What The Butler Saw

I must admit that I wrote the last post about bolshiness when I was having one of those 'powerless' days most freelancers experience. But, of course, 24 hours later things were going well again - and when you're feeling reasonably successful, bolshiness becomes so yesterday.

This weekend I learned:
-that Dave is a better and faster cleaner than me. He did the top floor and all the stairs of our flat (scrubbing, hoovering, dusting) within a single hour, while it took me three hours to cover the same cleaning distance last time. Unable to believe he could have done a good job in this time, I ran my fingers along the skirting boards and found them sparking. I admit defeat.

-that there is a world outside London and the rat-race. I saw a friend from Cambridge for the first time in three years. She has spent those years surfing and busking all over Europe, writing a novel and being taken skiing by sexy doctors in the Alps. Out of everyone I went to university with, she was the only one to defy London's gravitational pull - and she rocks.

-that I am very scared of violent people. This sweltering Saturday afternoon, a friend and I were strolling innocently up Regent Street, dodging naked cyclists and remarking how pleasant London was with all the usual yobbish types safely indoors watching the World Cup. Then behind us we heard the unmistakable sound of pub doors opening, and then the all-too-familiar shouts and cheers of the fans getting closer and closer. As a group of three teenage bare-chested hooligans chanting (nay, screaming) aggressively at the crowds came past us, my friend, who does not suffer fools gladly, said to them authoritatively, 'Shhh!' They then turned on us, dancing around us very close and screaming in our ears. My friend was entirely unpeturbed and just laughed at them, but I was convinced they were about to assault us. We ran into Habitat where it took me a full twenty minutes of browsing among the picnicware and taffeta curtains to regain my calm. I am still feeling slightly shell-shocked.

-Zara Home - wow! The best shop I have been in in ages. All Spanish and embroidered. I have resolved to have my wedding list there (when I get proposed to, that is.)