Londoners' obsession with sending cards - yep, those 'Season Greetings' cards

Londoners' obsession with their cards never fails to fascinate me. By cards, I mean the ones that you pop into a shop when you have nothing better to get for someone on a special occasion. Could be a birthday, anniversary, wedding, retirement - there is a card for any occasion.



There are even cards for lesser occasions - "thinking of you" (sent only when you are anything but), "missing you" (ditto), "I'm sorry" (if it comes to that, I seriously doubt a card will help), “Congratulations on your promotion!” (that should have been mine), “Get well soon” (I can’t be doing two persons’ work all the time), “Welcome back!” (now get on with it). I could go on and on. But let's face it. You bought a card only because you have absolutely no idea what else to give and you deem the receiver only worthy of a recycled paper folded into halves with some stuff printed on it.

I was in the lift when I noticed that a colleague was carrying a Scribbler paper carrier.

"Someone's birthday coming?" I took a stab.

"Yep, I only realised my husband's birthday is tomorrow and I thought I'll just grab a card first." There you have it.

"I supposed you told him that you have a surprise for him…".

"But of course! Now I just have to think about what that'll be". But hey, at least he's getting a card.

If you have to get a card, you can either get one of those cards filled with words and just sign off at the bottom (why reinvent the wheel?) or a blank card and go on to write an 500 word essay. Either way, please, for gawdsake, do not get a blank card and just sign it off. It reminds me of the faceless PR people sending off tons of Seasons Greetings cards to the unfortunate souls who bought something from the company a decade ago.

Anyway, the season of card sending is here again. You could almost hear the collective sigh of relief in London when Royal Mail called off the impending strike (for now). Let the cards sending begin. What joy!

Get your charity Christmas cards for National Autistic Society here.

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Japan Centre's new location at London's Lower Regent Street - bigger, spankier and more fanciful

Those who have a soft spot for anything Japanese would be glad to find out that the Japan Centre at London Piccadilly has moved to a location with a larger shop at Lower Regent Street, which is a mere 5 minute stroll from its former site along Piccadilly.

The new Japan Centre, beside Mitsukoshi (and Mitsukoshi Restaurant ), stocks the regular Japanese groceries that we are familiar with and much more. With its additional floor space, there is now a seafood counter, a full size bakery and an extended eating area for its sushi counter that has proven to be a hit.


Pre-packed sashimi at the fish and meat counter

It seemed that the staff are still in the process of stocking up the shop's shelves when we were there two weeks back as the display was quite rather sparse as compared to the Piccadilly shop. Probably I was just addicted to the joy of finding something that I was looking for in the crammed displays in the old shop; the new Japan Centre does reminds me a bit of Mugen with its cleaner layout.


Some great gifts to be had here


Tempura at the sushi counter

We were tempted by the tempura don (rice) shrink wrapped in clear plastic in its red plastic bowls. After paying at the till, we took it to the sushi counter to be heated up. The staff popped it into the microwave for exactly 45 seconds and we tucked into it at the tables without much fanfare. I must say that at £6 per serving, it was a bit on the costly side.


Japanese styled cockery

However, that didn't prevent me from getting some shabu shabu for our steamboat and packets of instant noodles.

Oh, do consider heading to Mitsukoshi Restaurant next door for lunch if you are heading to Japan Centre for your groceries.

Japan Centre

14-16 Regent Street

London SW1Y 4PH

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Camden Market - the quirky and bohemian side of London

London's Camden Market is perhaps one of those markets that has always been overlooked by tourists who favoured the more famous Portobello Market at Notting Hill. A pity considering how much Camden Market has to offer. Someone should really commission a movie with Keira Knightley as a Camden Town girl making it good singing at its pubs (think Amy Winehouse without drugs and less booze).


Tuck into a snack on the back of a scooter facing the canal and give those legs a rest

I mean, which other markets in London actually open all day for seven days a week? I have this affinity for the market as it really reminds me of the Bugis Market back home, only larger, cleaner and more bustling. Quirky accessories, tattoos, nose rings, cheap jeans, handmade crafts and a multitude of souvenirs for folks back home can be obtained at a fare price at Camden Market.


Camden Market is best known for its quirky and bohemian wares

Hungry? Fear not. For some reason, the Chinese noodles stall love to offer you a morsel of their sweet and sour chicken (always that and nothing else) to 'try'. If you are running on a budget, you could pretty well fill your stomach with sweet and sour chicken. Else, I would advise that you give all those £3.50 stalls a miss and head towards Yum Cha for a lazy afternoon dim sum session.


