An Englishwoman

On Wednesday, I went to lunch with Sue, the relocation specialist who worked with us to find this apartment last February. Before she became a freelancer in the relocation business, she spent 20 years as a journalist, and contributed to several of the London guide publications. As a result, she is stock full of interesting tidbits of information about this city.

When I asked her, Sue explained that the young men I see on several street corners selling an obscure newspaper were put there by an organization that was formed to help homeless people. The idea was that the homeless should have a job – rather than just beg for money, so they publish this newspaper (“rather dull,” according to Sue) and sell it on the streets. She says she just gives them money and lets them keep the paper.

On our way to lunch, we walked through a park with a hill. Sue told me that at the top of the hill is where people come on November 5 to watch the fireworks for Guy Fawkes Day. Then she recited the following poem:

"Remember, remember,
the fifth of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
We see no reason why
Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!"

Apparently, Guy Fawkes, a Roman Catholic, with his band of other Catholics, planned to blow up parliament in 1605 – but their mission was thwarted as they were discovered and captured before they could do any damage. So today the British are still celebrating their victory (and perhaps warning others against ever attempting it themselves).

You can read about this British holiday at this web site.

http://www.internet-at-work.com/hos_mcgrane/holidays/gregory.html

Below is a message Sue sent last week. When I read it, I hear her British voice; I hope you can hear it too.

Carl -

Hi - I hope everything was OK at the flat in the end?

I don't suppose you have internet yet, which is why I'm sending this message via your phone... I was going to have tea with Sue tomorrow, but last week I lost my voice (not such a bad thing, some people said :) and now it's back but, in a new and rather disgusting turn, I am now coughing and spluttering - yuk! and I bet Sue won't appreciate my turning up and giving her an authentic English cold?

I am so sorry to have to cancel, and very embarrassed because of course I am never usually ill and don't believe in colds, which are only for weak-minded people.

I'm sure I will have stopped coughing by, say, Wednesday. I could come by then? Or Thursday, or Friday?

Kind regards,

Sue

After lunch, Sue put on her helmet, hopped on her bicycle, and rode home again. The trip took 50 minutes each way. She mentioned she didn’t want the still evident cough to stop her from cycling; that is her contribution to helping the environment.