Whoop whoop. A bit of a delay on the latest tube strikes. Without saying too much on my personal opinion of these things, I'd think this is good news and a delay of a nuisance to all.
In other news, I could take this time to remind you that your Travelcards will be going up by 5.6% ...or circa £5 for 1 month in zones 1-2 in less dramatic descriptions of the situation.
World, I love London. This should be common knowledge at this point as I wouldn't have studied here, shelled out the mega £££ on visas and started a blog about all the places and things I love about this city. As of late, however, I've discovered a London I didn't know existed.
Each morning I catch the bus to Finsbury Park station for the Victoria line to work in Central. The bus comes about every 5 minutes, and only takes 5 minutes to get to the station. If it's running a bit late I walk a part of the way until it shows up or I get to the other station with more busses. When I get to Finsbury Park, I walk down the tunnel, full-speed typically, to get to the Southbound Victoria line platforms. I know how to time it just right so I can beat the laggers getting of the bus and catch the train as soon as it shows up. My office is at the centre of Tottenham Court Road so I typically walk (a lovely 10 minutes in the morning) from Warren Street to the office as that's the closet stop on the Victoria line. When all is said and done I can get from N19 to W1T in just under 30 minutes.
On 15th December, I got a little too excited about probably the only Rihanna song I like playing at the Christmas Party
See - now I'd like to get up and dance! This song gets me in a good mood - but now I'll only be able to think about slipping on the floor and falling. Falling really fast. Falling really hard. I thought nothing of it; I've danced and taught dance for years. I've sprained, bruised, displaced and twisted more things in my day.
For the following week, each morning I caught the bus to Finsbury Park station for the Victoria line to work in Central. The bus that comes about every 5 minutes, and only takes 5 minutes to get to the station was running late. I walked a little bit towards the station but I didn't get as far as I normally do - something was slowing me down. I walked down the tunnel, at a rapidly decreasing speed, to get to the Southbound Victoria line platform. I know how to time it just right so I can beat the laggers to the platform, but I found myself becoming one fo them. I walked (a piercing 15 - 20 minutes) from Warren Street to my office at the centre of Tottenham Court Road. When all was said and done, I got from N19 to W1T in just under 45 minutes.
This went on for seven days. And then I did something I typically never do.
I cried. This pain was serious and I couldn't take it anymore.
If I followed the advice from NHS I would've had to wait another 3 or 4 days to be seen by a doctor, so I went straight to Accident and Emergency (aka the ER) the next day. I don't have the actual X-ray but here's a drawing and the technical term for what was is going on in my foot:
Fractured Foot
Apparently that fall did more than just hurt a bit; it ripped off a piece of bone. I dance on my toes/the balls of my feet, and you most likely walk on this part of your foot the most. I'm unable to use that bit for 4-6 weeks now and have been sentenced to crutches.
1 week old foot wrap
Now World, each morning I catch the bus to Finsbury Park station for the Victoria line to work in Central. The bus that comes about every 5 minutes, and only takes 5 minutes to get to the station was running late. The next bus: 11 minutes. I couldn't walk to the next stop, I couldn't even walk to the station if I wanted to do so. I eventually made it to Finsbury Park and hobbled, at best, down the tunnel trying to avoid the person I was just 2 weeks ago speeding past the 'laggers'. I make it to the Southbound Victoria line platform and on a good day, after what is now a 15 - 20 minute tiring journey to the station, and hope that someone isn't 'pretend sleeping' on the tube so I can rest for the measly 4 stops I have to Warren Street. I wouldn't dare exit at Warren Street to get to my office at the centre of Tottenham Court Road. I'd rather hobble a little but stay underground longer just to switch for the Northern Line to Goodge Street. But everyone from media is on their way to work at this hour so this is a busy station to leave. I hobble up the stairs that most commuters try to position themselves closest to on the train cars. I get pushed, I'm in the way, people are huffing and tutting, we all need to rush to the 4 decrepit lifts that take just as long to come as if we chose to walk the 193 steps up to ground level. I hobble, as best as I can at this point. I'm tired - your wrists take a lot of pressure moving your entire body. I make it to the office and I don't move for the next 8 hours until I have to go home.
