of bus rides, and such

i tried to do some work this morning, since i rashly promised the boss i would try to get it done. let's say i just finished it, after a several hours detour involving lunch, a bus trip down to the theatre to see if i could get tickets for a matinee on wed, and a cuppa with another a.l. (who's a good friend of orangeblossom) at LSE.

you might like to know that at both theatre ticket booths i went to recently, the folks there asked if i was a student. and when i said i was "going to be one, but don't have a card yet," they told me to come back on the day of the matinee itself and i would be able to get the student concession. either i look like a harried student (gigantic backpacks do wonders) or i look... young. ha.ha.

it was nice having a chat with a.l. - she's doing postgrad studies in the dept of philosophy and also helps out in international student ministry at all soul's. (yes, yes, i know...dingdingding... i also just received an email from a fellow teacher who said that her schedule was a bit tight this semester... auggghhh.) we took a quick jaunt around the campus, and after climbing a confusing maze of stairways, she led me to the shaw library.

worn velvet chairs, an old bosendorfer in the corner, with a hidden music practice room, violin sounds coming from within. the doors lead out to a roof terrace that overlook the surrounding buildings. there was no one in sight. very atmospheric, no?

i decided to take a bus back, as covent garden tube was closed, and the picadilly line was not working between hyde park and leicester square. i know all this from the flyer they distribute at heathrow, and the closed tube stations. i walk towards trafalgar square, and find the bus-stop for bus no. 9; it's peak hour and crowded with tourists and workers on their way home. i now realise how interesting it is to see London by bus - i used to take the tube everywhere, so one doesn't get a sense of how all the streets are connected. got back to an assam fish-head curry dinner cooked by the amazing P. (she's extremely handy with maps and directions and bus services too). then attempted to start work again.

going to crash now.