The exploration into the English world continues. Although a bit foiled by an inability to establish the Internet legally before Halloween due to an apparent backlog in requests, T and I have made do with hanging out of a second-story window and attempting an Advanced Lotus position to receive stolen signals. It also took a few days to get our TV set up so until then it was a bent wire hanger stuck in the receiver. If duct tape and tin foil had been available they would have been used as well. The AoY felt right at home in such surroundings. It was almost like driving down back country roads and seeing someone with a $35,000 trailer putting up $5000 worth of Christmas lights, complete with Santa drinking a Jax and reindeer copulating on the front lawn. I can’t wait to see what we jury-rig next in our attempts to be more civilized.

Thus far the British going out scene has been I-N-T-E-R-E-S-T-I-N-G. With no school no job, no Internet, no cable TV, no bank account and very little knowledge of the social scene, we’ve been all over London scouting out the best beer joints in town. Wednesday it was the local pub (mostly visited due to the free Wi-Fi) where we chatted up seamy locals from Kensington. Thursday was Tower Hill/Borough Street with a friend of T’s who later accused her of trying to set him up with all of her friends. This was not the case but little boys must have their dreams….fun night standing in the middle of the street drinking SoCo and Diet Coke (by the way, don’t order SoCo-they have no idea of the abbreviation; and careful when asking for Jack-use full names to avoid confusion and a 48 oz. glass of CocaCola, known as a ‘jack’ in some bars). Maybe AoY has been single too long but there seem to be loads of cute guys in pinstripe suits well over six feet out for the evenings. But I digress.

Friday found flatmates out again with good buddy G from the States in WAY East London to celebrate his birthday. Much to my delight he had brought provisions in the names of a friend from Charleston, friends from London and co-worker from Charlotte who happened to know a great many of the same people as myself. Small worlds colliding all over the place. Tried to go late night to Bujouis (or something like there) where apparently the Prince likes to hang with ugly girls and be hassled by bouncers. Trying to stand and look cute and adorable at 1:30AM while the blond bouncer who looks like a Dawson’s Creek reject quickly summarizes that you are not in fact important in the slightest is quite lowering. After a few too many minutes of trying to convince the guy it was a night bus for home. The AoY has a fairly simple policy when it comes to covers, long lines and bouncer with a head-stuffed-up-ass problem: don’t bother me with it. I have yet to run across a club worth standing 45 minutes inline, being scrutinized by a 20 year old brick-stupid Neanderthal who examines who as one would a horse or potential prostitute (cellulite is a no no, as is cotton, J.Crew or natural hair color) and then paying between 15-45 dollars for the pleasure of standing around (tables are an extra $500-1500 plus bottle service) in what will basically be a regular looking bar or club. That being said, been there, done it, can be fun but always make sure you are with a VIP.