When all was said and done, I got from N19 to W1T in just under 1.5 hours.
World, I'm not writing this entirely to have a whinge. Obviously it sucks massively and I absolutely HATE those crutches even though when I try to walk without them my body reminds me quite sharply that I need them still. But could you imagine a London where THIS was your life every single day? When TfL say they have 'step free' access (which is QUITE limited mind you) do they consider the massive tunnels connecting platforms as well? And us, we've all done it - been a pretend sleeper on the tube so you don't have to get up for someone. 4 stops, hell 2 stops on the tube may not seem like a lot, but after crushing most of your body weight on your wrists for 30 minutes, those few stops are the only time to relax before dragging yourself along again.
So, World, I won't be seeing much of London for a while - it's really too much effort without a personal door-to-door cab around London at the moment. But I'm starting to get a bit concerned for those that need an Accessible London - particularly during the Olympics! Maybe Annie Mole has some suggestions - but for the time being, Ariel Seeking will be resting.
You know the whole 'looks can be deceiving' thing? Yea, that's what I think of The Oxford.
From the outside it looks like your standard high street pub; picnic tables, a beer garden, standard 'pub' facade outdoors. From the inside, it's gotten a bit confused and calling itself a gastropub.
I don't trust places that coin themselves as 'gastropubs'
Looking at my notes from this meal, I'm struggling to find one positive word. If I could make a wanky word cloud, things like 'pretentious' and 'overpriced' would dominate the space.
The interior is separated into two areas that can be described as a 'pub' but really a seating area for light dining, and a back dining room for what I can only assume houses something like a carvery. The menu is like a child jumping up for attention hoping its parents will think it's a pretty pretty princess with 'aubergines' 'asparagus' 'corgettes' and £13 salmon salads. FFS, if you're dressed like a pub, act like a pub. No one wants to walk out £10 lighter after ordering 2 simple ciders. I settled for a £10.50 fish and chips which were far too fancy for my liking.
Apparently they have comedy on Thursdays and a pub quiz on Tuesdays. I don't intend on heading back there to check them out - at least not on an empty stomach. I'd recommend The Oxford as a nice place for a drink, but only a quick one as there isn't much atmosphere.
The Oxford can be found at:
256 Kentish Town Road
London
NW5 2AA
Nearest tube: Kentish Town
During my quest for the awesome-est pub in North London I decided that the route from Camden High Street to Junction Road would be the best place to start. Camden is about a 20 minute walk from my office on Tottenham Court Road, making it even easier to decide on a whim that going to a pub on a Tuesday night is a brilliant idea.
I feel a bit old (like my parents) admitting this, but I absolutely love comedy nights, which The Camden Head puts on Monday and Tuesday nights. Comedy here will set you back a mere £3 or £5 for 2 tickets.
We came quite early so grabbed we a pint and some food first. Even though I'm the American and the BF is the Brit in this equation, my pub meal of choice is always fish & chips while his is a burger. (WTF?)
Fish & Chips, £7
Classic Burger £7
Now in honesty, for a pub menu some of the items are taking the piss (wild boar & apple burger, pies that replace meat and beans with leak and butternut squash) but I will fully admit I am a repeat offender for their food. So much so, that when Whitney Dunlap came to visit me from Ohio, I made sure to take her there.
Inside The Camden Head
It's a beautiful pub with wooden interior and deep sunken sofas, books and board games for entertainment making this pub resemble a family lounge. And it's no wonder that it felt so cosy and comforting - The Camden Head was voted as having the best staff in 2010! There's also a great photo of Camden High Street on the wall from 1903.
You may have noticed that I've gone on for a bit about the food and neglected the comedy night. I've only gone to their comedy night once, and maybe I came on an off night, but it wasn't that great of an experience. We spent £5 to sit in a crowd of maybe 7 people, 3 of whom were the acts for the night. I've been to free comedy nights that were astoundingly better.
I love The Camden Head; the food is delicious, the atmosphere is relaxed and the cider on draught is crisp and refreshing. Definitely one of my must-visit pubs.
