Go Ken!
“Young people who play their music out loud on buses in London could be stripped of their free travel passes, the mayor has said.” BBC
Then again, it probably wouldn’t be such an issue if we still had conductors…

Today is exactly four years since the start of my first UK Work Permit, so if the legislation hadn’t been changed retrospectively (not that I’m bitter, oh no) I could have applied for Indefinite Leave to Remain last month. This would have meant I could work for any company in the UK without worrying about work permits, and that a year later I could apply for a UK passport. More importantly, it would have provided some security and hopefully reduced sarcasm from Immigration officials.
Oh well. Overall, I’m still incredibly lucky to have grown up in first world country with enough education and the opportunity to travel and work overseas so I shouldn’t whinge too much.

“Living in London prematurely ages your skin by three-and-a-half years, according to new research.” (BBC)
Brilliant, thanks London.

Blah blah blah. But maybe it’ll keep the yuppies out of Hackney:
“‘Hackney came bottom of all of the country’s 434 local authorities in a survey that examined local crime statistics with environment issues, lifestyles, exam results and employment rates for locals,’ said Phil Spencer, co-presenter with Kirstie Allsopp of Location, Location, Location” (Observer)
Another viewpoint via the BBC.

Why yes, I *am* a grumpy old woman. Though I can’t see how you could enforce it, given how scared Londoners are of talking to each other.
“A commuter has started a petition calling for a ban on playing music on mobile phones on London buses.
Tom Wright said he is fed up with being forced to listen to other people’s music on public transport.” BBC

About time, too: “The train network in London is to adopt the Underground’s zone layout to simplify the fare structure.
The move will pave the way for Oyster smart cards to be rolled out across the railway system from January.” BBC
But on the other hand, poor old London: “Al-Qaeda has become more organised and sophisticated and has made Britain its top target, counter-terrorism officials have told the BBC.” BBC

King’s Cross

Originally uploaded by mia!.

I don’t know why, but of all the things I’d expected to see at King’s Cross on July 7, it wasn’t lots of media units.
I’m never usually there that early but there seemed to be as many commuters as ever. The mood was generally determined and a bit sombre, but maybe everyone always looks that way that early in the morning. Lots of police and transport police everywhere.
More comments on the photos themselves on flickr.
There was a really cute sniffer dog who clearly saw more interesting things to be sniffing than a bicycle chained to a fence between King’s Cross and St Pancras, but I didn’t think the police would appreciate me taking a photo of it.

Tomorrow morning I have to get the 30 bus to King’s Cross for St Pancras. Do I feel weird about it? Kinda. Is that going to stop me? No.

My lunch break, by Mia, aged 32.9945205479452055
I fr!cking hate the Post Office.
I’ve just wasted two hours trying to send a visa application to the Romanian Embassy, and I really don’t have time at the moment.
Before I set out, I looked up the nearest Post Office on their website. It didn’t mention working hours, so I assumed they’d be a standard 9 – 5 or 10 – 6 or something.
I walk down there, and they’re just closing for their lunch break. That makes sense, it might get busy between 1 and 2:15, what with people running errands in their lunch break and stuff, so you’re much better off closing over that time.
So I walk down to the Old Street Post Office, wait in line for FSM only knows how long, finally get served.
Bit of annoyance over special delivery vs recorded delivery envelopes – one is available behind the counter, the other isn’t. Ok, whatever, just give me whichever one you’ve got. All I need now is a Postal Order to pay for the visa application.
Except you can’t pay for Postal Orders with a card – cash only, he says. Perfectly logical – after all, if you’re sending a lot of money and want to make sure it gets there safely, carry it through the streets as a wad of cash first. Just hope you don’t get mugged or you’ll never be able to buy whatever it is you needed a Postal Order for in the first place.
So now I’m back in the office, visa application still unsent, but now I’m hot, tired, hungry and mightily p!ssed off.
Did I mention that I hate the Post Office?

“The mysterious “London stone” is going to be rescued from a building due to be demolished. Does it mean that London is going to be saved from an ancient legend?
…the London Stone – an ancient and mysterious object mentioned by Shakespeare, William Blake and Dickens, which has been seen as one of the capital’s greatest relics since at least the Middle Ages and probably much earlier.” BBC