than designing it. This lead to studies at the Royal Academy of the Dramatic Art, and ultimately, roles in theatre, television, and film.

Fiennes attributes his third film appearance, the role of Heathcliff in a film adaptation of Wuthering Heights (1992), as the role that caught Steven Spielberg's attention. Spielberg invited the young actor to audition for the role of the SS-officer Amon Goeth for his film, Schindler's List (1994), and the pair met face-to-face in Acton, "out of all places", Ralph adds.

The audience is shown a clip from the film, where Goeth pardons a young boy who has failed to clean his bath tub, but then shoots him in the back as he's walking away. The clip is followed by applause, and silence from the man himself.

"I hadn't seen that in a long time. I don't know what to say," Fiennes comments following the powerful, haunting extract.

Stock then directs the conversation to Anthony Minghella's The English Patient (1996), and the different directing styles of Spielberg and Minghella. Fiennes reminisces that while Spielberg was quite vocal and focused on "very specific things, physicality and gestures", Minghella's spoke "gently" and was quite precise. He goes on to suggest that in his opinion, "directors should be like very good teachers, sensitive to actors", after which a yet another clip illustrating Fiennes's brilliance as an actor is shown. Almasy, played by Fiennes, joins a dinner party and acts inappropriately, causing disapproval among his fellow diners.

Talk turns to Coriolanus (2011), Fiennes's directorial debut based on a play by William Shakespeare. Fiennes says than he and the screenwriter John Logan edited the the text and cut about 70 per cent of the original material in order to make it cinematic. It is evident Fiennes feels great pride about the writing, as he labels the work "brilliant" and expresses his hopes that Logan's screenplay could someday be published.

"A screenwriter should convey the film to the reader in a way you can see the film," he suggests. "It should be an edited text but accessible to people."

And so it was that during the post-production of Coriolanus, Fiennes was presented with another screenplay that "jumped off the page". Abi Morgan's screenplay for The Invisible Woman, based on a novel by Claire Tomalin, convinced Fiennes to pursue the drama, which presented its own challenges. He relates that he was forced to research and "embrace the feeling of the Dickensian period" while finding "the humanity inside the characters". He would study Victorian photo albums, witnessing the ageing of specific families by tracing their manners, habits and wrinkles through the photographs, with the ultimate goal of "getting over the period" finding "the beating heart within".

Two clips of The Invisible Woman are shown, after which the audience is given permission to ask the maestro some questions. The first question regards his future - Fiennes reveals that he has just finished filming two films, and is now enjoying a period of reading and not knowing what to do next.

I raise my hand and the microphone is given to me. I ask my childhood idol if he has thought of writing his own material, as he has tried out both acting and directing in the past. He looks me in the eyes (the adolescent girl within me, obsessed with Healthcliff and Lenny Nero, is about to swoon) and answers that he has "thought of it and would like to try it". Furthermore, the collaboration with Morgan has given him "enough confidence to make him feel he might like to try it".

The next question is about tips he might give for your actors auditioning for roles. The respected actor tells the questioner not to give up and to have an audition piece that is both true and meaningful to himself. The actor's own soul "has to come through it". He also warns that there is "much bullshit, flattery and pretense in the business", and that an actor should find interior strength for the life in front of him.

With that, Fiennes departs. My heart is still racing after the opportunity to ask him a question. I feel uplifted, inspired and giddy. Did that just happen? I rush home, full of energy to write and to hone my screenwriting skills. The talk has been truly inspiring and encouraging. I just hope that someday, I might have a career as brilliant and successful as he has had...

Autumn of artsy adventures begins

Autumn has reached London, and with it, a new university term focussing on idea development has began. During our first lecture last week, I submitted my summer elective, an analysis of the problems and solutions in sustaining a long-running television series, as well as three ideas for an original project, all of which enabled me to take another mandatory step towards acquiring those fabulous, juicy carrots I'm pursuing – a master's degree and a career in screenwriting.

