Surprise, Surprise: London, England!
After returning to life in England, nothing really worked for me until I made that day down to London in March 2022! With the country and wider continent further open after the recent 'Omicron Variant' scare, a day in London was much appreciated! With a stroll along the river, a Covent Garden bevvy with a West End show thrown in for good measure, it was amazing! LDN!
After enough Pandemic related drama, I craved a day back in my capital city by the time 2022 swung around! I was already in denial that I was still in the United Kingdom, China needed to re-open their border because I had already had enough by that Spring 2022 moment! Distracting myself during that non-starter time, a day down in London had to be done! Walking along the 'Thames Path' sure felt correct, like I had not expected to be in the country at that point so it was already a blessing to be see those London sights and then some! Challenging the normal walk along the river, I loved catching the statue of 'Mary Seacole' as I walked past 'St. Thomas's' because you already know she wasn't wishing something sour for Boris whilst he was allegedly admitted to hospital near that nursing hero! Oh, I could just picture Ms. Seacole reading 'BoJo' his rights! Sure, the 'London Eye' served 'Landmark Realness' but it was about a certain wall for me! Also, those 'Houses of Parliament' definitely made me feel sour! For sure!
'The National COVID Memorial Wall' certainly had me in my feelings, there had been talk of erasing the messages from the wall. The current and remaining government have enough blood on their hands, they actually thought we, the public would allow them to wash away such messages and well wishes. People died in their thousands, the least people deserve is for these heart shaped messages to be left in their then 2022 state for a little longer. Reading some of them had me remembering those Lockdown days, you already those 'Downing Street' parties made an absolute mockery of the whole 'stay at home' order. Those who remain in their ministerial jobs continue to have the brass neck, they wanted this heart-led wall of remembrance washed away? Yes, they are mad! London had me feeling something, for once I had no qualms to say that when my time came that I would be happy to fly away! Sadly, I believed that the current government would eventually have their way. What? The memorial remains? I want to know!
Leaving 'Vauxhall Bridge' behind, that London Red Bus took me to Trafalgar Square because I had Covent Garden set in my sights! I loved spotting that 24 bus bound for Pimlico, snatching those London Transport moments in real time, well that impressed me very much! Keeping it at 100, I felt some kind of way when I saw those crowds. I had lost all sense, being within such a busy city environment felt very strange to me, indeed it did! What had happened to me? I had lived in one of the world's fast paced countries before the Pandemic had struck, right there in London I wasn't able to deal with those Saturday pedestrians? I was a mess! I only ended up boarding two buses but all of my post-COVID dreams kind of came true, sure they did! Like one 'Surprise' after the next, London's Trafalgar Square did not beckon me because Covent Garden was my intended mood. Leaving the madness of that London moment behind me, falling back felt like the right thing to do! From bus to river then to a city square, I needed 'Piazza Realness!'
Heading to 'Soho' felt natural, there's no secret that I love a good 'Chinatown' but one thing my home city lacks, well it's a good 'Gay Pub!' Before that 'Admiral Duncan' pint could be enjoyed, I swung past 'Covent Garden' for just a moment, I wanted to catch those 'Piazza' views because I could! Loving that 'capital' spot, it was time for a drink at the 'Sun Tavern' because those square looking cafes didn't deserve my money, no service found me! That pint at that London pub reminded me of those childhood visits, me and my younger brother really had life shown to us in a real sense, that guy wasn't just energetic, he had just taken illegal drugs! To be a child! Yes, the 'Admiral Duncan' returned me to a 'queen-like' environment for just half an hour, how I missed those 'Destination' and 'Kai' nights! Sure, the Middle Kingdom stayed closed during that point but the meals served to me at 'Wong Kei' reminded me of my former Asian home! I bought some hawthorn sweets and some other Chinese goodies, it felt great to eat something familiar! Damn!
Drag Race had become a constant relief during those Lockdown moments, with the 'West End' reopening once again, I needed to snatch a ticket to see 'Death Drop!' A Drag 'Murder Mystery' with as many plots just like a 'RuPaul' season, I wanted in! Making those theatre purchases had been the main reason for the day down to London, the other elements simply filled time before and then after the show took place. Treating my mom, it was meant to be a day down south for us both to enjoy, 'Death Drop' served us laughs and gasps galore! I was secretly sopping up as much culture as possible, with a return to China on the cards the following year I wanted to see that 'Drag focussed' theatre show without any delay! For me, 'Vinegar Strokes' was amazing throughout the show! 'Kitty Scott Claus' was hilarious and 'Jujubee' practically stole the show! Most of all, not having to wear a mask was amazing, I really didn't like wearing one during the Panto in 2021! Not a mood for me! 'Drag Race' stars in a London West End theatre show? Yes!
To be honest, COVID-19 had made going to the theatre easier because those tickets had to be online within QR Code form! I didn't dig the masks at all but the enhanced technology gave me back the level China had narrated my life before the Pandemic. London needed to get with the programme, we do not need paper tickets when we have APP pocket technology readily available to us! The show was just what we both needed, being back at the theatre during a less panicked moment in time definitely lifted the mood. People actually looked like they had gotten on with their lives, like for real! Yes! The noise and bustle in London definitely had me feeling some kind of way, in the long run it was good for me to have those nerves. Getting an almighty 'Surprise' with those crowds and noise, well they prepared me for future trips! Sure, those trips would be located further afield but with such a 'hermit' situation stopping me, London changed that feeling! That day in London was coming to a close, I didn't want to go home! Sure, I'd be back!
With the curtain call done, it was time for myself and my mom to make our way back to Euston for our West Midlands bound train home. Piccadilly Circus was a blaze, those neon lights had not been in my life since 2014. With a life lived overseas, I had been unable to appreciate London in-real time! That 'lit up' moment was brief, it was super brief but it meant something to me all the same! I knew that my new company in China would get the go-ahead for my visa, it was just a matter of time! I knew that myself and London would cross paths soon enough, 2022 didn't see us reunited but 2023 was just the ticket. 2023, that New Year moment had me feeling that a London visit would happen! Getting the most from that 2022 day out, well it gave me such a love for the smallest things. I was able to publish four blogs about that day out and now this publication stands as a fifth! I had never before blogged about one day across four working blog titles before that 2022 moment! That 'Surprise' outing felt correct, no mistakes were present!
The walk back to Leicester Square Underground Station allowed us to cut through Chinatown once more. I love me a good 'Bubble Tea' but at those prices? It had been much much too long since my last Birmingham based Bubble Tea, I had to pay those prices for a drink like that! That in itself had me wanting to get back to China even more, seriously I felt like crying when I converted the price from Pounds to Yuan! Sure, it was all in the name of culture! You know? I'll never learn! No! London showed me the way, she didn't show me any shade, although the Tories better not erase that 'Memorial Wall!' The theatre had me feeling human once again, life resembled something normal, even if those crowds had me feeling cautious. Life after Lockdown in the big city felt amazing, I couldn't complain about anything! London saw me returning and with a clear plan in tow, I made those China plans! Truly, what was only meant to be one day out, memories were definitely made! There's no doubt, London will never see the last of me!
My Fair London!
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