How to Stay Awake All Night in London (without really trying)

The filling of 13 hours or so... Land from Aberdeen. Change terminals and change out of the suit. Answering the Baggage Company’s questions. Tube. Text. The Moon Under Water for Pimms and Lemonade and Fish and Chips and Peas. Front row for the aptly named Long Day’s Journey Into Night. London Pride at the Lamb and Flag. Slow walk through Covent Garden past one Belushi’s across Waterloo Bridge and down past the Oxo pier and Founder’s Arms and the Globe to another one. Chicken Cottage. Cut-faced man scrounging the ground for the best of the used cigarettes and asking “Guv’nors” for their 20p. Police on London Bridge. Name of the Wind and Joel Plaskett at Oystergate, with the river rolling left to right. Thinking Wishful Thoughts, of times gone by.

That brings you to 2:46AM. Next will be St. Paul’s and Millenium Bridge. That tree. Thoughts of a little night bus ride in search of the dandy (he smiles). More reflections, soaking in the city, and the year itself. The sleep deprivation adding to the unreality of it all. The leaving. The return to the past as the path forward for the future. That reference and the Irish overtones in the Eugene O’Neill nicely appropriate for the mood. The soul at peace with the city and the city at peace with the soul, knowing she’ll always be your lover...

Perfect execution of a glorious plan, I’d say. No better way to say goodbye. Or fare thee well, I suppose. Until next time. As the Arsenal and the even grander access to season tickets in Block 5, along with the discovery of the Rylance Winter Shakespeare run tonight. And what other shows may present themselves, too, enticing you back across your Broad Atlantic and down to the top of Kili.

The question of the night, the same for the next months. Who can be persuaded to join? Remember those commitments, born of the Achill moment and fruitful Asian meditations. And see where it might lead. Would be good to bring company back to the Thames and its soft summer breezes. As an answer to its open questions, like.

‘Cause it’s a long long way to winter. After all.

Ah, London, you make me feel a bit like a time traveler through my own life.  Will do my utmost to see you before 2012 is out.  The odds are very good.