Surviving the Big Smoke

The road from St.Pancras to the tube at Kings Cross - early evening:


I feel much more of a citybitch already with the imminent (I hope) exchange of contracts for my new pad in London. Everything's going to be so much easier once I move up there. Like the commute into work - only 30 minutes - compared with the current 75 minutes or 90 minutes coming home. My journey into work is worsened at the moment by the channel tunnel rail link they are building at King's Cross so you have to get out of the train at St. Pancras and walk to the tube at King's Cross and in rush hour there are about 1 million people doing the same thing so they close the doors to the tube and you have to queue outside. That's not to mention what it's like once you get into the underground station and try to get on a train. I would like take some photos of that to show you but I haven't got a camera yet. I don't want to spend too much money because I need it for the deposit on my house, my solicitor's fees and also my car is being serviced this week for the first time in 4 years (I forgot to take it in before) so I won't have a lot left after all that. This is my dream shopping list for when I do have some money:
1. Digital camera - maybe this one
2. sofa bed (FNF - for new flat)
3. wooden thing to put telly on (FNF)
4. pine double bed (FNF - first time I've ever had a double bed - rampant lovelife here I come!)
5. new faster PC so I can write songs, write my blog and swot up on my work from home

Kim Cattrall was really great as the hospitalised car crash casualty in Whose Life is it anyway?. Very moving performance (I even cried a couple of times) and a brilliant, thought-provoking play. Eg: Should we be spending so much money keeping people alive who are so incapacitated that can't contribute anything to society when there are able people dying in Africa? Claire Harrison decides she does not want to go on living because she feels she would never be able to make anything of her life in her condition (severed spinal chord - bummer).
Unfortunately Brian Clark, the playwright was not at the theatre that night so my parents could not meet up with their old college friend but we caught a glimpse of Peter Hall.
I'm going to a pub quiz tonight in Hampstead, which is really quite the new thing, don't you know. I will be brushing up on my Shakespeare since I think that area will draw a more highbrow crowd than last week's lot (remember I identified the theme tune to Monarch of the Glen?) Better not disagree with the quiz master though, as this unfortunate learnt the hard way.

I'm really sick of having this big gap before my postings. It wasn't there before the Whose flat is it anyway? posting. I think the Kim Cattrall photos jinxed it. If anyone knows how to get rid of it, instructions would be much appreciated.

This is the Laban Dance Centre (the glass changes colour with different temperatures) in Deptford which is to be my new neighbourhood! My offer was accepted (once I added 2 more G's to my price) everyone was laughing. Called solicitors (they will charge me £2557 - the b's) and I'm seeing my financial advisor about the mortgage today. Can't wait. It's such a fab flat and once I'm in you're all invited. As soon as I get my sofa-bed, feel free to stay the night too! We could even become members of this if you're planning on visiting on a regular basis.
On the other hand, I found out I didn't get the role I went for at work, but you can't win them all! They said my application was very strong and that they will give me more complete feedback later on during the week.
Looks like there are plenty of arty places in Deptford too. City, here I come!

My father and I managed to resolve our differences and we drove down to see the flat together. He thought it was fab too and I decided it was even better than I had first thought. One bedroom, living room marble look flooring in the bathroom and kitchen and an attic room which could be made into a great den. I put an offer in for £135 G's, as they say in South East London and I am waiting to hear if it has been accepted.
An exciting week ahead. Apart from hearing whether I have the flat of my dreams or not, I am seeing Kim Cattrall, on Tuesday evening in "Whose Life is It Anyway". I am going with my parents who know the playwright so I am hoping this will grant me a meeting with the ultimate citybitch herself.
On a not so optimistic note, I have a meeting tomorrow with the Sales managers who interviewed me 2 weeks ago, probably to tell me why I did not get the job I applied for. Oh well, I'll be composed and let them realise what they're missing. Have a scintillating week yourselves darlings. Let's just indulge ourselves once more.

