I know nothing about London even after having lived in England for a good part of 10 years, and yet you could easily run up a London list with 10 staggering facts within a mere span of two weeks!! Well done you, Californication. And given your impeccable travel expertise and in-depth knowledge of the place, those of us with 'no prospective [sic], no future', the poor curry-smelling students us with 'refugee status', could doubtless do with your expert advice on how we could go about raising our 'status' - higher than that of the 'Nepalese kanchha'! Incentives for you there perhaps - next time you take the trouble of visiting us! ************ Dr Stangelove, Thanks for your kind words - what a contrast eh! :-) Yes, the place has become very expensive indeed - just about everything from food, clothes to everyday commodities. Forget about the mortgage bill, high premiums on your veh/home insurance policies etc.. They reckon England has become one of the most expensive countries to live in in the whole of Europe. I might as well pack my kit and head for the Gobi desert or somewhere - at least you don't then need to worry about the the council tax, national insurance contribution, the amazingly mahango monthly fuel/elec bills! :-) Did you have time exploring the West End whilst in London? The threatres, art galleries and every thing else that it is famous for. I am sure, you did, and I am glad that your trip ended on a happy note, unlike this thread's originator's above. Cheerio indeed! :-) *************** globalnepali, Largs?? whereabouts is that?? West coast ray? Towards Loch Lomond, ho? Thanks for sharing. Carpe diem