haonowshaokao

Another year, another Mardi Gras. Bobo woke me at one pm yesterday to inform me of the festivities. As it was only myself and Amanda in, we made our way across Žižkov to the TV tower, where a relatively small but very eager troupe of circus performers, Brazilian drummers and other strangely dressed people danced through the snow-lined streets.
Utterly fucking brilliant. A couple of hundred frozen Czechs going wild through the dilapidated streets, old ladies watching from run-down tower blocks as we passed. Every few blocks there was a pause, for some more tricks or drumming. Then at the town hall, trumpets on the balcony (then howling dogs underneath) introduced a large figure dressed as a king, who announced “free food and beer” so we followed into a small courtyard and took a rest with tlačenka and pivo.
Utterly fucking brilliant.
Today I have been at a job interview with two old school communist era middle managers. The people, the building and the street were all from a 60s Miloš Forman film time warp. Next door was probably the last shop in Prague to sell 2.5 crown orangeade in a returnable bottle. Which tasted like piss, unsurprisingly.
Also in the news: just heard Southampton types Delays on the world service, apparently due to be the “next big thing,” and Mark Goodier’s tip for the week.
I cant wait to see Rowley on Never Mind The Buzzcocks.

So, it has come to this. If I don’t find work in the next two weeks I go back to England and work there for a bit, save up, etcetera. Don’t want to do this at all, but needs may well demand. There is no money left at all, I am living off Točeny Salám and Knedliky.
In the world of entertainment, meanwhile, I had fun with Miriam last night scaring Amanda with hockey masks and an imitation knife. She did wake up Jacques with her screaming, which is perhaps less funny. He shouted “Hey Ho!” too, very very strange.
Today is Valentine’s Day, so I will be exposing myself in front of expensive restaurants. That’ll learn em.

As from now housemate types Amanda and Ivana are the new bar staff at the Marquis De Sade, a nineteenth century ex-bordello in old town. The rest of us have all been hanging out there and being generally annoying. When we aren’t looking for work ourselves, that is. Or, more realistically, at the blind eye, where we can afford to buy the beer.
2 interviews this week, though. Wish me luck.
The trouble is, I am sick. Tonsilitis probably, though maybe just some kind of flu. One lesson tomorrow, not sure if it will happen. My other malaise is the result of a comedy incident last night when I lay in the bath listening to the radio, which was delicately balanced on top of the washing machine. When the spin cycle began said radio edged gradually towards the three-foot drop and instead of getting out of the bath I watched it like a fool. When it decided to go for the plunge all of a sudden I leapt out of the bath, skidded briefly on the floor and twisted my leg around, scraping it on something so badly its a miracle I didn’t injure myself further. I was also a few inches from connecting my wet hand to the mains electricity. That would’ve been an interesting way to go.
Nothing else of any note has happened, besides the house getting struck by lightning a few days back. That was a laugh. The whole building shook and there was an immense flash of light and a deafening boom. It was 1pm, the blinds were drawn and I had been asleep.

So, that was the first week of sudden and unexpected poverty. I spent 200 crowns, roughly four quid, the whole week. And one of the economies is writing all my e-mails / this at home. So I am actually listening to some music now, though now is last night.
But really who gives a shit? Why am I telling you this? Bah.
This weeks contestant to leave the Blind Eye house was Lisa, off to Manchester. We saw her off at the airport after going round the bizarre house where she was staying and eating a stupid amount of cheese. There was a little leaving meal round the flat too, where I learned of Max’s website idea, online now and the greatest idea since something. http://www.brokeineurope.com is the address. I will soon be an applicant, so give me some mon. Please.
Took some hard rave drugs last night and stayed up copying this girls CDs. New Aphex and Chicks on Speed. Both are classy. The Slowdive album is a bit disappointing.
I will now return to finding a job.

Everything is a bit better this week. I’ve been doing some proofreading and am trying to get into that and copy-writing as I’m having trouble with English teaching. The main problem being that it takes me a good four hours after I wake up to communicate to anyone really. I recall falling asleep in a conversation class once. Or maybe I shouldn’t tell anyone that. Also I’m writing for a couple of magazines.

I want to work as a copy-writer especially because I will be able to have the following conversation every day:
“What are you doing here?”
“Working. I’ve lived here a year and a half.”
“What do you do?”
“I’m a writer.”
“Really? What do you write?”
“Oh, menus, tourist notices, washing instructions, that sort of thing.”

We had two parties too, but there always seems to be a fucking party going on, so big deal. The only big thing is Hamish leaving the house in 2 days, the end of an era.

Have spent nearly a week typing up old diaries / notes.
Am going slowly crazy.
I was a real dick when I was 19.

The snow has melted. Now we have the city of black ice. Damn.
Not much to report now as I have been staying in, writing, trying to get jobs, etc.
The last of this is now necessary as I don’t have any work left, bar one 200 kč lesson a week, and that’s not enough to pay for anything at all. Its given myself a kick up the arse to start looking properly for work.
Did go out a couple of nights back to see Miss Gail being a human jukebox. It was sweet, and so was the free beer. And Gail’s mum.
Everyone is going back to their home countries post-new year too.
Still not smoking. So when I go out I drink too much and act like a twat. Might have something to do with being in a low patch too, probably does, but a productive one. A new experience.

The longer I put off updating this, there more there is to write. Instead of glossing over I may as well go over stuff in a vague amount of detail at least.
So, I have been back in Prague for just over a week, though it seems like a month.
Before new year there were a couple of normal enough nights out. Jan and Lara were still subletting my room so I was temporarily relegated to the cupboard. Many many other friends have returned from their travels around the world, too many to name. It’s a little odd. Like I’ve been in some bizarre dream where everyone I’ve known comes back. People I’ve spent a good deal of time wondering about pass by like shadows…. I say hello but haven’t any time to spend with them, too busy being sick as a dog and drinking fruit juice because I overdid it and caught some virus.
Still, if it is transmissible in any way then a few more people will be getting it soon.
Before the illness was new years eve itself. The plan was that we would all meet up in the Blind Eye, party lots, then go up the park on the hill to set off fireworks just after midnight. A shame that the human element failed with a good few people unilaterally fucking off to old town square and not telling anyone else until it was too late to re-organise everything. I got pissed in both the English and American senses and set off all my fireworks in the street, then darted up to Riegrovy Sady to slide down the ice-covered hill over and over again with the Croatians, downing the bottle of champagne I’d picked up in the pub.
When I got back an hour and a snowball fight later the alcohol took no time in kicking in. I fell asleep in the middle of a massive New Year party like a sucker, then had to beg people to help me find my coat and hat so I could go to bed. It was only 4 o’clock. A really shit new year, as usual. Think I can count only two really good ones and they were in Southampton.
Jan and Lara were leaving on Saturday, so Thursday January the First was their blow out party, involving no planning at all apart from inviting everyone we could think of. To our surprise more than half of them turned up and so six hours after waking up and still with a terrible hangover I started drinking again. The rest of the night has a bit of a haze over it, but I’m afraid I may have demonstrated to everyone why it is that I generally drink in moderation. I’m really not sorry to anyone other than myself and promise that it will happen again, within six months probably. Still, I had plenty of fun at the same time, not saying otherwise.
Two days of illness later, Jan and Lara, Jussi and three of the Croatians have fucked off again.
And I’m still not smoking. I’m pleased with myself about that at least.
Outside there are a good two inches of snow coating everything, making the place even more beautiful than before. On the other hand, it is fucking cold.