The big apple....

Oh yes, so don't hold your breath (I am pretty sure it's not the case...) if you don't see any new post in the next ten days or so: I am going to a course on crystallography outside New York, obviously followed by a few days in the big city!!!
I can't wait to be there!!!

Sun and clouds

Sunday was simply an amazing day: so sunny I couldn't believe I was in London!
First hint of summer, lunch on the grass, looking at the Southwark Cathedral, I was so surprised to see people enjoying lazily the sun. I was so conquered by the atmosphere that I even bought a bike!

At the same time I am feeling really tired too... I realized that I have never really felt comfortable and relaxed since I arrived here and the thought starts to get on my nerves (and this doesn't help!). Plus I have been working almost every weekend since January and now I am feeling a bit miserable... But I am not complaining about that, don't worry. I always decided on my own how much to invest on the things I like to do and I always try to do my best. It's only that sometimes the situation gets a bit writhed. Especially when outside it's sunny (not that I can really tell: there are no windows in our office....)!

Not of this world

A pic from Harlesden, not far from where I live. I thought that certain things could be found only in the US but I was wrong... ;)

B.C.

Johnny Hart, the creator of the B.C. comic strip, died the other day.
I remember spending hours reading my father's comic magazines from the 70's and laughing at the B.C. and The Wizard of Id strips. They still are one of my favourites (even though I didn't understand the Christian fundamentalism of the last years...)!

I couldn't find online any of the classic ones... such a shame because they are better than these two...

Derive... or how to get lost on purpose

Easter weekend.. the weather has been really nice so far so I went for a walk in East London with one of my flatmates yesterday. I like wandering randomly in London, I think it is the best way to discover its hidden little treasures... (actually you can even make a kind of philosophy out of it, but that's another story)

We started from Highbury and Islington station and headed randomly south. The Islington area is really nice and has experienced an intense renovation in the last few years. Maybe something like this will happen to Willesden Green at some point but probably I will not be around to see it happen..
Walking down Upper Street you can see churches with nice little parks and little opening among the old houses that give the all area a quite relaxed atmosphere. Not many people around, almost no tourists... suddenly a random invasion of people with painted eggs in little baskets announced us that we were close to a polish church: How weird!

After passing through the busy Camden Passage with its vintage little shops (I didn't know there was something like that in the area!) we walked along the Regent's Canal (and as usual I had to realize that canals are everywhere in London) with its old warehouses that make a striking contrast with the newly built, expensive flats with view on the water. We ended our walk passing trough Hackney, probably not the best borough of London but not lacking of its own nice spots. Like Columbia Road, where every Sunday there is a big flower market and where we ended our stroll in a cafe, in front of nice salad!! (food is good...) I still think that the all area around Bethnal Green, Shoreditch and Wapping deserves more exploring, but this will be another walk. Summer is coming!

Running without moving...

I was "briefly" on a treamill today....
I always feel a bit uncomfortable over there... I dont know why...
Anyway, I needed to tie my shoes laces and I decided to jump on the sides of the treadmill without pausing it (clever eh? but it can be done, I am sure). Unfortunately, I changed my mind while I was jumping (as usual..) and I stumbled uncoherently off the thing... "That was classy..." was the comment from the instructor chatting a couple of meters away from me. Damn! Damn! No treadmills this week!

Obviously, this was just an excuse for the video below... isn't it great?
(Maua, non sei tu quello nel video vero? perche' mi era venuto il dubbio...)

26

So, it's not an April fools' joke, I am now 26.
I thought I write it down so I don't forget it: I am not anymore so conscious about my age (does that mean I am getting old??).
Nice dinner with a few friends yesterday evening at my place. Really nice. I managed to handle all the cooking and hosting without panicking too much and really enjoyed the company and the chatting (thanks for coming guys!!). Definetely a good, relaxed way to celebrate (strangely enough, I am not in the mood for drinking in these days, got bored of pints...). Still sleepy today though. The weather looks fine, I may leave the bed for a walk in the park at some point... maybe.. zzzzzzz..