This morning I had the great idea to setup a build definition and make it run on our TFS server.
This build definition is for an ASP.NET website project that uses also some msbuild tasks. This is how it went.
First let's say that you have your TFS installed and running: at this point congrats to yourself because this is not a small achievement. I'm doing it now...
Then we try to create the build definition. And here we have the first error:
TF225001: Creating a build definition requires a build controller be defined for this team project collection. There may not be any controller configured or you may not have permission to view them
So let's say what google have for us. Here is a guy that explains how to fix this. Be aware that you will need to remote desktop your TFS server to solve this issue and the others I found.
After creating the build controller and agent I found out that I still had the same error. So I double checked and came out that I selected the wrong "Project Collection". So pay attention to select the right collection.
You will also need to create a shared folder for the output of the build: I created a c:\temp folder and shared it as \\server\temp. Yes not a great name but we can change that later (don't name it builds because tfs creates a c:\builds folder and I'm not sure what will happen if you name it the same: better not to try!).
http://mohamedradwan.wordpress.com/2010/05/15/cant-create-new-build-definition-in-tfs-2010/
Finally you can create your build definition from the team explorer under visual studio (see view menu). It's quite straightforward. You select the probject(s) you need to build and that's and when to build it: for example on every checkin (continuous integration) or on request.
So I tried to build the project(s) and here came the first build error. In our project we are using some msbuild tasks so I needed to install this on the server:
https://github.com/loresoft/msbuildtasks
Tried to build again and here is the next error:
error MSB4019: The imported project "C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\Microsoft\VisualStudio\v10.0\WebApplications\Microsoft.WebApplication.targets" was not found. Confirm that the path in the <Import> declaration is correct, and that the file exists on disk.
Came out that even Microsoft MVPs and consultants most of the times don't know what they are doing:
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/da-DK/tfsbuild/thread/fc5e7c6b-0ecd-4c5f-bda2-e5c7f19221a8
Anyway at the end of the post a user found the solution is to install the VS 2010 shell you can find here:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=115
Next run complains about missing Silverlight SDK so let's install it on the server:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=7335
Try to build agian and... this is funny!
C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\Microsoft\Silverlight\v4.0\Microsoft.Silverlight.Common.targets (104): The Silverlight 4 SDK is not installed.
But... I just installed it! Ok so let's google for the problem:
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3001083/msbuild-command-line-error-silverlight-4-sdk-is-not-installed
At the very end of this question a guy having the same problem with tfs suggests the solution:
http://stackoverflow.com/a/9252174/789165
Ok... I feel a little scared but let's try to build it agian.... damn I knew it! So let's see what we have this time:
The type or namespace name 'Interactivity' does not exist in the namespace 'System.Windows' (are you missing an assembly reference?)
This is an error about Silverlight. But I have the SDK so what am I missing...
http://blakenui.codeplex.com/discussions/228884
oh... the Blend SDK...
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=10801
Sorry the Blend SDK for silverlight 4 becasue they are different of course! The other on is for WPF...
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=3062
And now what....
The type or namespace name 'NumericUpDown' could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?)
You need to install the silverlight toolkit to fix this:
http://silverlight.codeplex.com/downloads/get/117046
Finally it seemed to work. The very last problem I had was something about the AssembltInfo.cs FileUpdate task we have to update the assembly version on each build. The error was:
The process cannot access the file '...\AssemblyInfo.cs' because it is being used by another process.
It came out that on a project we were referencing too much AssemblyInfo.cs files so I replaced this:
<CreateItem Include="**\AssemblyInfo.cs">
<Output TaskParameter="Include" ItemName="AssemblyInfoFiles" />
</CreateItem>
With this:
<CreateItem Include="$(ProjectDir)Properties\AssemblyInfo.cs">
<Output TaskParameter="Include" ItemName="AssemblyInfoFiles" />
</CreateItem>
This is what I have for now. It's not bad but it's not enough because on the "drop" folder (the folder where tfs puts the output of the build) I don't have the zip files that are generated by the msbuild tasks. I will save this for another day!
Tuesday, December 04, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
The most amazing week in London so far
The last few days here have been
amazing! London is a continuous surprise and unexpected is sometimes
so unexpected!
Last week a colleague of mine invited
me to a show. She sad it was something really interesting and very
difficult to get tickets for. I usually say yes to wherever they
invite me, and this time wasn't an exception. So on Sunday we went to
Stratford to attend the “bum bum train”. First of all let me tell
you it's something I can't talk much about because it's a kind of a
secret. I mean, people are invited not to talk about it too much to
not ruin the surprise to other people who may go to the show. Anyway
the least I have to say is that is an inspiring and overwhelming
experience. Something you should try at least once in your life.