I was also given my term two marks, and I was quite pleased. My overall mark was B-, which is also what I received for my script. We were working with adaptations, so I had to choose a short story (R.L. Stevenson's The Body-Snatcher) and write a 30-minute adaptation from it. I was not entirely happy with the piece when I submitted it, and knew it was only a 'first draft', thus the comments made by my marker were well justified: 'although a very strong piece of work, the script could still benefit from tightening the focus of the action and the dialogue to make it sizzle'. As a result, I have spent some time re-working the outline and the dramatic focus, and playing around with the project. I have dozens of ideas, which can hopefully lead to improvements that will make the script 'sizzle'.

My main focus, however, has been on re-working my first university project, a 10-minute short film script that I named A Matter of Time. Reading it now, I am quite horrified by it, and agree that a lot of further work needs to be done for it. It lacks a clear, cohesive structure, the dialogue is far from perfect, and some events could be scrapped altogether. It definitely takes priority over the adaptation, as it is an original piece of work, and I need to have more original work in my portfolio.

So, overall, I am looking forward to the challenges this autumn will bring along writing and study-wise. I have to say, I am quite excited to be writing and creating again. Let's hope this lasts :-)

Plans for the bank holiday weekend: Mini-getaway and a writing spree

The month of August has whizzed by at a skyrocketing speed. September is knocking and my birthday draws near again. How can time fly by so fast?

For the past few weeks, I have been slowly trying to return to the university mode. Yesterday, I went to the university library and did some research on a summer project we should finish. So, for the next few weeks, I have two academic projects to work on: analysing a television show and conducting an interview with a contemporary UK screenwriter. In addition, I should submit three original script ideas and prepare to pitch an original TV show idea. These are all exciting projects, and I already have a few ideas that I want to pursue, so I am feeling quite energetic and enthusiastic about it all. 

And so, it is a bank holiday weekend, which I will be spending in the Cotswolds countryside with my other half. The aim is to do some work on these above-mentioned university projects and to enjoy a relaxing, quiet weekend getaway from London. It is a really beautiful area, I might post photos later. Toodles! 

Summer's almost gone...

...where will we be, when the summer's gone?

It is mid-August, and I have to say, the summer has just flown by. Not only has the weather been full of warmth and sunshine, my personal life has been so as well. I have found romance and been quite productive in terms of writing, so things are all good.

Although I have played around with a few script ideas, I have not been doing a lot of screenwriting. Instead, I wrote a short theatre play for the Little Pieces of Gold contest, which showcases new writing talent by choosing a handful of plays and showcases them at the Park Theatre in London. I'm not sure if my play, Shelter, was quite what they were looking for, but I am glad I managed to write it all the same. My first theatre play!

To conclude, here's a little song from the Doors to entertain you. It is playing in my head on repeat!

Almost there - Summer holidays are near!

Oh, the bliss! I submitted the first draft of my 30-minute adaptation script last Thursday!

Words cannot express how relieved I felt. The project had stressed me for several weeks, up to a point where I had turned into a paranoid hermit. I lashed out to my close friends and family, sported black bags under my eyes, experienced trouble sleeping and caved in to my little room with tea pots and chocolates. I did not register I was turning into a living dead until I submitted my work, and then it hit me: I felt exhausted. It's like all the stress had been building up inside my body and at that moment, it escaped as one giant lump.

The mere feeling of adding the draft to my folder of 'Writing Projects' (which is basically a folder where I keep all my 'finished' script printouts) was simply amazing - although I doubt I will be graded very highly on the project (grading is really tough on my course), the joy of accomplishing it made me a very happy girl indeed.

It is slightly ironic that despite the exhaustion, I find my fingers lusting after the keyboard in order to start working on new projects. My mind is full of ideas and I am anxious to start working on them. However, I must wait - I still have an essay and some reports to finish before term two finishes. So until that dull work is done, I will have to keep my fingers and mind at bay. Hopefully my inspiration to write will not disappear during the next few weeks... So given this, I assume I am pursuing the right career for me? I should join Work-a-holics Anonymous!

Adaptation troubles

Term two of university is more than halfway through, and I find myself battling a huge writer's block. The short story I 've decided to use as the basis for my 30-minute adaptation, The Body-Snatcher, is the root of my problem.

