Hello from TfL

Today, power supply went off in our home. After futile messing with fuses and switches I went outdoors to check if some works were in progress and indeed discovered the cause:





That bendy bus smashed into the house right next to ours.

Cash is the king

UK coins are hard to get known with for a novice. While visiting UK for the first time as a tourist I had permanent problems with counting out needed amount, annoyingly slowing down the line and finally shamefully paying with a note (which resulted in extra coins received as change).

The problem is that coin value in Britain is not simply a function of its diameter. So when you're holding 10p and searching for 20p in your wallet you can't just grasp a coin that is bigger than one you're holding. Also there are often text values on coins instead of easy recognized digits, and that captions are hard to read.

In other words, you can't just rely on your instinct and are forced to analyze.

Well, actually, diameter rule remains, but is has effect not through all the coins available but in particular groups only. Here they are:

Colour: coin that isn't all white can be of either smallest (1 or 2 pence) or greatest (1 and 2 pounds) value.

a) If the color is more red than yellow then it's 1 or 2 pence. 2 pence have bigger diameter.

b) If the coin is more yellow than red then it's 1 or 2 pounds. Additionaly, pounds coins have unique properties: one pound is thick (obviously much thicker than others) and two pounds are bimetallic (white centre, yellow borders). And again 2 pound are bigger than 1 pound.

If the coin is all white, proceed with shape: if it is polygonal rather that round then the value is either 20 or 50 pence (again, bigger coin size for 50p). Otherwise, it is 5 or 10 pence (yep, bigger diameter for 10).

P.S. Of course banks card can be a bliss but in many cases it needs to be chipped, i.e. chipped cards are required by automatic services (selling and tickets machines, etc). And many Russian banks issue only magnetic cards without a chip integrated.

Age matters

Another local detail to catch - when quoting somebody named, often age is given in UK press. "Bloody hell," says John Bull, 34.

This custom doesn't just seem unusual but has also a touch of contradiction to me because in other cases it is not polite to state your or somebody's age where it is not necessary. For example, some companies warn canditates not to state age (or sex, or marriage status) in their CVs for it may be a discrimination of those younger or older.

Snatch

If you somehow managed not to hear about the greatest London heist in August, you surely must pay attention.

The thing with it is that the event was perfectly cinematographic. I mean, from the huge booty taken in two minutes to the every detail. Just look through the newspapers websites and put a mark when you face some criminal movie cliché: two of robbers, black and white, sharply dressed, disguised with Mission Impossible latex masks, grabbing precious jewels without any casualties, leaving the place changing cars etc.

And the final detail - get ready - Britain's previous largest robbery took place at 2003 at the same store! So, it was a sequel.

Also, why 'cinematographic' instead of 'cinema' for CCTV shots and bypasser's mobile video are available to the public. Gosh, it's better than a movie!

See, conclusion honest person must come to: Guy Ritchie is a bloody realist.

One step right from Russian immigrant results in bumping the wall

Recently, I had stumbled upon a livejournal post questioning about UK nuclear arsenal. Of course, the discussion followed (as the question itself) was predictably naïve but actually it isn't an issue in UK livejournal.

He who really astonished me was the user who appeared with curses and Rand quotes. Quite an occasion for the Europe! Look, I said to myself, stereotypes aren't true, but some doubts resisted -

- when I clicked this user nickname, his journal was found to be in Russian.

Internet

We've been living in this flat for about three weeks already but still we've got no broadband internet connection.

The thing is that UK internet providers need customers' bank details to get them served (the same story as I described before with mobile phones plans). Without local bank account, only prepaid ('pay as you go') plans are available and there are no such plans for DSL or optical connections. Geez.

To open a local bank account you must be either employed or live in a country for at least three months. There is still a opportunity for newcomers called 'passport account' that requires international address to be proved. Unfortunately, I was unlucky enough first to leave Russia before address verification letter from bank arrived to Moscow address (so I wasn't able to prove my former address simply by demonstrating this letter). Then, it took time for me to know what documents can be recognized as an address proof (for example, Russian landline bill turned to be invalid showing address but not name which is obligatory too). Btw, for me Russian bank statement worked, but still I had to verify my translation of it in a UK translation bureau (another visit to bank branch spared to know it). Finally, bank employee who initiated account opening for me left for vacation so right now I'm stuck without any news.

That's why I still don't have local bank account and it is impossible for me to use 'pay monthly' services.

Another way to use broadband is to buy 3G modem USB dongle with special 'pay as you go' SIM card. But as you can expect this way is more expensive, less reliable and includes nasty traffic limits. You can use your 3G phone as a modem also but it is more expensive because of the phone plans and limits are even more strict.

However I have perfomed some calculations recently and discovered that for the first two months the cost of using 3G dongle and DSL/optic connection is equal. Maybe I'll buy it finally this weekend but still I am not sure because if I decide later to bring a wired connection to our flat then again it'd be needed two weeks for enquiry to process.

See, all above is a serious business! And don't laugh please.

Notting Hill carnival

Okay, let's start:



At first area is rather, well, soviet:



Not actually a problem because soon you reach Kensington and Chelsea borough... to find shops and yards all boarded up:



Minutes later, you understand why:





Wait, what's the ...





Nevertheless, it was great to be there: