London Calling

Hiya, from London! Welcome friends to my first official blog entry! All my sincerest apologies to those of you whom I have not been in touch with at all since before I left to move back to London. I have wanted to write to you for a while now, but things have just been SO hectic.


Anyway, I hope all is well, and pray all of you are in good health. I am doing fine and am well. However, as I mentioned life has been just chaotic since our arrival here back to London. Let me just start from the beginning.

* 3 July 2006 - We left from America for London on Virgin Atlantic Airways (VAA). And guess what? I not sure if I’ve told you or not, but Virgin Atlantic Airways upgraded me to Upper Class... I was so happy and exited; that was the best flight ever! Whenever you are able, you MUST fly VAA Upper Class sometime in your life. However, make sure book your tickets well in advance because ticket prices go up so crazily, and you can get two round trip tickets to London on VAA Upper Class for about less than half the price (if you book in advance) compared to well over $19,000 for First Class tickets on other airlines. Yet, VAA Upper Class is the best First Class in the industry: they have many great amenities for their Upper Class passengers including use of their exclusive lounge at the airport, seats that turn into a 6 Foot+ bed, heated gourmet meals whenever you like during your flight, an in-flight beautician/masseuse (the only airline that has one), an in-flight bar, and so much more! Plus, whether you fly Economy Class or Upper Class, Virgin Atlantic Airways is the best airline to fly with internationally because they just treat you well. Anyhow, we landed at Heathrow on 4 July 2006, and from there upon arrival we drove straight to my uncle’s house in Manchester to attend my cousin’s wedding.

* 7 to 16 July 2006 - We attended my cousin’s wedding: it went great, and my cousin looked so beautiful! I HAD A REALLY FUN TIME: it was so WICKED and was entirely the DOG’S BOLLOCKS (sorry, Brit. lingo that means "cool" and "really good")! We also took tons photos, and I looked hot, but they are all on my sister’s computer; therefore, as soon as I am able I will get her to send the photos to me via Bluetooth, I will upload them for you all to see. Then, on 18 July 2006 we drove back down to London after the wedding.

* 19 July to 10 November 2006 - We moved into a house for rent temporally while our home was being made livable after tenants completely trashed it living there for the last 10 years. The rented house was the most dreadful house I have ever lived and has the landlady from hell! She is the worst landlady in the world, and she is a complete cow (sorry for my rudeness, but she truly is worthy of it). She charged us about $2,800 per month for a house that frankly deserves to be condemned: it was in the most awful area on a main road; with only 3 bedrooms, was unfurnished, had appliances from the stone age, a garden from the Amazon, doors that would jam and locked you in w/o a key, was raided for cannabis, had no double glazed windows, heating that barely worked, and much more... To top that off, the landlady was (and is) a complete utter GIT (noun Brit., informal: an unpleasant or contemptible person), literally. She would just show up on a weekday around 8PM only giving us about 30-min. notice, and when she would show up she would end up finding something wrong with house when we took excellent care of it; and we even informed her, trying to be good tenants, of any troubles with the house (and there were lots), despite us being able to fix them like the doors that would jam. She also had the nerve to threaten my dad when they had the final walk through and he was returning the key: barking at my dad (getting right in his face) that she would beat herself up and then tell the police that my dad did it in front of another one of my uncles, her Moroccan husband (who is no less of a arse, but not as stupid), and her 8 or 9 year old daughter from her previous marriage! Ha ha, she obviously does not watch CSI! There is so much more BS that she and her Moroccan husband pulled on us, and there is no way in hell that we would live there unless our circumstances were such that we had no other choice while our home was being made fit to live, but I have too much time on her than that she will ever deserves. And as the landlady is refusing to give back our deposit, we are taking her to court on May 18. Though it is only Smalls Claims Court, I am gearing for the worst: I am preparing my opening and closing arguments, preparing our case, and I have been watching ABC’s Boston Legal here on TV to see if I can learn anything helpful ;-) because I want to be ready for any dom-shite the landlady from hell is definitely going to pull in court. Hence, I would rather not say any more incase I hinder the ongoing case (if I have not done so ;-) already).

* 1 October 2006 (approx.) to PRESENT - Also, I have been extremely sick with a viral chest infection with severe mucus, and have had to go to the Accident & Emergency (A & E = ER) twice by ambulance, which was oh so much fun. I just have a great deal of trouble excreting my mucus than a normal healthier person because of my Muscular Dystrophy and the severity of my Scoliosis; I have to extra careful because it can quite easily turn into complicated Pneumonia, which has happened to me in the past, and I really would prefer not get in again. Plus, the icing on the cake is that I was getting a bit better, but on 13 February 2007 I re-caught a full-fledged flu, and it hurts so much from practically coughing immensely since October! I have just been feeling dreadful lately, yet I hope I will be well soon as it is taking quite its toll on me. Friends, just pray for me that I get through this damn illness w/o any more trouble.

That is about it, well the major things of what has been going on in the last several months.


Nevertheless, we are all adjusting fine in London. We all been so consumed with life in London: day-by-day (slowly but surely) routine sets in, and life keeps you moving. London is an awesome place to live, so much style and global influence, and it always has an explosion of development and excitement everywhere. Everyone is moreover gearing up for London 2012 Olympic Games, and the Olympic site is only about 33 min. away from our home. I exceedingly cannot wait for the Olympic Games, and the London 2012 Olympic Games are truly going to be a once-in-a-lifetime, brilliant experience! As Paul Johnson (an English writer) best said, "When a man gets tired of London he gets tired of life itself for there is in London anything a man would want out of life."


