I got up early for a Saturday with the sunlight streaming through the curtains and laying its warm fingers on my cheek. I had a light breakfast and made a promise with myself that I would not waste the day.
I left the house and walked down to East Croydon station, humming through The National on shuffle as I went. In my head were thoughts of a girl I'm vaguely acquainted with, and how I might know her better. Then to a girl I knew almost too well. I thought of how a sort of gravity can pull you into another's orbit, propell you straight past or cause you to crash violently together - sometimes in sequence.
I got on the 10am train, getting off at Wandsworth Town (after a brief change at Clapham). There was a food market I took a seat at and had a coffee. It struck me how young and beautiful the people of Wandsworth are, I felt quite alone so I went to the cinema to see Ghost in the Shell. Whilst it was inferior to the original it was still perfectly enjoyable in its own right.
I had a tiny snack back at the food market before walking back to Clapham, where I found a quiet cafe. I probably overstayed my welcome on just one Iced Latte, as I read a sizeable chunk of The League of Extraordinary Gentleman's second volume - even the documents at the end.
Then I had an early dinner at Franco Mancas. If you're ever in London I urge you to give it a try. They're everywhere in the city now, but the originals are all in South London and almost always staffed by jubilant Italians. After that I decided it was time to head home. One final thing of interest happened on my return to East Croydon station. I briefly spoke to a woman going up the ramp. She was captivating, thanks in a large part to a tame bird that sat on her shoulder as she walked. Apparently the two were regular travelling companions and often the bird was thought to be fake until it moved its head.
Then I got home (unfortunately without the bird woman's phone number - our ways parted at the busy ticket barrier) and saw this thread. I thought I'd write a lyrical account of what was actually quite a low-key day in an attempt to try and suggest that for inspiration sometimes you just need to take a walk outside. Either thoughts or characters will meet you, sometimes you'll be blessed with both.
