Day 16: I Am Astonished By The Kindness Of Strangers

This morning I had a meeting. A BREAKFAST meeting. It was very exciting. It meant getting up and going Up West to meet someone very nice in a very nice place with proper silver teapots and little silver dishes for the butter.

I took a cab. A mini cab. Never again. I was going from Brixon to Picadilly. There are many ways of going from Brixton to Picadilly, but via Waterloo Bridge (when the Strand underpass is closed) is not one of them. I was staring out of the window thinking about something pointless, and realised we were going to Waterloo.

Me: Are you going to Picadilly?
Cab driver: Yes.
Me: Why are you going to Waterloo?
Cab driver: Is quickest way.
Me: No it is not.
Cab driver: Yes it is. I do this every day.
Me: Right. You are aware, of course, that the Strand underpass is closed, rendering a swift passage over Waterloo Bridge ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE?
Cab driver: Is OK. If you want go over Vauxhall Bridge, you should told me.
Me: Why?
Cab driver: I no talk to you.
Me: Fine.
(25 minutes later)
Cab driver: I not know Underpass closed.
Me: How? I thought you did this the whole time.
Cab driver: I been holiday. I back yesterday.
Me: How long were you on holiday? 3 months?
Cab driver: I no talk to you.
(10 minutes later)
Me: Where are you going now?
Cab driver: Shaftes-berry Avenue.
Me: Why?
Cab driver: Is quickest way.
Me: To WHERE?
Cab driver: Picadillly Circus.
Me: I'm not going to Picadilly Cicus.
Cab driver: Yes you are.
Me: No, I am not. I am going to Picadilly. I'm getting out here.
Cab driver: Fuck you.
Me: No, my friend, fuck YOU.

I got to the place where the lady was, and we had a very nice time. She gave me some advice. Then she bumped ino someone she knew, and was nice about me to them. They gave me their card. Then the person they were with gave me their card. They both said, come and talk to us about work things. I said, OK, thanks. They were nice people. Very nice people.