Antarctic at Home in London

A couple of weeks ago,  a friend of a friend, after having had a quick peep into my now petty bare flat with a broken boiler for the third winter,  said, “I wouldn’t want to have my dog living here. How can you live like this?”

Now that the temperature has dropped another 10 degrees celsius to nearly zero, I can feel the chill to the bone.  The little electric heaters get lost in this big open warehouse space with high ceilings. 

I am grateful to all of my friends who have given me and/or offered me shelters in these challenging years.  At least, with my cats gone, I don’t have to worry about them shuddering in the cold on the electric blanket. 

And if this cold doesn’t kill me, what else will?!

Indeed, I might have become a penguin.

REVELATIONS

“Our father, who art in heaven, hollowed by thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptations, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. “

This was read at the mass conducted by the Priest Vicar of Westminster Abbey by Reverend Dominic Fenton yesterday. I was touched by his sober sermon discussing the sad state of the world -troubles in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Europe.

These were of course the most noticeable of troubles however. There is much other turmoil around the world that goes on unreported. Wildlife is being decimated and nature depleted, for example.  I am very pleased that someone, such as the Reverend Fenton, is bringing our attentions to these issues in such public gatherings as most of us are simply caught up in our own little world of worries and problems. I myself, am one of these people. My life has changed dramatically since two years ago when I filed for divorce, and my energy is mostly spent on fending for my survival to be able to engage in world issues at large.  This, however, is not an excuse to be indifferent to what’s going on elsewhere as a citizen of planet earth.

Events took a sinister turn for me two years ago. As a result I lost complete access to the charity and the South China tiger project that I conceived, established, implemented and ran for over ten years. But the positive side of that is I now have the luxury of time and what’s more, liberty, to pursue other interests. I started making regular visits to the many beautiful churches and cathedrals in London, particularly in my neighbourhood of City and Shoreditch, the true heart of historical London.

Although not born into any religion (on the contrary in fact), I have always liked visiting churches, cathedrals & monasteries.  Many of those I had the opportunity to attend while living in Italy are not just breathtakingly beautiful, culturally enriching, but spiritually enhancing.

The calming influence the ecclesiastical institutions provide has often given me strength and clarity at these trying times of extreme uncertainty and challenges. I feel particularly lucky to be surrounded by these beautiful living monuments that provide services to the local communities. One of the Christopher Wren churches that I am particularly fond of is St. Michael’s Cornhill. This little jewel of a church is almost hidden in the bustling City of banking, making it a precious refuge for those who seek solace and consolation. When its rather majestic organ sounds, it is simply powerful and entrancing.

I can not sing enough praise about the organ concerts held at these London churches which in my humble opinion rival the most wonderful of concert halls in the world. If there is anything that I feel addicted to at present, it got to be these heavenly sounds in such pleasing surroundings. Not too bad a consolation prize though, I’d say.

London, London: So Near Yet So Far -3-day Historic Journey from Beijing to London

Sunday Dec 19:

5am: I rose from bed

5.45am: Headed to Beijing International airport

8.00am: Depart from Beijing for HK with Dragon Air

11.15am: Arrival at HK Airport

12.00pm: Got into Cathay Pacific Lounge to wait for 2.55 pm Cathay Pacific 253 flight to London

2.30pm: Was informed flight would be delayed due to Heathrow airport closure in London and more news to come at 3.30pm.

4.00pm: Got informed CX 253 would be delayed to 6.15pm.

6.00pm: Still no info

7.15pm: Got informed our flight was also cancelled, like several other flights to London

7.30pm: Checked into Airport hotel adjacent to airport courtesy of Cathay Pacific (they provide such excellent service!).

12.00am: No more information to come after my repeated inquiries so I went to sleep watching Nat Geo docos.

Monday Dec 20th:

6am: Checking BB (Blackberry) for Heathrow info. Smsed HK manager to ask help for Cathay flight info.

8.30am: Info said to check with Airlines but airlines said Heathrow still closed.

9.30am: Went to Cathay Pacific Inquiry Desk

10.00am: Was told to re-book flght at Ticket Desk

10.30am: Was informed to go to Check-in Desk since I asked if I could get on Paris flight as Heathrow is still closed.

10:50am: Checked in for Paris Flight

11.15am: Checked out of hotel and met with HK manager

12.30am: Went through airport immigration

2.00pm: Wondered if flight was still on

2.30pm: Glad to hear boarding announcement

2.55pm: Departed for Paris on time!!!

9.15pm: Landed in Charles De Gaulle Airport in paris on time, after over 13 hours.

10.00pm: Distressed to find out there were no Eurostar tickets to london for several days to come. Started working on other options: local trains, ferries, even bus etc.

10: 45pm: Booked on train from Paris- Calais, ferry from Calais to Dover, train from Dover to London for next day.

11.00pm: So Relieved my bags made it to Paris too, as they were checked in Beijing. Another sign of a good airline with excellent service!

12.00pm: Checked into Hotel in Central Paris.

Tuesday Dec 21st:

4.45am: Woke up to plan for bus or taxi journey to Calais just in case trains don't run.

6.00am: Friend Jon replied to sms that the first two trains to Calais seemed cancelled. Checking bus and taxi options.

8.00am: Had a camomile tea for breakfast

9.00am: Checked out of hotel

9.15am: Met with French Tv producer

11.00am: Finished meeting and had quick lunch at hotel

12.30pm: Arrived at Gare du Nord and retrieved train ticket to Calais. Looked promising -the train was not cancelled!

1.15pm: Ordered a decaf expresso and a double cognac to go with at the Station Brasserie

2.28pm: Left with train for Calais

4.20pm: Glad to arrive in Calais train station despite 20-minute delay. Although the station was a nightmare to get my heavy suitcases up and down the staircases, I managed.

5.00pm: Finally got into a taxi (sharing with 3 other nice English people) to head to the Port to take the P&O Ferry across the Channel.

6.00pm: Left with ferry which was actually scheduled to leave at 5.05pm. The three English: a mother and daughter couple, and a young man were helping me with my heavy bags.

6.30pm: Arrived in Dover (Hurray!!!)

7.00pm: Got into taxi with blue Disco lights driven by a good-humoured Iraqi fellow, and got to the Dover Priory train station in Disco mode.

7.15pm: Bought a round of drinks for my helpers and order a vodka for myself at the pub opposite the station.

7.44pm: Left Dover.

8.50pm: Train pullled into London's St Pancreas station.

9.15pm: Said Goodbye to Matt, Ruth and Jeanne.

9.45pm: Arrived home. This would be Beijing time 5.45am Wed Dec 22.

After dealing Volcanic Ash, European snow, I can deal with anything.