A new discovery

The French Quarter! I didn't even realise there was one. Shows my ignorance. When Sarkozy was here recently he said that London is now the seventh largest French city, with an estimated 330,000 French nationals living here. Which, considering the proximity, only makes sense.
Anyway I went down there to check out some French bookshops before heading into the Oratory for St Philip Neri's relics. It was actually quite cool, far more authentically a French Quarter than, say China Town is Chinese. Walking into the bookshops I was always greeted in French. I was going to say I think my accent might have given me away as someone not speaking their native tongue, but on reflection, I'm sure it was flawless! :)
They had a good selection so I'll definitely be heading back. Also there were cafes and restaurants to go to, including one which was playing 80s music really loudly ('Girls Just Wanna Have Fun'!) and at 5:30 in the evening I think that's a good sign.

Travel

Remembered this morning a conversation with Nick the first weekend that he was here. We were discussing the comment we had both received, that travel broadens the mind - and how that was entirely contrary to own experience!
Yes, there are lots of differences between London and Sydney or Adelaide, and Nick told me Canada again had its own individual character.
Two thoughts we had on this were:
a) That the superficial differences, as they'll generally be expected, can tend to reinforce stereotypes, and so actually narrow your worldview. Eg visitors to Canada expect Canadians to be like their neighbours in the USA, with some small differences; Canadians put a lot of effort into fighting this idea, which in turn only emphasises the similarity.
b) What struck both of us was the essential same-ness everywhere you go. The physical city of London, buildings and infrastructure, is very different from Australian cities. The people will use different words and eat (some) different brands of food, but otherwise are just like people back home, will act and react in the same way.
Though maybe that's just us...and maybe I need my morning coffee more badly than I thought!

Last night and today

A brief post - I'm not sure when my wireless is going to go offline, as it does on Sunday evenings! But wanted to tell about a great dahl I made up last night, with tomato, lots of chili, garam masala and curry powder; and the big difference from the last time I made it, a clump of peanut butter. Really delicious! Next time I'll add even more pb. The flavour is quite subtle in this batch (probably because of the vast amounts of the other spices I threw in!).
Then today went down to the oratory for the 11am solemn mass. It was actually a latin Novus Ordo Missa Cantata, though I'm sure that's not the official name, and was a really cool experience. The refreshments afterwards were less exciting, as even though they were welcoming there was nobody there under fifty five...Came back anyway for Vespers and Benediction at 3:30 because I'd never been to Vespers before. Again, fantastic, loved the singing!
In between times I treated myself to a Chicken Dansak at an Indian place Nick and I had been to, and which we loved, then went second-hand bookshopping. I successfully stopped myself buying several books I desperately needed and have never seen, but gave in to 'The Oxford Book of Greek Verse', an anthology of Ancient Greek poetry from Homer to the end of the Roman Empire. Only three pounds, and you can imagine how excited I am!!!
Will definitely be doing some reading of that this evening. Have only finished the introduction atm, and as always with these things, feel particularly inspired to write in a crystal-clear Hellenic fashion. Of course, that is a lot of work, and I am a very lazy person...

A blast from the past

Went letterboxing with the Southward Conservatives this morning, and it felt like I had never left Adelaide! There three others than myself and they were all quite friendly and welcoming. The similarities with politics back home often made me want to laugh - for instance on the way there the driver asked the other guy in the car whether to go left or right, and was told to do three rights, because they never go left...this is exactly the joke that Nick, Luke and I used to make with our friends, except that as good moderate Liberals we had it the other way around. The flyer was very professional, so there is clearly more money here than back home.
Anyway, it was a worthwhile way to spend my morning, and good to get out of my room and speak to people before I send myself insane with my own thoughts! I'm told they're out every Saturday morning, so I'll be back out again next week.
For the rest of today, hoping to go to Timon of Athens (standing in the yard at the Globe for 5 pounds, if there's still a ticket free), then tomorrow will take a lazy day, no exercise and the 11am missa cantata at the Oratory because of the morning tea afterwards. And will treat myself to a curry for lunch at a restaurant that Nick and I loved. Should be good!

Two events in a night - becoming the social butterfly...

