My Saint George's Day

The April sun beats down as I emerge from Leicester Square tube station. Everybody seems to be enjoying the Spring ‘heat wave’ that were having. It’s funny how everyone looks more attractive when the sun is shining…that goes for London as well. All of a sudden the grittiness of the city is disguised by an aura of beauty.

I make my way to the festivities in Trafalgar Square. The permanent residents of the square are present…one legged pigeons…millions of lost tourists…the London 2012 countdown clock…the lions statues that looked oh so big when I was a kid and of course Nelson. In addition there were hoards of patriotic English and a real atmosphere of pride.

Here I was standing in one of the most famous landmarks in the world in the midst of what makes up England…every extreme from the Pearly Queens to Millwall fans…mum and dads trying the recite the story of George and the dragon…groups of friends drinking England’s finest Jamaican lager…rosy red dolly birds who forgot the sun block…balding blokes showing off their tattoos to express their pride…amazing buskers from the underground sharing their talent…touts trying their luck selling William & Kate memorabilia…rich…poor…young…old…English.

Newton Faulkner

I urge anyone who says that St. George’s Day isn’t celebrated enough to get down to central London on 23^rd April 2012…with the Olympics around the corner, it’s sure to be a cracking day!

My Saint George’s Day. My London. My England.