I'm from London - from the west side (I like to make that distinction, much of the east side is far too 'ghetto wannabe', here it’s just 'ghetto wannabe' whereas there it's just overboard)
Anywayyy naturally I have family and friends who live in London but also those who don't - away from Heathrow Airport and away from all of the mini pro-Asian (is that even a word?) places that everyone, everywhere seems to have heard of i.e. Green Street and Southall (why oh why have you heard of them?!). It seems however that many people outside London think that we speak posh English - (yeh right) perhaps it's because we speak similar to the way the Queen speaks - well pronunciation wise anyway (I hardly think the Queen would say something like "no way man that's crap" 
"Crap you say what what?!")
So yeh my cousins from Leicester seem to particularly think that we speak posh because they say 'graaaasss' instead of 'grarse' or baaaath instead of 'barth' etc etc (I do love their accent though!)
Given I personally don't like to use certain slang vocabulary i.e. 'blad' but soooo many people in London do use it in fact some people don't even sound like they're speaking English let alone speaking posh.
Off the subject slightly, my pops (father/pa/dad/pappy) took us to Bradford last week, where we excitedly took photos around the areas he grew up in (all UPHILL!), where he went to school, the local hospital and so on (To be honest we did feel a little out of place there - accent/word wise at least) but something I noticed: When the shops in the shopping centre (we call it the High Street - Leicester lot call it 'Town') close WHERE DOES EVERYONE GO?! It was seriously Ghost Town - there was no one there! I literally saw like one or two people anddd was able to stand on the road for a good 5 minutes (no I wasn't attempting to get run over) without a single car passing! And wait! Even the local fast food joints shut around 5/6 - seriously what is that about!? Some underground party going on that we don't know about?
Here the High Street is packed hours after the stores close, people are just around you know? It was all rather weird actually, an interesting weird though - different.
But yep this is just a testimony, a solemn attestation (Wikipedia dudes) that here in London we aren't all posh so we don't all speak perfectly and many of us (not all unfortunately!) would rather have your accent than our own!
So yes spiffing weather today, what?
(Actually not especially - it was raining)
Comments
What do you do in the (London) city centre when evreything has closed down?
I would have thought places in London stayed open for longer, but that does not seem to be the case from your blog.
There are probably other places that are open/busier for longer - places where there may be entertainment facilities or food places. The shopping areas though I would expect to be quieter.
In Manchester, Picadilly I think remains busy - but that could be because there is a bus station there.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
Well in the normal High Streets most places close around 5/6/7, Oxford Street, Westfield, and Bluewater vary though depending on the shop and the day..
After everything has closed a lot (seriously) of people hang around really - walking and talking, there's nothing specific that people do, umm it's just that we don't all run home i guess =S
See alongside our bus stations being busy - many of the bus stops are busy-ish too!
Jihad of the Nafs (The Struggle of the Soul)
I don't think the london accent is posh. It's just "normal" if there ever was such a thing.
I get what you mean about quiet places though. Oh i hate quiet roads too, even if they're really nice and everything the quiet-ness of it is kinda creepy and just not something im used to!
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
I knoww! I think it's normal too! (although for some reason the accent sounds weird in films- does anyone else find that?)
Jihad of the Nafs (The Struggle of the Soul)
after listening to the lets talk show i thought about my accent. Ok, i dont speak like teh BBC presenter!!
ohh..by the way. Im an eastender -.- a londonian eastender. ...
LOL!! but i hate slang and only ever speak it when i want to make a fool of my friends or want to show them im not taking what they are saying seriously. i especially hate "innit".
never been southhall, but i live walking distance from Green Street =D. i wouldnt say i hate it (as that might be considered racial abuse) im just going to say i like The High Street Better. (maybe because thats where i "hang" around mostly, as my school is round there and so is mcdonals with its awesome icecream and Primark and Peacock and Pundland and SAm 99 and Poundshops and Bismillah 1 pound and Iceland and Wilkinsons and that expensive shop that sells uniform and LIDL LIDL LIDL LIDL OMG!! i just realise there's also a TESCO now. (WHERE'S ASDA????) and WHSmith and JD and RIsky and Footlocker (i think) OMG WHERE IS SPORTS WORLD???) <--im sorry, blame it on the faasting...
i dont mind quiet street when they are ALWAYS quiet. but when busy places become quiet..thats when it gets scary...its like the place is yearning for people... =/
Yesterday was (i htink) PAkistan's party? So Green street at 00.00 was FAR from quiet.. (dont get ideas, i was coming back from Taraweeh..)
i also never saw High street quiet? might be because ive never been there late at night?
now im thinking about it too much!! ARGHH MY HEAD IT HURTS!!!
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
LOL! I base my 'ghetto wannabe' thing on my cousins AND the people i encounter whenever i'm there - but i do apologise for grouping everyone in the EastEnd!
Green Street and Southall mannnn they are one in the same - so defo not missing much. Oh yes yesterday must have been busy - Pakistan's independence thing, i remember once it took us an hour to get to the end of the road - crazyy, speaking of which Southall must be busy today as it's the Indian independence - (totally not going to check it out!)
Jihad of the Nafs (The Struggle of the Soul)
Oh Lilly you do make me laugh!
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
isnt the west end this really posh area with all the good theatres/cinema?
ive only been in london for 4 years. so i havent mutated in a"ghetto wannabee" yet. and hopefully never will =/ .
but its understandable, i mean, 10/10.5 guys out there wear their pants at their knees -.- and hang out in fastfood shops. if this isnt "guetto" what is?
