 Hundreds of thousands of council workers went on a 48-hour strike on Wednesday across the UK in protest of the lower than inflation rate pay raise of 2.45%. The unions rejected what they termed as a pay cut with prices of utilities, food and other essential items outpacing what the government offered their members.
With more than half a million council workers involved, the strikes could have paralysed entire cities by removing services such as schools, leisure centres, museums, art galleries, theatres, nurseries, youth centres and other basic amenities (rubbish collection etc.). Also included are coastguard staff, driving centres.
Employers across the country braced themselves for the mother of all strikes, which somehow didn't materialise. Bosses claimed that around 100,000 took part in the strikes and only 8% of total workforce were affected. But will this be an inkling of what is to come?
The background for the strikes
 There was a major crackdown on unions during the Thatcher era; images of policemen on horseback running through picket lines still haunt the nation. It was also a period when inflation was rampant and the Iron Lady did what she had to do. As a result, the people were forced to swallow the bitter pill and inflation was reined in.
With Labour in power, the unions, which traditionally form the party's bedrock of support, grew stronger year after year. It was not too bad during the Blair years when years of prosperity saw income increasing steadily. Brown's taking over marked the end of a bountiful era with credit crunch and rocketing oil prices.
 With cost of living increasing, there were talks of industrial action by unions representing different segments of the workforce. The Labour Party, not wanting to incur the wrath of their traditional supporters, failed to quell those dissenting voices. Instead of putting down the first of the strikes, Labour compromised and gave in to the union's demands. As a result, other unions follow suit and that led to the council workers going on the 48 hour strike.
more to come... Will it work? and Endgame...
 Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, a major production, which lies in the league as The Phantom of the Opera, tells of the story of Jean Val Jean, an ex-convict who could not escape his past.
Like the Phantom, Les Mis has been conducting a couple of world tours and has been in Singapore for at least once if my memory serves me right. I've never watched the play when it went to Singapore but I've been told that the travelling cast is nowhere as good as the one based in London.
Probably because of the thinking that Les Mis might visit Singapore again, we were never too eager to catch it in London , giving preference to lesser known plays that would never set foot in Singapore.
Well, when we finally decided to watch it last Saturday, it totally blew us away. Oh yes, it did.
Cast
This large scale production boost a cast of more than twenty (I suspect much more) members. With a couple of recognizable characters, it's not possible to recycle actors and actresses to take on more than one role.
Though the main characters (there are a couple) generally possesses well endowed voices, the main actor to look out for is the one who take on the role of Javert, a policeman who was bent on capturing Jean Val Jean. His baritone voice carried through the theatre magnificently and you could feel his anguish when faced with the dilemma towards the end of the play.
Also look out for a boy who acts as Gavroche, a young street urchin. His clear and cheeky voice captures the hopes of the youths in the chaotic situation that engulfed 19th century France .
Props
 But what distinguishes Les Mis from the rest is its use of the 'circular' stage. By rotating the stage and the clever use of lights, props and settings can be changed while causing absolutely no disruptions to the play.
In fact, scenes that depict people walking along distances were done seamlessly. Look out for the scene when Jean Val Jean carried an injured Marius through the sewers and you'll know what I mean.
Verdict
Les Mis, without a doubt is worth the relatively high ticket price of £41.25 (inclusive of TKTS's admin charge). Even to those who are unfamiliar with the turmoil that swept 19th century France, Les Mis will prove to the story very well indeed.
To those who have read the 1200-page original unabridged version, this play will bring to life those characters that have been so strongly portrayed in what was purported to be the story of the century.
Read also...
The 39 Steps (Criterion Theatre) review
Boeing Boeing... vs Absurd Person Singular
The Woman in Black
 Last Sunday's fantastic weather was a respite from the gloomy and mostly overcast skies that plagued London for the most last week. It's one of those days when you feel like basking in the sun. Well, we went one step further, we went boating at Hyde Park.
After our boating experience in Wales , it wasn't too difficult to get Wife onto a rowboat now that she is absolutely convinced of my rowing prowess. In other words, there's little chance of the boat sinking.
What surprised us was that we were charged on a per-person instead of per-boat basis; instead of £8/hr/boat (in Wales ), it cost us £8/hr/person. I began to wonder whether it's actually worth it for those who actually squeeze four onto a single boat. Well, there is another option to pay £6 per person for 30min but it doesn't really make much economic sense, does it?
Anyway, after the initial paddles trashing and boat rocking we were on our way. Steering the boat gingerly through the flotilla of paddle and rowing boats and out of harm's way required my vast rowing experience gathered over the years (a grand total of two hours behind the paddles, add 30min more if you include the dry run when I was 14).
20min passed when we were finally in the clear, out came the camera and picture taking took up another 15min. Then I got the funny idea that my wife should be handling the paddles while I enjoy the view. Actually she handed them pretty well considering that there was an idiot on board who was waving madly at every passing boat.
 There's something about boating. It's like driving along a windy path on a clear day. It just seems so right to be in the middle of a lake, just me, my boat and my wife. It felt pretty therapeutic in fact... would be better if the lake is bigger and there was less water traffic around though.
