And while I'm thinking about my visit to London... what a great city it
is!!! Very complex and old and safe-feeling and as confusing as walking
around downtown New York with the little winding streets with names
instead of numbers, but much more solid looking than NY. Because of
Azeem's gracious and incredibly patient hospitality ("I take what bus,
again? Where do I go after that? The tube's where?"), I saw a London I'd
never have seen without such guidance. I managed to get to Buckingham
Palace and the Institute of Contemporary Art by myself, but would never
have found the Kashmir Klub or the Borderline to see Pooka or the 12 Bar
Club to see Caroline Trettine or Ocean to experience the rich, emotional
voice of Christine Collister, and also have the opportunity to meet all
of those wonderful performers. And have the chance to talk talk talk and
learn about life from a Brit's point of view... cricket and politics
(very interesting seeing the campaign there and going to the polling
place; an X made with a pencil makes such sense!) and putting the kettle
on, several times a day, and just walking and looking and taking in the
atmosphere. A thousand thanks, Azeem, you true Londoner, for a trip I'll
never forget.
Plus, amazingly, the only rain was a few drops on my last day there...
not at all the rainy London I expected. Life is full of surprises.
Debra Shea
about to "put the kettle on" to make some soothing very hot tea
NP: Caroline Trettine, Ten Light Years, "Tears Idle Tears"... such a
loving and honest artist
