Yerp.. today was our first payday in London.. felt pretty good to be honest, we’ve been here one month and three days, doesn’t really feel like it I guess.. It’s certainly a cool feeling to look at the bank account and convert it back into NZ dollars hehe - not something you wanted to do before earning pounds. There will definitely be some celebration this weekend, and some Rugby watching (the tri-nations of course).

The America’s Cup has also been exciting to follow, we lost again today, so it’s all very much on edge.. considering spending the 20 quid for the virtual spectator stuff now, we shall see. I’m definitely following a lot more sport over here - unsure why.. maybe it’s just an easy way to feel in touch with home.

And for the second part of the title.. the bomb scare today.. I normally get out at Piccadilly circus to go to work.. so imagine my suprise when they say the station is closed due to a “suspicious car outside”. Imagine (even more) my suprise when I hear said car is full of petrol, tanks of gas, and nails. Amusingly enough, first thing I though of was Swordfish the movie… All credit to the police/anti terror squads here however, they diffused the situation and the bomb, and everyone pretty much went about their daily business. It’s wierd.. I don’t feel scared about it at all (as one might think), it has been very interesting though, back in New Zealand it was very easy to pretend the stuff we saw on TV was just that, a TV show. Actually  living here has shown the reality of all this so much more - very very valuable in itself.

It’s actually been one of the things I’ve loved the most about being here, is the realisation of just how sheltered life in the south pacific is. Hell - I’m finally getting used to the idea that just because they have white skin, english isn’t necessarily gong to come out of their mouths! It sounds so stupid.. but it’s just something you assume really if you haven’t left NZ.