Before long, we were heading back to the pier. Not because the time is up (it was anyway) but I was worried that my muscle aches, which was setting in, would prevent me from getting the boat back. Though I think there will be some rescue boats coming if I begin to wave my shirt around but I wouldn't count on that.
Well, if you're in the vicinity, why not head down towards Serpentine at Hyde Park? If you see a guy waving his shirt around in the middle of the lake, that'll me.
 As the number of knife crimes climb steadily in the whole of UK with London over-represented in terms of population, the new knife crime tsar, Police chief Alf Hitchcock, proposed the revival of national service for unemployed youths. On the other hand, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith proposes a much toned down initiative that reads remarkably similar to my earlier post.
Although the proposed national service is quite different from the military based one that was enforced in the UK between 1945-1963, it nevertheless hopes to achieve similar outcomes: to instil a self discipline and increase self esteem in these youths.
However, unlike the national service shelved in the 60s, Hitchcock's proposal has the additional element of promoting empathy where youths will be drafted to help out at elderly or disabled homes or be involved in overseas aid programs.
Will it work?
Singapore currently requires all able bodied males to serve for two years in the military national service. Males would have to leave the comfort of their homes at the age of 18 to learn weapons handling skills, combat survival skills and hopefully leadership skills.
 For 24 months, these young men would have to put aside their education and subject themselves to the military regime, which can be harsh at times. Crimes committed while in national service is kept at a minimal as the perpetrators would be handed by the military court, which punishment involved the much feared detention barracks.
Hitchcock's proposal, however, is obviously more of a community service rather than the national service that we are more familiar with. Looking at the wide range of activities proposed, the main concern would be coordination and implementation. Instead of dealing with just one organization (i.e. the Army), the department-in-charge would have to liaise with thousands of groups with different objectives in mind. As such, youths may face different standards and expectations, which will ultimately lead to the demise of the scheme.
On the other hand, national service is undoubtedly an avenue where a young adult will get to make firm friends who are likely to stay with them well into their adulthood. The friendship forged will hopefully serve as the bedrock of support in times of moral dilemma.
However, at the end of the day, the focus cannot be just on prevention alone. For the initiative to have even a fighting chance to succeed, deterrence measures (i.e. swift and tough punishment) must be enforced. Until then, Hitchcock will be going into battle with just one arm.
This chair is to celebrate the life of a young woman who found true love in London. Found just behind the Cathedral in Covent Garden.
.JPG) Melati lies along an inconspicuous street just off Piccadilly Circus. We would have never stumble upon it if not for Toptable. We were looking for an affordable restaurant that serves decent food (in other words, cheap and good) before we catch The 39 Steps.
Melati, which purported to serve "Indonesian, Malaysian and Singaporean" food sounded dubious to me initially. Back in Singapore, I would have given it a wide berth. For the uninitiated, there is a difference between food from these three places. It's liken to a restaurant that boasts about serving Mexican, Texan and Caribbean food.
The service staff, with their Singaporean/Malaysian accents, reminds me somewhat of the staff in Kiasu (along Queensway), is rather cold. It took quite a bit of effort to wrangle a smile from them.
The décor reminds me of a typical Indonesian restaurant with toned down lighting and wooden furniture packed a little too close together. Occupying three floors, it was almost packed when we arrived. If possible I would advice to stick to the ground floor as the second and third floors are almost devoid of ventilation.
The menu, I must say, looks rather authentic with dishes that very well represent the best that Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore have to offer. Hungry for some hometown food, we ordered nasi lemak (£11), Singapore laksa (£9) and char kuey teow (£9) with murtabuk (£6) as starters.
Let's put it this way. This restaurant wouldn't survive a month if it opens up in Indonesia, Malaysia or Singapore. The rice in nasi lemak is devoid of fragrance. In fact, the best part of the meal is the egg, which says much about the dish. Singapore laksa is served with vermicelli and tasted watered down. Char kuey teow is served with keropok and the kuey teow (still clumped together) have absolutely no taste whatsoever. The murtabuk is presented as popiah filled meat mesh.
Without a single iota of doubt, it was one of the worse meal we had. We left the restaurant with an empty stomach and our food barely eaten. That was how bad it was.
.JPG) The verdict? Avoid Melati like plague if you're indeed looking for authentic Indonesian, Malaysian and Singapore food. The taste of the food has been very much watered down (and altered) to suit Londoners' taste. It reminds me of Giraffe's Malaysian laksa, which is served in green curry.
Oh, if you somewhat unfortunately landed in Melati, do check out its toilet. It is, perhaps, the only redeeming feature of the place.
Read also
JoM Makan - the true taste of Malaysia
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Blog Directory ID: 2385
Blog URL: http://singaporeaninlondon.blogspot.com
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Blog Description: London through the eyes of a Singaporeans. Offers humorous insights to the differences in culture. A food and travel blog to boot!
Offers tips for fellow Singaporeans settling in London as well.
Blog Tags: travel - food - blog - Singapore - London - humour - photo - entrecard
Blog Category: Travel Blogs
Blog Owner: ckwoo
Blog Added: April 29, 2008 02:57:19 PM
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