haonowshaokao

“On this May 1st ten countries join the EU in a beautiful day throughout Europe” says the radio, whilst outside a Czech rainstorm batters the half open window.

My 9.00 lesson was cancelled this morning so I hung around town, then went over to the old flat, where Ivana had invited me over to cook curry for a few friends. It was meant to be lunch, but delays being what they are ended up as dinner, and was alright. A quiet day, then home, changed into civilian clothes and back into the centre.
Another month ends and I find myself getting up at 7, or earlier, wearing a suit, living in a proper house and only drinking on weekends. It really does beat not having anywhere to stay… and hopefully I will soon be making enough money to actually buy stuff. In the meantime, I’m keeping my head down and waiting for the weekend.
Oh yeah, here it is.

“My neighbours they tell me you had a woman in the house.
“um…… yeah. … … Is that not OK?”
“Is she a good person?
“Um….”

Today I have been plied with free alcohol, maybe not the best of ideas before work.
I have also realised I am pretty much addicted to chlebičky from two lahudka in particular, in particular the sýrový and krabem masem versions. Thankfully these are not tourist things. People who are not Czech prefer not to eat their lunch standing up off a counter in the butcher or deli. Therefore prices are still low and the quality superior.
I’m off to have some more, before work.

Went into the office today and was offered another 3 classes, which is good, but starting at 8am, which is not, will think about it.

I’m living in an actual house, eating actual food, getting up in the actual morning, putting on an actual suit, going to an actual office and doing actual work. Weird.

Used to hate the Smiths when I was 16, now can’t stop listening to this one song. It has at least 3 amazing parts.

The trouble with living in Horni Pocernice is that I have to leave the Blind Eye by 11.54pm, not 12.00am as I had previously thought. Last night the 12.07 tram took me to the metro just in time for me to miss the penultimate train. After a ten minute wait for the very last train I realised it was only going as far as Ceskomoravska, about half the way to my house.
So, four hours later I was the first person let into Mustek station today, except for some raving derelict who’d been in there all night. The cleaners were still working, obviously 4.30 is not a normal time to be using the underground.
Some day I will learn.

The weekend is back.
I got drunk again, insulted some Jolly Backpackers, did all the usual shit. Ate parek v rohliku, drank free coffee, snuck into the house at 6am and did naughty things. Tonight will be the same again.

Feeling a little better, and the week’s serious work over, I have been attempting to lay back, with little success, though the days are already as hot as August in English.
Went to the Park Cafe in Riegrovy Sady, where I plan to spend a good deal of the summer. Queued for ten minutes to get a beer. There wasn’t anyone there so I was just going to sit and read and enjoy the sun. At the head of the line I was about to order when a wasp landed on my face and then just wouldn’t go away. I tried moving, shifting around, hoping it would move on to somebody else. I hate wasps. Eventually I had to just walk out of the queue and lose my place. There was no chance of rejoining – the two teenage girls who had taken my place were still laughing at me. I walked out of the park and towards Zizkov, narrowly avoiding kicking a little dog on the way.
To make up for it I decided to get some french fries to take away from U Houdku, like I do every other day or so. There was a new guy working there, so:
“Excuse me, can I get french fries to take away?”
“No.”
I am sitting inside, in the cold, drinking filter coffee.