End of a (brief) era
For the past eight weeks or so, I’ve been babysitting for some good friends in London a couple of days a week. Many of my friends here have decided that I am mad to attempt such a commute (involving getting up at around 4.30am) but I have really enjoyed it, and am kinda sad that today is my last day.
Its weird how fast you build rhythms around stuff, and I have actually found myself enjoying my Friday morning routine recently: walk to the coach station (very early, so its still and quiet and beautiful), sleep on the coach (aided by eye patches and Bebo Norman on my ipod), wake up just before the Blackwall Tunnel (though this morning I didn’t wake up until Canary Wharf), admire the huge shiny buildings (and marvel at the swarming ant-like commuters streaming into them), get off the coach at Aldgate, purchase a latte and a pain au chocolat from the little independant coffee stall there (only this morning did I find they would put it on top of the toaster to warm in it if I asked), tube it down to Colliers Wood (going south on the northern line is definitely the only direction to be going at that time of day), and find myself in sunny Merton borough before 9am.
And then I get to spend the day with beautiful Dan, who was very much a baby when I started this, back in April, but has suddenly made the transition to an energetic, inquisitive toddler in the last few weeks. He is lovely, and I’ve so enjoyed just sitting in parks, playing musical instruments, feeding him beautiful vegetable concoctions and many other things.
Its been good to be back in the city a bit more too, to catch up with friends, have coffee and generally reconnect. I shall miss my weekly jaunts!
