Friends in London
After driving all about Scotland Tony, Tina, Josh, and myself headed down to London to meet up with Cristy, Amy and Melissa (collectively know as “the girls”). And at this point I feel the need to kind of brag about how cool it is that I had six friends visit me simultaneously and for us all to end up meeting in London. Years from now I really want all of us to be out with a bunch of people and someone say: “Remember that night in London?” and all seven of us to chime in reminiscent nods much to the envy of the others with us. I mean, seriously, how many groups of friend as met up abroad together? In London no less? This special privilege makes me appreciate friends even more. Suck on that world!
Anyway we all met up and had a loud and laughter filled dinner (I think we were asked to keep it down a few times) with the cute English girls (A, L, and N.) and their brother Simon. It was a good night that ended with goodbyes and see-you-soons as we all parted our separate ways. Personally I was off to Clapham Common to stay the night at Jon and Anna’s house, two people I had heard much of but had yet to meet.
They more than exceeded their reputation.
Jon is American, but the kind I like to meet. Opinionated, straightforward and cynical, and great taste in music and art. He really made me laugh, not always at what he was saying but sometimes in the “I can’t believe he just said that” way. I really liked conversation with him though because of his opinions and our shared experience of liking the UK (having lived there) but missing bits about the US. Anna on the other-hand, comes from (as Jon put it) that tiny hidden factory up in Northern England where they churn out these petite and just really sweet Yorkshire girls, who despite their cuteness have backbone and strength of character. Liz being born from the same same industrial tanks, I was easy to see why the two were such good friends.
Anyway we stayed up late chatting about life and music and just how envious I was of their extensive collection. Around Jon I felt like I knew very little about the indie scene which is quite a rare feeling for me. Normally (as egotistical as it sounds) someone will name a band and I can list of their earlier albums, side projects, etc, but with Jon I had to stop counting the times I said: “I’ve never even heard of them” only for him to grow in excitement and whip out the CD with you-have-to-listen-to-this flourish.
The next day Tony, Tina, Josh, Lauren and I went about town going to art museums, eating great fish n’ chips(with mushy peas for me!), and doing some casual shopping. In the evening we met up with Jon and Anna for a pint at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese a pub that was remodeled in 1666. That’s right, remodeled in 1666! Anyway, with it’s old fashioned gloomy charm its no wonder that Twain, Tennyson, Conan Doyle, and Dickens were said to be regulars. Though when we went it seemed be be quite a few tourists.
From there we wandered to Brick Lane, London’s “curry capitol.” It’s from here to Bethnal Green end, that Indian and Bangladeshi restaurants are tightly packed door to door. The whole street is just filled with exotic scents and spicy aromas as you wander trying to decide were to eat and this decision process is aided by every restaurant literally shouting “come inside” and giving you incentives: “10 percent off you’re whole bill, first drinks free! Free nan bread!, etc” Jon being something of a pro played one off another and ended up getting us 2 free rounds of drinks, and 10 percent off the bill. Pretty sweet deal really since there was 7 of us.
Great curry with friends is a nice way to end a London jaunt so on that note we all parted ways again, T&T heading back to the states, and me back to Hull for a day or two to collect some things. I left happy, because between Jon, Anna, Lauren and the others I finally met some people in London I felt I would definitely hang out with again.
