Ah, some beauty,
Alongside me, here, are Jordan and Miranda, a lovely couple I've met at Lee Abbey. They were on the steps out front after I "discovered the news" via email last night and headed out for some air. Miranda assisted me greatly by providing me with a number with which I can make calls to the U.S. for one pence and Jordan chatted me up to keep me sane. (Jordan is from California, Miranda I believe from Ireland.) Today, after lunch and in between my travels, they were a great comfort. I much needed human(e) interaction, which they graciously provided. They are leaving in the morning for away-land, and I was glad to have known them (I may see Miranda again on her return sojourn in August).
I have chummed up others, too, here at Lee Abbey. Emmanuel, who often works the desk, seems always glad to see me, as I am him. Others are more chatty and generally friendly, now that they've seem my grimacy smile often enough. An elder gentleman by the name of Michael jawed over breakfast on several subjects (theatre, politics, local sites, etc.) The chefs, who are generally very business-y ("what'll you have, beef or vegeta - next!), are warming up to me. At dinner tonight (a simple and delicious cold plate selection) the chef chuckled when I happily exclaimed, "Load it up!"
Politeness helps greatly. It seems that politeness and patient persistence is the best way to get things done here.
Other peeping adventures:
Though I vaguely knew that there was a certain so-called "underbelly" of big city life I was still very surprised today that there are, well, certain things for sale on the streets of Soho - even at two in the afternoon. Quite odd being propositioned and surprising that I still found a polite way to say, "No, thank you" (I actually said, "No, thank you": sometimes simplicity is best). I am glad I saw too on the tube ride back home a loving couple cuddling warmly: reaffirmed my sense of what true affection is.
I've also run across (not literally) many beggars (some without limbs) and performers (some good) on the street and underground. Odd how they share the same space. I never know who to give change to - the beggar makes me sad, the musician happy; if I give change to the beggar, I'll be sad still because I'll have felt I should have given more; if I give change to the performer, I won't be happy because I'll have felt I should have given it to the beggar. So I don't give change. (I hope you all know I'm joking a bit about a serious subject, processing darkness with humor.)
One lady performer played a lovely "Stand By Me" today. Almost tossed a 20p in her guitar case, but the rush of people rushed me forward. Love that song.
Yesterday, in Leicester Square (pronounced "Lester"), waiting in line at the official "official" 1/2 price ticket booth (many ripoff knockoffs surrounding), I was propositioned by scalpers (these I sort of waved away). What most surprised me is in observing them I discovered that there seems to be a network: one scalper would call another on his cell and chat up prices to sell for like Wall Street stocks.
No great language barrier. Though do you all know the cliched habit some folks have of speaking more slowly and loudly to foreigners? I find here that if I ask the locals to speak more slowly and loudly, I understand them better (I need to do this less and less - and I never really say "talk louder" or "slower" but just project confusion).
Pigeons flock the tube too, sometimes flying quite closely to moving trains. No chickens, these pigeons.
No comments:
Post a Comment