When I was having “highlights” of this journal printed in the Prague Compass someone said “all you ever do is drink in the Blind Eye.” Back then, though, I had a job of sorts. Now there is really nothing stopping me from taking up residence there and pissing away the next month in a hungover daze.

Friday I went to Radost instead, with Jan, Zdenek and their Russian friend Ivan (who brought along a packet of squid jerky). It was the long-awaited first Prague electro night, not a patch on any average club in Berlin, but a start at least. Had a good few beers, then moved on to the whiskey, after which it goes a bit foggy. Later we were back at Jan & Zdenek’s eating Venison (a friend of Zdenek’s had shot the beast earlier in the week). Eventually, slept.

Then yesterday I felt generally terrible. We watched the snow piling up outside and Ali G again, before we got down to the local workers’ pub to eat and in my case try very hard to stay awake. The food was good apart from the spinach, which was so salty I could barely keep it down. Had a couple more beers with that, and some coffee, then moved house. This involved throwing a few things in my backpack and taking it next-door.

Later I went with Jan to the Blind Eye and met up with Dennily and with Jussi, who has cut off all his hair. Beer probably wasn’t a good idea but what else is there to do? Lots of 18-year-old gap-year backpackers from the USA and Australia arrived and talked at us very enthusiastically. Tried to talk back but there seemed to be an irony gap that prevented any actual comprehension. After a taxi and some more venison went to sleep for the first time in my new place. If I lie up in bed there’s a video display board with endless adverts directly in my view. This may become annoying at some point. Especially as there are no curtains.

Today I bought a towel and some christmas postcards, had a svickova and orange juice, lots of coffee. Now a bath seems like a good idea.

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Since I’m not getting employed until February I thought I’d probably better get a flat here for the month and a half I’m staying around. Finding someone who was out of the city for exactly the right time and lived in the right area was a bit of a daunting task though, and for a week I got exactly zero responses. Then yesterday I got a message from an American guy called Chris who was away at the right time, made arrangements to meet up, took the tram down to I.P.Pavlova, met the guy, took the same tram back to the same stop, the same street, the same block…. Yes, I’m moving in tomorrow. Yes, I’m moving next fucking door. What’s the chances of that?
Christmas in Prague is going to be strange. First one I’ve ever had away from family, at the age of 26. I hope it snows, that would make up for everything. Right now there’s nothing but drizzle, though the temperature is well below zero due to wind chill.

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Lion Mutilates 42 Midgets in Cambodian Ring-Fight

I heard about this on the Ricky Gervais podcast last night and had a bizarre and unpleasant dream about it. Apparently it’s fake. I’m relieved but strangely disappointed.

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I got really drunk all weekend. Nothing unusual there really. Friday we went to some rubbish fashion bar, but the drinks were free so we didn’t mind too much until some guy punched Dennily and we Jan and I had to have a stand-off with his brother. Saturday was a hangover and little else until I got to the Eye and bumped into Chelsea who I haven’t seen for a year, then Sunday the same with Victor.
Monday I got a transport pass (lesson learned) and called the infamous landlady again. Looks like I’m getting that deposit back after all. Very happy about this.
Hopefully when I get my computer back I can write this stuff in my own time and it won’t be as rushed and dull as when the clock’s ticking. Hm.

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Just got caught without a tram ticket. Annoying.

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Serious matters

Got a phonecall at about 3pm today from a man called Frank in Xiamen which boiled down to him offering me a job. Starting in February. I accepted of course (why not?) but it leaves me with a little problem, funds-wise. My account is starting to look a little bare now and I need to buy a plane ticket. After that there isn’t a lot left at all.
Of course, there should be loads left. I should have another 488 pounds-worth of deposit and other money owed from my landlady in Brighton but strangely it isn’t in my account. I’ve called the bank about it, they say it really isn’t there. Then I called Helen (said landlady) who said it had been transferred and was itemised on her statement. I called my bank to ask them to do a trace, they said Helen needed to do the trace. I called Helen, nicely explained that I wasn’t accusing her of stealing my money, asked her to do a trace. She said ok. I called back a little later and asked what had happened, she said the trace had been done and the money was in there. The money isn’t in there.
So, if anyone’s still reading, I’m in Prague and therefore pretty much fucked as for what I’m supposed to do about the situation. Am staying at Jan’s right now, but it would be taking the piss a little to stay there until February as a non-tenant (especially as I’m sharing a room with his housemate). Are any lawyers reading this? What the fuck am I supposed to do about this?

Edit: to top it all off the internet cafe seem to be playing the entire James Blunt album. Time to go get a beer, I’d say.

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I’m taking the last weekend out, this time to Cesky Krumlov for Chrissy and Tom’s leaving party before they go off to Brazil for the winter. Cesky Krumlov could possibly be the greatest place in the world and it’s covered in snow. Here’s somebody else’s photo of it:

On the downside we’re all fucking cold, but never mind. Have had a good two days of solid alcohol and sporadic drug abuse and yet feel more awake and alive this early afternoon than I have for ages. I just had a look around a ceramics exhibition and found it to be amazing. Who’d have thought? Tonight we’re all going to the medieval place for a banquet and then all shuffling off at whatever time we feel tomorrow.

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I’m still in Prague right now, staying at Jan’s place. Had a characteristically big ‘weekend’, though all that means is that I’m taking Monday and Tuesday off to recover.
Bob suddenly decided to leave us and go back to Ireland for a while so that provided an excuse for festivities, as did the Freak Parade gig the day after. Lots of laughs and snow and fun and so on, but no funny stories whatsoever I’m afraid.
Then yesterday I ate chicken and watched comedy DVDs with Jan and Dennily.
All in all it feels like a good long holiday. But I still need to work on getting a decent Chinese job.

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Krakow, a week later.

I left from Prague last Saturday having had no sleep whatsoever since Friday morning and tried to get some on the night train. Managed to doze off eventually but was woken up straight away by an old woman who decided to sit right next to me in the otherwise empty compartment and prevented me from lying down. Then she was joined by six friends, one of whom fell on me. Later they left and I was just dozing off when a guard woke me up and told me if I slept someone might steal my bag. At that point I didn’t really care but soon we were pulling into blizzard-bound Krakow.
I got to the hostel half an hour later and found it full until mid-day and so I had to sit around in the reception area with Irish people breaking breadboards over each-others heads and eating snowballs covered in jam. It was a good job I got to sleep at mid-day as 52 hours awake was starting so send me more than a little crazy.
Met up with Amanda and her friend Giro late that afternoon and discussed the good old days, had some wine and food and so on. Then the same on Monday. Krakow has so many really decent cafes and restaurants and the food is great. Could’ve spent months sampling them all.
Apart from the above I had a couple of nights hanging around in the hostel bar. The barmaid was so drunk she could barely stand and the (male) customers were either trying it on with her or pouring their own pints and not paying for them. Though this may not sound fantastic I should add that it was one of the best hostels I’ve ever stayed in – somehow both clean and cool, which is very rare indeed.
Back in Prague now, looks like I’ve got a job in China.

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RIP Link Wray

Saw him in 1997 by accident more than anything. One of the best shows I’ve seen. And he was 68 at he time.

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