When I first read the story, I was really excited by the concept of body-snatching and the general idea of doing morally questionable things to advance science. I also loved the way in which science and ghosts intersected, which corresponds to the idea I have of the Victorian society.

The difficulties I am experiencing mostly stem from structural issues. I have been attempting to establish a clear, cohesive, three-act story arc that would remain faithful to the characters, world and feel of the original short story. Easier said than done.

I find myself going around in circles, changing the main protagonist, story setting and order of events constantly. So far, my efforts haven't been very fruitful. The feedback I have received through my university workshops has not been too encouraging, and the depressing thing is - my fellow students have a point. The main protagonist does not have a clear want, the main active question is a bit vague, and the climax seems slightly irrelevant to the rest of the story. Phew.

I finally see some light at the end of the tunnel though. After swapping notes with a fellow student, I feel like I finally have a working outline. The bad thing is, I have spent almost two months trying to get the outline together, which leaves me with only one week to finish the script. 30 pages of script in one week - yikes. I doubt it will be of very good quality, but I must do the best I can..

Until further notice...

First term over, first draft ready - First impressions of a screenwriting student

Within the first three months of this new year, my little London existence has changed quite dramatically - in my terms, anyway. Some big, exciting changes have taken place, which have made me a very happy lass indeed.

In January, I was finally able to start pursuing the art that had brought me to London in the first place - screenwriting. As a result, my days have been primarily dedicated to combining office work with university lectures, reading, project planning, and finally - writing. It has taken me hours and hours to actually get to the writing stage, and I must admit that it has been a lot more work than I thought it would be. Sadly, I have been ignoring my friends and turned into a bit of a hermit, but hopefully, it will be worth it in the end.

I have greatly enjoyed my first term, which has now come to an end. And... I have a first draft of a short film script to show for it! While I won't post the entire script online, here is a short premise to give you an idea of what the story is about:

A Matter of Time
On the day of her induction to the Clockmakers' Guild, 20-year-old Alice is visited by a mysterious woman from a distant time. This prompts Alice to re-evaluate her future goals, her heart and her own interests, and to question her suitability to the family tradition of clockmaking.

As for the next term, I can hardly wait. Our next project will be a 30-minute adaptation, and I've already been reading a wide range of short stories. I am starting to lean towards Victorian ghost stories or science fiction, but we'll see.

Overall, I am really excited to be pursuing this course. It is going to be a lot more work in the future, but being able to do the course has made me incredibly happy. This is my calling, let's hope I may flourish in it.

Pictures of the abandoned Heygate Estate

When I first ventured into South-East London and the Elephant and Castle area, I could not help noticing the hideously ugly buildings that towered on the other side of the high-rising Strata building. After doing some research, I discovered that the buildings made up the Heygate Estate, which used to be a council house area from the 1970's onwards. It was only a few years ago that the estate was abandoned.  

The whole area is under demolition at the moment. Last summer, I managed to get through to the estate along with a few friends. The entrance we used to get it has since been blocked, so I am quite glad we made it there when we did. 

The estate has a certain ghostly feel about it. It reminds me of the pictures I have seen of the town of Prypiat in Ukraine, which was abandoned after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Time is standing still, and I find myself thinking about the lives people have led there. The estate is quite fascinating in an urban decay kind of way.  

See for yourself. Here are some pictures I took:

Anyone up for Pacman Heygate-style?

A view from the estate towards the new Strata building. 

Access to the old flats and apartments is blocked by glass walls, barb wire, or metal gates.
The porches are full of abandoned furniture and rubbish. 

More rubbish, this time on the ground.

There's a lot of colourful graffiti around. 

Words of wisdom by the old surgery entrance.

Oh Olympics, escape extravaganza

For the past few weeks, it has been impossible to escape the big O-word. It has been what everyone has been talking about. Olympics this, Olympics that. Transport for London issued guidance regarding travelling during the games months ago, and we had a few meetings at work regarding commuting. We were even taught how to access our computers remotely if we were unable to attend work for some reason.

Although many Londoners were excited about the prospect of hosting the biggest sporting event and the cultural activities associated with it, I decided to join some of my fellow citizens in abandoning the city - for the first week, anyway. I departed London last Friday, on the opening night of the games, and watched the impressive ceremony back at my parents place. And wow, it truly was amazing!

