kicking it old skool

I went over to Paddington yesterday, with my girlfriend and her folks. Met up with the other people they where touring with. Even had a braai! Overall it was a very very enjoyable evening, it was nice just kicking back and chatting to all the folks. They parked their “Wyvern Shipping Co” issue house boat in this area called “Little Venice” which reminded me a little of Canary Wharf mixed with a trailer park (on water, of course). The boat itself is tight (and I don’t mean that in the Ebonics kind of way!). Imagine a train cabin that’s been converted to include 3 living compartments, a kitchen, bathroom and the rest. But all the amenities are onboard and over all it seems like a really nice way to travel and tour though the UK.

Got this thing where I try and not eat junk for breakfast / lunch / dinner during the week. But on Friday’s, all bets are off! So for today’s deviation, I decided on McDonalds. I even had it as a “take-in”, surrounded by little screaming kids and random adolescents. At the moment, my body is definitely “not-loving-it”, contrary to the Micky-D Media message ™.

What was also quite fascinating is that at this particular branch they have a trip beam of light which, as soon as somebody walks through it, spews out random salutations like “I’m loving it!” (in kids voice, like a clip from the TV and radio ads) or “I Want a Milkshake!” (also in kids voice). In fact, they where all in kids voices!! Other variations where “there are more seats upstairs” and “supersize it” (I shit you not) and so on and so forth.

Does any of that scare you? I know I was bugging out, and not only because due to the sheer volume of folks walking in and out the door was tripping this thing often enough so that I got to hear the ENTIRE salvo of greetings at least 27 times. Talk about blatant corporate brainwashing, shit. Imagine having to work there? It reminds me of a court case a while back, when store workers sued Harrod’s over the same, mind numbing, happy clappy music being played over Christmas time (you know, all the classics: Jingle bells, old Frank Sinatra diddys, over and over and over again) and how it was causing them undue mental stress etc etc. (at least, I seem to recall the story, can’t find it anywhere on the net. I make shit up all the time, so maybe this is one of those cases. or maybe not…. or maybe….)

Anyhoo, such repetitive bombardment can’t be good for the psyche.

…I still have a craving for a milkshake though, no idea where that came from :)

Not sure what I’ll be getting up to this weekend. My girlfriend has already phoned me up asking the dreaded “so what are our plans this weekend?” Personally I feel like doing as little as possible, maybe even less. Probably watch some flicks or play a game or two. We shall see…

[G], out

I was always prepared