10th Aug 2003
London’s Burning
But not with boredom now, ye Clash fans…
I see London has topped 100 degrees for the first time ever
Hey, I’ll go! Wanna swap for a week? I’d rather spend a month in the sweltering Capital, than a week here in the shade. I know what it’s like when the Tube feels like a sauna. I loooove London. My passport has room for stamps. I’ll even eat mushy peas every single day, and won’t complain about the coffee – much.
The first time we went to London, in the Summer of ‘98, we were up on the 4th floor of a small stuffy room overlooking Old Brompton Road (before we came to our senses and discovered Number 16, Sumner Place) The Swelter Arms was the site of the Drakkar Noir Plumbing Incident, but we won’t tell that tale today. It was nearly 100 then, and we purposely found extra things to do to avoid the long walk up the stairs to the Inferno.
But you know what? We have loved every single day we’ve ever spent in London, hot summer and freezing November alike.
I can find lots to do in London when it’s burning up like this. Some of the key words are “V & A Museum”, “Ale”, “Plays”, “Beautiful Italian Tourists Frolicking in the Trafalgar Square Fountain” and possibly “Royal Albert Hall”. There are some great underground passages that go on for blocks – shade is possible.
And yes, I’ve been stuck on a Tube underground on a hot train that didn’t move for quite a long time. It’s a checklist item. Annoying, but part of the deal.
Just Two London institutions they should pay special attention to: don’t let any Beefeaters pass out, and keep the Ravens cool. lest they escape!
Stiff upper lip now. You Londoners live in one of the greatest cities in the effing world, so don’t start whinging about a little heat. I’d trade places with you faster than you can say “brilliant”!
