Having decided last night that today was going to be a relaxing day of correspondence, writing thank you cards and washing the dishes in my pyjamas, I set no alarm and was rudely awoken at 11.30am by something painfully heavy landing on my chest. I half opened my eyes and was surprised to see a furry ginger nose less than an inch from my face. 'Oh, hello Olive...' I mumbled after the initial shock and vague terror had worn off. Olive is our resident cat. She is bad tempered and haughty and only expresses any affection towards you when she wants something, but I am completely in love with her and feel quite emotional with happiness whenever she gives me any attention. It's rather like an unhealthy love affair, but I guess that's cats for you!
Having sniffed my face for a bit, and appearing satisfied, she settled herself down on my stomach. Slowly, I reached out for my Ben Elton book (Dead Famous) and we both lay there companionably for about ten minutes. Next, moving as little as possible, I felt around for my laptop (for my just woken up, pre shower Facebook check) and was happy to see I had one message. I clicked on it, feeling the customary excitement the little red square and white '1' always gives me, and then sat up with a start. It was from an old school friend, Tomas, giving me his number and saying he'd see me later. Scrawling frantically to earlier messages I remembered that we were meant to be meeting in Covent Garden at 12pm that day. I leapt from the bed, yelling my apologies down the hall way to the fast retreating (and rather angry) Olive, threw on some clothes and dashed from the house.
Half an hour later we met at Piccadilly Circus and he told me he hadn't minded my being late at all as he had got to explore Soho and been approached by a lady in a long tweed coat asking if he was looking for any sex. I found the story quite amusing but it also occurred to me that, being female, this was a side to Soho (and Red Light districts generally) that I had never, and probably would never, experience. I'm sure there's some sort of discussion there... Like, is it bad that just men are being offered paid sex or is it bad that women are offering paid sex? Should men and women both offer it, or should no-one offer it?...
Anyway, after lunching in The Coffee Bar next to Leicester Square Station (probably my favourite place in the whole world), we spent an enjoyable afternoon exploring Soho, Westminster, Green Park (I'm ashamed to admit that, until we checked the map, we weren't entirely sure if the massive building with loads of people around it was Buckingham Palace or not), Regent Street and Trafalgar Square. Tomas even managed to climb (with more difficulty than he expected) onto one of the lions at the corners of Nelson's Column plinth: something I intend to do at some point in my life, but decided against today! After glancing in the Apple Store and giving up on Hamleys due to the sheer amount of people, he commented that the High Street certainly didn't seem to be dead and we parted ways at Oxford Circus.
Once back at home, I was greeted by a package with S.W.A.L.K. written on the back and an adorable pink flannel with hearts on it inside. Who it was from I have no idea... (by which I mean I think it was from my mum, but shh...) I then, after noticing with relief, and a slight twinge of guilt, that Lucy had done the washing up, paid my first two weeks rent and sat down to write my thank you cards (it was my 20th birthday last weekend and I got some lovely cards and very good presents).
While I was doing this, I got a call from my dad. After chatting pleasantly for awhile, he told me that our cousin (well, his cousin, my first cousin once removed) had been diagnosed with cancer and the first lot of treatment hadn't worked. He seemed to be quite affected by it, obviously because his cousin could potentially be dying, but also because he's roughly the same age as her. He said: 'It reminds you that we're all hanging on by a thread.' It was a very sobering thought and we both determined to make the most of life while we had it. And I hope that Teresa (the cousin) does get better and is able to enjoy more of her life as well.
Anyhow, cards completed (two simple words, but it took effort! I wrote little life updates in each one as well as descriptions of what I specifically liked about their card), I had a deliciously hot bath (with my new flannel), got into my pyjamas and am now considering making a halloumi and sundried tomato pesto bagel. Or maybe pasta... Either way, what a productive day!
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