Unfortunately it's sold out for this year until September so if you would ever like to go you will need to wait for the next year. But if
you'll ever have the chance to go listen to me: go! Just one
suggestion: get involved. Really!
On Thursday I went to see Mika again!
This time it was a real show, not a short gig like the one I saw at
Lovebox. The show was in Heaven club, actually the most famous gay
club in London. I don't care! I just wanted to see Mika on a proper
venue. Again, amazing! The show did last at least one hour and half.
One song after another. All people singing and screaming. He
performed really well, singing some of the new songs from the new
album that is going to release on September. When he went back stage
at the end of the show all people were screaming “Mika, Mika” so
he came out and performed the song that gives the title to the new
album “The origin of love”: a really touching interpretation.
So you could say that it was enough!
And here it comes the unexpected...
I was drinking a beer with my
colleagues after work talking about the olympics and the pain that
will cause to the transports and to the people that actually lives
and works here in London. I was feeling like kind of lucky to be
quite far from the crowd and the traffic that the opening ceremony
starting in less than three hours would have caused. And then the
call... Luigi I have a spare ticket for the ceremony: would you like
to come?.................................... Are you kidding me?
Yes!!!!
So I started to run! I needed to be on
the other side of London in an hour or so. I left my bike in the
office run to the tube than back the office (I forgot the house keys
in the back pack) then back again to the tube. Took the central line
to Stratford from Hanger Lane. After 40 minutes I was in Stratford.
From there I took the DLR and finally I was behind the shopping
centre. Lucky me, I was in time!
So we entered the stadium area and
passed all the security checks. It was like an airport checkin. Then
we went towards the stadium and finally got into it. And then again
another surprise. We wouldn't have been on the terraces. We were
going to see the show from a very different perspective: from the
middle of it!!!
So we entered the “standing area”
and then they locked us in. We couldn't get out of there for reasons
you can imagine. So they started to train the audience for how to
take part of the show. Every seat had a led lamp they could use to
make choreographies. Then at 9pm the show begun.
There were too much things. A lot of
people involved. A lot of things. You probably have seen that on the
tv. But being there was so exciting.
One of the most spectacular thing was
the rings fireworks they did in the first part of the show. Most of
the people saw it from a side or over it on the tv. But I actually
saw it from the under. Probably the best view!
After the first part completed the
athletes of each nation started to come into the stadium. This part
wasn't so exciting at least not until the italian's athletes came
out. So I run to the rail. They were there at no more than 2 meters.
I screamed and took a whole lot of pictures!
And in the end the GB team came out and
all the stadium went crazy. Then there were a few people talking and
finally they light up the torch. And then everybody home!
Saturday, June 23, 2012
The bus drivers strike
Yesterday I went to an Italian restaurant. We wanted to have a real Italian dinner. We went to "La porchetta" in Holborn. It's a really nice and friendly place. The waitress and the manager were both Italians. It didn't take too long for us to become best friends! We had some italian red wine: 1 litre actually! It was really good. Also the "bruschetta" and pasta were really good. And finally the "tiramisu" and italian coffee. Good! I was missing all that.
After that we want to the Sway Bar that is not too far from the restaurant. Again a nice place. There were two dance floors with different music. We had some fun there for a couple of hours. When it was almost two o'clock we decided to quit. Valentina took a ride to Willesden Green and I started to wait for the N207. But it didn't took too long before I understood that it would have never come. I still didn't know why. Anyway I decided to get the first bus towards west in order to try to reach Acton with some other routes. In the bus I discovered that there a were a strike! The first after 30 years!!! Fuck! The bus drivers are complaining because for the Olympics they want them to work more but they don't want to pay them more. They are absolutely right! But the point is that people needs to get home in some way during the night and there aren't so much alternatives. So I got off the bus at Marble Arch. Still far from Acton but a little bit nearer. There I waited for the 390 and I reached Notting Hill Gate. And then I found myself stuck! Fuck! There where no more buses towards west!
Don't ask me how... actually here it's something that happens continuously... I met a Californian girl with his boyfriend: an half Finnish half Italian guy with some punk style hair. And after one minute another guy came and the minute later the four of us we were sharing a taxi to Ealing Broadway (that is beyond Acton). It was a really strange situation on the ride to Acton. Talking with this people... really crazy. I don't know how to explain the situation. It was like a movie.