As a result of the Olympics, the accommodation fees for hotels and hostels have skyrocketed, so many Londoners have decided to cash in by renting out their rooms for the duration of the games. I decided to do the same for the time I am away. I rented my room out to a friend couple, so there was the obvious friend-discount, but upon seeing the prices others were charging, I felt disgusted. Money talks, in this sense too. Not only have we paid millions of pounds in taxes to fund the Olympics and the train/underground/bus service maintenance associated with it, but now people are charging ludicrous amounts for short term stays. Although I desperately need money for my university fees, I could not overcharge with good conscience. People can be so greedy... it's awful. All they see are sterling signs.

I shall return next Sunday, so I won't miss all of the Olympics shenanigans, but this little break from London has been rather refreshing. I might post more about the games later, but for now... I am enjoying my mini-break out of the city and watching the games from my parents' couch :-)

Six months in London: The good and the bad

Time has flown by at an incredible pace, and I find myself caught amidst the English summer. As last Tuesday was the six-month anniversary of my London move, I decided to write down a few lines about my experiences so far. Without further adieu, let me present to you my observations.

Weather

Indeed, it does rain a lot. Long periods of rain and gloom have been interrupted by only a few warm and sunny days. This summer has been deemed as the rainiest one in years, yet the weather in my home country is far worse than this with its extreme temperature changes. But dealing with the weather is all about preparing: I check the weather forecast before I venture out and carry a mini umbrella and a pair of sunglasses with me wherever I go.

Londoners
The diverse population of many different nationalities is one of the greatest things about living in London. The motto for the city might as well be 'come as you are'. 
First of all, there's fashion. You can see the most interesting fashion choices here with no one questioning them. If you feel good about your choice of attire, chances are others are fine with it, too. I love the Old Spitalfields Market on Sundays - it is full of interesting (and cheap) frocks :-)
Secondly, the diverse backgrounds of the Londoners is definitely a positive. You can always introduce yourself with new cultures or cuisines through restaurants, parties, get-togethers, or exhibitions. The current hip cuisines seem to be the Vietnamese and Scandinavian ones. I think it's safe to say that you can always find people and imported goods from your native country, which makes you miss home even less. 

Tourists
It is the short-term inhabitants that do my head in. The tourists make it hard to keep up the good spirits. They walk at snail speed and then stop in the middle of the street to take pictures of literally everything: taxis, double-decker busses, telephone booths, street performers, famous buildings, tacky shops, classic statues and structures – even post boxes.  

Money

On my daily walk to work, I join a flood of businessmen and women on their walk across London Bridge and pass half-a-dozen homeless people in the process. I have started to recognise some of the homeless from the Big Issue saleswoman to the hobo man with the cute black pup, and yet I walk pass them without ever giving them any money. The truth of the matter is I have none to give.

Living in London is expensive – even more expensive when you’re desperately trying to live on a budget and save money. Because of my strict university fee saving regime, I find myself constantly purchasing value-range groceries and walking instead of using public transportation. But the temptations are there… and it is very hard to resist an after work cocktail or a cheeky dinner with friends, and there you have it – £50 gone with the wind. It’s way too easy to find a way to spend the well-earned money. Temptations, baby, temptations. 

Lifestyle

Lifestyle in London is all about scheduling. I find myself obeying the stereotypical ‘9 to 5’ work hours and planning my days accordingly: I enter the office at 9am, work until 1pm, take an hour for lunch, get back to work and leave at 5pm. Some of my colleagues go to the gym, some commute home, and some go out for happy hour cocktails with work colleagues. Understandably, the latter usually happens on Fridays, as there is no pressure to appear sharp in the office next morning.

Scheduling is important during weekends as well. It is completely normal to only see your friends every few weeks or so, as everyone is busy and commuting within the city takes a while. Speaking of which, I have to buy a nice watch... 

