Just one small pixel that makes London amazing!

T’was the weekend before Christmas. London has a sense of relief in the air as she knows that the Christmas parties are now done, there are only a couple of really busy shopping days left and most people will be facing the mother of all commutes…the trip home for Christmas, leaving her to also have a well earned rest.

I once again find myself rushing around the capital buying last minute gifts, saying my final farewells and wishing people ‘a good one’ whilst lugging my bags around like everybody else who is scrambling across the underground network to make it home. The process is always somewhat stressful but there is always a comforting thought that soon the light at the end of the tunnel will emerge as I set foot through the door of Mum’s house…soon everything will be alright.

I’m not going to bore you with how my journey home went. I just want to share a moment that I had at King’s Cross Tube Station. It will be my lasting impression of London as I leave 2013 behind.

A blind busker was playing the violin. He was playing a really classic song which is so recognizable that everyone knows it but I’m sure like me, very few people knew what it was called. Despite the frantic scuttle everyone in the concourse stopped what they were doing, they forgot for a moment where they were going and just stopped and listened. For the few minutes that the busker played the song he literally had everyone in his awe. Tubes came and passed but people waited for the next train to come along (this never happens in London!) just to hear the musician play out.

By the time he had finished a small crowd had built up, all of whom let out a rapturous applause. Until that moment it made me wonder if the busker even knew that he had captivated such a large audience.

I may see this busker again, I may not. I don’t know his name, he doesn’t know mine but I hope he realizes how many people appreciated his music on that day and that it is moments like this that makes London the amazing place that it is.

PS. When I got on my train, I searched the song and I can tell you it was Spring of the four seasons.

Have a bloody good Christmas!

X