Well, last night was the long awaited meeting of the Oratory 18-35s. Before that, however, I went down to the Poetry Cafe to catch the launch of a new poetry magazine, South Bank Review. Unfortunately the 7pm start was an aspiration and not a deadline; by the time I left at 7:35 to get to the Oratory at 8:00 it still wasn't underway, though would have been soon. (I actually had a different construction for that sentence, but stopped writing to put on a pot of tea and when I came back it sounded appallingly pretentious...I hope my other posts aren't the same!). This was a disadvantage, but I was still a socialising machine, going downstairs before it started and offering to set up chairs etc.
It was the same at the Oratory. It began amusingly enough. When I walked up to a group of people outside to ask if I was at the right place they got in first and asked if I needed directions somewhere. My jeans, t-shirt and leather jacket over my arm must have been unexpected...the majority of the guys were wearing suits, and even those unsuited were maintaining a collar!
Anyway the talk was good (Is baptism necessary to salvation?), given by a slightly nervous-seeming young priest whose teaching was nowhere near as hardline as he'd have you think. For the majority of the talk he went on about baptism by water being the only means to salvation introduced by Jesus, and so on; but then spent a good ten minutes on baptism by blood and by desire.
Afterwards there was sandwhiches and wine. Again I surprised myself by turning to the person directly next to me and introducing myself. I couldn't believe it was actually done. In past experience I'm more likely to spend the entire time thinking about doing it...
We had a good chat, he was here from Michigan doing an internship with Deutche Bank, but I was feeling a bit pretentious because he had a list of English authors he wanted to read (Waugh, Belloc, Chesterton) and kept asking me if I knew them. Luckily I could confess to having read only one book of Newman's, and he had read several sermons, so that made it better. And then it turned out that Robert E Lee is his hero so we got on like a house on fire. He asked for my phone number so the next time he and his friends were out he'd invite me - and didn't even flinch when I pulled out my pearl-pink model!
So all in all a successful evening I think. Now I just need some jobs to be offered...

Tower Bridge

Two more photos from the weekend - Saturday night after Nick and I had had dinner. We thought that Tower Bridge didn't open anymore, but as these photos show, that's not so. They're a bit blurry.

Particularly the second. I seem to have a talent for unwittingly producing fakes of psychic phenomena.

Irrelevantly to the posts title (interesting to me thought) I went again to the Friars for the 12:30 Mass yesterday, and found they have their own St Anthony novena on Tuesdays! After Mass a relic was placed on the altar and we said some prayers that weren't familiar to me. I did, however, recognise the song...

Then there was individual veneration of the relic and it finished. A nice touch of home!

A funny event on the weekend

On Saturday evening, after Mass at the Oratory, Nick and I walked towards Sth Kensington station in search of dinner. We found an Indian restaurant (in fact we only ate Indian because we love it so much!), it looked like a nice place and not too expensive, so we went in, the waiter gave us the menus and then said: 'Beer?'
We were shocked. Okay we were in mufti but in Australia nobody would ever assume that we were drinking beer at a restaurant. We wanted to reply: 'Nah, mate, we're Ozzies - can we 'ave a Captain Cook at yer woine list?'
It's funny that the British have appallingly poor wine lists. In Australia, land of the beer-swilling Bloke, we would have complained to each other about the crap wine list!

Last Weekend

I won't upload all the photos to this post straight away. At least they're now on the computer and ready to go!

OK, so for today there is, from left to right, top to bottom: the facade of St Paul's, next to it a portion with Nick acting as measuring guide - it's huge!; then there's Nick admiring a statue of Scott of the Antarctic, about 20m towards his club from St James' park, a staircase in the Albert and Victoria Museum (this is nothing of particular significance, it's just that we were impressed by it), and, finally, Nick on the steps of his club, in St James' Square. You can't see the entire building but in the top right is the shadow of the Union Jack. I could probably pretend that had artistic symbolism but it doesn't really. I couldn't get the camera to take in the flag itself and keep Nick anything more than a speck on the lens...

One random thing I love about the UK

It's the understanding the people here have of the value of that greatest flavour invented, cherry. As well as Cherry Coke and Dr Pepper being widely available, it's easy to find Diet Cherry Coke, Cherry 7UP, and cherry drops sold in rolls at newsagents and delis.
Of course these are all junky sources of cherry, but if that's what it takes to get my fix, I'll make some sacrifices...

Novena to St Anne

There're heaps of photos taken over the weekend when Nick and I were further wearing out our legs in London, but as I'm trying to stay disciplined and apply for jobs I'll upload them later - either late today or perhaps tomorrow. Just for today I thought I'd put up a novena I've been meaning to post since last Friday when I picked it up at the Friars'. It's said to St Anne, ending on what I presume is her feast day, 26 July. Here it is:

'Glorious St Anne, filled with compassion for those who invoke thee, and with love for those who suffer, heavily laden with the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at thy feet and humbly be of thee to take the present affair which I recommend to thee under thy special protection. Vouchsafe to recommend it to thy daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and lay it before the throne of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy issue.

'Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted. Above all, obtain for me the grace of one day beholding my God face to face, and with thee and Mary and all the Saints, praising and blessing Him to all eternity.

'Good St Anne, mother of her who is our Life, our Sweetness and our Hope, pray to her for us, and obtain our request.' (This para x3).

'May your kind ears be open to our prayers.'

Friars

Went down to the 12:30 Mass and 12:15 confession at St Patrick's again yesterday. Another good Mass, and enjoyed getting out of my room, even in the wind and rain! Then dinner last night with a friend in Covent Garden at a place called Pizza Express. It sounds dodgy but it's actually decent, a cafe style restaurant. Nick came and joined us there after work, and then afterwards we went and had a drink nearby. No photos unfortunately, it didn't occur to me to take the camera...
And today another lot of jobs to apply for! I'll also register with a couple more recruitment agencies.

