Confined to my London Street Atlas

I had just seen my good friend M get on the bus to Luton Airport when I was walking back to Baker Street tube station, by myself. It was not the first time that I was in London by myself. It did feel like it though, which was not strange because it was actually only the second time, and I tried to soak in the feeling of being in big London by myself. No special feelings of excitement emerged as I walked down Baker street and went into the tube station. There were some tourists there and amazingly enough after having only been there for five days I already felt different from them. One reason for this probably was the fact that I was not rolling a giant suitcase around. But another one was that there was something missing in my handbag; my London Street Atlas.

I actually thought of strolling around downtown for a bit. I was there anyway and I had already paid for half the trip. Having to pay for the other half as well I thought I might as well walk around downtown and get my money's worth. But I didn't have my London Street Atlas and I must admit that I was too afraid of getting lost not having my guide there. And with that the feeling of distinction from the tourists disappeared again. So there I was not feeling like a tourist and not really feeling like an inhabitant of London either.

Street Atlases are one of my favourite types of books. I can browse in them for hours getting to know different areas thinking of where I want to live. I can get lost in a city without even being there. It also helps me remember a route, because of the shape of a street. I realize that most streets are straight, but not all are.
The best way to get to know a city might be walking around loads, but in my case the Street Atlas is. This has one reason alone: it's the cheapest way.

If I am able to spend less money than my budget I might use that money to go downtown every now and then to walk around and get to know the city. But than again there are many other things I would want to spend that saved money on; mainly DVD's and going to the movies obviously. And then I also want to just save that money and having to borrow less money from my parents which is pretty much my number one source of income for the next year.

But I guess the coming year I have to focus on writing, studying and working anyway. So there will be no time for me to go downtown. I will have no business there unless I bring my laptop which is of course the coolest thing to do in my opinion. Going downtown with your laptop and settle yourself in a hip cafe with a cup of tea. Of course pretending to drink all day after you finish you first because you can't afford another, plus you can't go to the ladies because you can't leave your laptop. I can't anyway; I won't trust the staff of the cafe to look after it for one second. In fact I would not even go and sit in cafe with my laptop. I am far too afraid some crazy thief might come running in and steel it.

So this year the main places where my "writer's" life will be taking place are: at home in Wembley, at the university in Northwick Park and at work (where ever that might become). Downtown London will be visited by me mostly in my Street Atlas and hopefully occasionally in person.