London 10.4.2015
I made it and after a good night's sleep I'm almost able to string together a few words....
After getting into a minor state of panic, saying farewell to the people I love most in the world (besides the cats that is), having to run so as not to miss the international flight. Only being able to spend 5 minutes with a friend I haven't seen for 16 years who had spent a couple of hours waiting at OR Tambo (thanks Jill, it was lovely to see you and Gordon in mid stride), I plopped into the seat at the back of a very large plane and was able to get some sleep. Dinner was at 11.30 pm and breakfast was served at 4 am.
Customs was a breeze - a machine verified my photo, no human interaction required, and I was through. I hung around at Heathrow for a couple of hours to miss the (expensive) rush hour tube trip. Then, in to London and heading East. My airbnb accommodation is near Whitechapel, not an area I've ever been to. Quite scruffy but entirely familiar for a Woodstock resident. After a quick nap I put on my walking shoes and walked and walked. I got lost a few times and found myself again.
So many people. Weather in the high teens. The Walky Talky building. Brick Lane. Tesco, Starbucks and then sensory overload and time to lie down and process it all. Definitely a few moments of "What the hell have you done?" But after a good night's sleep I'm ready to get out there again.
This works so well. Love the descriptions.
ReplyDeleteThanks. It's more fun than I thought it would be
DeleteHello! Loving your post! Takes me back to my own walks through the fabled London ... seems that you are a real psychogeographer or, as the French would say, a flaneur! Both these terms imply a kind of random strolling - letting your feet do the journeying. The element of surprise ... the unexpected reveal! I'm really looking forward to the transition from London to countryside! Thinking of you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Delphi. It's quite fun to "flaneur" - like that word!
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