Day 501: It's All About Love - Again

It's late and I've got a bag on my head. Still time for this, though. 

Today, I very much enjoyed a leisurely walk across the park and breakfast with Kate in the little woven yoghurt cafe next to Acton Central station, followed by a successful and satisfying French conversation session in Elephant & Castle and a slick trip back to Brighton.

Fast site.... mustn't grumble

On the Overground on the way to the Elephant, a man with a Morgan Freeman drawl and deep tones did the announcement. He sounded like he'd been in the UK a while, but he was definitely American. I enjoyed his voice very much and drifted off into how come a boy like him ended up as a conductor on an orange Overground train, working out of Willesden Junction. 

When the conductor turned up in front of me, doing the doors, I wanted to ask if it was him, but I was scared of being embarrassed, so... so I got up and asked him (it's my new game and I'm loving it). It wasn't him. He had a normal Londonish twang. I was up and committed by then, so I asked him about the American guy. "Oh no," he said, "he's not American. Never even been there. He just talks like that. He's from Kilburn." Turns out, it's not just something he puts on for announcements. He actually talks like that all the time, even though he's never left London. Brilliant. We had a cackle, and then I got off. 

Loved. Up

The second time I played the game today bore other fruit. I went on the hunt for meat. Yes, I'm vegetarian now and have been since December last year. And I love it. However, my iron levels are low again and I wanted a boost - a small amount of organic or wild red meat - venison or beef... something to give me a directly absorbable iron hit. I walked down to the Saturday market near Church Street, only to find that wherever it was today, it wasn't there. On the way past, I spotted a fair trade boutique. I had no plans to buy anything, but I thought I'd look in the window. There were no customers in, but there were two women in there behind the counter or adjusting the very posh and nice clothes. I felt a rush of 'not good enough to go in this shop...' So I went in. 

The lady behind the till greeted me with a huge, wide-eyed, knowing 'Hello!'."That's a bit full on," I thought, until I realised that I had met this woman at the workshop I was on last week in a completely different part of the country. Lovely woman. Worlds colliding, good things coming of it. We talked for a while, then swapped numbers. I went in the back and left with a little bracelet with a tiny plaque on it saying 'BE BRAVE AND BE KIND', which I like very much, just for me. 

Emily Lovely

I have a deal... I am DEFINITELY doing a seven-day fast, starting on Friday. I am very excited. I also get to transcribe some brilliant material about nutrition. I'm ready for the next stage. I'm very excited. 

Lovely chat with Emily Cuphead Wilkinson from the windswept landscapes of Scotland. She's absolutely mint, that one. I like her very much. 

Aaaahhhhhhh, wonderful.

Inspired by Emily, I've been thinking about couples I admire. Lilley & Daniel, of course, Lee and Tanya, Kate and Stew, having had the pleasure of properly seeing them together last night; Rob & Pam, Rob & Anna (different Robs, just for clarity's sake) and these two, Cynthia & Soham. When I had the pleasure of meeting them both, they weren't a couple (I don't think). Now they are. Every time I see a picture of them, I am filled with warmth and love and happiness. They are both such lovely people, such committed creatures and they look so happy. So thank you, Soham and Cynthia, for making my day every time I see your happy faces and sense the love you have. 

Work is ace. Henna cowpats overnight are ace (if a little dangerous on the pillow front). Hot water bottles rock. See you, today. See you soon, tomorrow. Before I go, though. It's all about love, isn't it. This was a core part of my meeting yesterday. It's all about love, gifts, exchanges (though not in a trading way) of love and focus. Be it romantic love or the love of attention paid, thoughts trained, breaths taken, moments shared, jobs done well, steps taken... that's where it's at. Sleep on that. I know I will.