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Last weekend I had a great time visiting my friends, Tim and Kaede, in St Albans. Besides seeing some English nightlife for the first time since I arrived, I got to visit the historic Brands Hatch racing circuit to see some classic car racing. Besides some partying and race watching, I enjoyed some delicious food. Kaede cooked okonomiyaki one night and on Sunday before returning to Tunbridge Wells, I had a fantastic Sunday roast at a local pub.
Me, Tim, Kaede, their friend Pascal, and some random bloke
Some not-so-delicious food at the track
F1 cars from the 60's
Tim's friend Mandi's Dad's Jag
The jag in action
The photos are in from the Gazzarrini Fall/Winter 2005/06 catalogue. I was in two shots. Enjoy!
Actually there were only four blasts, not seven. Anyway, I would like to thank everyone for the concern shown for my safety. The best way to deal with this kind of affront to civilized humanity is to continue without disruption to one's normal way of life. Seeing flags at half mast always sends shivers down my spine and my heart goes out to all who suffer in the world through the malevolence of others.
My search for an agency here has been so far without result. I maintain a cautious optimism, but gather the market is not particularly strong right now. I have also begun looking for a "normal" job since the profit in modelling has been so far inversely proportional to the fun and excitement: in other words, negative.
As for my impressions of England, as when visiting any foreign country, the nagative ones are immediately conspicuous. I find England characterized by petulant service, insanely complicated pricing schemes, and veiled ethnocentrism.
Reedeming factors include pretty sights, polite drivers, and a pervasive charming quality to the way of life. Also, I have smelled urine only once in a public place sharply contrasting with Milan where only once did I not smell urine in a public place.
I just want to let everyone know I am OK. I was on my way to London by train from Tunbridge Wells as the attacks occurred. My train terminated at London bridge as service into central London was shut down. Apparently 7 blasts occurred paralyzing London transit.
Here are a few images from my final days in Milan and one of my first impression of London.
Trains, trains, trains at the National Museum of Science and Technology in Milan. This was my favourite part of an amazing museum on the same street as my agency!
Sunday at San Babila before leaving
A final goodbye before boarding the malpensa express to the airport
Near Piccadilly Circus in London on a Monday night
I arrived in London tonight. Ascending from the underground in Picadilly Circus, it felt like I was stepping into the center of the universe. Midnight on a Monday, the streets are full, shops open, and restaurants doing business. Every passing pair converses in yet a different language. Poor, rich, white, black, stylish, plain, foreign, local, everyone is here and everything is going on.