London has been friendly today. It’s been charming, quirky, and welcoming.
And this is on the day that America plays England in the World Cup.
Maybe they were hoping for a ritual sacrifice for post-game? (Either way, I kept my mouth firmly shut and observed.)
I saw people giving up their seats on the tube for the elderly. Compassionate London.
I saw people with enough metal in their face to set off airport security rocking out the best vintage pin-up hair-dos. Diverse London.
I saw a group of lads whooping for joy as they met up on the escalators. Hooligan London.
Then I saw a woman turn around, snap a quick digital photo of them and promptly check them out in play mode. 1984 London.
A stranger made eye contact with me for a full second, and just being noticed floored me. Human London.
On my walk back to my flat, I saw a grey urban fox run across my path and join its furry red friend across the street. Wildlife London.
Each of these little things brought a little smile to my face and a little glow that’s been absent recently.
Yesterday I apologised to my supervising tutor for missing the expert visit. I explained the situation and made a bigger deal of apologising than laying blame; though when she found out whose fault it really was, there was a micro-second of ‘Ah-ha! Skulduggery!’ followed by the professional, ‘I’m very sorry you missed that opportunity.’
What happens now is out of my hands, but my name is cleared. Everything else is fait accompli.
Today, it was to the National Art Library I went. As usual I sat down and collected my books. Then Cocker Spaniel came up and gave me a hug and a smile. I looked at who was sat down from me, Afghan Hound. She smiled and then sent me a message. ‘You’re my favourite person to sit next to in the whole library.’ All that was missing was Golden Retriever, and low, there she was in her little seat. I came up behind her and hugged her. She smiled and said, ‘Hello friend! I miss you and can’t wait to see you after this is all over!’
The fact that all my friends were sat with me in the same room with happy smiles for me really made the library into a little cocoon of safety and joy, despite it being the scene of a few debacles. Some more recent than others.
Afghan Hound and I took a break for dinner and to get away from the project. As I left her flat instead of feeling sad about being alone with my thoughts, I chuckled.
On one of my recent nights over, she told me to stay and to take her flatmate’s room and sleep there as everyone was away. Up we climbed to the top floor of the Kensington house she lives in. It was 3AM and we’d been talking, drinking, cooking and watching 30 Rock.
As you do.
The room was chilly and the window was open. So I asked Afghan Hound if she would mind if it was shut.
‘No! No! Of course not. Here, I’ll close it for you.’
‘Oh no, really I can close it.’
In our efforts to be polite we managed to knock the bottle of lotion that was propping the window open – out.
And right onto the pavement below. And both the cars parked beside the pavement.
The looks on our faces must have been priceless as we each burst into laughter after looking at each other. We decided to go out and wipe down the cars, after all, the chemicals in lotion could have damaged the paint jobs and no one wants someone who lives in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea upset with them.
So, out we crept and armed with kitchen towels we wiped up all traces of lotion.
‘Maybe someone will think we are trying to steal the cars? What if there is an alarm? What if we wake all my neighbours with the alarm and the they we are thieves?’
‘No no Afghan Hound, that’s when we tell them we’re secret super stealth car washers. Like the elves in that fairy tale.’
‘I was about to say that. We are like the car washing elves!’
As I walked out her door tonight after a wonderful day at the library into a lovely London, I felt that seeing the end of this project and the pressure involved due to it among other things was going to be a wonderful feeling.
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