You can never go wrong looking for that souvenirs for folks back home at Camden Market

 
Take a walk down the Regent Canal that cuts through Camden Market

Even if you are not looking for anything in particular, what better way to wallow away the entire afternoon milling through the stalls with a handy camera? As the sun sets over Camden Market and its golden rays get reflected off the water along the canal that cuts through the Market, this is when Camden Market is at its best.

Get your Time Art Camden Market prints here.

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Shappi Khorsandi The Distracted Activist review - the stand up comedy act to look out for

Most notable stand up comedians are men. Don't ask me why but it seems that there is this thing about stand up comedians and celebrity chefs. For some reason, there is a lack of funny women on stage so when one comes along, people take note. Let's be honest, where else would you find a female stand up comedian who fled to London from Iran as a kid and whose father was the target of (at least one) assassination attempt?


Shappi Khorsandi - the Distracted Activist indeed

From the cosy confines of the Soho Theatre's Auditorium, Shappi Khorsandi thrilled the audience with her light-hearted banter, and anecdotes on her struggle with her Iranian identity and her English upbringing, the joys and angst of having a child, and dangers of racism and nationalism.

Shappi joked about how Nick Griffin was portrayed as a victim on that infamous episode of Question Time so much so that she, like all Britons, was actually rooting for the underdog. Unlike most of the stand up comedians, she started the show by chatting the crowds, a huge gamble indeed. Fortunately for her (and the audience), she managed to sidestep most minefields though there was this couple (apparently not quite an item yet) was asked whether they were at the 'I love you' stage. The awkward silence thereafter was deafening. But Shappi did manage to bounce off in an instant with a cheeky "Help me out there, will you?" to the audience.

Right from the start, Shappi did warn us that her "memory was failing after childbirth" and she had a small notebook propped up on a stool that she referred to every now and then. There were instances that she broke off halfway lost in her train of thoughts. But she exuded that vulnerability that made the audience looked past all that and lapped it all up. All that while waving her Beginner's Guide to Acting English.

There were some mumbling that the show (less than an hour) could be a bit longer but for £15, I would rather go for a bout of Shappi Khorsandi in the cosy Soho Theatre than for being crammed up at the Apollo for Russell Howard.

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London Transport Season Travelcard benefits - why you should get one in your Oyster card

I don't know what took me so long to get a London Transport travelcard. Maybe it's the lack of information but I would attribute it to the sheer lazyness on my part really. I did some calculation some time back and was surprised at how much I have been losing out. Here's the breakdown.


An adult Oyster card loaded with an Annual Travelcard

Cost of one trip between Zone 1 and 2 on London Underground = £2.20

Cost of one trip within Zone 1 on London Underground = £1.60

Assuming two trips daily on a 5 day work week in a four week month, cost of travel to work alone per month = 4 weeks x 5 work days x 2 trips x £2.20 per trip
= £88 per month

Assuming two trips within Zone 1 every Sat and Sun, cost of weekend travels = 4 weeks x 2 weekend days x 2 trips x £1.60
= £25.60 per month

Cost of a Annual Travalcard (Zone 1-2) = £1032 per year or £86.60 per month

Savings per month = £27

Savings per year = a whopping £324

Granted that I need not travel to work during vacations and some of the trips may be done on buses (£1 per trip - free for Annual Travelcard), I could still save at least between £50 - £100 per year. If you are holding onto an Adult Oyster Card, the Annual Travelcard can be added onto the same card and remaining credit on the Oyster Card will only be deducted when you are travelling out of the zones covered by your Travelcard.

Not only that, you will be issued a 'Gold Card' upon the purchase of a Annual Travelcard and that allows a 34% discount off rail tickets if you are travelling within Network Area. This offer, which is extended to other adults and children travelling together with the Travelcard holder, is the deal clincher for those who travel extensively in Southeast England. For more information on the discounts, refer to the official website.

Oh, some companies actually offer interest free loan for season traval passes. Essentially, your HR will write you a cheque and the monthly repayments will be taken off your salary. No harm in that, is there? Also, there are talks that the Mayor is looking at increasing Tube fares in the near future. Why not lock in the fares right now?

Now, the only thing you'll have to worry about is how to spend the savings.

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