Other worlds

There's a live events company that brings films to life, Future Cinema. I was lucky enough to get to be at their Grease event! It was such an amazing experience! They had transformed Barnes Common park into a '50's fun fair with a carrousel, ferris wheel, dance hall, diner, Frenchie's house for makeovers and hair dos, few old cars to pose with, and actors playing the characters from the film interacting with the audience. The park was filled with people dressed in '50's

Such an amazing business idea! Experiencing the films you watch and love. They've got another branch called Secret Cinema for which the film isn't revealed until the opening credits roll, but they do give out hints before the event and finally give a dress up theme and time and place for it. Then you just show up wearing the appropriate costume and you're taken into the world of the film they're showing you. I'm in love with this company! They only do a few events a year because they really are spectacular and it takes a lot of time and effort to put the whole thing together. So far I've only seen trailer videos for their previous events but I'm going to one in November! I'm already excited to see which film it's going to be and what they've done for it!

Then there's Secret Screenings; a smaller profile film event where we were told a time and a place but the film was kept a secret until it started; no big special event shenanigans. It turned out to be The Imposter, a documentary about a French serial identity thief who managed to convince government officials as well as the family that he was an American boy who'd gone missing three years earlier. I suggest you check it out! After the film we heard from the director, Bart Layton, and the Private Investigator, Charlie Parker about their experiences with the case and the film. Fantastic experience as well. I think it's mostly the anticipation and secrecy, and the film turned out to be fascinating too.

A Door In A Wall is organising a murder mystery treasure hunt. I'd be really tempted to go to that too but they recommend people to do it in groups and I don't particularly have a group here. I've been doing stuff and going to things with one person and now he's gone back to uni.

I've also subscribed to a secret supper club newsletters for some secret dining in a secret place but haven't heard anything yet.

This city really is full of fantastic events and experiences just as well as everyday awesome places and venues. London is not a place to be bored in. If you've got time, willingness, and ability to use Google, you will find amazing things to do every day of the week! Or don't even bother googling, just hop on a bus (any bus) and hop off somewhere you've never been before and go for a little walk around the area.

Born this gay - London Pride 2012

London Pride. I was a first timer - In Finland you'd need to find your way all the way to Helsinki for that. This time I happened to be in the same city and happened to see someone post about it on Facebook in the same morning. I had no other plans so decided to go check it out. After all, I fully support equal rights for everyone - and really wanted to see Boy George and Corey Hart. I convinced my flatmate Hanna and her friend Seamus to come too! He got chatted up a lot while us girlies were left alone. The situation got rectified later on in Roxy Club where, to put it nicely, all the guys seemed to be lonely. Ugh, I again remembered why I don't go out that much. Funnily it doesn't take long to forget these things again.

There was only one entrance gate into Trafalgar Square which was a bit shit honestly. The queue was horrendous and moved reeeeaaalllyyy sloooowwlyyy. Yet there were at least three "exit only" gates. I didn't get to hear Karma Chameleon, either because he didn't sing it or he started with it and we weren't in the area yet. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me was heard. He was fabulous in his sparkly hat and strong eyeliner!

How awesome is he!

I was so ready for it too! Shame I missed the song.

Corey Hart didn't disappoint - Sunglasses At Night remix version was incredibly fun! For those of you who aren't so well educated about 80's cheese, he's the guy who invented duckface.

Then we popped into a pub for a drink and the table next to us invited us over in their company. Then we spotted some, apparently hot, lonely man in the table behind us and took him in. He'd been stood up by his friend and was stranded in this strange city all by himself. All the way from Italy, poor guy. We then proceeded to go find a club - wandered in the general direction of Heaven to notice that the queue was about 7 miles long - then came up with a plan B and found Bar 101 for a drink and then moved on to Roxy. Roxy was fun! Completely packed full which was annoying but the music was good! No standard club music, more indie rock and oldies.

Such a fun night! Great time was had by all, almost everyone hooked up with someone, love was all around. And bright colours.

This is home?

I've found a living space. It's right next to where my job is, fits neatly into my budget and seems like a nice flat. The room is smallish but there's a living room and a nice kitchen. The main thing is that I don't need to stress about finding a flat anymore. I was quite prepared to spend my first few days in London running around for viewings and hoping to stumble upon something nice. Now I can focus on exploring the city, getting all other things in order and maybe (definitely) some shopping. I will live here.

Last week I found 1,500€! Well, re-discovered more like. I had completely forgot all about the grant I get from my uni for completing part of my studies abroad! That was probably the highlight of my week. I had spent the last couple of days before my discovery calculating my budget for the spring and thinking fondly about buying a new laptop, yet not convinced I could afford one at this point. Now I have that new laptop and did some new calculations. I should be fine. More than. With McCartney (my new MacBook Air) this spring will be amazing!

I applied for a credit card despite always swearing I will never get one as I can be kinda reckless with money. The bank lady had me convinced with proposing a scenario that my Visa Electron gets lost/stolen/broken or just simply doesn't work and that it would be sensible to have a back up card and a little buffer money with it for unexpected expenses. So now I have a proper adult Visa. And a worry that I'll go crazy with it.

I also registered for the London Groupon to get new deals emailed to me. I have yet to buy one but some of them have seemed incredible. One day I will take them up on some spa day/massage/facial/beauty pampering offer.

Oh, and I'm jobless as of last Sunday! I finished my last shift on Sunday morning and now I have two weeks of nothing before I hop on that plane! I shall go to the gym, relax, go for walks outside, write an essay, and quietly sip wine in front of the tv on weekends. And sort all my stuff out and pack. I'm really not looking forward to that. As much as I love having stuff I also hate it. Life would be much simpler with fewer possessions.