Avoiding Mrs A

Sometimes it feels impossible to stay healthy in London. There are so many people in so many small, enclosed spaces like the tube, train stations, stores and offices, that germs gleefully jump from folk to folk partying on our weakened immune systems.

At work some of my associates have been out for six weeks with one flu, cold or virus after another. I don't think they're faking it either. These people are really sick. The latest news is that a new super bug called MRSA (Mrs A?) is making a mess of the city. Let's just say it strikes hard and impacts you at both ends - if you catch my drift...


I'm so afraid of getting this horrible bug or another cold that I've gone into anti-social stealth mode. On the tube I button up my jacket so that only my eyes show and I breath into a scarf hoping that it will filter out all those mucky germs. Every time someone coughs, sneezes or sniffles I give them the evil eye, "you polluter - you should be at home with the cat." I will even move out of my hard-won seat just to get away from the germ source.


Of course I wear gloves and touch nothing. As soon as I arrive at work I disinfect with antibacterial hand wipe gel. In fact, I use this every hour at work just in case one of my co-workers has brought something in from the outside world. Last night at our board meeting I provided pre-wrapped snacks to ensure that no contaminated fingers touch shared food.


Am I over-reacting? I think not. The goal is to avoid going to the doctor or ending up in the hospital here in the UK as things only get worse for you there. Some may say that I'm just being American. I can live with that.

London becomes familiar...and exotic again

Leaving work today it was the first day that I wasn't instantly swept away in the action of Kings Cross. Instead I exited our building and was still thinking about work, on the tube, work, the walk home, didn't see the architecture, coming around the corner to the flat, just noticed the usual piles of dog pooh along the sidewalk.

I've evolved through several adjustment phases living in London.

Tourist phase
Getting to know my neighbourhood phase
Trying out different tube lines phase
Finding a job phase
Figuring out how people act at work phase
Making friends phase
--End of culture shock phase--
Hanging out at home and being OK with that phase
and now... I just live in a city and travel to work each day phase

There are benefits to this phase in that I'm no longer on the arching learning curve. I've hit the peak and can now relax and enjoy the ride. And no need to worry about finding new challenges as work provides that now. Director, resigned, Head of Finance, resigned, Policy Director, resigned. Actually, maybe the changes at work are distracting me from life in London?

Next phase - Finding life-work balance phase.

Oh, wait, I did have a living in Britain highlight this morning. A gentleman called from Wales to purchase our Gypsy and Traveller Law book. I actually spoke to a Gypsy/Traveller. His mailing address was really quite extraordinary as the words are in Welsh. He translated it for me and each address line meant something beautiful such as white mountain, flowing river. He was interested in my accent while I thought he was far more exotic.

Here's a cool site that will translate a website into any language. I've translated my site www.artsmanagementconsulting.com into Welsh and Arts Management Consulting is Celfau Reolaeth Yn Ymgynghori and this blog is 'r Kweskin Adroddiad.

Back into the American in London phase

Overheard on the Tube

Time Out London magazine has a weekly feature which I usually read half-heartedly, called Overheard on the Tube. It is little tidbits that someone, I suppose on their staff, has heard while travelling along the Tube lines. Frankly, I didn't get it since I rarely heard people talk on the tube. Clearly it was invented.

Well, tonight on the tube I finally overheard two chick-a-dees talking and it was worthy of the Overheard on the Tube column.

Girl A: (heavy make-up, super short skirt, purple stockings, black coat and Ugg boots) Your earings match my lips.

Girl B: (over-processed hair, camel hair coat, black earings) No they don't, they match your coat.

Impact of Many People Living in a Small Area for Thousands of Years

London has been a city, or at least occupied by people, for nearly two thousand years. This has a direct impact on its cleanliness. Rubbish falls and so does hair and of course bodily waste. You see the hair in every nook and cranny along the streets and especially in the walkways of Tube and train stations. Most bodily waste finds its ways into corners as well but I’m not going to gross you out further. Or maybe I will…

I’m getting over the endless hairballs continually floating along the floor in these public places. But now they are in my house. The floors are covered with them. Its not that we are dirty people they just seem to follow us in. Now I’m finding this gunky stuff in everything. Yes, I’m suppressing an extreme freakout.

Then there’s the water. People will tell you strait out that water form the tap has been through something like six people before it gets to you. At first I was filtering it thinking that would make it clean. Hah! Stephen doesn’t even drink the water and he can eat from foodstalls on the streets of Mexico City without getting sick. Now I use bottled water for everything food related except brushing my teeth. Now that I think about it I’m switching to bottled water for that too.

Have you seen those people who wear surgical masks while they walk or bike around cities? That’ll be me in a year’s time.

Intriguing Tube and Pub Grub Names

Every time I hear these London tube station locations my creative mind starts wandering.

Pimlico – I still can’t say that one out loud
Piccadilly Circus – sign me up for one ticket
Elephant and Castle – did they escape from Piccadilly Circus?
Euston – often confused with Houston

The best way to get a smile in the morning is to hear the very polite electronic voice on the Tube say in the most sing-song uplifting lilt “transfer here for the Jubliee and Bakerloo lines.”

Another set of amusing terms are those used on pub menus – pub grub. Match the name with the actual food. (Photos from Wikipedia and www.cornwalls.co.uk.)

Toad in the Hole

Bangers and Mash

Cornish Pastie