St Philip Neri

Made it down to the Oratory in time for the 6pm Mass - just! - and the veneration of the relics of St Philip afterwards. Mass was interesting, it was my first time at the Novus Ordo celebrated in Latin. As many of the responses were identical to the server's responses in the old rite I didn't have much trouble; it was only at the Mystery of Faith (or as the Priest said in a commanding voice, 'Mysterium Fidei') that I was lost.
Immediately following Mass the congregation went to a side altar and a priest came out with a silvery bust of St Philip which contained a relic. Kneeling he led us in a prayer to St Philip. This finished we knelt at the altar rail and kissed the relic. (Even me - once kneeling I couldn't see my way to avoiding the reliquary, familiar as it must have been with the saliva of thousands). Then the priest processed out. This was a surprise to me: I was expecting something closer to Kellyville's St Anthony devotions. Still it was worthwhile, and I will try to make a habit of it.
For dinner afterwards I had a can of mushy peas with salad and a cup of soup!

Update

Not a lot to say today. I've counted out the hours not with coffee spoons but job applications; four more sent off today. It is also on Wednesday nights that the Oratory has veneration of the relics of St Philip Neri. I'll head down there at 6pm to see what the Mass is like and then hang around for the veneration (of the relics, not whatever of that act comes my way...)
Will have more on that tomorrow!

Poetry Cafe

Only a short post today, and no pics. I've spent the most part of the day applying for jobs, and have completed four of the applications on my list. In the afternoon felt like a break, and so went for a coffee to a place I discovered online. It's called the Poetry Cafe; the home of the Poetry Society, it's a short walk from Covent Garden station. They have nightly readings etc. Quite liked it there and will be sure to head back for one of the evening events!

St Patrick's

The Conventual Franciscans' London parish! As you can see it is tiny. Tiny. What the photo doesn't show is that to get to the church from the street you have to go up two narrow flights of stairs.

The Mass though is pretty good, Fr Jesmond, parish priest whose last name I can't remember atm, even uses a chalice veil! I've said hello, and plan to go back more often.

Addendum: This was where Nick and I went for Mass on Sunday; photos taken directly after Mass finished.

Nick and I in London

Some photos taken on the weekend. Actually in most of them Nick is walking away from the famous landmark as if bored or indifferent but it wasn't really like that on the day...

In order they are Buckingham Palace, the Oratory, Nick wearing a Stetson he bought in Canada during the Calgary Stampede, Nick not looking at the Nelson Column in Trafalgar Square (I suppose on the same principle you can never never turn your head to look at a red sports car - the owner will get above himself), Nick walking away from Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, and then Nick photographing Westminster Abbey.

Not recorded is me caning him at pool later on!

This time it's 'My Room' for real!

I've found a cafe with Wifi, the only condition being one's buying (kudos for another gerund!) a coffee. At one pound ninety that's not too bad, and, unusually for London, it's not burnt. Anyway, here're the two photos of my room to give an idea of the place I'm staying.

PS That wavy line is not an alien presence or psychic manifestation. It's my skill with the camera. Artistic, right?

My room...

I was about to upload images but for some reason the server here in Picadilly McDonald's won't let me, and I don't have time to try again as Mass at the Oratory starts in seventeen minuutes, so have to dash for that. What would Fr say if I turned up without proper preparation?!?

Picadilly Circus

No photos yet, but am sitting in the Picadilly Circus McDonald's having just had a bagel and a cup of tea...would have liked some bircher muesli from a decent cafe but was dying under the weight of my bags and hadn't eaten since 5:30 (it's now 8:25). My next step is to find somewhere to buy a chai and then get a mobile phone...will update with some photos too when I get a chance!
One last comment - this McD's is right next to the Cafe Royal, a favourite haunt of the decadents in the 1880s and '90s; unfortunately it didn't seem to be open this early. I suppose this is not at all a decadent time to be awake...

Last days in Sydney...the final word. Thought I'd put up some shots taken when I was skateboarding with bros Alexander, Thomas and Anthony last week, and also two taken this morning, of me, Mum and bro Alexander after doing a Tae-Bo workout. As you can see we're in some pain!

About to finish my last pot of coffee here, then onto the plane. Will post again soon!

Prologue

I think I'd better begin by explaining the title I chose for this site...first of all an 'antic hay' is a light-hearted rustic dance. (Does 'rustic' sound patronising and pretentious? I hope not...)Marlowe used the phrase in his 'Edward II':

'My men like satyrs grazing on the lawns
Shall with their goat-feet dance the antic hay'.

Not that I have taken the words directly from Marlowe. Aldous Huxley named his second novel (1923) 'Antic Hay', quoting the couplet at the opening of the story. This happens to be one of my favourite novels - plot elements include the patenting of pneumatic trousers and wearing of false whiskers in order to feel 'the complete man' - and as it is about people wandering through London and as I hope my experience there will be light-hearted I feel it's almost apposite...