After that we want to the Sway Bar that is not too far from the restaurant. Again a nice place. There were two dance floors with different music. We had some fun there for a couple of hours. When it was almost two o'clock we decided to quit. Valentina took a ride to Willesden Green and I started to wait for the N207. But it didn't took too long before I understood that it would have never come. I still didn't know why. Anyway I decided to get the first bus towards west in order to try to reach Acton with some other routes. In the bus I discovered that there a were a strike! The first after 30 years!!! Fuck! The bus drivers are complaining because for the Olympics they want them to work more but they don't want to pay them more. They are absolutely right! But the point is that people needs to get home in some way during the night and there aren't so much alternatives. So I got off the bus at Marble Arch. Still far from Acton but a little bit nearer. There I waited for the 390 and I reached Notting Hill Gate. And then I found myself stuck! Fuck! There where no more buses towards west!
Don't ask me how... actually here it's something that happens continuously... I met a Californian girl with his boyfriend: an half Finnish half Italian guy with some punk style hair. And after one minute another guy came and the minute later the four of us we were sharing a taxi to Ealing Broadway (that is beyond Acton). It was a really strange situation on the ride to Acton. Talking with this people... really crazy. I don't know how to explain the situation. It was like a movie.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
A month later, still in London
It's been a month since I updated my blog. Really a lot of things happened and I didn't had the time to write it down all nor a little of it.
So let's start from the end.Yesterday I watched the Italy vs Ireland match. I went to Mattia's house with his colleagues. I took with me the champagne I won singing at Roadhouse, so now it's gone and I need to go there again to win another one! The evening was amazing: we had some real Italian typical food from Naples and Rome. Just to name one we had some original "taralli".
Sunday, the 17th, I went to Lovebox. It is a concert in Victoria park with a lot of artists and three or four different stages. I went there to see Mika. He was amazing as usual but he just played for half an hour. So bad! I saw also Grace Jones closing the event and some other more or less known artists. I stood up for ten hours and now after two days I don't feel really good yet.
Friday I went to Guanabara! When they told me the name I was thinking it was a joke. In Italy with my friend we usually do word games like this just to name a place that we don't remember the name or doesn't exists at all. But trust me, this is the real name of this place and it exists! It's a Brazilian club near convent garden. It's a really nice place and I went there with some cs friends. There where a Brazilian band performing at the beginning and after 11.30pm they started with the disco music. I enjoyed it and had some fun. After the disco we went to Mc Donalds just to get back some energy. It was 3am and really cold. When I managed to get back to Acton it was 5pm but there where so much light that it did look like a 9am in Italy.
I'm really starting to get busy and it' just two month that I'm here. It's good of course but it's a little stressing.
A couple of weeks ago I bought a bike and now it's more than a week that I'm going to work riding my bike. They call it commuting, but don't ask me the meaning of this word. I'm lucky because it's really just a few miles but it's all uphill. I always thought that London was plain but again I was wrong. Of course when I go back home it's all downhill so it gets really relaxing.
The job is going pretty much good. After the initial couple of boring weeks now it's getting more interesting and I'm starting to work on something I'm more used to. I'm also starting to better understand people, even if I still have some difficulties when they speak fast or have strange or unknown accents.
I was thinking about going back to Italy on September for an holiday to see my friends but I got intrigued by a colleague proposal to go to a really interesting place... I need the passport!
So let's start from the end.Yesterday I watched the Italy vs Ireland match. I went to Mattia's house with his colleagues. I took with me the champagne I won singing at Roadhouse, so now it's gone and I need to go there again to win another one! The evening was amazing: we had some real Italian typical food from Naples and Rome. Just to name one we had some original "taralli".
Sunday, the 17th, I went to Lovebox. It is a concert in Victoria park with a lot of artists and three or four different stages. I went there to see Mika. He was amazing as usual but he just played for half an hour. So bad! I saw also Grace Jones closing the event and some other more or less known artists. I stood up for ten hours and now after two days I don't feel really good yet.
Friday I went to Guanabara! When they told me the name I was thinking it was a joke. In Italy with my friend we usually do word games like this just to name a place that we don't remember the name or doesn't exists at all. But trust me, this is the real name of this place and it exists! It's a Brazilian club near convent garden. It's a really nice place and I went there with some cs friends. There where a Brazilian band performing at the beginning and after 11.30pm they started with the disco music. I enjoyed it and had some fun. After the disco we went to Mc Donalds just to get back some energy. It was 3am and really cold. When I managed to get back to Acton it was 5pm but there where so much light that it did look like a 9am in Italy.
I'm really starting to get busy and it' just two month that I'm here. It's good of course but it's a little stressing.
A couple of weeks ago I bought a bike and now it's more than a week that I'm going to work riding my bike. They call it commuting, but don't ask me the meaning of this word. I'm lucky because it's really just a few miles but it's all uphill. I always thought that London was plain but again I was wrong. Of course when I go back home it's all downhill so it gets really relaxing.
