7. Getting to know you

(23rd December 2002)

Putting morning ablutions to one side (they were bound to happen anyway), my morning started with a mug of instant cappuccino and a notepad. I think that the spartan existence of a hotel room makes me think I'm some sort of artist. I'm not. I'm a computer programmer. I felt the need to complete the two-thirds formed poem I'd take it upon myself to compose in my head the night before. This out of the way, I also found myself penning a couple of hundred words on how I'd made a home out of my hotel room.

Following the tawdry display of penmanship I call my writing, I set out my aims for the day:

1. Find batteries for my radio
2. See how far it is to walk the length of Gray's Inn Road
3. Try to work out how the West End of London connect to the King's Cross area
4. Eat something
5. Go with the flow
6. Be ready to get to the first night shift a couple of hours early.

The first item on this list is a matter of some amusement to me. I was amazed that my little walkman-like radio came with a built-in torch facility and joked that it was probably a device to help you wear the batteries down more quickly - especially if the push-button was accidentally held down by something pressed against it in your pocket... guess what happened!

So I mooched around London, looked at some CD shops, bought nothing - a personal best in Window shopping success - and took myself for lunch to my current favourite London Starbucks. It is opposite broadcasting house on Great Portland Street. The rest of the was spent in quiet reflection. Highlights include:

• Some reading
• Writing this and getting the indentation on my middle finger from pen usage (hadn't had one of those in a while)
• Visiting the British Library and playing with their "50 years of number one" exhibit - I chose some poignant dates and recalled the number ones that were playing on those days. Sadly I failed to find out how to win the guitar that was on display.
• Visting Camden Library and reading an interesting text book on music.

And so it was that, at around 6pm, I left my hotel in search of a sandwich and my destination, somewhere in Lambeth. I was far too occupied to complete the story - but then I'd predicted that when I said how poor a diarist I am.

The time I spent in London was quite surreal. It is hard to describe working night shift in a place which only exists a few days a year, with people who are doing the same, and with users of the facility. If anything summed up the spirit of goodwill and kindness, then my experiences over Christmas 2002 did. I hope to do it again.

Posted: 05 April 2003
Ashley Frieze