Dating

Dating in London is tough. There are so many beautiful women and gorgeous men around that it is hard to make an impression on anyone. I recently wrote a blog entry about dating, and joined a dating website to see if that would help. Hardly, is the answer – the experiment did not produce any tangible results. I went on a few dates, all of which left me feeling nothing at all. Needless to say, I am no longer paying for such service. I will keep my eyes open and see if anyone eligible turns up... Surely they will, right? (And the Moon is made out of cheese...)

Beautiful boats and royals in the rain

Tomorrow is the 60th anniversary of HRH Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. To honour the reigning monarch's Diamond Jubilee, London has turned into a zone of festivities, smiles, laughter and joy. Free events have been organised for the occasion, some of which took place last week. 

Yesterday was the day of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, which saw over a thousand boats from different historical eras, Commonwealth countries and organisations sail through the River Thames. Powerful military boats were followed by cute steamboats and the Queen participated in the fun by sailing on her royal barge. 

Thousands of eager spectators occupied the riversides in an attempt to secure a good view to the river. We managed to get a descent spot close to Waterloo Bridge and enjoyed some munchies and cider while watching the activities of the river. And indeed, we saw the Queen and the royal family! Prince Harry dashed off without asking for my number though. How disappointing!

We stayed for quite a while, but left before the end as it started raining heavily. 

The Jubilee festivities continue today and tomorrow, however, I think I have had my share. I leave you with a not-the-best-quality picture of the pageant.

The royal family aboard the barge.

Looking for Prince Charming!

As a single London chick, the end of the week is always dedicated to romantic optimism. You convince yourself that this weekend, you will meet someone lovely and you will begin a beautiful journey, which will lead to expensive rings and happy honeymoons. Nightclubbing and the weekends are all about living a fairytale, from looking like a princess to attending a ball, finding your prince there and living happily ever after.

Needless to say, when you lie on your bed on Sunday morning; shaking, sweating and sipping bland tap water; you feel like an utter fool. No numbers were exchanged, no one interesting came up to you, or if they did, you cannot really tell, as it was far too loud in the bar and you were a bit too intoxicated to register their interest. Prince Charming was nowhere in sight, and neither was his second-cousin, or third-cousin, for that matter. Instead, you spent way too much money, your feet ache from wearing high stilettos, you feel like shit and the memory of all the ineligible bachelors squeezing your bum while passing you by angers you. So what was the point of it all?

Hey, at least you're going out and not staying in feeling sorry for yourself. Besides, it is fun to maintain the illusion that night clubbing is beneficial to your cause. Dressing up is fun, drinking makes you convinced you'll find that perfect someone, holding a cocktail makes you look rich and fun, dancing (even two-stepping in stilettos) burns off some of the calories acquired from drinking, and hanging out with your friends is always fun-tastic. Fun, fun, fun, right?

Last weekend, I ventured into two nightclubs in my quest of making my fairytale fantasy a reality. First up, on Friday night, was Chinawhite, and on Saturday, Jalouse. Despite their cool reputations, my intoxicated state and my alcohol-infused confidence, I did not enjoy the two places very much. The chart-topping music was hardly exciting, and the men in the club were very, very pushy and just looking to score a chick for the night. You would think that all the money you spend would be able to 'buy' you a good evening without sleazy men who ask you to join them for a 'hanky panky' and girls with fake - well, everything - but no. These places were seedy, and no fun. 

So while the fairytale illusion of meeting the prince at a ball is overtaken by sleaziness and seediness, there is hope for us chickadees yet :-) The cocktail lounge Match Bar had a really good, friendly atmosphere, and the lounge DJ played really good, upbeat tunes. And, no, you did not have to shout when talking to your friends, so it was the perfect bar for catching up, too. And yes, there were cute guys around, but I did not really get to speak to many, as we had a private booth and a private party. No sight of the Prince Charming though, but his third-cousins were there. So maybe he'll turn up at the Match Bar sometime soon... I know I will!

So no, I did not meet Prince Charming yet. As the chances of meeting him in a night club seem relatively slim, I have given in and joined a dating website. So far, it has been alright, and there are far more eligible men there than there are in the two night clubs I visited. There is a certain old-school romantic feel about sending little messages to the guys you come across there, and then, perhaps, going out on a date with them. It is quite exciting. So maybe my Prince Charming is waiting for me online instead? I will keep you posted ;-)

Sunday is the market day!

