View from the fifth floor
Ooooh. The Generator. We're back. I feel like an imposter. I'm acting confident in front of people here tonight to distract any attention from the likely accusations that I soiled the comments box. Gradual panic in the veins. Get to the room. Lock the door. You've paid. Don't worry. You can get out of here in seven and a half hours.
In the meantime it's time for reflection. Perhaps I was a bit harsh on this place. They allow smoking and it's open 24 hours a day. Not a blink when I checked in at 1am. Then to the bar, for £1 diet coke and that cigarette smell fug that makes the air smell like the inside of a vacuum cleaner. Sit queitly. Don't draw attention to yourself. Ignore the Mediterranean looking man throwing up in the toilets. Ignore too the spanish youths playing Cannaster over there. Eyes open. Must keep alert.
I got here late after missing the last tube from Tooting Bec by 2 minutes. I got the night bus to Elephant and Castle instead and stood waiting for the another heading north. It soon dawned, fuck that, it was taxi time.
It is possible to get lucky with London taxi's. A nice driver who knows where he's going. A quick biography of where you live and work and you're there. Over tip and check in.
No sign of the original check in guy. This is good. Talk has turned to marrywanna in the bar. Sensitive listening devices, installed with the money rich westerners send along with their travelling daughters and sons, will quickly pick up on this, and the security people in the blue jumpers will be on site quicker than Camden skunk pushers.
But yes, the big decision is whether or not to fill in a real comments slip on the way out. Actually the guilt has gone now. It passes, I find. And seeing as though this is the last night I'll stay here I'm freerolling when it comes to pissing people off.
Seven hours. Then back to the real world of work. The homelessness tour is coming to an end. I should really have tried the park bench to complete the circle. Or at least asked people for money on the tube. But I think i'm going to make it to the weekend before vagrancy shows it's face. I'm lucky. Some aren't.
Room 538 tonight. Fifth floor. I'm counting on a view.
In the meantime it's time for reflection. Perhaps I was a bit harsh on this place. They allow smoking and it's open 24 hours a day. Not a blink when I checked in at 1am. Then to the bar, for £1 diet coke and that cigarette smell fug that makes the air smell like the inside of a vacuum cleaner. Sit queitly. Don't draw attention to yourself. Ignore the Mediterranean looking man throwing up in the toilets. Ignore too the spanish youths playing Cannaster over there. Eyes open. Must keep alert.
I got here late after missing the last tube from Tooting Bec by 2 minutes. I got the night bus to Elephant and Castle instead and stood waiting for the another heading north. It soon dawned, fuck that, it was taxi time.
It is possible to get lucky with London taxi's. A nice driver who knows where he's going. A quick biography of where you live and work and you're there. Over tip and check in.
No sign of the original check in guy. This is good. Talk has turned to marrywanna in the bar. Sensitive listening devices, installed with the money rich westerners send along with their travelling daughters and sons, will quickly pick up on this, and the security people in the blue jumpers will be on site quicker than Camden skunk pushers.
But yes, the big decision is whether or not to fill in a real comments slip on the way out. Actually the guilt has gone now. It passes, I find. And seeing as though this is the last night I'll stay here I'm freerolling when it comes to pissing people off.
Seven hours. Then back to the real world of work. The homelessness tour is coming to an end. I should really have tried the park bench to complete the circle. Or at least asked people for money on the tube. But I think i'm going to make it to the weekend before vagrancy shows it's face. I'm lucky. Some aren't.
Room 538 tonight. Fifth floor. I'm counting on a view.
posted by Stephen | 1:27 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home