The Great Flatsby

So, yay, we're here, writing this from our thirteenth-floor suite. We appear to have acquired more stuff since our last move two weeks ago, which makes absolutely no sense because we have, in fact, acquired nothing. C's theory is that gravity is particularly strong in London, due to the sheer density of the city, which means that squishing clothes into a rucksack is easier.

Anywho, with our excessive amount of luggage, we met Tingting at 8am outside the hostel, and she drove us over the new (temporary) residence, where we were kindly helped in keeping the lift open by a bemused hotelier and up to the thirteenth floor! Upon arrival, it seemed that the room in which we were to live was currently being slept in, so we dumped the stuff in the living room, and headed out again: back to the hostel (for the last time), playing a variation on that "I went to the supermarket and I bought..." to keep our tired minds awake.

We checked out, grabbed a mushroom and walnut burger from "Revel", a really nice biker-run-esque café, and back to the thirteenth floor. The lovely French lady moved her stuff out of the room, and into the room of the partner, we sorted out beds and sheets, etc. C sat down to do a bit of work before heading to uni, and G job hunted.

C met her "lab" partner at uni, and they spent several hours reading literature on the Maori's effect on New Zealand's forest ecology. It turns out there's a huge debate in NZ literature over when humans first settled the islands, and scientists have attempted to answer those questions with pollen, charcoal, and other methods for measuring observed vegetation changes. However, at the same time as all of this, there were disturbances in the climate - becoming cooler due to atmospheric effects (along with volcanic eruptions) and so the question is now: were humans or climate change responsible for the changes in vegetation? Seems rather poignant and fitting in with today's current debate.

They then discussed Japan (his origins), the UK, and NZ, and the debate around cats wearing collars: turns out, if you change the bell on your cat's collar every month, the cats can't learn how to move so the bell doesn't jingle, so the birds can get away from those evil predators.

When C got home, G headed to Rainbow Youth to meet Mel and pick up some DVDs. Turns out Linda's been having words and we're all going to Family again this weekend! At least we have a few days to brace ourselves this time. In the meantime, C had a bath (!) and headed to Countdown supermarket to get some food, and came back and made some pita. We curled up and watched "The Worst Witch" with Tim Curry. It is so 80s! Halfway through, we removed the base of the bed and put the mattress on the floor - the bed was so worn we felt as if we were beginning to sink through it. Then, to sleep, to sleep, perchance to dream.