Our semi-annual visit to my old friend Jean who lives in West Harrow, a reasonably short tube ride away from us. Old friend in more than one sense of the word. We must have met in 1965, taking the same university class - Shakespeare? So sixty years ago. And she was ninety last birthday. (And no, I’m not). She’s Canadian but has lived in London for fifty years or more and we always visit in autumn and spring.
The neighbourhood hasn’t changed a lot but there are some innovations. New this year are on-street electric vehicle charging ports. About as convenient and unobtrusive as they come. Fairly impressive.
Jean’s house is terraced and over a hundred years old. Solid brick with a little garden behind with flowers and frequent visiting birds, which she feeds. We share a bottle of wine and crisps and custard tarts as well as lots of reminiscences and information on family and friends. Gone are the days of late night curries and the last train home, but she’s grateful to be in her own home and we’re happy to be able to visit.
Pick up a book at a little free book exchange shelf at the tube station. Author is Swedish and apparently well known and much translated. Haven’t heard of her but couldn’t resist the title: The Little Old Lady Behaving Badly.
Posts
