Life in London....

So having completed a whole six months in London today, I feel obliged to write a bit about life in London...A caveat for all those reading is that my views about London are relative. And relative to the quality of life in India.

First thoughts - Its completely unfair for such a tiny nation to possess so much beauty, both natural and man-made, across its landscape. Every building around town is an architectural marvel. For brits reading it, coming from an Indian, believe me when I say that. Every building across London is an architectural marvel. A clear proof of that is that in all snapshots of India which you see on TV, you are shown a few landmarks - the India gate, the Gateway of India, the Parliament, Victoria memorial, The Taj Mahal etc etc. A selection of colonial landmarks shown as India while the dirt is kept away from the cameras. Similar snapshots of London would show you the streets and roads of London along with the customary buildings. And that is the point. The streets and roads of London are as much a landmark of this country as Westminster abbey.

Public services are efficient. The tube staff are helpful, the London bobbies make you feel safe and the system generally makes you feel at ease. Private services in contrast are lousy, restaurant staff are unfriendly, bank staff are always irritable. This is the exact opposite of what you get to see in India. No private corporation looking at starting its Indian operation soon, should carry this English attitude over. The Indian consumer will annihilate you. Are you listening vodafone...

The countryside is really pretty. Its like a natural golf course all over the place. Self maintained and exotic looking. Temperate weather really does produce a lovely picture. Now that brings us to the weather. Its what I call indecisive nature. The weather just can't seem to make up its mind on how it wants the day to be!! Sunny and cloudless in the morning; cloudy, dark and damp in the afternoon and cold in the evening. For God's sake, make up your mind for atleast one whole day!! And during the summers, the sun literally does not set on the British empire - its usually bright and sunny till around 8 in the night

So how are the people here? Well friendly, nice, prim and proper. They are mostly willing to help you out provided helping you does not make things uncomfortable for them. My first experience of something I had heard a lot about but never experienced in person - The classic British stiff upper lip. Its all about being prim and proper...

More about them in the next couple of articles....

A divided world

Have recently been directed to an interesting website http://www.londoncitizens.co.uk/ and a global story comes home to roost in the capital of Great Britain.

A large group of people belonging to the organisation 'London Citizens' have pitched tents on the lawns to take action so all Londoners can own their own home. They are even having a Tent Warming Party this evening to raise awareness!!

"Our homes, our London is a campaign by the capital's largest and most diverse community alliance to enable thousands of low-income workers to afford their own houses and flats through community land ownership. Hard-working people on moderate incomes used to hope to own their own homes in the course of time. Not any more. House prices have risen by 127% since 1997. The average deposit on a house is now over £51,000.

London is fast becoming two cities: the property owners and the rest. The average homeowner has over £90,000 in equity; the average non-homeowner has £800 in savings.

Now I say, this has been true throughout history!!! Its just that its being felt in the developed world now. Historically, economics has had two driving variables - capital and labour. In the world of capital - you own assets and dependence on labour is minimal. In the world of labour - you slog and slog and slog and then you slog some more to make ends meet. Want to see the visible effects of capital - visit dubai!! You want to see what a world driven by labour looks like? Visit Dhaka!!

The developed world has for centuries been a world where everyone was reasonably well off and therefore everybody could afford and own basic assets. The recent asset bubble however has pushed prices so high that even the developed world is having to work for its assets now and they are not available as a right any more.

Welcome to the real world Londoners...Its not that simple here on. Assets are not a right. They have to be earned.