Today Part II
O.k, so around 2 after submitting my work to the history department, I make my way to the Mile End tube stop, my stomache rumbling and my feet itching for unknown places. So I hop on the tube heading for what I believe to be a train going to West Ruslip- about the time we get to Bethnal Green (about 5 minutes) I realize that we are not going to West Ruslip, but the train "will be terminating at Liverpool Street" Why? Because SOMEONE DECIDED TO PUT THEMSELVES UNDER A TRAIN AT HOLBORN STATION PREVENTING THE MOVEMENT OF TRAINS GOING EAST OR WEST ON THE CENTRAL LINE.O.k now, folks: who the fuck does that? WHO in thier right mind does that?? C'mon! That is ridiculously dangerous, not to mention a pain in the ass for the American who, although has become adept at taking the tube, had still not been to the hundreds of stations that exist in London! But, I digress.....
Hearing this news, I lift my eyes from Wright's Native Son and then count how many stops I am away from what was to be my original destination (Chinatown)....yeah, didn't quite make it there today. So, I get off, make my way to the Hammersmith and Metropolitan line, hop on, decide that I no longer want to go to Chinatown, but to Tottenham Court Rd. on the Central line (the one I was orginally one) so then I get off at a random stop and make my way to the Northern line that intersects the central line, manage to get lost, and have a nice man point me in the right direction
But; he ends up wrong, so I end up at Kings Cross which doesn't even have a northern line to get on! So, I wait for the next one, get off at Euston wait for the Northern line via Charing Cross and finally make my way to Tottenham, picking up the book Running With Sissors and having aless than stellar Vanilla latte from Starbucks and a very disgustingly sweet cinnamon roll-YUCK! But, I paied 3 pounds ($6) for this, so I am eating and drinking this for sure!
So, I walk out of there, after browsing, wondering how with all these books, and how much effort goes into writing, why there are not more writers who are millionaires....
I decide to look around Charing Cross a bit-there must be about 6 bookstores within less than a minute in all directions from where the tube station is: amazing that none of them seem to have an issue with competition-even the used book stores had many people in them.
So, I am, walking down the street and see a little street with what appears to be markets. Turns out they had tons of little set ups catering to the weird and eccentric with patches that say "Fuck you you fucking fucker" and "Does this patch make me look fat?' lol. They also had tons of glittery things that I like a lot-especially rings and necklaces which I do not really have a enough of. I spot this cute jewel encrusted ring in the shape of a huge butterfly (I have always had this thing for butterfly's and the color purple-my fave color ever!) So any way, the denied child inside reaches into her pocket and pulls out a 20 pound note grasping it in her hand:
"How much is this ring?"
"4 pounds Miss"
:eyes two different versions of the same ring for about 3 minutes:
"O.k....." :hands him a 20 pound note, thinking how nice a present this would make for Beatrice in the states or perhaps Alicia, or maybe even Dawn or Maryann...:
"Where are you from in the States?" he asks while getting me my change
"New York State"
"Oh really" :smiles: "I really like your American accent"he says nicely
"Thanks," "I like the British accent better, it always seems more dignified" I offer with simplicity.
:hands me the change: "Have a nice day young lady" he says as I turn away.
"Yes, you too" I say politely sliding the sparkely ring on my finger.
Why did I put this? Simply because it is the nicest, non political, "I hate-Americans-but-use your-products like the companies orginated here-and -we-steal-your-culture-and-pretend-like-we-have-one- conversation I have had here yet. Nice. Cordial. Complimentary. See, this is how things should be done. Really. Very good indeed.........!
posted by The Eternal Student @ 12:35 PM
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