Mark Wu : Design & Art Direction for Digital Media
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In London, knowing what your options are, is enough (for me)

Thursday, 03 January, 2008

I once said to someone that living in London, you have really convenient access to alot of cool things going on, culturally and otherwise. As an international city known for its diversity, this can't be denied.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying London is perfect. I've often wondered whether its crap weather has kept its population indoors in the past, thereby spending more time on creating clever cultural distractions, science and technological advancements and financial figures, fine-tuning them for a profit. You know, those things that have pushed London as a "forward-thinking city, rich in history and accomplishments".

However, with great activities, comes great responsibilities. The pressure and responsibilities of work has often kept me from doing anything else, but work. As I've been my own boss for almost the last decade or so, much of this is self-inflicted I know, but that's not the point here.

If all one does is work eight plus hours a day, and then do nothing (much) in the evening, why not move somewhere else more pleasant to work?

For instance, if it takes an hour's worth of misery to get the tube into town, you could move out to the country instead, and spend an hour on a leisurely walk to a stylish country barn office (fitted with wireless internet and all the mod-cons of course). Or a five minute drive if you can't be bothered - no congestion charging here right?

I guess thousands of people have already known this, have had enough and have left London in droves to furnish their trendy barn offices.

However - what I've realised, is that it doesn't seem to matter in London whether you do make use of all that's going on. It's enough for me to KNOW that things are going on, and that I could go to this, or could go to that. In the end, I'm just too tired to do anything, but I'm satisfied with the knowledge that I could have done this or that.

You don't get the same thing in the country. I know there are things to do, but your options are more limited. And when you've grown up with the ICA, and all the London museums, the Chinatown and cut price Tottenham Court Road gadgets, everywhere else just isn't the same.

I know London has issues but, until knowing that I could be doing something in London, is not enough, I'll stay put, in London.



This entry posted in : News and Views. Living in London.

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Quick intro :

British Chinese, Digital Design Consultant. Professional experience spans over 9 years working on digital design projects for both small and large clients. Read more...

Events attending :
  
28/04/08 :House of Commons :
Barry Gardiner MP Reception
13/04/08 :The BC Project :
Get Active UK - Register to Vote (Chinatown 12 - 4pm)
27/02/08 :The British Chinese Project :
Political Seminar
Hosted by Cllr Thomas Chan
21/02/08 :Five Circles Arts Festival :
Gala Reception
14/02/08 :Cirque Du Soleil - Varekai
10/02/08 :Chinese New Year celebrations in London Chinatown
16/01/08 :The British Chinese Project :
Working Group Meeting
  
Website updates :
  
27/01/08 :Games and Digiquaria wallpaper now added to the Downloads section
  
01/01/08 :Initial version of MarkWu.Info finally live. Lots of refining and adding to do though, so its live, but not really, if you know what I mean...
To Do :
  
Visit China Design Now at the V & A
Sign petition to stop BIA raids on Chinese catering businesses
Absorb The History of Visual Communication
Listen to the Five East Asian Music Acts to watch in 2008
Revisit my childhood
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
  

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