things that help a little

[rm]

I went to pick up my headshot reorder today, and on the way there I saw a man, standing on a street corner, eyes closed, face tilted up into the sun, listening to his iPod and smiling.

On the way back, I stopped at the deli to get lunch, and outside was a fellow in full Regency garb, talking to two girls and fixing his stockings -- early Halloween or one of those crappy actor gigs, I dunno, but I smiled at him and he at all my velvet and brocade outerwear. He even had the funny hat!

I also declined a call from a headhunter, who wanted to talk to me about full-time PR jobs in the subburbs. That helped the most maybe, remembering that this is a choice, and continuing to make that choice even when it's unbelievably emotionally difficult for me to do so.

I need less pride or more patience.

P.S. -- I just got paid! Not everything I'm owed, but a lot. Anyone know any cheap hotels in London? I'm thinking of going for a few days, because there are some cheap airfares and I need to be alone and far away very very badly (also, thinking it may kick start a writing project, or rather, several of the projects I've not really been working on just collided together into something marketable).

Comments

[rahalia-cat.livejournal.com]

LondonHotels4U (http://www.londonhotels4u.com/) - good cheap hotel site :O)

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

If you can stand it, youth hostels and housing on some of the college campuses is very cheap, just somewhat lacking in privacy.

[rm.livejournal.com]

It's fine with me as long as I've my own room (shared bathrooms and all of that are fine) -- any specific pointers?

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

I'm out of date, but I'll try to get you some info from folks who've visited more recently.

[rezendi.livejournal.com]

You're too early (http://www.easyhotel.com/). Nothing in London is cheap.

Try to look for an airfare-and-accomodation deal; they sell packaged underbooked airplane space and underbooked hotel rooms at a discount, to get something out of the otherwise empty space, and you can find some great deals that way.

Failing that, like feyandstrange said, individual rooms with own bathrooms at youth hostels are half the price they would go for in hotels.

Be careful with location - London is huge.

[meirion.livejournal.com]

what kind of place are you looking for? i found the university of east london at docklands nautical student accommodation rather wonderful last year.

(on the other hand, if you're looking for grim and depressing do feel free to come and visit me ;-) the offer's open rather more generally anyway -- if you're coming to the UK and don't 100% want alone time, i'd love to meet you.)

-m-

[rm.livejournal.com]

This is all _vastly_ theoretical right now, depending on the continued good graces of my kooky job. BUT -- current theory is definitely coming for like 4 days in March to see actual people (and I'd love for you to be one of them), possible random last minute jaunt within the next month if the stars align (and the discount airfares I eep getting Yahoo alerts about actually exist when I click on the link).

[meirion.livejournal.com]

yay, that would be great (march thing).

if you find a good airfare deal soon, and can't find accommodation, do bear me in mind (both for finding stuff and possibly offering bed/floor if it comes to that). the only time i have currently ringfenced is 10-15 december.

i'm afraid(?) it'd be either oxford or cambridge rather than london; but i rather think you'd very much enjoy both of those ancient university cities and their peccadilloes.

-m-

[rm.livejournal.com]

I think you're right, and they're both things I'd simply have to see when I was there. When I went to Ireland, I spent a lot of useless time at Trinity College, because I could.

[beeswing.livejournal.com]

My father likes to stay at the Penn Club (http://www.pennclub.co.uk/) when he's in London; it's a nice balance between a reasonable price and a good location. It is also more likely to be quiet and smoke-free than most similarly-priced London hotels or hostels.

images

[espidre.livejournal.com]

The image of the man with the ipod and the sun is amazing. It made me feel all warm just reading it.