Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

chi-tty chi-tty b-ang b-ang  

noun 

1. A magical car depicted by Ian Fleming in a novel by the same title 

2. Cockney rhyming slang, for cockney rhyming slang.

In every counrty and community there are different slangs used. One that is particularly interesting and entertaining, is that of the cockneys. Cockney is a term used to describe a person born within the sound of the Bow Bells (the bells of St. Mary-Le-Bow Church, Bow Church) in Cheapside, London EC2. Now, its very important you don't refer to anybody born outside these realms as "cockney" or you might find yourself learning to "read and write". 

Taken from marc-john photographic

 The amazing thing about this slang, is it has been used since at least the 1830's and is constantly modernised and updated throughout the various ages.

Some of the earliest recorded slangs include:

Apple and Pears = stairs.
Barnet-Fair = hair.
Bird-lime = time.
Lath-and-plaster = master.
Oats and chaff = footpath.

 
Even though it takes alot more effort to use the slang term, there is something really special about the cockney rhyming slang, its used withing the community, and used by others. It has an entertainment value, as well as having a long history. Check out these sites I found to find out more information:

http://www.phespirit.info/cockney/

http://www.cockneyrhymingslang.co.uk/

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/cockney-rhyming-slang.html

And - the best english to slang dictionary you can find - http://www.aldertons.com/english-.htm

Also, check out the below video of Stephen Fry (all hail) and his outtake on Cockney Rhyming Slang:

 

Published by the BBC

Now tin lids, its george and zippy out. I'm off to make a cuppa of half past three and settle infront of the custard and jelly :-)

Still Raining...

Yes, it's still raining.

Apart from a couple of days of sunshine branded as a "heatwave", it has been raining for what feels like years. My umbrella has become my best friend, when once before I renounced them. Due to the rain, I STILL haven't got any amazing London adventures to share with you, so I thought i'd share my ultimate London Rainy Day playlist. Use the iPod to the left to have a listen too:

1. The Smiths - Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
The Smiths are known for their meloncholy gloominess in english music so what better mood to set when it's rainy and cold outside?

2. The Doves - Sky Starts Falling
The sky is certainly falling now! Apart from being a massive fan of Manchester band, the Doves, this song provides a more upbeat, toe-tapping account of rainfall and makes it alright to be stuck inside listening to a great band!


3. Ann Peebles - I can't Stand the Rain
This song is pure rain. Moody and soulful. Its the sort of thing you lay in bed all day listening to while you watch the rain splatters blur the outside world. I can't help but feel warm and cosy!

4. Fleetwood Mac - The Chain
Lets face it, this song is good to listen to anywhere, anytime, any mood. Fill your belly with a warm whiskey and turn it up to forget about the misery outside.

5. Interpol - Untitled
Really only good if your feeling a little lost in life, but a good song none the less. Its like that montage of scenes in that movie of people staring out the window smoking and pondering life and wondering what the other one it thinking. Dramatic? Yes. Qualty tune though.

6. Band Of Horses - Funeral
A fairly new fan of Band of Horses, the only reason I can think why I have put it on the list is becuase I can't turn this song off. It needs to be played at least once a day.

7. Arcade Fire - Ocean Of Noise
This sends shivers up my spine! The song doesn't really emulate the sound of rain - more the sound of waves crashing. Regardless, turn the lights down and sway to the music. Its raining outside, what else are you going to do?

8. Let it Fall - Lykke Li
Lykke is actually singing about crying, but you could easily translate it to being about rain. She says "so happy, so happy...". The list needed something a little more positive, And its fun to sing into your hairbrush.

9. Radiohead - All I need
No words required.

10. Massive Attack - Protection
This is actually my husbands choice. I asked him, tell me a song you like to listen to when its raining and he said Ann Peebles - I can't stand the rain. Of course silly, I already have that! Second choice is this beautiful piece of music which does indeed have the sound of rain and delivers all the melancholy warm feelings we are looking for.

Check out my mixpod to hear the full playlist, or view my profile and other playlists here! Enjoy.

Powers

I was hoping by now I'd have some really cool inspiration to put into this blog, but there has been torrential rain in London for the past week - maybe longer, I've lost track to be honest. So, I thought I would talk a little bit about my favourite bar in Kilburn, Powers...What else is there to do in this weather?

When I first started going to Powers Bar, the initial appeal was the £2 pints of beer and tequila shots. Over the past year, Powers has become a meeting place for me and my fellow Londoners, although now pints are £2.90. The decor while a little run down still boasts a classy-come-underground vibe with festival posters from the 90's on one wall, and a moose's head on the other and little red lampshades creating a sultry ambiance. The back room consists of two leather chesterfield couches and is a great place if you want to a place to chat with friends. A large mirror on the back wall of the back room exposing the reflection of the entire bar, causes confusion amongst patrons that have made good use of the cheap beer and tequila. More than once have I watched people try to walk through the mirror as if it was another room. I'd lie if I said I didn't laugh.

The music in the bar alternates between nightly local bands and the DJ ranging from indie rock, soul, mo-town and good old fashion rock and roll. The resident bands on Friday and Saturday night are favourites for the Powers regulars. Frequent theme nights and weekends like "Soul Night" and the recent battle of the bands (where the winner scored a place at Feis Festival in London - headlined by Bob Dylan) provide a good mix up from the regular nights.

