eevilmidget

far fetching friends

6th Nov, SW6 London: Spent the Friday in Fulham, with fellow Filipinos for Fawkes related festive fireworks. In spite of the rain, we braved the muddy fields of the park, ate mediocre cheeseburgers, and conversed whilst huddled with umbrellas. Afterwards at the flat, we dried off for coffee, wine and beer, shared stories and discussed graphic novels, before settling in the sofa for episodes of the hilarious mockumentary series Modern Family til 2am.

7th Nov, W1-SW11 London: Beautiful sunny blue skies allowed for a showcase of the latest Christmas decorations. Dimsum lunched with AG + SP at Ping Pong prior to shopping at Oxford Street and Selfridges. That's what ladies do. Then to PM + SM for dinner and Poker as planned. SP wins £50, I pocket £30. That's what eevilmidgets do.

9th-13th Nov, Krakow: Learnt how to play and win brilliant game The Settlers of Catan with The Commodore + Monachus. Shot beer cans with guns. Hung out at the cemetery. Saw the iron dragon breathe fire in the rain. Introduced to an Australian named Numbnuts on the way to a Japanese restaurant. Witnessed a tattoo session, and a drunk Polish guy strangle a woman at the tram stop. Amazed at the Zombie shutters and contemplate death due to the persistent fog. Participated in a drawing exercise and hatch a plan for a Shadow Government comic strip. Watched Alpha Dog. Ate Macaroni and Cheese, Gummy Dinosaurs, and played with the kittykats.

14th-15th Nov, Wakefield UK: Train trekked to Yorkshire to visit the English Madonna and her Zambian friend Maggie. More talk, more wine, and home cooked food, constantly interrupted by the beautiful princess Nunu.

16th Nov, N1 London: On the wall at Belgos I spot the words: BLOWHARD SQUIRRELL COCKLICRANE ASSFACE. Listened to mean, moody and magnificent Fink live at the Jazz Cafe with Bankers 1 and 2 who are still So Money.

To my fruity friend in NYC, all of the above are some of what I've been up to. Yes, I will happily meet you for breakfast at the airport. Just don't forget to get me those apples.

the londinium continuum

As I walked the other night on Waterloo Bridge with Alex in the middle, Paul on the left, and Ben on the right... I was reminded that my love was not lost.

The brilliance of public transport.
The intrigue of all the foreign accents and conversations heard through involuntary eavesdropping.
The Islamic newspaper man peforming the Maghrib prayer amidst the chaos of commuting rush hour.
The abundance of pubs with their various themes and curious names.
The catch-up with friends over drinks, lunch, dinner, coffee and Afternoon Tea.
The music, art, theatre, and film scenes.
The intimate house party and fancy dress costumes.
The new possibilities, with Europe at my doorstep, upgraded visions and dreams.

My other love at the other side of the world must wait. It's all about timing. For now, I am here to stay.

only 'cause of love

I'm meant to be attending a friend's wedding in Oxford today, but I am 12,000 miles away, struggling to write my 15,000 word dissertation. And though I know I should be typing this document, there is something that I imperatively must share.

Alexis Tioseco, is a fellow Filipino, and a celebrated film critic here in Manila. I met him on St Patrick's Day this year at Murphy's Bar. I fondly remember putting on fake Irish tattoos with him. We have mutual friends: Blarmey who introduced me to him, Digital Day Dream who I met for merienda just this Monday gone, and Quark who I met for drinks last night.

Tragically, Alexis and his girlfriend Nika Bohinc were murdered on Tuesday 2 September, having been shot dead in their home, victims of a burglary. It was their funeral today.

By providence, another friend of mine, an 80 year old Jesuit priest, who texts me his daily musings, sent me this message this morning: "We are born and we die and in between we live. Birth and Death aren't our choice, but how we live life is."

I no longer have the chance to become his friend, but having read The Letter I Would Love To Read To You In Person, I suspect Alexis and I would have got along well.

He was passionate about Filipino Cinema: "One thing has slowly progressed into another and, what began as a simple curiosity pursued with sincerity, has evolved into a commitment."

Alexis and Nika - they loved, and they lived.

passage

"The worst part is wondering how you'll find the strength tomorrow to go on doing what you did today, and have been doing for much too long, where you'll find the strength for all that stupid running around, those thousand projects that come to nothing, those attempts to escape from crushing necessity, which always flounder and serve only to convince you one more time that destiny is implacable, that every night you down and out, crushed by the dread of more and more sordid and insecure tomorrows..."

i tot i taw a putty tat

I dropped a quid in the cup, and politely asked for permission to take her photograph. I should have also asked for her name.

Anyway, so her sign intrigued me. Where are the two cats? Hunting for mice? And I guess the catfood is for them, but you never know what the hungry might eat. Xiao Mao Pao perhaps.

The only felines I really find fascinating are the big ferocious ones called Tigers and Lions. See XKCD's take on Cat Proximity. Hah.