A few weeks back, a friend of mine took me out for a stroll around the Shoreditch-Spitalfields area. We walked down the Brick Lane and ventured into the narrow streets and alleyways behind the Shoreditch High Street Station, which were full of colourful little market stands offering goods from fabulous mock-jewellery to worn down WWII clothing, and from second-hand Converse boots to colourfully cheeky McHammer sunshades. "Worn down junk and overpriced retro goods" would be the apt phrase to describe these quirky goods. However, I must admit, that I whole-heartedly enjoyed the walk and the general atmosphere.

Old Spitalfields Market ( building on the left).

While I had only heard of the Camden market before, I was completely swept off my feet by the Old Spitalfields Market. After stepping in to the charming Victorian building, I was in vintage heaven. I could so easily spend all of my money there. The airy room was crowded with people, but due to the high ceiling, it did not feel as crowded and crammed as the street market. The goods were far more interesting than those of the street vendors: unique fashion with an adorable vintage touch, antique furnishings with a charming touch of the years, shoemaker's leather boots and cutesy jewellery no one else would ever have.

So today, I returned, with the remains of my previous paycheque burning a hole in my pocket. And indeed, it would have, once again, been easy to spend all my money there. Instead, I tried to be practical and only buy things I needed (read: the best deals I could find). See for yourself:

A pair of (faulty) flat ballerinas, £5 (from Traffic People)

A dress and trousers, £15 (from a market stall)

Afterwards, I ventured into a continental cheese store where a cute guy was selling cheese. And yes, I just had to buy some scrumptious little piece of hard cheese. Just because the guy was a handsome French guy, just because the cheese was fantastic, just because it was sunny out, and just because I was really happy.

Got a job and a room! Things are looking up!

The past week went by incredibly fast and I have basically just been running from one place to another. I attended three job interviews, visited the embassy to vote for a new president, found a room to live in and got my bank account sorted, so things are finally starting to go right.

I accepted a job offer - an office job (from 9.30am til 5.30pm) just a tube ride away from my future room, so not only is the location good, but the job sounds ideal for the moment. I think it will prepare me nicely for my upcoming university studies in January 2013.

And yes, I have also managed to find a nice double room in a tidy flatshare! There is a tube station less than 10 minutes walk away, the rent is low and the location very central (on the edge of Zone 1). I won't be moving there until the 9th of February though, so in the meantime, I am staying here in this little suburb Surrey village :-)

Jobseeking in London; notes and tips!

For the past few weeks, I have been trying to find a (descent) job in London. This has been a tough task, as looking for work usually is. Moments of hopeful joy are usually followed by depressing rejections that make you feel like an undesirable basket case with nothing to give. And yet you have to keep trying, as painful as those rejections are. For how can you win if you do not gamble?

When I started job hunting, I hadn't decided what I was looking for exactly. I spent my first week applying to miscellaneous jobs (found from Gumtree) from waitressing to sales assistant jobs and modelling, which was a big mistake. The modelling agency that replied to me was just looking to exploit me by charging a ridiculous amount for test shots, and the restaurant jobs I didn't get. I went on a two-hour trial shift to the other restaurant only to be rejected by them in a very rude manner. After the trial, they said they'd contact me if they were interested, but nothing happened. Not even a "thank you for your efforts but we have chosen another candidate" note. Just silence - how infuriating!

Generally, I would advice you to beware of some of the ads on Gumtree. There are some valid ones, but after experiencing two scam attempts (one involving a house to rent a few months back and now this modelling agency), I would take extra care when checking their offers. If it sounds too good, it probably is.

Another website I have found useful is Reed.co.uk. They allow different recruiters post job vacancies and, when you apply, you just click a button and your CV is sent through automatically. Additionally, you can send them a cover letter, which you can edit for each vacancy.

A lot of recruitment agencies advertise their vacancies on Reed. Even if you don't get the job you applied for, the agencies usually keep a copy of your CV in their records and might contact you regarding other roles they think you might be suitable for. Also, some agencies jump at a chance to meet you. They might ask you to pop around to their office to get to know you. I went to one of these agencies and the guy I was talking to was very friendly and sounded genuinely willing to help. He gave me general advice with my job search saying that he could get me marketing jobs based on my skills but, for the more literal, editorial jobs that I have done in the past, I should just contact the companies directly. Thus, I have also checked websites for different publishing houses and have applied for jobs there too.