The job is going pretty much good. After the initial couple of boring weeks now it's getting more interesting and I'm starting to work on something I'm more used to. I'm also starting to better understand people, even if I still have some difficulties when they speak fast or have strange or unknown accents.
I was thinking about going back to Italy on September for an holiday to see my friends but I got intrigued by a colleague proposal to go to a really interesting place... I need the passport!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
First new job day
Today I had my new job's first day.
I got out of the house 45 minutes before entry time. I thought that was enough to cover less than 4km (2.3mi). I was wrong: the traffic was so jammed that the bus was crawling between cars.
I managed to get just few minutes late. Not bad as a first day!
Someone was so kind to take me to my office and then my new manager introduced me to at least half of the stuff. I could be damn if I remember a name!
I watched a DVD about security. Really interesting... ok really boring! And after that I started to setup my new box with all the stuff I need to do my job. The most interesting part is that they gave me a brand new 24inch LED display. It's amazing to finally work with a screen that can hold all the windows you need at the same time! I never understood why companies in Italy keep on supplying 17inch screens to their developers: it's so stupid!
I had launch with my new Italian colleague: I was so hungry! I ate a lot so during the afternoon, considering also that the setup of all the stuff was taking a lifetime, I risked to fall asleep. Luckily the exit time came to rescue me! For me was really strange to get home at 6 o'clock. I was used to get back far later. And I was hungry again!
With so spare time in the evening I definitely need to find something like a gym. But let's wait for the first earnings to come in before spending more money: it's so weird and painful to pay pounds with euros! For example yesterday I bought some shirts for a total of 100£ that are 125€! To discover that now I will need to buy also the cuff links!
I got out of the house 45 minutes before entry time. I thought that was enough to cover less than 4km (2.3mi). I was wrong: the traffic was so jammed that the bus was crawling between cars.
I managed to get just few minutes late. Not bad as a first day!
Someone was so kind to take me to my office and then my new manager introduced me to at least half of the stuff. I could be damn if I remember a name!
I watched a DVD about security. Really interesting... ok really boring! And after that I started to setup my new box with all the stuff I need to do my job. The most interesting part is that they gave me a brand new 24inch LED display. It's amazing to finally work with a screen that can hold all the windows you need at the same time! I never understood why companies in Italy keep on supplying 17inch screens to their developers: it's so stupid!
I had launch with my new Italian colleague: I was so hungry! I ate a lot so during the afternoon, considering also that the setup of all the stuff was taking a lifetime, I risked to fall asleep. Luckily the exit time came to rescue me! For me was really strange to get home at 6 o'clock. I was used to get back far later. And I was hungry again!
With so spare time in the evening I definitely need to find something like a gym. But let's wait for the first earnings to come in before spending more money: it's so weird and painful to pay pounds with euros! For example yesterday I bought some shirts for a total of 100£ that are 125€! To discover that now I will need to buy also the cuff links!
Sunday, May 13, 2012
We are the italian mob
Yesterday I received my uk debit card! Now I feel more comfortable: I don't clearly understand way but uk people don't like money if it's not coming from an uk account... I really don't get it! But you know, they are strange people and you need to adapt to some of their weirdness. It's fair, I mean: it's their country here!
So I could finally had my mobile contract sim card with three. It was really ugly to have an iphone without a data connection because it really becomes helpful when you need to take a bus to go home and you don't know where the hell you are.
So after having my brand new sim I finally met Mattia. He is a guy from Italy. I never actually met him in person. We have a friend in common who gave me his number before moving to London. He helped me in the first days giving me some advices about how to find a room and a job.
So we went out with some of his colleagues and I had my first after work friday here in London! There were an English guy, another Swedish one, two French guys and then five italians! Actually there were more poeple but I didn't had a chance to speak with them so much to understand where they came from.
We went of course to a pub and tried to get drunk with the discounted drinks but after three of them I was still far from getting drunk. The place was really nice and big. They suggested there could some girls because near this place there is the Lorèal UK office. No luck as usual! There were of course some girls actually but not as many as the huge Lorèal building suggests to be inside it.
We staid there a couple of hours speaking about... you could say about life. Then we took a bus and we went to an italin pizzeria. The pizza wasn't bad, even if I'm not a big fun of the neapolitan one.
After that we went to a pub with a 5£ entry fee. Here in London seems to be common to pay to enter a pub on a friday night. The place was nice and not so crowded so we were also able to speak. I was tired so after an hour or so I decied to quit.
I really met a lot of new people in just one night, more than in the last three weeks I think. But I didn't know what expect me the day after...
So I could finally had my mobile contract sim card with three. It was really ugly to have an iphone without a data connection because it really becomes helpful when you need to take a bus to go home and you don't know where the hell you are.
