I had grand ambitions of getting my London Blog up and running on arrival, even going to the lengths of registering a .info domain and downloading some blog software to load onto it, but alas, the hours have flowed too fast.
I arrived on a oddly warm day for October at Heathrow and plunged head first into London. I have hardly had time to stop to think, let alone time for the luxury of writing a Blog, so this first London personal Blog entry is more of a primer for myself once I get settled.
This and several emails, forum messages and private forum messages will probably go into a "week one in London", however, it's more likely it'll be "month one"
I'm currently sitting in The Swan on Ridgway (yes, that's the correct spelling) inbetween Wimbledon and Wimbledon village, hammering away on my shiny new laptop (essential tool for a web dev guy) and quaffing pints of cider while nursing a fresh head cold, compliments of my first two rainy days in London - two out of four, not bad so far !
In four days, I've tubed and bused mostly non-tourist spots (do they exist in London ?), as the reality of the situation is that I need work and more permanent accommodation very quickly, having enough money to last 2 months.
This Blog is going badly so far - I just cannot think - too much is happening in my head, too many thoughts, not enough luxury to sit back and reflect.
About the best I can do is that London feels like a city with deep damp roots steeped in urgent history and ritual.
It has a feeling of solidity bordering on collapse, so very hard to explain right now, but I feel I shall get my head around what London is, to myself at least.
When I compare it to Joburg, it seems that Joburg could be wiped of the face of the ancient African Veldt and be lost without a trace, like so much dry grass blown by the wind, whereas London may sink into its soggy roots but would leave its mark on the landscape for a thousand years.
This city just doesn't ever stop. Even as I sleep, I'm restless. Dreams flowing fast and wild, no time to catch them to reflect.
The trains are the heartbeat of this city, so much so that a closure of the Northern Line makes headline news in the London rags.
Coffee, water, cider and sandwiches are fuelling my first few tender and tentative days. Loneliness, despite having some family here, is guaranteed in the short term and depression and elation are the bedfellows of that loneliness.
There is nothing quite like exploring London alone, until you reach a point where you would like to share your joy, joy perhaps rendered by a profound insight. These insights hit me continuously, such is the rich visual feast and fruity sounds that meet and greet at every corner on every street.
I need to gather these thoughts into cohesion, but I cannot. I'm lost in London and loving it.
Up and Out.
