Part 3: Friends in London

This is my friend Bader Mirza, he's half Egyptian and half Iraqi. He's very nice. I met him at the Queens Hotel when I was staying there. He worked part time as the reception desk. He was a first class gentleman, and would always carry my grocery upstairs. When I was sick he brought me some chicken soup to my room. I never forget his kindness, even though he's very mischievous. He also would invite me to all these parties with this Shiek that he met in his last trip to Dubai. Apparently, for such a humble job he had, he knew all these Sheiks and used to go to all these parties in London's classiest hotels. Bader means Moon in Arabic. He would call himself the King Bader, and he would call me Princess.

Aniello and Samantha Baldini in Twickenham, London

When, I first came to London, I did the COUCH SURFING thing . I stayed with this really charming Italian couple. Samantha's house always smelled like the LUSH store. I cooked a few times for them, and one time I made a Spanish  Tortilla and it landed on the floor instead of the pan. They were both very gracious about it.  They lived in Charming Twickenham, about 30 minutes outside of Central London. You had to take a train from Waterloo to get there. Twickenham is the home of the great rugby matches and the home of Orleans House. Well, Sammy and Annielo were very nice to me and made me feel at home. They also let me stay a bit longer, which I am very grateful, they left to go to Italy for about 4 days and left me the keys to their house. It was a great respite for me, at the time, because I after staying in noisy and populated hostels, I needed some private time to myself. It seems like my whole time I was in London I was always blessed with unexpected suprises and people supporting my life.  I was very much in rhythm. Sammy and Annielo, if your reading this, your the best, if you come to Los Angeles, mi casa es su casa. Millie Bacis. By the way, Annielo you look like Andrea Boccelli.

Hector is a reporter for BBC Latin America and I met him in London.

We met here at the Dublin Castle, where the 80's Ska Group Madness got their start.

Tanya Kwiez at Planet Organic Notting Hill

I used to go to Planet Organic practically everyday to stock up on vitamins and get a hot cup of tea during a break. The Internet cafe I went to was just across the street so I would often pop in just for a break of a cup of tea or some yogurt. I met the nicest people that worked there. Tanya Kwiez is a volunteer for project Watoto. Every year she goes to Africa and voluneteers at Paradiso orphanage with Project Watoto.

If you would like to work as a Volunteer or Donate to Project Watoto, please, go to http://www.projectwatoto.com.au/

This is Heather Bowie,we met walking down Westbourne Grove street she asked me for directions in my neighborhood.  (I used to walk down Westbourne Grove and take it all the way to Notting Hill and then famous Porto Bello Road.). Heather Bowie hails from South Africa, and is of Scottish descent,  and we planned to go to Scotland together but never got around. She's very cuteand always sweet. She works in the fashion industry in London.

Sabrina's London Diaries: Part 1: Friends in London

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Part 3: Peace in the Middle East Tosos in London Monday Nights

Me, with four other Israeli Buddhist. Roshashana - The Jewish New Year- October 2008.

 Chanting for Peace inthe Middle East. This photo was taken with a group of Israelis, who also happen to be  Nicheren Buddhist,and chant a mantra ( Nam Myoho Renge Kyo), to awaken one's Buddha nature.Every Monday night, there is a tozo (an extended prayer session for more than 1 hour) for Peace in the Middle East.


Will there ever be Peace in the Middle East? Maybe not tomorrow, or the immediate future, but who knows maybe one day there will be peace in the Holy Land. The Zionist movement was created because the Jewish people have been a homeless people since the time of ancient Egypt. Israel was created in the forties right after World War 2 to create a homeland. But, Zionism started much earlier than this. If you like Literature, read Daniel Deronda (Oxford World's Classics)one of my favorite books written by George Eliot, she writes about Zionism in Victorian London. 

Perhaps,finally they will have a place to call their own without intervention from the United States, without dissension and agrimony from Palestininans. At last, Israel will at last have a harmonioius homeland.And,the Palestinians who have suffered tremendously against the very powerful force of the Israeli army, will also have PEACE. At this point, there can be no more blaming the other side. Each person, has to fight with their own fundamental darkness for there to be lasting peace, just like in your own family.

Either way, it is never a waste of time or waste of energy to do something positive for the world. To chant for PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.You may think it's naive,a waste of time to chant for Peace in the Middle East. You can think whatever you want. You may rather watch Seinfield with your husband and wife of Monday nights,than get off your tush and chant, but I am going to keep chanting for Peace in the Middle East and so will my other friends.

Me, with Yariv Perelmuter. Yariv is an Israeli Buddhist who has been practicing Buddhism for 5 years.

He's a Comedian/ Social worker. I met him when he was on Holiday in San Francisco and we stayed in touch for about 1 1/2 years, until  I came to London and he "dumped me upon arrival". Literally, just after arriving from Heathrow airport. Well, at least he didn't string me along like so many men do.  He was a bit rude like most Israeli men, but the positive side of being rude is that the people are usually very honest and sincere. My Buddhist training has taught me to see the bright side of everything and everyone.Needless to say, I forgave him, not right away of course, or I would be lying, but after chanting a lot and turning poison into medicine, and doing beaucoup human revolution,  I realize that he was my manivator and I should appreciate him for being a catalyst and getting me to London, otherwise, I just would have procrastinated. I  wish him all the best with in his life and career. I do hopes he finds the right deodarant and learns how to wash his clothes. ( LOL !) They had this moldy smell on them like he washed them in London rain and never brought them in to dry. Whoosh! and Pewie !! (Anyway, Nothing like a bit of light hearted humor. If you are reading this, I sure hope you can take a joke. God knows you like to dish 'em out. ) If your reading this I am chanting that you find the right anti-perspirant Yariv, or a woman who  can tolerate your Middle Eastern JUNGLE smell. Anyway, Yariv is a very funny and intelligent comedian, his humor is his weapon, making jokes about world issues,he sheds  light on some of the world's heaviest topics in the name of  Kosen Rufu (World Peace.) He didn't have to serve the compulsory 2 years in the Israeli army because he's Diabetic. I told him that was his good fortune. I have a feeling that he could eventually make it as a Comedian. And, I have a feeling I'll eventually find a man that knows a thing or two about hygeine. Everybody will get what they want in the end.

