Stormy Weather

[french frank]

But your posting reminded me of the story of the late Lord (Paul) Methuen, notorious for being so scruffily dressed on his estates in Corsham. When a friend upbraided him, asking him why he didn't dress more correctly, Methuen riposted : "But why should I? After all, when I'm here in Corsham, everyone knows who I am. And when I go up to London, no-one knows who I am!"

Ah! Lord Methuen! I actually remember him. A not inconsiderable 'amateur' artist. A good man.

I think he explains what I'm saying. Hereabouts everyone knows that when it gets cold I wear my woolly hat and always have my cheap coral-coloured (it was cheap, that's why!) fleece jacket. It's me. When I go to London, they're thinking, What the devil!

[Serial_Apologist]

Now that is interesting - and totally contrary to my experience.

Contrary to mine too, vints. 'Course, there's London, and there's London for those who frequent Chelsea and Knightsbridge.

[french frank]

'Course, there's London, and there's London for those who frequent Chelsea and Knightsbridge.

Unlikely to be me. Of course, it could be provincial types up for the day studying my fashion statements so that they can imitate them when they get back home?

[I agree, there's an anonymity. But maybe neither of you look out of place in London? ]

[salymap]

I miss the little alleyways and side streets that haven't changed much since Dickens' day. The CD and book shops with open fronts and old pubs like the Lamb and Flag, Cranbourne, Shaftesbury and others. I hasten to add I only visited them with colleagues at the end of a long busy day. We were all scruffy ff, believe me
as we earned about a fiver a week at that time.

[Lateralthinking1]

I am surprised to hear frenchfrank that you are from the good country of Wales. I thought you were from Bristol, not that there is anything wrong with the West of England.

There is greater anonymity in London or is it simply indifference? You could take a ham sandwich on the end of a long piece of string for a walk along the Tottenham Court Road. Ridicule wouldn't be an issue. However, you might be stopped by the police for getting in the way of suited young execs who have a permit to stomp directly into those on normal speeds.

Certainly here on the outskirts it can lead to problems if you wear the wrong woolly hat. At least once there would have been discretion. Now the mobile phone culture has made the net curtain redundant and turned every average yob into a Garnettized version of the fuddy-duddy busybody. Telling them that though doesn't mean it is understood.

[vinteuil]

Telling them that though doesn't mean it is understood.

... story of our lives, eh, Lateral?

[french frank]

I am surprised to hear frenchfrank that you are from the good country of Wales. I thought you were from Bristol, not that there is anything wrong with the West of England.

I am (now) from Bristol. I just chose Flintshire as an example of how people might associate an outsider with some outlandish back-of-nowhere place. Not that I would do so as my forebears (as it happens) did come from Wales. I have the Welsh Bible that belonged to my great-grandmother who was from Môn Mam Cymru - and I remember being told that her mother didn't speak English. At the age of six I thought of her as being mute.

[Nick Armstrong]

Now that is interesting - and totally contrary to my experience.

I couldn't agree more, vinchaud! Funnily enough, confirmed in a way by a French cousin who after a spell in London said that in contrast to Paris, there's a "total lack of feeling under scrutiny (same word, ff!) and of being judged, in London"

[Nick Armstrong]

I miss the little alleyways and side streets that haven't changed much since Dickens' day. The CD and book shops with open fronts and old pubs like the Lamb and Flag, Cranbourne, Shaftesbury and others.

Definitely!! Did you see the news reports about Ruth Richardson's discoveries about real life Dickens locations and characters in the environs of what is now Cleveland St. (down which I often have occasion to cycle) - then Norfolk St where CD lived in his late teens / early 20s I think? http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012...?newsfeed=true Really brings it to life. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT9V5ppkHUs Her book might be worth getting

And I had a lunchtime pint (Shepherd Neame "Spitfire") in the very old Hoop and Grapes near Ludgate Circus, where I always like to think of the "Fleet weddings" that took place in the pub in the 18th century - penniless clerics were given leave to exit the Fleet Prison which was right opposite the Hoop, and conduct marriages in local hostelries for the sailors etc who milled around the moorings by what is now Blackfriars Bridge.

Oh, I love London!

[Anna]

I think he explains what I'm saying. Hereabouts everyone knows that when it gets cold I wear my woolly hat and always have my cheap coral-coloured (it was cheap, that's why!) fleece jacket

And when it's cold here I don my emerald-coloured (it was cheap, etc) fleece and my Peruvian hat with tassles!! It's me. I have long stopped worrying about being scrutinised by the style police and worrying that I don't have the right shaped toes to my shoes. Like frenchie I have my own very individual look (conversely I don't scrutinise others but when next in Bristol on a cold day I'll be on the lookout for her!)

[salymap]

Definitely!! Did you see the news reports about Ruth Richardson's discoveries about real life Dickens locations and characters in the environs of what is now Cleveland St. (down which I often have occasion to cycle) - then Norfolk St where CD lived in his late teens / early 20s I think? http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012...?newsfeed=true Really brings it to life. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT9V5ppkHUs Her book might be worth getting

And I had a lunchtime pint (Shepherd Neame "Spitfire") in the very old Hoop and Grapes near Ludgate Circus, where I always like to think of the "Fleet weddings" that took place in the pub in the 18th century - penniless clerics were given leave to exit the Fleet Prison which was right opposite the Hoop, and conduct marriages in local hostelries for the sailors etc who milled around the moorings by what is now Blackfriars Bridge.

Oh, I love London!

A lovely post Caliban. A far cry from Dickens, but Margery Allingham's detective stories have some lovely IIdescriptions of London byeways in some books I'll look for that book you mention.

[gurnemanz]

Just deciding whether it would be madness to play tennis outside under lights this evening with minus 3 forecast. I do need the exercise and it promises to be a lovely clear night with no wind or ice on the court but the balls will be too cold to bounce properly. We can always adjourn early to the bar.

[Flay]

but the balls will be too cold to bounce properly.

Wear thermals, please

[Anna]

When I posted about fleeces (!) I hadn't seen Caliban's last. When I lived in (West) London it was a regular Sunday outing to poke around Victorian (and earlier of course) London and the alleys and nooks and crannies, totally fascinating, actually amazing that so much does survive, and expeditions usually involved one of those glorious old pubs for a lunch. (Have just looked at the Ruth Richardson book, amazon have it discounted for just under £11 inc p&p - go for it Cali!) I find now, being used to the rural life, that big cities feel rather oppressive with the sheer weight of humanity bearing down, I sometimes got quite overwhelmed by this in parts of Sydney and Manchester central (the last two big cities I've visited) To visit London now is a major trek, as it takes me an hour to get to the nearest station to begin the journey.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

.... well the nearest station is but a five minute walk to begin that journey Anna but it still is a major trek .... if i get the train on the other side i can be in Leicester in 35 minutes ... the stallholders on Leicester market call their wares in a London accent so I feel quite at home again sitting at the cafe table listening to the calls and chat [just like the North End Road market when I was a kid] .... and then of course the journey home is so much easier ...