So after having my brand new sim I finally met Mattia. He is a guy from Italy. I never actually met him in person. We have a friend in common who gave me his number before moving to London. He helped me in the first days giving me some advices about how to find a room and a job.
So we went out with some of his colleagues and I had my first after work friday here in London! There were an English guy, another Swedish one, two French guys and then five italians! Actually there were more poeple but I didn't had a chance to speak with them so much to understand where they came from.
We went of course to a pub and tried to get drunk with the discounted drinks but after three of them I was still far from getting drunk. The place was really nice and big. They suggested there could some girls because near this place there is the Lorèal UK office. No luck as usual! There were of course some girls actually but not as many as the huge Lorèal building suggests to be inside it.
We staid there a couple of hours speaking about... you could say about life. Then we took a bus and we went to an italin pizzeria. The pizza wasn't bad, even if I'm not a big fun of the neapolitan one.
After that we went to a pub with a 5£ entry fee. Here in London seems to be common to pay to enter a pub on a friday night. The place was nice and not so crowded so we were also able to speak. I was tired so after an hour or so I decied to quit.
I really met a lot of new people in just one night, more than in the last three weeks I think. But I didn't know what expect me the day after...
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
London Socialising
After these 3 weeks that I was so busy finding first a room and than a job, during the last few days I was a little bit bored. Considering that Monday was holiday here in London it went even worst because all the shops were closed!
So nowhere interesting to go, no people to go out and have a drink. You start thinking: I need to make some new friends! So I googled around and found a website, citysocialising.co.uk. This website is full of people with my same problem: big city, lot of things and places to go but no one to go with. So I registered and the day after I went to my first city socialising event. I've been in the past to something similar so I found myself quite comfortable. Instead most of the other people were some kind worried at least in the first couple of minutes. But after that couple of minutes everybody start talking with each other without any limitation or problem even the most shy ones. I tried to speak with everybody even if some people formed closed groups where it was difficult to enter the conversation if not jumping in the middle of the group screaming: "please talk to me!!!". In the end I can say I found two or three people that really interested me. Is something that you don't actually decide: is just something that happens or not.
Anyway you meet these people and than what? This is a good question! Hope to find an answer and post it here soon!
So nowhere interesting to go, no people to go out and have a drink. You start thinking: I need to make some new friends! So I googled around and found a website, citysocialising.co.uk. This website is full of people with my same problem: big city, lot of things and places to go but no one to go with. So I registered and the day after I went to my first city socialising event. I've been in the past to something similar so I found myself quite comfortable. Instead most of the other people were some kind worried at least in the first couple of minutes. But after that couple of minutes everybody start talking with each other without any limitation or problem even the most shy ones. I tried to speak with everybody even if some people formed closed groups where it was difficult to enter the conversation if not jumping in the middle of the group screaming: "please talk to me!!!". In the end I can say I found two or three people that really interested me. Is something that you don't actually decide: is just something that happens or not.
Anyway you meet these people and than what? This is a good question! Hope to find an answer and post it here soon!
Friday, May 04, 2012
Looking for a Job in London
This week I started my search for a job.
On Monday I had my first interview. It was a really really long interview lasting 3 hours! I had 2 programming tests and after that a chat with 2 guys, an Italian and an English guy.
I was worried about my English because it's not perfect. But I managed to speak and understand almost everything they asked me. I was quite successful on the interview because the day after the agent called me back because they wanted to see me again for a second interview. So we scheduled a meeting for Thursday.
Meanwhile I kept receiving this calls from other agents. I also had to cancel an application because of the distance.
So yesterday I had this second interview: so another test! Really! I don't like tests! Luckily this was a shorter one even if a question or two put me on a little trouble. Anyway I answered all of them. The manager read the test and without asking me anything he started to call all the other developers. So I met almost the entire development team. They asked few questions about my skills and experience.
Then they started talking to me about the company rules. Here in UK you work 7.5 hours per day and 7 on Friday. They have a dress code from Monday to Thursday but Fridays are casual. Work starts at 9am and ends at 5.30pm. One hour launch break: there are a few places where you can eat hamburgers or some indian or japanese food if you feel brave. I like the company: it's not far from home, there is also an italian guy to have launch together and they have a pool on the rest room: amazing!
I think I made a good impression and they will likely.... no, they will! made me an offer. Let's see what will happen.
This week I also met few people. Actually friends of friends. It feels wierd to have a contact list on your phone of people you do not really know. Anyway you start talking to people and speak about everything and it feels like you have been friends since ages. So I discovered that monday here will be off cause of the bank holiday. And that there will be other two bank holidays at the end of may and in june. I need to start planning holidays!
On Monday I had my first interview. It was a really really long interview lasting 3 hours! I had 2 programming tests and after that a chat with 2 guys, an Italian and an English guy.
