The world's longest exam period is almost over. I have one on Friday, one on Monday, and then it's all over...except for packing up, moving, writing a dissertation and moving AGAIN. You know. THEN it's all over. For real. My brain is really rebelling against studying at the moment, even though I desperately NEED to study...these next two exams are in law, and aren't subjects I can just go in and "wing." So I really need to get focused. At least the weather cooperated today; it's pouring down rain and the sky (as much as I can see it from my window) is grey. No need to worry about missing an afternoon lolling in the sunshine down near Tower Bridge.
Yesterday I was walking by City Hall, down by the aforementioned Tower Bridge, and saw four people dressed up as: a cheeseburger, a cigarette butt, a package of salt and vinegar crisps and an unidentified substance which I think was supposed to be doggy-doo. Anyways, they all had signs that said "less ming, more bling" and "pickit up," and were staging a "demonstration" against littering. It was quite funny because their litter costumes were really class. I mean, they were wearing facepaint. And they were walking in a circle, chanting, "What do we want?" "A litter bin!" "When do we want it?" "NOW!" I couldn't stop laughing. It took me back to those heady days spent as Louie the Lightning Bug back in 2002, and I was sure that these special "protesters" were unfortunate summer students like I had been, who were working for the Southwark Council or something and were being paid to do ridiculous "community outreach" things like this. Why is it that community outreach always involves a mascot? I don't understand.
Most of my flatmates are moving out this week. One of them we haven't seen in a couple of weeks, so we suspect he's gone, although his cupboard still has fresh apples in it (he only ever eats apples. Green ones. And salad. Gjert and I think he has an eating disorder). Another leaves Friday, and one left yesterday. The one who left yesterday (whose name I won't reveal for reasons that will become clear) pulled possibly the best/stupidest farewell-to-London prank ever. At 4 am on Sunday night, he and one of his buddies, accompanied by many of their OTHER buddies with video cameras, jumped off Tower Bridge into the Thames. This is clearly illegal, and clearly dangerous, but he did it, survived and evaded arrest, so all's well that ends well, and now all we have is a video to show at his wedding or something.
Considering that people jump off that bridge to commit suicide, I think they're bloody lucky. It is the lowest of the Thames bridges, so I guess that's why Tower Bridge was chosen (as well as for its symbolic value, being our "home" bridge that we have to cross to get here). They also apparently checked tide charts and jumped when the water level would be highest. But COME ON. That river is disgusting. It's brown because of all the SHIT in it. You don't wanna go jumping in that. Anyways, I guess the minute they jumped, CCTV was on it and before they were out of the water (I mean, where did they have to swim to to get out? The whole river is embanked on this side) a police helicopter was circling and a coast guard boat was on the way, but they managed to get home before they were arrested. So all's well that ends well I guess...
Don't worry, I don't have any grand plans to jump off anything before I leave. Edy and I are going back to Rome next weekend, then back to London so I can pack. Saying goodbye in July won't be too traumatic as we booked tickets for Edy to come to Vancouver in August for two weeks (yaaaay)! After that we may have a lovesick lawyer on our hands, but we'll do our best to stay positive...
Yesterday I was walking by City Hall, down by the aforementioned Tower Bridge, and saw four people dressed up as: a cheeseburger, a cigarette butt, a package of salt and vinegar crisps and an unidentified substance which I think was supposed to be doggy-doo. Anyways, they all had signs that said "less ming, more bling" and "pickit up," and were staging a "demonstration" against littering. It was quite funny because their litter costumes were really class. I mean, they were wearing facepaint. And they were walking in a circle, chanting, "What do we want?" "A litter bin!" "When do we want it?" "NOW!" I couldn't stop laughing. It took me back to those heady days spent as Louie the Lightning Bug back in 2002, and I was sure that these special "protesters" were unfortunate summer students like I had been, who were working for the Southwark Council or something and were being paid to do ridiculous "community outreach" things like this. Why is it that community outreach always involves a mascot? I don't understand.
Most of my flatmates are moving out this week. One of them we haven't seen in a couple of weeks, so we suspect he's gone, although his cupboard still has fresh apples in it (he only ever eats apples. Green ones. And salad. Gjert and I think he has an eating disorder). Another leaves Friday, and one left yesterday. The one who left yesterday (whose name I won't reveal for reasons that will become clear) pulled possibly the best/stupidest farewell-to-London prank ever. At 4 am on Sunday night, he and one of his buddies, accompanied by many of their OTHER buddies with video cameras, jumped off Tower Bridge into the Thames. This is clearly illegal, and clearly dangerous, but he did it, survived and evaded arrest, so all's well that ends well, and now all we have is a video to show at his wedding or something.
Considering that people jump off that bridge to commit suicide, I think they're bloody lucky. It is the lowest of the Thames bridges, so I guess that's why Tower Bridge was chosen (as well as for its symbolic value, being our "home" bridge that we have to cross to get here). They also apparently checked tide charts and jumped when the water level would be highest. But COME ON. That river is disgusting. It's brown because of all the SHIT in it. You don't wanna go jumping in that. Anyways, I guess the minute they jumped, CCTV was on it and before they were out of the water (I mean, where did they have to swim to to get out? The whole river is embanked on this side) a police helicopter was circling and a coast guard boat was on the way, but they managed to get home before they were arrested. So all's well that ends well I guess...
Don't worry, I don't have any grand plans to jump off anything before I leave. Edy and I are going back to Rome next weekend, then back to London so I can pack. Saying goodbye in July won't be too traumatic as we booked tickets for Edy to come to Vancouver in August for two weeks (yaaaay)! After that we may have a lovesick lawyer on our hands, but we'll do our best to stay positive...