I am the happiest on my own…food and tv and peace………R 30;…au revoir
Ello, I am pretty much a recluse so my horrible girlfriend keeps telling me. She thinks it is pretty...
Festive Spirit
Friday, December 28th, 2007Last Sunday I went to visit my grandma who lives in East London.
As I left my home that afternoon I discovered the thick mist which had descended over the city and lasted all day. (People from other countries seem to think that London is always foggy, but it’s quite rare really, and mostly happens on the odd winter morning.) Anyway, I felt like I might have entered the Victorian London of the novel that I’m currently reading, The Meaning of Night by Michael Cox.
On the train into central London I noticed that some (presumably) young vandal had written “BELIEVE SANTA EXISTS” plus something about BSE (mad cow disease) on a window opposite me. I felt compelled to take a pic of it with my camera-phone.
What a lovely sentiment, spreading the joy of Christmas to children everywhere. It’s just a shame that the perpetrator felt the need to damage public property to convey the message…
After visiting my grandma and making my journey homewards, I alighted from the train and left my home station. It was about 6pm, and there were plenty of people around. As I passed a nearby supermarket I heard a loud and unusual sawing noise. I looked towards the source of the sound and realised that it was being caused by a young man sawing through a bicycle chain outside the store, with a couple of mates assisting in the operation. One of them looked at me. I looked away and continued home.
Now I realise I should have gone into the supermarket and told a security guard about the situation, but at the time I wasn’t thinking in that way. I just wanted to go home. Someone who would be bold enough to steal a bike so blatantly might have been prepared to turn violent. I just hope they got caught before they rode off. No thanks to me though.
12:41 am on 29-Dec-07
Weird question: what’s the violence like in London? I read a lot of stuff about sudden outbreaks of fighting at cinemas, in tube stations, etc. Like I said, it’s a weird question, but has it been overrated, or is there a genuine fear of possible violence? I’m trying to reconcile the fact that London is a major city like my own Chicago, but the idea I get from most movies that it’s kind of a cute major city. Condescending enough?
3:02 am on 30-Dec-07
Well, it depends on where you go and how you carry yourself. I’ve never had any trouble so far (touch wood), but you hear about attacks going on every day. This year we’ve had several teenagers being shot dead, especially in the black community. Though gun possession is completely illegal here, you can get one fairly easily if you have enough cash and know the right people.
By the way, I’ve never actually seen a gun close up personally, though I saw some being brandished by security forces and police in Egypt.
I guess compared to America where you seem to have school shootings every other week, it’s fairly tame.
Come over here, and I’ll show you how cute London is.
6:03 am on 30-Dec-07
Heh, I’d like to take you up on that!
I’ve seen, held, and fired guns myself. I’ve even seen them in schools, though thankfully I’ve never been present for any gun violence (though there was a shooting at a football game at my school when I was a student). Very interesting.
11:58 pm on 30-Dec-07
Sure thing, let me know when to meet you at the airport. And bring sexy Becca!
You’ve fired guns?! Remind me never to go back to America. The fact that you’re fingerprinting foreigners has already made me reluctant to visit.
5:35 pm on 31-Dec-07
Hey PJ - I like the little on the ground snapshots of London that you provide from time to time, very interesting (please do this more as it is rather enjoyable to get a little slice of your dynamic city). Also, you captured one of those fleeting moment where a decision is made quickly, and really your safety and well being is a little more important than someone’s bike when you weigh the odds. The fact that you are willing to re-examine your actions afterwards shows that you are a morally well developed member of our little human species.
Don’t forget, there is a lovely little former British colony in North America widely known as Canada, where we won’t even finger print you! Although we have our less than stellar moments as well, we are generally a less violent lot really, and if you can tolerate a bunch of hockey mad, though overly polite people than I would highly recommend it! ttfn
5:19 am on 1-Jan-08
Hi Matthew, glad you liked the post. I will continue to post my London snapshots as they come to mind.
I think the universe wants me to visit Canada soon. I’ve wanted to go for a while, and a Canadan airline sent me their brochure yesterday… I’ve got a friend who emigrated out there a few years ago, and sometimes I wonder whether I could live there. It’s currently between Canada and Japan. However, Japan has started to fingerprint foreigners too. (Are you starting to think I’m a crimina?)