Books! Books! Books!

2004-04-06 at 11:04 p.m.

All I had to do was go and register for the courses I want to do at this adult education centre. You'd think that would be easy, but no. It said they were near Covent Garden, so I got the bus there and then spent the next hour and a half trudging vaguely about, getting lost, finally emerging in the middle of Charing Cross Road. After ages I found Stukely Street, where they're based, and it turned out to be opposite where I used to live, just off Shaftesbury Avenue, which if they had bothered to mention that, I could have found it earlier. Grrr. I was not a happy bunny by the time I arrived, because today has been a crap day in terms of the weather. Cold, and raining on and off. I hate April.

And then when I got there....guess what? I couldn't register after all because I need a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions to prove I am on the dole, rather than my signing on book. I'm posting next time.

In order to reconcile myself to this crap turn of events, naturally I went and spent £30 on books which should last me into next week. So far I have one dubious fantasy book (in a series, one of those ones for people with no imagination I suspect), a kids book by an author I still actually like (though I am embarassed to admit that), some weird fantasy book that seems to be all about God (?) and a book about modern folklore - urban legends. That was out of the second hand shops. I also got a copy of Molesworth! I only ever read an extract of it before so you can expect a rash of "any fule kno"s etc etc I expect!

Sat in the pub, got talking to a waiter called Ali who I recognised because he used to work in another pub near where I used to live and I always do go in these places too often. Anyway, had a nice chat, turns out he is a commercial pilot but can't get a decent job either.

While I was wandering up Charing Cross Road I noticed a strange thing...a lot of those tacky little touristy shops were selling magic mushrooms "for research and ornamental purposes". Must have been a change in the law or something because I was under the impression that selling hallucinogens was illegal. Evidently not - so long as they are not for consumption, of course. Must tell Shirley, she may be pleased.

On the plus side an employment agency has approached me and asked me to register with them so I shall give them a ring tomorrow, I have registered with Reeds (another employment agency), and tomorrow I go off to the library. Where I will not be getting any more books out (unless I find one I really like), but that means I can get my proof of being unemployed from the Jobcentre at the same time and get all this sorted out.

So, that was my day. Now I just want to go and anticipate my new books.

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