Pulling my curtains aside, I glanced out at my garden and watched on for a few seconds as the tree branches fluttered intensely under the un-directional pushes of powerful winds. Nonetheless, the clouds didn’t look so grey on this fine morning, they were not carrying the weight of heavy precip. A day’s break from all the mist and drizzles. The bare moisture could only mean one thing to me: a trip to the museum without an umbrella. Being a Londoner, I’m spoilt for gallery, museum and exhibition choices. And, this alone happens to be one of the reasons why I dearly love this grand city, that I call my home.
My journey was a rather slow one. I silently wished the wind could be strong enough to carry me to where I needed to go. Instead of gone with the wind, my transport was a slow combination of buses, road works and city traffic. Getting on to the double-decker bus I stepped to the back of the upper deck. Not occupying the very last seats. No matter how old I get, these seats will always remind me of my teenage days, settling into the back and taking over the last row of five seats between the three or two of us girls, our bags, shopping and chatter.
Throughout the whole journey, I gazed out the bus window watching the familiar streets pass by. I’ve been through this route multiple times. Have seen some changes, the transitions from old to new. Exteriors of preserved historical relics with modern newly built interiors. Plaques remain on some grade two buildings to share Memories of what the location once used to be. I travelled past Victorian and Georgian two to three-storey houses looking for every detail in the brickwork that could tell me the era. Many of the sites in London are timeless combinations. No two blocks are the same.
Being present you notice all the faces around you. Some people walked in groups while others trod alone. The first thing I noticed was the look on each person’s face. It’s unknown what thoughts someone’s carrying within them. I smiled to myself when I saw others laughing. There’s joy in seeing people laugh wholeheartedly. Whilst we’re all strangers we’re still connected by one body language, a smile.
Blame It On Art 
I liked this. I thought we were going to hear about your museum visit, but instead you shared your reflections on … not sure how to label it … greeting strangers? Passers-by? It is something I reflect on regularly too. Living in another city, although not as big as London, people seem so busy rushing around, no time for a smile, or a nod or hello/hi. I’m currently on the train to work – in Falkirk – which is about halfway between Glasgow and Edinburgh. People do seem friendlier, more likely to say hello, to smile. I wonder if it’s something to do with the numbers of people in big cities and towns. It’s easy to be anonymous, a sense of community has been lost?
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It was originally going to be about the museum, but I changed my mind last minute and reflected on a short experience of travelling in London. I agree I think a sense of community is lost to the numbers. At times I feel like we’re all just numbers. A huge population. I would love to see more people smiling at one another. Working in a department store at times it feels like others (customers) share that view, especially when they stop to talk to you more freely and happily. I’d love to visit Scotland one day.
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You’ll be able to compare 😄
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