Ayoh! He’s a very belated post about my trip to London for the LSE open day a week and half ago. I tried to make some kind of photoblog out of it using my phone, but I was a little scared of getting it out in public (I’d never been on a lone trip to London before so natural paranoia set it!)
I had to wake up at 5am for 6.30am train. I know…I was exhausted. Here’s me packing my gorgeous leather Betsey Johnson bag that morning. It’s a poor picture I know, but I was tired! There I packed my iPod Touch, pink Skullcandy headphones, mobile phone, hair brush, one or two books, hairbrush, wallet, Tube maps and a pack of gum. All you need, right?
Oh, Mountain Dew! I had a few swigs before I left, I absolutely love the stuff. And the sugar and caffeine combo is a Godsend and such an early hour! I got when I went to London a few days before. I really wish they sold it in supermarkets!
Picture of my seat (First Class of course) and another glance at my favourite bag! They were comparable to godliness in comfort I’m telling you. And there was a complimentary copy of The Times too (why couldn’t it have been the Indy?)
They even have their own personalised napkins! You can tell I’m easily amused, and not posh. Whist there I didn’t take advantage of the free food and drink cart as I should’ve. I was surrounded by suitwears making business calls on Blackberrys and they all seemed to just get a cup of coffee and be done with it. I didn’t want to seem greedy D: so I settled with a cup of coffee, a can of coke and a chocolate croissant.
After buying a pair of Givenchy sunglasses and getting a little lost on the tube, I got to LSE. Long registration queues ensued but I got in just in time for the intro talk, which was rather good. Afterwards I went for sushi with Alex at Wasabi. You can see Alex’s in the background, I had a selection of california rolls and tuna/salmon sashimi for about £9. It was pretty poor to be honest, and the Firefly was nearly £2 and it wasn’t even chilled.
I got lost again when trying to get to the International Relations lecture - I misread New Theatre as New Building. Typical me. Anyway, only about thirty odd people turned up, and I was the only one not accompanied by a parent. It was pretty much a talk on why International Relations was a good degree, why being at LSE in the heart of London was beneficial and there was a lot of scope to tailor your degree to what you want, with many outside modules such as languages, sociology, law and philosophy encouraged. I was hoping for a bit more a taster but it seemed to just be aimed at those who hadn’t made their minds up on a degree path.
This was one the ‘university streets.’ There’s two lecture buildings here, a gift shop and a Waterstones (named ‘The Economist’s Bookshop’). I really wanted some LSE memorabilia, but I though it would be painful to have lying around if they didn’t offer me a place. And a tad on the obsessive side.
I went to the First Class Lounge in Paddington Station which was actually rather spiffy. Fridges of free water and soda cans, cake and biscuits and coffee and tea. There was even plates of olives. Oh and a free bathroom (it’s 30p elsewhere in the station!) Finally, the journey home. A complimentary copy of the Evening Standard was worthwhile reading, as well as some more free cups of tea and crisps!
In conclusion: a great trip. But no Heat Magazine was bought. Nor will it ever be bought because it’s shit…
4/4/09 
