What do you think of when you hear the word “London”? London Bridge, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace? Black cabs, Wimbledon and Hyde Park? London is a city that is many different things to many different people.
Each time we go to London I find that it’s a slightly different city; no doubt because I’m a slightly different person. It’s a city that moves with you, changing as you do.
Similar to other cities London is a city that I like the more I go there. I first lived in London in 1994, and struggled with the climate, the grey sky, commuting on public transport and the cost of living. Now that I know how to dress for the weather, am prepared for the exorbitant cost of things and have learnt how to ignore the grey sky (like the locals I find a couple of pints in a pub the best way to block it from view) I find London to be a great city.
Our week there for Gi’s birthday was no different. Despite the fact that our Easyjet flight was delayed by three hours (a medical emergency on a previous route we were eventually told) and my friend Tom was still circling Stansted airport at midnight waiting for us, we arrived safely.
The next two days were spent hitting the shops, with list in hand. Why a list? Well, in a city the size of London, with limited time and limited funds it is mandatory that one stays focused. Ordinarily I’m a difficult shopper, but the retail gods were smiling and I found everything on the list – jeans, shoes, underwear, blouses, jumpers and the most amazing red coat.
What else did we do? Here’s a quick list
*Saw the “Little Miss Sunshine” movie on the big screen, in English. Recommend it.
*Traditional English breakfast at a caf’ (you can’t get regular bacon in Italy)
*Saturday stroll around Camden markets where we had Thai for lunch, followed by Japanese for dinner with Peter and Fulvio (who generously drove down from Oxford to spend the day with us)
*Chinese New Years celebrations in Chinatown on Gi’s birthday although the crowds and firecrackers soon saw us take shelter in an English pub in Soho with Tom, Ron & Elise Haynes, Jacob, Garo and Christian
*Haircut and colour – thanks Garo – the first since May 2006 (don’t ask me to explain my phobia of Italian hairdressers, their shears and hacking style)
*Ate Indian food, Middle Eastern food, Chinese food and a trip to Sainsbury’s supermarket to pick up some supplies
*Played virtual ten pin bowling with Jacob and Garo – of course I lost in the virtual world just like I lose in the real world
*Observed that black cabs seem to be a thing of the past with colourful advertising adorning the majority of the city’s once austere taxis
*Trailed the whole length of Oxford street in the quest for a bargain, and found that the bargains that were once to be found at Camden markets are now well and truly gone in the wake of the growing tourist crowd
*Enjoyed the generous hospitality of Garo’s delightful family on the south side of London (yep, not far from the recent spat of shootings) and taller-than-I-remember Tom on the north side
We both boarded the plane with some reluctance although our wallets were certainly lighter. Gi is considering living in London once again, if and when I am granted an EU passport…it will no doubt be different once again.
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