I was worried about my English because it's not perfect. But I managed to speak and understand almost everything they asked me. I was quite successful on the interview because the day after the agent called me back because they wanted to see me again for a second interview. So we scheduled a meeting for Thursday.
Meanwhile I kept receiving this calls from other agents. I also had to cancel an application because of the distance.
So yesterday I had this second interview: so another test! Really! I don't like tests! Luckily this was a shorter one even if a question or two put me on a little trouble. Anyway I answered all of them. The manager read the test and without asking me anything he started to call all the other developers. So I met almost the entire development team. They asked few questions about my skills and experience.
Then they started talking to me about the company rules. Here in UK you work 7.5 hours per day and 7 on Friday. They have a dress code from Monday to Thursday but Fridays are casual. Work starts at 9am and ends at 5.30pm. One hour launch break: there are a few places where you can eat hamburgers or some indian or japanese food if you feel brave. I like the company: it's not far from home, there is also an italian guy to have launch together and they have a pool on the rest room: amazing!
I think I made a good impression and they will likely.... no, they will! made me an offer. Let's see what will happen.
This week I also met few people. Actually friends of friends. It feels wierd to have a contact list on your phone of people you do not really know. Anyway you start talking to people and speak about everything and it feels like you have been friends since ages. So I discovered that monday here will be off cause of the bank holiday. And that there will be other two bank holidays at the end of may and in june. I need to start planning holidays!
Friday, April 27, 2012
Home sweet home
Today I finally entered my brand new room. It's in Acton town. The room is not bad. It is quite spacious with a really fast Internet connection, really fast! The guy who manage the house is smart and really helpful: you call him and he fixes things!
These days have been a real nightmare. I travelled with all kind of public transports London can offer, from the underground of course to the buses to the DLR and finally also with the overground! Is there an overground there in London??? Yes there is! I saw most of the areas of London in this research. I think that I found one not so central and not so amazingly well connected with the transports but it's a nice area and on the opposite side of the Olympics games: I think that on that days it will be impossible to travel here. Anyway you see different places and things and you end up adapting your initial perspective to the real world.
So this afternoon I went buy all the dishes, pillows, duvet and all the staff for the house. Because they really don't give you nothing. Now I'm really tired and I just want to sleep. Yawn yawn
These days have been a real nightmare. I travelled with all kind of public transports London can offer, from the underground of course to the buses to the DLR and finally also with the overground! Is there an overground there in London??? Yes there is! I saw most of the areas of London in this research. I think that I found one not so central and not so amazingly well connected with the transports but it's a nice area and on the opposite side of the Olympics games: I think that on that days it will be impossible to travel here. Anyway you see different places and things and you end up adapting your initial perspective to the real world.
So this afternoon I went buy all the dishes, pillows, duvet and all the staff for the house. Because they really don't give you nothing. Now I'm really tired and I just want to sleep. Yawn yawn
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Baby on board
You see a lot of funny strange things on the tube. For example someone like me sitting alone and laughing. I was looking at my name on the receipt and thinking: this guy has really strange way to write the "i". It's more like an "e". Than suddenly I understood: I spelled my name in Italian!!!! But only the vocals! Stupid boy! It was so funny and I was so tired so I laugh to cry.
Anyway the best for today was this woman sitting in front of me. She had a pin with the underground logo and a notice you usually find beside cars: "Baby on board". I staid a little bit astonished in the first place. Than I understood: she was pregnant! Oh she was so amazing :-)
My research for a room is hopefully coming to an end. I won't say anything until I have the house keys but I hope for best, always expecting the worst of course. Tonight I will sleep in this 12 beds shared room. I already met some interesting people but it won't be a pleasant and quiet night...
Anyway the best for today was this woman sitting in front of me. She had a pin with the underground logo and a notice you usually find beside cars: "Baby on board". I staid a little bit astonished in the first place. Than I understood: she was pregnant! Oh she was so amazing :-)
My research for a room is hopefully coming to an end. I won't say anything until I have the house keys but I hope for best, always expecting the worst of course. Tonight I will sleep in this 12 beds shared room. I already met some interesting people but it won't be a pleasant and quiet night...
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Bad day
Today has been a really bad day. I should have go to see 3 places in the painful research for a room in London. Each of the people I had an appointment with, texted me that they couldn't make it. Argh! Ok I think that you just need to relax and take it easy, or keep calm as they say.
There are some days like this in life that anything you do works and this is exactly one of that days. So I went back to the hostel had dinner and planned to have some relax. Instead I found this model guy I met this morning that is sharing the room with me. He is from Greece really funny. He showed me also his book: I just can't avoid to think about Zoolander (the film). So I ended up going down to the dinner room with him to do some computer staff and have some English chat. So again looking for a room!
