So the week flew by and I have done no shopping. Trudged around Oxford Street looking for something. Went to a couple of Body Shops – ahem – and found nothing. Is it just me or is London a tad more crowded now [then, say 1766 when I was last here - sheesh]. My quest to find a cricket vest – not so lucky.
The highlight, as always, has been in meeting people. I had a great night out on Wed. with Rob, Spencer and dacoit [congrats to Rob for finishing his M.A. and deciding to come to Chicago for his Ph.D.] Also, saw Raphael, a former student who is now reporting for the A.P in London. He told me about the nutty statement of Ze Pope Рas it had just come out that morning. I remember contemplating that the reaction to such statements could be ugly. Then, I emerged from the 2 day occulsion at the conference to find out the reaction, indeed, has been ugh-lee. Oh well. At least, at Cambridge were more grand hangouts with Africanists and other scholars of the colonial ilk.
Pictures and more as I gather my senses – after I get back to Chicago.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Good..ASHES 2005 is on its way :)
Good lord! You’re in London and I didn’t even know about it! You need to e-mail me this sort of thing; after all, who better to take you shopping than a gay desi?
“deciding to come to Chicago for his Ph.D.”
Man, I was way more drunk than I thought…
Incidentally, two stops after we parted my bus broke down and I had to stand half in the storm, half in the doorway, waiting for a replacement. At least London smiles on visitors!
As for more crowded… yup.
eh, pity about the timing, i’d have given you a tour (not of cambridge, but the Other Place) had it been a month-ish earlier or later. Also, if yr Body Shop forays were unfruitful, tell your unruly-haired friends to try ebay–it’s been a reliable source of the indian gardenia perfume since TPTB at body ship discontinued it.
did you buy lots of books in London?
sin: my bad, i woulda loved to hang with you. next time around.
rob: you were not that drunk. you just made the wise choice. perhaps not in the matter of transportation.
e: i would have loved a tour of the Other Place – where I may be headed in May.
Sadly, this is the first time that I never bought any printed material on a trip – not even a newspaper. I have little explanation. I did spend a bunch of time in a few bookstores. But, somehow, I am perennially distracted lately.
Next time you’re in town, you should check otu Surrey CC’s sports shop or Fordham sports in SW15.