Furthermore, having only completing 2 semesters at Northern VA Community College - Annandale Campus in America, I would extremely like to continue my education by attending University (Uni as they say here in the UK) here in London. Although, all Uni's only start their degree programs in September and I have missed the deadlines to apply for last year, therefore I was currently in the process of applying to Uni's and courses in London for September this year. My plan is to get a Bachelors degree in Public Relations/Advertising with Honours, and then probably get my Masters and/or an MBA; that way I will keep my options open and make my millions. However, apparently, because of the damn eligibility system here in the UK I am not eligible for home student status unless I have been resident here for at least three years, which means I can only attend uni with a international student status and would have to pay over $22,000 per year just to get my undergrad degree. Even though I was born here in London and hold a British passport. Yeah try wrapping your head around that one. I can't. So, I am looking at some short courses to take until I can start uni, but most likely I will get trained and licensed as Apple Certified Pro (also learn Adobe Web Bundle – featuring Macromedia Studio 8 software with Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 Premium software): and then send my CV (resume) and cover letters to various PR/Advertising firms in the City and close around such as Airside, Saatchi & Saatchi – London, Firefly Communications, and Wieden + Kennedy London, etc. to get an internship until I am eligible to apply for uni in the end of 2008 for September 2009. Just something to keep my mind active, and if I get paid it’d be twice as nice. I do not know what life has in store for me, but this my plan and I WILL do it! I did not start working on any of the above research/goals until recently because I wanted to get settled into our home first and there was too much stress with other stuff. I hope everything will be okay.


In other news, Katherine, my and Sarah’s (my older sister) friend arrived in London on 28 November 2006 and visited us until 22 December 2006 for her winter holiday. We had loads of fun together. We went to go see the new James Bond movie 'Casino Royale' on Sunday 03-Dec-06. It was ok, not what I was expecting; somehow it did not have good flow throughout and there were too many themes within the plot. It might have just been that I had a really bad head and neck ache since I could only right in the front row during the whole move, but I think I will rent it from Blockbuster and watch it a second time in comfort at home just to see if I missed something. Oh and that torture scene, I barely could watch: it was hellish! That is every man's worst nightmare; it makes my eyes water and my stomachache every time I think of it. Subsequently, on Wednesday 06-Dec-06 the three of us went to the City to see the musical 'Wicked' (with the original American lead) at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London. You MUST see it; it was AMAZING. It was my first ever time going to the theatre and I immensely enjoyed it, and I cannot wait to go again! And on Saturday 17-Feb-06 I watched my other cousin, Amir Khan, on TV at his eleventh pro boxing fight, which like the other ten he won; he won this eleventh fight in under the first 60 seconds within the first round via knockout. If you do not know who he is, Amir won a silver medal in boxing for Great Britain at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, and he was just 17 years old! Also, HBO are planning to air Amir's one or more fights in US sometime this year, so keep your eyes open. He is really nice and I had a chance to finally meet him again after 10 years at my cousin's wedding. For more information about my cousin, Amir Khan, go to his website http://www.amirkhan-boxing.com/indexTickets.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amir_Khan_%28boxer%29. Check the sites out. Other than that (besides with Katherine and Sarah in December), I have not really been out anywhere since October being very sick and all, even though I am dying to the City and thoroughly check out all the awesome places to visit after 10 years. Except, that the weather being so nice last week I went out with Sarah; we went to Belgique, the most FANTASTIC café just up the road from our home. It looks more fabulous seeing as it’s doubled in size since my last visit with Katherine; I had my usual wonderful hot chocolaty drink served by my favourite waitress Magda (a incredibly hot bird from Poland, my "Paper Doll," who so was flirting with me again, really), and I shared a tasty quiche dish. I will definitely take some pix to share of Belgique next time I go there.


In addition, I have been missing everyone I know in America a lot lately, especially wonderful friends like you all... Thus, as Katherine has already visited, you all have to fly here for a holiday: you each MUST, TRULY visit and stay with me for at least 2 weeks here in London (Greater London)!!! We have more than enough room for you stay with us: I will be holding you to it, so do NOT forget...


On a side note, now that I turned 21 years young last July I think I am going to go to the best clubs in Central London and the West End, and flirt with the hot ladies I can put my hydraulics on! However, the battery and engine keeps dying in our accessible van that we bought for cheap, which utterly ruins my supreme mystique and charm... I suppose I could use my Taxi Card and call a taxi to the great clubs and bars (that unlike America I take a taxi 24/7 to go anywhere since all the London black cabs have wheelchair access), but to get into London from home it costs like $100 just for one way. Oh well, I just have to wait until I get some money to pay for a taxi or we get a new van and I re-dye my hair red again, and I will just wait a bit longer to find the European beauties I can 'chat up the right way' and have 'a great night or two with' ;-)!


Lastly, I would like to send some shout-outs for my fans around the world. Hello to my friends in "America" – first and foremost to Jenna (my one & only true hairstylist, The Best Hairstylist Ever in History) at Paul Mitchell the School, in McLean, Virginia; to Katherine, in Waukesha, Wisconsin; to Emily and Alexis, in Virginia; to Andy + Heather, in Woodbridge, Virginia; to Sharon + John (with the coolest jobs on earth) at Sensei Enterprises, Inc., in Fairfax, Virginia; to Mary McKay at 5400 Gainsborough Drive, in Fairfax, Virginia; to all my friends at Robinson Secondary School, in Fairfax, Virginia; and to anyone of my other friends I may have forgotten.


Well, it has been wicked talking to you, but I have to go now as I am BLOODY KNACKERED from typing this mega blog entry that took me over three days to type. Take care of yourself; talk to you soon. Stay in touch, and give my best wishes to everyone. Have a BRILLIANT weekend, and as Eddie Izzard said, "Thank you for flying Church of England... Cake or Death?"!


CHEERS.




Your friend always,
The Red Haired Londoner

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