PassiveAggressiveNotes.com » London

The Vicar of Glibly

Kerry — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:05:01 +0000

Spotted by George outside his local church in East London:

related: He died for your clip art

Happy National Sandwich Day!

Kerry — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:10:36 +0000

Would you care to furnish the last line of this haiku?

related: Sandwich guilt

Hampstead Row Houses (and Rows over Houses)

Kerry — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 23:09:35 +0000

David spotted this oh-so-charming scene while cycling through the well-to-do area of Hampstead, London.

Adds David: “The completely knackered fence is in front of an overgrown plot and right next door to a well looked-after house (possibly owned by old folk who are convinced the neighbourhood has gone to ruin.”)

Meanwhile, Alison was a bit perplexed by this note (and the seemingly undisturbed hedge below) in West Hampstead. “I stared at the hedge for ages trying to work out what was wrong with it,” she says. “Finally I just took a picture and ran away.”

extra credit: An American’s Guide to Britishisms [effingpot.com]

Do as I say, not as I do

Kerry — Tue, 03 May 2011 02:43:08 +0000

First up: a peek inside the recently renovated dressing rooms at London’s swank Royal Albert Hall. Adds our submitter: “You can just feel the glamour, can’t you?”

Meanwhile, in the breakroom at Ashley’s office, even snarky responses get their own frames. Now that’s classy.

Mean Mr. Mustard

Kerry — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:54:25 +0000

Abbey Road Studios is a must-see on almost any Beatles aficionado’s tour of London. Once there, a curious sort of tourist delirium seems to take hold. People feel absolutely compelled to recreate the iconic album cover, in the same way that visitors to Pisa just have to get a shot of of themselves holding up the leaning tower.

The only hitch? That famous zebra crossing actually goes across a fully functioning road — one with cars and buses holding people who, one would assume, have better things to do than watch you fiddle with your zoom lens.

Rachel in London was therefore more a little amused to see this note from a fellow local amongst the assorted “I <3 Paul” and “I am the Walrus”-type scrawls that cover the walls near the crossing. ”I love the drawing, as it’s so true,” Rachel says. “It’s just a crossing people!!! It’s not like the Beatles are coming back to see you do this!”

Interestingly, while the Beatles themselves aren’t likely to be watching, thanks to the existence of the (strangely hypnotic) 24-hour Abbey Road webcam, you can actually watch this idiocy as it happens — over and over and over again.

related: Meanwhile, on Portabello Road

extra credit: Photoclichés.com

A review of last night’s performance

Kerry — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:15:00 +0000

Aleister in London found this critique slipped under his door after an impromptu Thursday night sing-along. “I am a big fan of my neighbours’ critical opinion,” Alastair says. “I won’t offer much defense other than that our music selection was exceptional and I was on my way to work when I found it.”

Well done, Flat 3. Dry wit, a soft touch, and lovely handwriting? This is one note that definitely deserves a place of honor on the fridge.

If you absolutely must write a note, I’d say this is how to do it.

Do these stilettos match my broomstick?

Kerry — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:39:18 +0000

Sarah in London found this note — and the cheeky response — posted in the lobby of her former apartment building.

“Entry to the flats is by way of a concrete outside walkway,” she explains. “Unfortunately, if someone has noisy heels, the sound tends to reverberate throughout the building.”

Of course, the above complainer isn’t the only person who has a problem with stilettos…a.k.a. “fucking shoes”?

Please resubmit your inquiry after it has been properly notarized. Regards, your flatmates

Kerry — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:20:37 +0000

S in London says his flatmate was obviously exceedingly upset about his missing can opener. Of course, this being England, the old “stiff upper lip” sometimes still prevails…sort of.

related: memorandum to the roommates

Just a rat in a cage

Kerry — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:15:19 +0000

Writes Leslie in London: “My co-worker, Janine was having some serious keyboard RAGE and posted this request to our office’s online help desk, which every single person in the company can see…including Daniel.”

This post is dedicated to my cube-mate Leah, who recently received a surprise “gift” — a quiet-touch keyboard — from our boss, which succeeded in making her feel even more self-conscious about her “loud typing.”

Sadly, she observed, the IT department has no solution for the cringe-inducing sound our fellow coworker who insists on clipping her nails at her desk.

related: Suck on this!

Ladri di biciclette

Kerry — Mon, 11 May 2009 08:00:40 +0000

Failed strategies in bicycle theft deterrence:

1. Assuming the thief who stole your bike is schooled in Italian neorealism; appealing to said thief’s desire to be one of the cool kids.

2. Feigning empathy for said thief.

3. Chiding said thief for his stupidity via a barely legible run-on sentence without double-checking “you’re” grammar first.

(Grazie mille to Nadia in Melbourne, Chris in Amsterdam, and Tom in London for submitting!)

related: No, Daddy, I asked for a Wii!

Untitled (broken glass)

Kerry — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:34:51 +0000

When you live with six art students (like Kate in London), you might find that life imitates art more often than you’d like.

related: Oxford drama

And I’m singing “uh oh” on a Friday night

Kerry — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:42:37 +0000

How’d you like to be flatmates with Dianne in London? Cos I’m thinking there just might be an opening soon…

related: clarifying motion #2

Buskers & broomsticks

Kerry — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:28:52 +0000

Zora Zero spotted this ongoing street-musician spat in Portobello Road Market, London.

I’m not a Londoner, but living near Portobello Road and complaining about the buskers seems like living near Times Square and complaining about the lights, no? I was cheered, therefore, to see the responses added by other more busker-friendly neighbo(u)rs at the bottom of the original note.

Admits our submitter (who described herself as “team foreigner, with busker sympathies”): “the paint on the railing was indeed being damaged by the original anti-busking clear-plastic-envelope-taping resident.”

related: I used to be your biggest fan

Just be glad you don’t know what’s in the coffee

Kerry — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:17:02 +0000

Our submitter in London snapped a photo of this note in the kitchen of the PR agency where she works. Exactly what you’d expect to find at office full of “communication professionals,” no?

related: Switch to tea