So, in conclusion, I have three interviews booked. Now I don't want to go into too much details about them, for I am afraid that doing so would jinx it, but I can say that one of these is a jobs I applied for through Reed, the second one the recruiting agency contacted me about and the third one I found advertised in the web.

I will keep you posted about things go. Hopefully, I have a job soon! :-)

Nightclubbing from posh to rock!

Friday night was the first one of the (hopefully) many nights I will spend out in the London nightlife. I met up with an old friend at the Green Park tube station. Our plan was to join a few other people at a members only Mayfair nightclub, but things didn't quite go according to plan.

After failing to find this elusive VIP club, we entered a place called Babble just off the Berkeley Square to wait for our friends to catch up with us. Already at 9.30pm, the two floor bar was packed with people and the music was blasting so loud that my poor (old-fart) ears were ringing. The guests were all dressed in a smart, eye-pleasing manner. Yes, there were a few tacky tank tops and some smudgy mascara on few girls' cheeks, but overall, people were well dressed.

And men... Yes, there were a few potential candidates ;-) I ended up talking to two handsome Russians, dressed in fancy suit jackets and smart clothes. They were nice and funny, and we got along nicely. Their English was surprisingly good and they seemed to be genuinely interested in chatting, not just hooking up and pulling a girl for a one night stand. Unfortunately we left without exchanging numbers, but I have to say. This encounter filled me with hope again. London is full of cute guys, so why did it take so long for me to realise that? :-)

Next up was a Nobu chain restaurant, which was just around the corner from Babble. As soon as we entered, I felt a bit embarrassed and uncomfortable to be there, for I felt I looked like a chav. My black MANGO polo shirt was OK, and the dangling white/gold earrings I had were cute, but as for the bottom half of my body... Woolly grey shorts, black tights on the verge of falling to pieces and golden brown boots that just didn't go with anything I was wearing. I felt really out of place and hid behind the glamorous booth hoping that no one would notice my awful choice of clothing.

As a place, Nobu was very enjoyable. The ambient, modern mood of the place was very appealing, and not too over-the-top either. Between the four of us, we shared a bottle of dry white wine (which cost about £40, so not too bad), and I have to say, it felt pretty fantastic to have our own waiter who kept refilling our glasses and served us so considerately. It was a lovely place to hang out with girlfriends and I'd like to go back soon. However, in clothing I feel comfortable with ;-)

After we finished our wine, we decided to change places again. After a quick stop at McDonald's (from a high end sushi restaurant to the infamous fast food chain, what a change, hahaa!), we ventured into a little place called Troy, located close to the Tattenham Court Road tube station. Situated on one of the little alleys off the big road, Troy's entrance was barely noticeable. Just a little sign saying "Troy 22" over a doorway, no opening times, no bouncer, no nothing. We cracked a few jokes about it, and judged the place before really giving it a chance. With Troy, the statement "never judge a book by its cover" turned out to be true, though.

We entered and found a cosy, dark little room with a small bar, a fireplace and about 5 tables. The bar was empty, but after ordering our drinks (which were quite reasonably priced, too), the place had started to fill up. By the time we had sat down and had a sip of our drinks, the place was almost full. 1950's rockabilly rock filled the room and people were dancing straight away. With classic rock tunes from Chuck Berry, Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley, everyone seemed genuinely happy and uninhibited. The atmosphere was very welcoming and warm, and lacked the pretense you get in the high end nightclubs. People were just who they were, there was no faking about it. It seemed to be the kind of place where you go and have fun with your friends, no matter what you wear, who you are or what you do for living.

Unfortunately my evening was cut quite short as I had to catch a train back here at 11.45pm. I would have loved to have stayed, but unfortunately, I had no other alternative. I have to say that Friday night was a lovely beginning for my London nightlife experiences. I cannot wait to go back and have new experiences. Weekend, come quickly again!