Of parks and ruins, cafes and coffee

My day in Saint Albans.

I walked through the park . Ate a pub lunch with my family. Climbed the high street to get to the Cathedral. Propped my camera on a gravestone for selfies. Stalked squirrels. Rested in a Starbucks with a soy caramel macchiato. Watched prestigious couples walk arm in arm with their noses tilted to the blue sky. Sniffed out a Thornton's chocolate shop.

Saint Alban's Cathedral

Foreground: Roman ruins!

Slanting building

A Jamie Oliver Restaurant!!!

An Irish pub playing French music

Because it looks funky and is called 'Rouge'

I walked down little alleyways and across cobblestone streets, all the time discovering some new, magnificent street overflowing with amazing stores. Stores like River Island. Next. Jigsaw. Crabtree & Evelyn.

I wanted to get home for dinner. But I got lost looking for the train. I swear the sign 'Abbey Station' was pointing down this street. I walked past pristine Porsche's parked in driveways. Cherry blossom trees in full bloom, swaying in the breeze, giving a most delicious scent. I was in second heaven. Until I reached the end of the street. I mean, who the hell misses a TRAIN STATION?!?!
So I interrupted an old couple who were weeding their very ugly garden and asked:

Can you tell me where the Tube is?
"The tube?!"
Umm, yeah.
"To get to London?"
No! W.
"Oh, well, that's not the Tube, darling"
okay.
"There's a difference. You're looking for the train and it's on the next street"
okay, thank you.
*glaring at me like I'm an idiot*
 oh wait!

I find the train station. I sit and I wait. I look up at the notice board next departure to W. 30 minutes. So I delve in to my handbag and find my book. And I read. The sun has started to go down. Dang! I left my coat in the car. I start to get really cold. I may not have a coat, but I do have tissues. And knowing that fact makes me happy. Because now I don't have to sniff like a pauper.
The train arrives on time and I choose to sit in the very last carriage. It's just me and my book. Out the window I spot a squirrel jumping through branches and scooting up tree trunks. I don't know how long I've been shifting my gaze from the book in my lap to the maniac squirrel but my daze is interrupted by the ticket master. He shuffles in and sits opposite.

"you've been in the sun today?"
Yeah, I guess.
"well, you can see it in your face"
oh?
"yes ma'am, you look bright"

I can't fully understand him, his accent is almost Jamaican. He's big. He takes up three whole seats.
Just as the whistle blows, a young kid jumps on to the train and in to my carriage. He's probably 18. He looks dopey, but pleasant. He's been running, his cheeks are flushed and he's panting.
He plops down next to the ticket master, they shake hands.
I have my eyes on my book but am listening to their conversation. They talk about their jobs, the kid mentions his parents, and the weather.
We've stopped at a station, and a business man walks in to our carriage, finds a seat and rests his chin on his left hand as he looks out the window. The train starts to move again.

I look up from my book, I get eye contact from the ticket master and the boy and am somehow roped in to their conversation. My accent is unfortunately a dead give-away. The ticket master asks what I do over here.

I'm an Au pair.
"Arh, so you work with kids"
yep and babies!
"are you understanding der language?"
baby language!?

The businessman has obviously been eavesdropping. He starts to chuckle but can't seem to hold it down, so ends up rocking with laughter in his seat.

"no, dis, da English accent"
yeah, I understand it fine.

We talk about Visas and our jobs. About squirrels and driving tests and public transport.

We finally arrive in W. I don't know how to open the train door. It's not automatic and that's what I'm used to. The boy jumps over a chair and squeezes between me and the businessman. He pushes some button hidden away on my left and the doors open and I step on to the platform. The businessman takes up a brisk stride and is soon hidden by the crowd of passengers, all filing to the same busy high street. Some getting taxis, others catching one of the last few buses running on a Sunday evening. I walk through the underground tunnels with the boy close by my side. I'm giving him tips about driving and ask when he passes the test, what car takes his fancy. He says he would like a fast car, but realistically can only afford something small. I swipe my ticket and walk through to the high street. My companion seems to have lagged behind, I can't see him anywhere. I stand on the high street keeping a keen lookout for my pick-up. The sun is going down and it's still cold out. I stamp my feet and start breathing warm air in to my hands. Someone stands next to me and lights up a fag. He's back. Still wanting to talk about his driving test coming up early in the week. He isn't nervous because he hasn't thought about it, but now that he thinks about it, he gets nervous.

My ride arrives. I say goodbye and he says he'll be surprised if we don't bump in to each other before too long. I say that would be nice.