Quiet Thoughts in London
WIlderness in Hyde Park © A. Harrison
Despite the chaos and the crowds, London is full of quiet spots. The first I discovered was, surprisingly, Heathrow Airport, when we landed in the first light of morning. After a long flight with little sleep, and with queues for security and waiting for our luggage, we needed a moment to sit and catch our breath over a coffee. The cafe was half empty, perfect for planning our attack for the day before jet-lag struck.
The area around our hotel was another, which was just five minutes from Paddington station. Who knew the station had so many exits? I thought we were at Exit A when we were actually at Exit B, then we turned the wrong way, walked down the road, turned around, crossed the street, and found ourselves where we thought we had started. It was abit like walking through an Escher diagram.
Gothic spires of St Mary’s, Paddington © A. Harrison
Amid this chaos of arriving, and the bustle around the station, were restaurants and cafes serving the midday crowds. Heading towards our hotel we missed the street and strolled down to Sussex gardens – literally a few minutes away and the world is quiet. The place was so peaceful, with the trees dressed in the soft greens of spring. I love the London mew (this area had so many) which are so often hidden from sight and always a quiet refuge. Flowers were in bloom everywhere, from window sills to lamp-posts. Summer had most definitely arrived in London.
Flowers at every turn © A. Harrison
Another day we sat upstairs at Kings Cross St, recovering after the chaos of finding platform 9 3/4. It was a pleasure to have a cold drink while watching the world below, where so many people milled around, staring at the clocks, staring at the boards with the platform info. Perhaps they were simply mesmerised by all the numbers, but some took forever to find their gate. Why did they stand there so long?
Suddenly, the answer came as a gate opened and everyone filed through, in an orderly, very British queue. Then the gate closed, and before longs the next lot start massing.
I glanced up: the ceiling was the most amazing modern architecture, in such an old building. An old building rumoured to be the resting place of Queen Boudica (apparently her ghose has been seen wandering around here at various hours of the night).
An unlikely resting place for England’s warrior queen © A. Harrison
In Hyde Park , we mingles with the crowds enjoying the sunshine, before coming across many parts of the park which are almost wilderness. I love all the daisies popping up in the lawns, just offering a place to sit, and be for a while.
Daisies in Hyde Park © A. Harrison
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Something to read while travelling – perhaps one of my novels or poetry collections? More available here
I peered around in the darkness. Neither the light of the stars, nor a streetlight, filled the blank void. I actually hadn’t rolled into the wall; I wasn’t even in bed. I’d hit the back of the couch — the short one.
As Caitlyn''s week of working nights draws to a close, she comes to question her belief that her past decisions have brought her to where she is; is she now too far along the her chosen road to have a choice? Or is it time itself which holds her prisoner in a place she no longer wishes to be.
The lift doors opened onto the tunnel. Like any entrance to hell, it smelt stale. Stale vomit, stale urine. Stale bodies, everywhere. A winter of rain couldn’t cleanse it. Tattered posters clung at odd places to the walls, reminding everyone to be alert, not alarmed. Despite two security guards sharing a smoke, the tunnel remained a perfect place for a murder.
Over the course of just one work shift, Caitlyn discovers it takes but a packet of Twisties, a ghost, and thoughts of a minotaur for her to break free.
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