Oh I know that some of you will already have sniggered, I am in one of the biggest and certainly most exciting cities in the world. There is a lot to do… well Duh!
But you know what, I keep doing stuff and then talking to people who have lived here all their lives and not done those very things. Often for free.
In my life in North Wales one of the standing amusements was that all the tourists went up Snowdon, our highest mountain. All the locals meant to get round to it some day
London is the same it seems. Having changed so very much of the way that I and my extended family (Forgeron, The Boy Professor, MediaMan, Asbo, and The Black Cat) live, it seems silly to swap the location just to watch old episodes of Star Trek.
Coming to the city I wanted guns in the night, sirens, air traffic, the rush hour, a mixed community, fast food, and twenty four hour supermarkets. I also wanted to pick up the news and think…. “Yes tomorrow I am going to do that!”
And by and large dear reader, I have done just that.
The Paralympics courtesy of my friend Gamesmaker. The closing fireworks quite the most spectacular that I have ever seen. Notting Hill Canival. Endless festivals associated with religions which seem to have nothing to do with church or chapel. Bermondseys free pyrotechnics in November. The remembrance at the Cenotaph. Christmas shopping in a million lights. Various new years. Bike trips that seem extravagant until you realize it is flat in every direction here. Snow all over the famous landmarks. Protest marches, An opening night. Museums of childhood and anew. Galleries. Visitors. I have been clubbing in Camden and seen the Stones on their second visit to Hyde Park. Eaten and drunken (??) in some gorgeous spaces, markets, and pubs. Gotten to know the East End a little better. Shared some good time with my brother, though sadly less with my sisters. Listened to ‘Clue’ on Mornington Crescent. Found wild place for John Muir. I have had auditory hallucinations of geese which turned out to be true. I went to the Queens birthday party. Marched with pride. Watched some fine parades. Stood at the top of the highest tower. I became a member of the Baker Street irregulars and took a picture of a solar flare. Managed to squeeze some work in as well. This list goes on and on of course….
And I was outside the gate at the birth of the golden child who will one day be king.
All this and I have to leave out the fact that Forgeron and I shared Paris.
Also many visits to darkest Hereford.
I hope I can pick up some of these and share them with you as the next year sneaks by…
You're right there is so much do to there and some of the best things are free. I love going to London and walking around an area. Very early Sunday morning cycle rides are an excellent way of seeing the sights. I remember one particular ride in the late sixties. A friend had a flat in Muswell Hill and we left there on our bikes at about 4.30 on a summers morning, cycled into the centre and all around and by 10 ish we were tucking into a full english in a cafe in Muswell Hill. I still think of that ride, it was so exciting especially for a West Walian new to London.
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