Back in England
Firstly, have I mentioned how good Reckless Life is? Good! Good Good Good!
With that important statment done, report on status:
Am currently back in England, and more or less settled down. My room has finally stopped looking like a warehouse, if I had a working camera I'd take a picture of it, but mine conked out after a long and useful life.
Had a slightly scary experience last night. Coming back from the welcome back party for people from our hall, the two girls I was heading back to my hall with decided to take a detour to Astor College. Since I was keen on going back too late (it was about 9) I decided not to go with them. After all, my hall was just across Euston Road.
As I was crossing Euston Road, I noticed that 1) There weren't many people out at that time and 2) The only other person on the street was a middle-aged guy who was also waiting to cross the street as well. Now, normally this wouldn't bother me as much, except that this time, despite having no phone, he was mumbling quite audibly to himself. Creepy? You bet. Not wanting to wait too long, I jaywalked quickly instead for waiting for the light.
To my slight surprise, so did the creepy guy... As I walked on, he kept pace with me. I slowed down a bit. So did he. And I caught one of his mumblings: "..no you'd take too long... it's too tight...". Feeling of creepiness intensified. You bet!
Without even pausing to think about it, I dived into the Sainsbury Local (convenience store) and checked to see if he was still following me. He didn't follow me into the store , but I was rather disconcerted to see he backed off to the distance and then stopped, waited and watched the store. If I ever had a doubt he was really following me, I didn't doubt it then.
After my previous experience with this kind of thing, I wasn't taking any chances. I peeped out and saw that he was still waiting. Went to the back of the store, took out my keys and slipped them through the fingers of my right hand to make it a moderately proficient clawing weapon. I think a combination of a gas sound alarm (the 140db) and the key-studded fist is a fair defense.
Checked again, and was relieved to see that the bastard had gotten tired of waiting and was leaving. He could have waited the whole night if he had wanted to. That Sainsbury local didn't close till 11, I think.
AFter I was sure he had left, I cautiously crept out of the store, and walked quickly back. And I kept my key-clenched first ready in my pocket.
Long ago, I would have felt embarassed being so careful. I'm wiser now.I take no chances.
Thanks, Mos. And Thanks Steve.