Now I'm really tired and the research is over, at least for today. Tomorrow will be another day. Unfortunately I will need to leave this fantastic Palmers Loundge hostel for another that... oh I don't want to think about this now.
Let's hope to find soon a room and finally have the time to relax a little bit.
There are some days like this in life that anything you do works and this is exactly one of that days. So I went back to the hostel had dinner and planned to have some relax. Instead I found this model guy I met this morning that is sharing the room with me. He is from Greece really funny. He showed me also his book: I just can't avoid to think about Zoolander (the film). So I ended up going down to the dinner room with him to do some computer staff and have some English chat. So again looking for a room!
Now I'm really tired and the research is over, at least for today. Tomorrow will be another day. Unfortunately I will need to leave this fantastic Palmers Loundge hostel for another that... oh I don't want to think about this now.
Let's hope to find soon a room and finally have the time to relax a little bit.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
The origin of Love by Mika
I really just can't wait to listen the new Mika album, the 3rd one. There are some unreleased songs on youtube that you can listen to like "You made me" and "Underwater". They are so amazing and really ...oh I have no words to describe that.
I think that an extract from underwater lyric can say everything:
"Cause all I need
Is the love you breathe
put your lips on me
and I can live
under water, under water,
under water!
Under water!"
These are probably two of the songs that there will be on the album but no one can say that apart from the author of course. Anyway the album theme is "love" as Mika said in some interview or on his blog. Hope to find both songs there and really can't wait to listen to the other ones.
Just listen to this song. It's amazing!
I think that an extract from underwater lyric can say everything:
"Cause all I need
Is the love you breathe
put your lips on me
and I can live
under water, under water,
under water!
Under water!"
These are probably two of the songs that there will be on the album but no one can say that apart from the author of course. Anyway the album theme is "love" as Mika said in some interview or on his blog. Hope to find both songs there and really can't wait to listen to the other ones.
Just listen to this song. It's amazing!
Finding a room in London
Yeah, finding a room in London is A PAIN!!!
First you need to find a website to look for the room. In the Internet era there's no better way and probably the only one.
So I subscribed to uk.easyroommate.com. I also paid to be a premier member and see people's phone number. Wasted money! I never had a reply from anyone on the website and really I spent quite a few hours writing messages email sms and whatever. No way.
So I went to gumtree.com as more than one person suggested to me. This is really the way go. You get the latest advertisements inserted directly from the people renting the rooms. Of course you need to read carefully and pay attention because lot of the ads are from agents. I have no idea what can happen to you with an agent but really, I don't want to pay someone to find a room I can find myself. Of course if you are busy and have a job, than it can be helpful.
Anyway I started calling them by phone. No answers! Argh! What the hell they want me to do? I felt kind of disappointed. Then after some try and fail I finally understood: you need to send them an sms! Probably they have really a lot of people calling them and they can't answer all. Probably they are working and can't answer. With text I started getting replies and now I'm starting to see (or viewing as they say) some rooms. Yesterday I went to see a room near Elephant and Castle. Ok not so near depending if you consider 20 minutes walk "near". The house outside and also the area itself wasn't something you call nice. Anyway the flat and the room inside where really nice and also the landlord was really a kind person.
Today I'm going to see some others rooms and then I will decide. Booking an hostel here during the weekends seems something like a mission impossible. If I won't find a room before Thursday, I will sleep in a 15 beds shared room in some touristic area near some crowded touristic place. I really hope to not need to do this!
First you need to find a website to look for the room. In the Internet era there's no better way and probably the only one.
So I subscribed to uk.easyroommate.com. I also paid to be a premier member and see people's phone number. Wasted money! I never had a reply from anyone on the website and really I spent quite a few hours writing messages email sms and whatever. No way.
So I went to gumtree.com as more than one person suggested to me. This is really the way go. You get the latest advertisements inserted directly from the people renting the rooms. Of course you need to read carefully and pay attention because lot of the ads are from agents. I have no idea what can happen to you with an agent but really, I don't want to pay someone to find a room I can find myself. Of course if you are busy and have a job, than it can be helpful.
Anyway I started calling them by phone. No answers! Argh! What the hell they want me to do? I felt kind of disappointed. Then after some try and fail I finally understood: you need to send them an sms! Probably they have really a lot of people calling them and they can't answer all. Probably they are working and can't answer. With text I started getting replies and now I'm starting to see (or viewing as they say) some rooms. Yesterday I went to see a room near Elephant and Castle. Ok not so near depending if you consider 20 minutes walk "near". The house outside and also the area itself wasn't something you call nice. Anyway the flat and the room inside where really nice and also the landlord was really a kind person.