Like Shakespeare said, " All well that ends well".

It's really a wonderful world !

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Harry Potter's London

Harry Potter is myth, legend and inspiration to many people, both children and adults alike. The movies have been a phenomena in modern pop culture. I am still amazed how a young single mom would write these stories on a napkin, while writing she was receiving govement assisstance, wrote these magnficent stories for children that turned out to be such an amazing success. Her story inspires me just as much as Harry's story. I only started and finished reading the first book, Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone.  I have yet to read the others in the series. So, yes, I am still a bit behind in the Harry Potter saga. Still, I was impressed with the storyline, and while watching the movie the settings always seem to transport me to some make believe magical place that only England with all it's grand history, architecture, castles and mystery can evoke.

1. London - Harry communicates with the snake at the Reptile House in London Zoo, Australia House on the Strand was the setting for The Wizard Bank, and King's Cross Station provided platform 9 and 3/4. Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament are seen on Harry's arrival in London.

Platform 9 3/4 Kings Cross Station. London.

Australia House.Strand, London. Home of Wizards Bank in Harry Potter's Movies.

Reptile House. Regents Park Zoo. London.

2. Black Park, Langley, Berkshire - The 600 acre park was used for the movie's Forbidden Forest on the edge of Hogwarts, and out-of-bounds to the students. Hagrid's woodland home is set here too (now demolished).

3. Picket Post Close, Bracknell - the suburban, mock-tudor home of the Dursley.

Picket Post Close. Home of the Dursley's

4 Privet Drive

4. Lacock, Wiltshire - Harry's classroom friends were filmed around Lacock Abbey, a former monastery.

Lacock Abbey

5. Oxford University, Oxfordshire - the ancient university city provided much of Hogwarts' architecture including the school's library and hospital.

Christ Church. Oxford University. Dining Hall in Harry Potter's Movies.

I did manage to get here. It was a very beautiful experience and I felt very at home at Oxford.

6. Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucestershire - magnificent fan vaulted cloisters - setting for ghost scenes

Inside of Gloucestire Cathedral

7. Alnwick Castle, Northumberland - the exterior of the castle is used for exterior Hogwarts shots, the Quidditch match and broomstick lesson is set within the ramparts.

8. Durham Cathedral, this 12th century cathedral provided one of the Hogwart's classrooms. Harry walks through the cloisters of the Cathedral with his owl, Hedwig.

The cloisters is where Harry and his friends walk through

The cloisters, where the monks of Durham carried out their daily life. The cloisters were added in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were rebuilt in 1828. The roof is all that remains of the medieval original.

9. Goathland Station, North Yorkshire - doubled as Hogwart's local station.

Note Bene: I managed to see all the Harry Potter in London and in Oxford film locations, everything else I got from the internet. Perhaps, next time, in the UK, I 'll get to spend more time outside of London. I still would like to see Northern England, especially the Lake District,and the home of Beatrix Potter. As they say there's always tomorrow to make dreams come true.

Cheers,
love, Sabrina




















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The Last Tuesday Society Shop

Taxidermy was quite popular in the Victorian period.  The Victorians were fascinating with collecting stylish clutter. At The Last Tuesdays Society's Shop and Museum, you can unleash your inner gothic Victorian, and can collect all sorts of curiosities.

Photo of Victor Wynd in front of his shop

 Victor Wynd, Director of  The Last Tuesday Society, oversees the events at the Masked Balls, owns and runs The Little Shop of Horrors in Bethnal Green.


The shop of curiosities sells:
 "A wide variety of curiosities and oddities [...] from human fetuses to shrunken heads, chocolate anuses, carniverous plants, orchids and mutated teddy bears, not to mention a fine selection of speciality teas, broken children’s toys and dead plants."

In the Shops discover all kinds of medicinae, zoology , naturalia, osteology (study of bones), entomology ( study of butterflies). In the zoology department you can see all sorts of dead stuffed animals, including a monkey. LondonAntique Taxidermy, Victorian Taxidermy , Contemporary Taxidermy, including Stuffed Birds and Stuffed Animals, Game Heads, Trophy Horns,Skulls and Skeletons, Pickled Specimens,Curiosities,Glass Domes, Cases, Collector's Cabinets.

An Array of Beautiful Butterfly Species at the Shop. Endomology- the study of Butterflies.

Everything is for sell if your interested.

The shop is dedicated to all sorts of weird science and there is a charge to the Museum.

The Little Shop of Horrors Holds a Lecture Series . There you will find classes such as  HENDRICK'S QUARTERLY SEANCE with Richard Wiseman. " Why let Death get in the way of a good conversation."


Enjoy !

Viktor Wynd's Little Shop of Horrors & Museum.
11 Mare Street
Hackney, London E8 4RP
 and is currently open 12-6pm, Friday to Sunday.











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