crappy photo, amazing view
i'm starting to really appreciate living in london.
i'm not sure when it started, but i'm in a transitional phase of my life at the moment. in some respects, its a good thing, i think i'm developing as a person, but in other respects i'm not sure whether its happening for the right reasons, however, something which seems to be symptomatic of this changing, is heightened emotion. its probably just hormonal - but i'm always on the edge of bursting into tears, sheer ecstatic joy, massive depression or manic laughter. I'm currently aiming to rest somewhere nearer satisfaction than any of the aforementioned extremes, and two nights ago was one of those moments. It was a lovely balmy evening, summer(ish) has come early this year, and combined with pushing the clocks forward one hour last weekend, as i left work at around 7.30, it was dusky and warm, a very european feel to the night. I walked home, and by the time i was at the flat, it was dark, but still warm, and for some unknown reason, i felt the need to go up to the roof.
I did, and perched on the ledge - something which i don't enjoy doing with my fear of heights and edges - i sat and looked at the city skyline. Its rare i go up there at night, certainly nightime and sober, but it hit me just how beautiful the skyline was. We're fortunate enough to be able to see from Centre Point on Tottenham Court Road all the way around to the Dome in Greenwich, including Tower Bridge, the OXO Tower, Natwest Tower, no doubt a dozen other landmarks too numerous to make out or point out. And, it is simply beautiful.
And something brought it home today. I bumped into a university friend on bethnal green road, who happens to live around the corner from me (unbeknowst to my good self) - which in itself is no great wonder, but that coupled with as i got into bed this evening and heard the ever increasing sirens of racing police cars down Bethnal Green Road, I'm living in a city which is truly unique, diverse, full of so many people, so much information, so many stories and lives - that I should be making so much more of my time in it.
Maybe i'm helplessly drifting back into that same place i was last Easter, looking for some bigger picture, some higher meaning, some deeper understanding of everything, but i am sure of one thing, that things are different now - and i've got to make the most of what i have and can be.
Today's quotable phrase: "I can't remember to forget"
Guy Pearce, Momento
