kilburn = ink blur

Reaching London, October, 2006


I reached London, first time like Howard, going along the same journey from the airport to Paddington (yes, I was on the wrong train and not on the tube, but one of those crazy expensive trains that have useless entertainment terminals and quiet zones but are profoundly useless otherwise)

I took Zadie Smith's word that London is actually not that cold, that only a close fitting coat (she says wool lined but even that wasn't necessary, atleast not in October-November). But unlike him, Paddington did sort of overwhelm me. I did look up and see the steel and glass interlaced hanging over my head. I understood suddenly why critiquing 'On Beauty' is easy because of the “dominant elite subculture” that it is about...laugh
Because Howard unthinkingly paid 14 pounds on the Heathrow express, which came as a total surprise to me and killed a substantial portion of my budget for London. And then he went to Kilburn where there are probably yards with large trees.
I didn't go to Kilburn, I went to Holburn ..
And from there to Bethanel Green...which is truly lovely.. close to Brick Lane (east London), where black people come to have kebab rolls with mayo and not yoghurt based mint chutney

After many rude, slurring and strange sounds-making Europeans
London with its old and young, asian and white, brown and black ..all saying..
so...pet
and
sorry...luv
and
where are you..luv

.... was warm