There is a decent outdoor area for those who enjoy some fresh air (aka: smoking) although if you plan to perch on a chair for an entire evening - it gets pretty busy so you'd need to get there early.


If your ever in London, please PLEASE have a night out in Kilburn and head to Powers. It closes at 2am and if your still on the mood for partying, head down the road to the Good Ship which is open until 4am.

Check out my Powers photos here!

Below is my fave powers Mo-Town night playlist using mixpod:



Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Tubed

Anybody who has spent anytime in London will know, the tube network is amazing. You can get from North to South in 20 minutes, central London (while very easy to walk) is easily planned out and accesible for the regular tourist with a long list of locations and things to see.

What some people don't get to experience, is the less glamourous side to tubing around London. Each day, I catch a tube between 8.00 and 8.30 into central London. I experience grumpy, sweaty and at time mannerless people. I feel compelled to write a poem to help me out here:


A good service he says. Mind the gap he says. His voice reassuring the start of the day is bright.

Let them off first he says, move down the carriage he says. Reminding us our movements must be right.

EXCUSE ME she shouts. Leaning left, leaning right. No tenderness accompanies the touch of the strangers. 

MOVE DOWN she shouts. Leaning left, leaning right. She knows touching the door comes with dangers.

The tube slows, a stop approaches. The sleeping are now alert. Eyes dart from seat to seat.


Who will depart? Who will remain? As I switch from standing to sitting others feel beat.


London's tubes in the morning come with cold robotic personailites, during the day the tubes turn into a colourful mix of languages filling the air with plans. At night, they turn into silent disco's.

You will get people that will not force past you to take the free seat, but you will get people who will. You will get people who will offer their seat to the elderly, disabled and pregnant - but you will get people who will not. You will get weirdos, kids with loud music, conversationalists, readers, studyers, sleepers and all types of people.Either way, tubing around London truly is the most efficient way to get around. The trouble is, London's tube map is not really an accurate presentation of where you are in London. If you are moving here and really want to know your way around - get the bus!



Haunted?
Lets take a step away from the Tubers and have a look t the underground itself. The tube system is the oldest rail network in the world and has been active for almost 150 years.  It no wonder there are stories of the underground being....haunted.

The paranormal database lists different ghost stories of the London underground. One particular story which frightened the bejeezus out of me, is the story of the "Old Woman" at Algate tube station seen stroking a man's hair before he touched a livewire sending 20,000 volts of electricity through his body. It begs the questions though, is there paranormal activity on the undergrounds or are out late night underground engineers just a little sleep deprived and delusional?? Make up your own mind by checking out the 5 part documentary on You Tube about London's haunted underground - check out the first installment here - and continue to watch...if you dare.

Published by GhostWatching

Check out the rest of the episodes on my you tube channel - scroll to the bottom of the page to subscribe.

Mr Fox?

Not long after moving to London, late one night, I heard a scream from outside. It sounded like a woman or a child in pain. I lived in a notoriously rough area of London so it wasn't out of the norm, but the scream came again - and it was getting closer.

I ran to the balcony of our flat, and tried to find the source of the scream in the pitch black night. At that moment, the culprit crept into the shadow of the street light. It was a fox. In fact, it was an urban fox.

Its incredible living in a city as densly populated as London, and seeing foxes prowl around in the dark of the night. A 2006 article from The National Georaphic News estimates there is 16 foxes every square mile of London (Owen, 2006). They seem to be harmless and mainly just raid your bin, but the urban fox doesn't exist without controversy. In June of 2010, twin baby girls were attacked by a hungry fox on the prowl who entered the house possibly looking for food (BBC News, 2010). And this is just one example, foxes are known for killing pets and entering homes without any fear of humans.

While the above story is a chilling reminder that foxes, urban or not, are wild animals who hunt for prey - I have to say my more recent experiences of foxes have been a little less violent. One afternoon, while walking down a street in my home suburb of Kilburn, I saw a fox running for its dear life - from a house cat! The cat chased the fox out of it's front yard with no fear, while the fox was visibly afraid of its fluffy pursuer.

North West London area's such as Kilburn, Queens Park and West Hampstead seem to embrace the foxes - and there is a mysterious artists getting around painting a seemingly symbolic fox stencil all around the place. I say seeminlgy becuase nobody knows why or who is responsible. I'll leave you with the links below, there is a good read on the fox graffiti and a link to a gallery of photo's - and finally check out the below short film captuirng London's creatures of the night.x

Article! Gallery!

Published by gravitydave

Owen, J (May 15, 2006) 10,000 foxes roam London, retrieved (July 9, 2011) from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/foxes-london.html

BBC News (June 7, 2010) Mother's 'nightmare' after baby twins 'mauled' by fox, retrieved (July 9, 2011) from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10251349

Intro-duck-shon

For some time now, I have been eager to set up my own blog. The trouble is, what do I write about – and how do I make it relevant? Well I need wait no longer! I am “The Pony”, I am 25, from Melbourne, Australia and living in London.

I am currently completing a degree in Internet Communications with Curtin University. This study period, I am completing a unit called WEB101 – Web Communications and I need to create my own “Web Presence” for assessment. The web presence must incorporate 3 different Web 2.0 platforms and have a theme.

Happy reading and I hope to educate and entertain anybody interested in London Life.