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
Technically the West End that you're talking about is actually kind of parts of Westminister but you're right, the theatres/cinema is the West End that everyone knows and loves - I on the other hand actually do live on the west side of London (the word 'WESTSIDE' reminds me of ghetto-ism lol)
Gosh yeh - pull them up! Have you noticed that some actually dumb down their vocab to fit in with this ghetto image?
Jihad of the Nafs (The Struggle of the Soul)
we call them "chavs" and sometimes when we're messing around, we imitate them. "hey, so what you doing afterschool?"
"ya tal'in to me? imma gonna hangout spicy chicks (name of fastfood joint) coz, like, im a gansta like, a proper G like, seen my bling?"
once, a dude couldnt resist doing the pants thing with his uniform...hoped of the bus (IN FRONT OF ME) and yeah...tragically...it fell.... >.> <.< >.< Nice. Very.Nice. Comign back from school, after this long day and you get THIS?
Btw, im loving all your article, i love the way you write! (well to be more accurate i love reading what you write) I've only ever seen on in the odd forum topic. but hey!! im glad for all those topics! (even though i would have liked to be spared the smallville discussion, couldnt you guys create a forum topic for this?! loool)
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
Lol i write the random stuff that comes into my head - seriously - but thanks - it made me smile, well grin actually like so -->
The guys at school would say stuff like this: "raaaaahhh that's baaaarrreeee deeep", "dats sick" (i absolutely hated the half word "DAT" or "dere" etc), actually some used to kind of make weird unintelligible noises when they wanted to annoy the heck out of you (well that's what i thought) I had so many more phrases but can't seem to get my brain to remember them at the moment =S
Oh and i really do feel sorry for you about the expos-ay - ergh
Ah and
SMALLVILLE, you can't beat it - i can talk superheroes and classic tv all dayyy! (but yes it would have been more appropriate in a forum)
Jihad of the Nafs (The Struggle of the Soul)
i can tell! lool! (just read the x-men guy who exploded) and lool, im abit like that, except with cartoons.
im crazy about cartoons! (anime included).
the famous "allow it man, allow it" grr....
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
skeeeeeeeeeeeen
na thooo
raaaaaaaa
paired!
to name a very few. cbb to think or type out anymore.
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
Ha, i actually use "allow it man" sometimes
Jihad of the Nafs (The Struggle of the Soul)
you are being taken over by the chavehness!!!
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
I think it's in the airrrr!
Jihad of the Nafs (The Struggle of the Soul)
ireally shouldnt reply to this as it wouldnt be to add anymore info to the convo, plus i found this on page FIVE on recent post.. but im replying to it, just to spam recent post
In the air?? I think its the lack of food...or water..or both? and more..
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
Five - mannnn! Thank you for the revival (get it? heh i know: c-l-e-v-e-r)
I don't think it's the lack of anything since ghetto-ness surrounds us, suffocates us, drownnnss usss dun dun dun
Jihad of the Nafs (The Struggle of the Soul)
i get it!!! o.o for once.. (<--you know, i cant pronounce this word in real life...)
GUETTONESS *dies dramatic, suffocated death*
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
No please no! [cries hysterically]
Jihad of the Nafs (The Struggle of the Soul)
fine... *takes in a deep poluted breath* I'm just gonna go green street and buy myself something or other.. (or go to that place and take a picture of that mural, i've been meaning to do this for ages...but im thinking the light might not be quite right..)
(light, quite, might, right)
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
Niceee, let's try a sentence rhyme next!
Jihad of the Nafs (The Struggle of the Soul)
*blank mind*
ight ight ight! my mouth is stuck!
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
[Throws tomato]
Get off the stage Lilly!
(I'm jokingg!)
Jihad of the Nafs (The Struggle of the Soul)
u can't pronounce 'once'? lol
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
I hate it when someone tells me to "say this" because i say it with that little french accent and im not aware what they want from me and just say it and they are like SEE SEE to their friends.
arent i the freakshow?
com-4-ta-ble
pronounced
comftable
why didnt anyone tell me?
embarrassing
pronounced
---- not sure anymore... :/ anyone wanna help out their french sister here?
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
I lovee telling people with a different accent to mine to say stuff - it usually sounds so cool!
Jihad of the Nafs (The Struggle of the Soul)
no, its embarrasing and makes you feel funny and horrid. freakshow. Like those girls from year 11, when i was a year 9 (i think) and it was my friend's big sis and her friends. and then i dont know (URGH it WAS my fault, me and my big mouth and my talking too much) i started talking and said "once upon a time" but i said "ounce" (still dont know the difference) and that just made them laugh and laugh and..well..laugh and "say it again! please! common say it!!" and then me hiding..and then them tricking me into saying it "i can be SO thick sometimes) and then finally they come down and calm down and then they finally tell me how to rightly pronounce it and then i practise pronouncing it until a) i get it or b) they start laughing again.
Often the helping part doesnt happen.
but i guess its better than when some random person comes up to you and say "you're the french girl right? BONJOURRRRRRRRRR say something in french!!"
-what shall i say?
-anything! I LOVE FRENCH!!
-i dont really know...
-Anything man!! Comment-tu t'appelles?
-mutters the answer in an english accent or overly french accent to make them happy.
where was i? ahh yes, freakshow.
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
ok fine, i sound like a really depressed emo freak,
I LOVE ALL MY FANS!!! AND MY FRENCHINESS GAVE ME A BOOST IN POPULARITY!!! and when im sick of people correcting me i put on a horrible french accent and purposefully say words a certain way to make english lillyfied
like hilarious.
i say hi-lA-rious
and there was another one but i cant remember.
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
I'm sorry but i might be like that girl (not the meany kinda haha lets laugh at you one) but the other 'I LOVE FRENCH' maniac. i would say all these random french sentences too!
Jihad of the Nafs (The Struggle of the Soul)
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