Today I'm going to see some others rooms and then I will decide. Booking an hostel here during the weekends seems something like a mission impossible. If I won't find a room before Thursday, I will sleep in a 15 beds shared room in some touristic area near some crowded touristic place. I really hope to not need to do this!
Saturday, April 21, 2012
London night out
I'm kind of used to weird things. Meaning they happen to me quite often. I really never understood if I'm kind of attracted to them or if they are attracted to me.
Anyway last night I went out with a friend. She is an italian girl so, as all italian girls that go out in the evening, she was dressed like we were going to opera or a gala. Instead we went to this gay bar... she insisted don't ask! It was kind of funny with these people playing karaoke and some of them was drag queens. They didn't want me to sing, they said too late.
After a while we got tired of the place so we went to brick lane. In London you have two choices: spend a lot of money or walk. So we walked a lot! First to find a place and then to go back home. And se had heels of course! After few "try and run away" we finally found this "93 feet east" club. It was nice considering the other places around. The club was free to enter. There was a dance floor. A lot of young people, probably in a school trip. Drinks where a little bit scarse but I can't compare them with other places here. They closed at 1am that is really early for us but not for them. I'll need to shift my behaviour to get used to this.
To close the evening we went eat the tipical brick lane beigel. In italian we would say... "un panin"! It was good but really too cold.
The bus ride back home took really a long long time and it was also really crowded so we were standing for most of the trip.
Now I'm in the hostel. They have this bad change thing so that you are left without a room for 3 hours. It's a little bit of a pain but also an excuse to weak up early and update your blog.
It's time to go back to my holy dicking!
Anyway last night I went out with a friend. She is an italian girl so, as all italian girls that go out in the evening, she was dressed like we were going to opera or a gala. Instead we went to this gay bar... she insisted don't ask! It was kind of funny with these people playing karaoke and some of them was drag queens. They didn't want me to sing, they said too late.
After a while we got tired of the place so we went to brick lane. In London you have two choices: spend a lot of money or walk. So we walked a lot! First to find a place and then to go back home. And se had heels of course! After few "try and run away" we finally found this "93 feet east" club. It was nice considering the other places around. The club was free to enter. There was a dance floor. A lot of young people, probably in a school trip. Drinks where a little bit scarse but I can't compare them with other places here. They closed at 1am that is really early for us but not for them. I'll need to shift my behaviour to get used to this.
To close the evening we went eat the tipical brick lane beigel. In italian we would say... "un panin"! It was good but really too cold.
The bus ride back home took really a long long time and it was also really crowded so we were standing for most of the trip.
Now I'm in the hostel. They have this bad change thing so that you are left without a room for 3 hours. It's a little bit of a pain but also an excuse to weak up early and update your blog.
It's time to go back to my holy dicking!
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Moving to London
Really a lot to say but also really few, if any, ideas about how to write them down.
Now I'm sitting in this really noisy dirty crowded hostel "Number 8". Full of Italians!
I came here for various reasons most of them are still obscure to me, but of course one was to improve my English and in two days I had really few chance to speak it. These London people are really strange. They do all the opposite we are used to, like for example driving on the wrong side (yes wrong!) of the street. But I also discovered that, contrary to what we are actually used to think, they are not so "advanced" as one (me) would expect: it's an important and popular fact that things are not always what they seems!
It's just the beginning of course, a first impression.
I would love to write down here more in the few days and week. Writing about the people you leave behind and the new one you meet and all the weird things that will happen to me. Anyway now I'm tired and running out of ideas so fast that it's really time to stop. More to come in the next posts if there will be...
Just one last thing. If you ever come to London don't forget to take with you your bathrobe because here they sell it only during the Christmas holidays... at least this is the explanation the saleswoman gave me for the fact that any shop in London sells them.
Now I'm sitting in this really noisy dirty crowded hostel "Number 8". Full of Italians!
I came here for various reasons most of them are still obscure to me, but of course one was to improve my English and in two days I had really few chance to speak it. These London people are really strange. They do all the opposite we are used to, like for example driving on the wrong side (yes wrong!) of the street. But I also discovered that, contrary to what we are actually used to think, they are not so "advanced" as one (me) would expect: it's an important and popular fact that things are not always what they seems!
It's just the beginning of course, a first impression.
I would love to write down here more in the few days and week. Writing about the people you leave behind and the new one you meet and all the weird things that will happen to me. Anyway now I'm tired and running out of ideas so fast that it's really time to stop. More to come in the next posts if there will be...
Just one last thing. If you ever come to London don't forget to take with you your bathrobe because here they sell it only during the Christmas holidays... at least this is the explanation the saleswoman gave me for the fact that any shop in London sells them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)