Morn? Eve?
Tube to Tottenham Court Road. Bought a packet of sushi rice at the Japanese store underneath Center Point (it now comes in a cardboard box; used to be a brick encased in plastic). The buildings being constructed opposite the church, extending to the north side of the Shaftesbury intersection, have been completed. Some shops are about to open at the ground level. The three (or four?) towers come in the colors of a construction worker's protection gear -- reflective orange, lime green, yellow. Seems like an inside joke to me.
There was a flyer announcing a charity bike ride in Malawai in July 2011 at the front desk at Oasis. Coincidence?
Got sent back inside by the North African looking lifeguard to take a shower. Put on my new Speedo swim cap, purchased in San Francisco to protect my head against the freezing cold of the Pacific. This is the first time I'm wearing it. Figure it'll be better for my (now long) hair not to get soaked in chlorine.
Swam a kilometre or so. Each length is 27.5m, I think. I did 5 laps (there-and-backs) of crawl, then 5 of breast stroke, then another 5 of crawl and another 5 of breast stroke. 20 laps in all, each lap is about 50m, so 1000m approx. I could swim more, I suppose. I'm getting tired after 1000m, but am by no means at my limit. It does get a bit boring. It takes about 1/2hr (a little less). I could put in an hour. Whaddya say? Maybe I'll work up to 25 laps next time. Then add one each time till I hit 30. We'll see.
Weren't they rennovating the changing rooms as I was leaving? They're as manky as ever. Especially the toilets.
Walked down New Oxford and then across uncharted territory to Britiannia Street and the Gagosian Gallery. Turned north up Bedford and hit Russell Square a little unexpectedly. Such a beautiful garden. And enjoyed by many. The leaves are turning and littering the ground. The fountain centre piece is still bubbling. The 'arbor' walkway is golden. Turned right at the Russell Square tube and passed Brunswick Place. Kept on straight, skirting sports fields, and came upon the Foundling Museum (aha!). There's a show on of snippets of textile from swaddling clothes that the Foundling Hospital sisters would keep as the only link between the abandoned infant and the mother. Passed a local community garde <find name> and felt happy the plot had been saved from office development, but was saddened by its under-use and under-lovedness (relative to Russell Square, for example). Maybe parks need to be thorough-fares so as to be re-charged by that energy of movement (rather than stagnating as eddies off the beaten track). Hmm. And then I headed north on Grays Inn Road to Britannia Street, and spotted the long-ish building on the north side of the street which must be the Gagosian, with a gaggle of girls in short skirts and berrets and ripped tights and boys with gel tousled hair in wool pea coats emerging.
James Turrell - matmos room, depth perception messed with, colors of the white ante room changing (to green yellow etc)
Walked down to Kings Cross Road to find the 45, and was drawn into Nevin's, a 'traiteur' opened in February with an ecclectic collection of Spanish and French and Italian goodies. Got talking to Ben, the co-founder, about the challenges. Then a young guy walked in with his computer, so stopped grilling Ben (seemed inappropriate to go on asking him personal questions about running his business), and got chatting to him. Studied International Development at SOAS but has been out for 2 years already and doesn't know what to do. Is keen on music and DJs. Compared music to art -- said he doesn't 'get' what's good in art; whereas with music, what's good gets danced to, and what isn't doesn't -- it's clear. Liked that reflection. Followed him to an old Italian deli close to Kings Cross (KC Continental -- like KC and the Sunshine Band...but not ;) where you can bring your own baguette and have meat cut into it for a sandwich -- for just GBP4! The owner still doesn't speak much English (after decades in London) and is partial to serving Italian speakers first. Smelled of parma ham. Lovely.
Caught the bus back home about 4.30pm & put my feet up...
?? Walk with Susan along Southbank in the evening?? Bumped into Vincent
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