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Your Story Addendum Ep 14 : London, Happy? Maybe not!

Welcome To Episode 14 of Your Story Addendum.bridge

London is a city that is confusing to me. We know that it has the biggest financial markets in the world but the amount of underlying social issues that are obvious just walking down the street is disturbing when compared to the affluence that is seen in wealthy areas.cctv

I observe that this is a community that is in a state of fear and there is an underlying big brother, circa 1984, feel to London that is constantly reminding all that the authorities have it  under control and with millions of CCTV observing our every movement they are keeping us safe. If safety issue is crucial for you, learn more here. There is a constant reminder with the TV’s, the posters and the public announcements that it is dangerous and if we all behave like good little citizens. Then we will be looked after and controlled for our own good.

Is just the English/London mentality of a big city that causes so few happy people. I can’t help but wonder is it due to the fear or the multitudes fighting to get by or maybe it’s just the cabin fever climate and the lack of decent weather. I don’t know!

These are just my musings on being in London for a short time.

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  • Adam Daniel Mezei Wednesday, 20 August, 2008, 4:28 pm

    Beautiful addendum.

    I couldn’t agree with you more. Last time I flew through London it was pure hell…and that was for a simple airborne hop across the Channel (outside of the Schengen Zone). They weren’t service-oriented at all, and, in fact, I think there were going out of their way to be mean-spirited and intimidating. The queues were serpentine and annoying, and there number of “hoops” I had to jump through in order to get to my gate — I intentionally don’t choose London when travelling back to Canada for holidays. I don’t care if it’s 300 bucks cheaper…I won’t go through *Heaf-row.*

    As for London itself, it’s a pukey city. Never wanted to travel so far only to speak more English with people, hehe. (Incidentally, I had the same feeling when I went to South Africa or New Zealand).

    Signed,
    ADM

  • evelyn Friday, 22 August, 2008, 8:07 pm

    if u’re right: sad! isn’t it?!

  • Lynda420 Sunday, 24 August, 2008, 10:18 pm

    wow, im a little surprised…in manchester its seems the same to me … so it looks like this whole phenomenon is not just a typical capital feature….

  • Danacea Friday, 5 September, 2008, 11:23 am

    The funny thing about the CCTV is we don’t really notice it – which is frightening in its own way and what the installation was bringing to our attention, I think.

    The weather, on the other hand, is something we’re confronted with and deal with all the time. Our obsession with the weather is so much a part of who we are as a nation that it’s ‘normal’ to us – and it takes a visitor to change our perspectives.

    The change in the British, as a nation, when the sun makes an appearance is an amazing thing to behold.

    Thank you for the post – and for a fresh viewpoint 🙂