Does anyone remember Jan Pienkowski's illustrations of "A Necklace of Raindrops" and other stories by Joan Aitken in the 1970s? I found this picture on the web today. Does anyone know where I can get posters of these silhouette paintings? Can only see the book on Ebay.

By the way, sorry to have abandoned you for the last few days but I've been a busy CityB. Just got back from talking to a mortgage advisor today. Apparently it's going to cost me £800 a month for a £140 000 flat. Might have to ditch the therapist once and for all then. I think I'm going to make an offer of £132 000. Is that too low? I don't have anything to lose, do I? I'm seeing the flat again tomorrow supposedly with dear Papa although since he made some rude comments about my driving this evening I'm not so sure I want him in the passenger seat on a 2 hour drive down there. I'll see if we're communicating in the morning.
Last night my team came 3rd out of 17 in a quiz evening for information professionals (people who make up the largest part of our clientele). They were all part of an organisation called SLA - supposedly Special Libraries Associations but more like Social Leper Academy. Mind you, I didn't appear particularly streetwise either as I correctly identified the theme tunes to Monarch of the Glen and Holby City. Just shows the extent of my Saturday night entertainment (hoping this will change with attainment of city pad although not much left over for living it up after £800 a month in mortgage repayments). I was quite glad that we beat our competitors at the quiz and also the Sales team from my company who I think recently turned me down for a job (awaiting confirmation). I was relieved that I had been saved from working alongside a bunch of thick people. They look nice though - the original citybitch look. Chat soon kids.

A city pad is not sanitary protection for the working girl (check out this site on sanitary protection for dogs!), but rather a place to lay one's weary head at the end of the day (and have wild parties, bring a few unsuspecting beaux back to and turn into a music / dance / yoga / studio according to whim).
I am excited because I have just seen a really nice flat just off the Old Kent Road (not a typical citybitch haunt I know but it definitely has potential). It's just one bedroom but the loft could be made into a study as well (thanks Dad). It's on the top floor of a 3 storey block so no clip-clopping from above to be endured (amongst other noises). Does noise rise like heat though? Mainly the person who's selling it is really nice although I think she's been watching a bit too much House Doctor (you know, the "lay the table as if for dinner" and "bake some bread to seduce your visitor" programme). She seemed to have cleared out all her personal possesions apart from a bookshelf by the door in order to make the place seem more spacious and tried to pass it off as being minimalist. However, it is the best place I've seen so far (it's only the second one though) and is a mere snip at £140 000. I wouldn't dream of offering her more than £130 000. I've got 2 more places to see this week so we shall see how it compares with them.

Any hints at home-buying greatly appreciated.

Ann Maurice, the House Doctor - definitely a CB.

I primarily created this blog so that I could add comments to another blog . However, I can see that this could be quite good fun and possibly quite addictive too (but more creative than playing spider solitaire - difficult level I might add).

"Why citybitch?" I hear you cry. I have noticed myself becoming increasingly more bitchy in the last 4 years and I blame this directly on the City of London where I have been working and commuting to since October 2000.

I still live in a village (quite a large village, but nonetheless with it's fair share of mud, horsey people and a crap bus service) but I believe day by day I am becoming more corrupted by the fast-living of the city. I have to admit that I love it though.
When I first started going up to London I would gesture for people to board trains before me, chat and give money to homeless people and I didn't care particularly about mine or other people's appearance. Now, I look into middle distance whilst digging elbow to get on the tube, ignore rough sleepers and have to get up earlier every morning to paste on make-up. Yesterday I made a conscious decision to be more "businessy" (which I am hoping is mainly going to involve a new wardrobe) in the attempt to forward my career.
Anyhoo, this blog could be a chance to network with other citybitches and get tips, to bitch / rave about the city but mainly to document my journey into citybitchdom.
Let me know what you think.

Here's an example of citybitch boots to be going on with.