Paper cup of the boat, heaving chest of the sea. From the place we were born, to the land of the free (Blanket of the Night - Elbow)

New dawn; new day.  I slept like a baby.  Think my 'confessional' has helped. Yet when I look at the news, the images of those people travelling north, fleeing from goodness knows what, my troubles just pale into insignificance.  This

movement of people, who have left everything, to flee terror, really is difficult to comprehend. I have just seen the most moving image of a couple, using crutches to slowly move, step, by step, on their journey to move north. I cannot imagine their fear or pain.  Awful!

Today Andy and I are going to march in solidarity for these people.  It is just a little thing but those of you who know me will know that I will have to do something.  Part of me wants to just go out to Serbia or Hungary and just help these people but that is Little Miss Spontaneous.  So, the march in London is at least something.

One of my favourite bands Elbow have the most amazing song that sums up the journey many of these people take to keep safe.  It is called Blanket of the Sea. I heard them sing this when I saw them play live in Liverpool.  It was so moving then and seems even more significant now.  The lyrics are so emotionally beautiful.

Saturday:  I cannot tell you how difficult I have found watching the news recently.  People, leaving their homes, friends, families and walking north because they feel terrified in their own land.  I have read things that you don't

see on the BBC News of ISIS throwing gay men off buildings; because they are gay.  What would you do if this was your life? Would you stay where you were or would you try to stay alive?  Today Andy and I went to use our democratic right to protest.  

We went up to Marble Arch and there were crowds of people watching the news that Jeremy Corbyn was elected as the leader of the Labour party.  There was initially 

some confusion as to where the march was to start. The details of this were posted on the Social Network and I think the organisers were not expecting as many people to turn up.  I said to Andy that me and him would be no good if we were fleeing anywhere as we couldn't even figure out which way to go in the park let alone over Europe.

There were thousands and thousands of people there from all countries and walks of life.  There were families with small babies in arms, elderly people

walking with sticks, people from other countries, different languages being spoken. It was amazing and it has restored my faith in human kindness. There was a drumming band playing and the atmosphere was electric.  I was marching for humanity.  I am a human being and everyone deserves a safe life.  It is as simple as that.  We walked along, I kept taking photos - I hope I have done well. I wish I could have captured some of the atmosphere and shared it

with you.  But I know some of you were with me in spirit.  I do not know what the answer is to this crisis; but I do know that you cannot just sit back and do absolutely nothing.  We are all human beings.

We decided that we would make our exit and made our way back to the flat. We were both rather tired so went to our separate rooms to have a rest.  So here I am lying on my bed writing this and watching the place I have just been now being broadcasted on the news.  There were many times when I was living in Stoke that I wanted to come down to London to march, to make my voice heard. But, because of the train fare, it was not possible.  Today London did not fail me.

So tonight we are rocking off to Greenwich to see an immersive theatre

performance called Heartbreak Hotel.  I have not experience immersive theatre before so it should be an experience.  I cannot believe how much Greenwich has changed over the years.  It really is looking rather lovely. The theatre was a wonderful experience.  We had to check in, as you do in a hotel then we went to get a drink.  The bar was an old container unit and was so high, I could not see over the bar itself. The barman was lovely and said that because we looked so small (as the bar was so high) he needed ID.  That is just what I want to hear on the edge of a birthday.  I opted for some pale ale called something or the other from America, a craft beer.  It was OK but I didn't think I would get a pint of the bloody stuff.  I could not drink it all; and that is not me.  We sat outside waiting to be called in, taking photos and being rather childish.  We were looking around

at the 'couples' there deciding who was on a date, a first date, or who were just friends.  

We were called inside of the theatre.  For those of you who do not know, immersive theatre is very much what it says; you are part of the play.  You do not sit down, you move from scene to scene of the play.  Each room/story/act of the play tells you a scene and you move from scene to scene; you do not have a seat, you are part of the play.  It was so good. Obviously, the clue is in the title Heartbreak Hotel - the play was about heart ache and love ......... great really cheered me up! No, seriously it was really good and would love to go and see something similar in the future.

We were both tired as we had walked miles and it had been a busy day, so we decided to just go back to the flat.  We ended up getting a portion of chips each

and retiring to our respective rooms/bed for a midnight feast.  I am living like a student I tell you. Needless to say, so much walking, a bit of alcohol, fresh air and chips I had, once again a good nights sleep.

Sunday: Woke just before the alarm this morning. The day before my birthday is one touched with sadness, again through the thoughts and actions of others. It is three years ago that I last saw my Megan.  It makes me cry still just to type this.  She was in a foul mood and was stomping around the house.  I said to her that it will time for her soon to go to University. Up until this point, no one had told me when or where she was going.  She just gave me a dirty look and stormed out of the room.  I said to her well 'Fly my pretty, fly' and she screamed what did you say, so I repeated it and she just laughed.  That is the last time I saw her.

The next day was my birthday, I was up early and left the house to meet friends to go to Liverpool for the day.  I had a great day, lunch and some cocktails - it was great. I really brilliant day, just what I needed.  I got home and found an empty house. They had moved Meg out on my birthday. All her clothes had gone, her books, her music stand and clarinet ..... everything.  I later found out that things she did not take with her had been put up in the loft, out of sight. Nothing of her remained in the house.  No one told me. They must have realised I was off for the day as it was my birthday and moved her out.  I was devastated, totally devastated. How cruel can people be?  What would I have to done to deserve that? But, even though it still hurts and even though I still cry over it (crying now whilst typing this) there is nothing I can do about it but live with it.  But they knew what they were doing and doing it on my birthday I guess says more about them than me.

Up and out on my little bus up to Hoxton.  This morning on my journey I saw 8 

different squirrels, can you believe that. I also saw, slap bang in the City a film set for a 1900's production.  Actors were all dressed up in costume and there were old cars and buses around.  It was so surreal.  I was early today so took a

walk around and found the canal. So sat on a wall, by the canal watching the joggers and listening to Morrissey who was kind of summing up the day so far. I arrived at the cafe and chose to sit somewhere else, just to jog things up a bit. The girls who work there now, Sophie and Michelle know me now and I sat and had a lovely chat with Sophie.  I just have to say at this point that a song has come on the radio Heaven, Bryan Adams and I am now sobbing my heart out. Why does music do that to you? It is the words to this beautiful song and I guess it does not help with me just typing the above.  Andy thinks I am in melt down bless him.  Anyway, back to Hoxton.  Wonderful, as usual, meditation session.  I got chatting, you know what I am like, to a guy called, well he has chosen his nickname for this blog so we shall call him Beano. I have to be honest here, and my apologies if you are reading this Beano, but I struggled at first to tune into his dialect.  There are so many languages/dialects/accents in London, I love it, but your ears do have to adjust.  Beano is Irish.  We had a lovely chat about life and stuff and he mentioned (and I had already seen it) that the Dali Larma is at the 02 on Saturday.  I had looked at the tickets on the 02 website and they were quite expensive but he had seen them on the Dali Larma's own website and they were a lot cheaper.  He put his name in my little black book and I gave him one of my cards and hopefully we can figure something out between us to get tickets to go and see him.  London just keeps giving and giving.

Treated Andy and I to some carrot cake to take away and said goodbye to the guys in the group and the staff in the cafe and made my way home. Quick five minutes and Andy and I were off out again for a lunch.  As it is my birthday it was my choice so we got the bus up to Holborn and went to a place called Belgo.  There are a few of them around London. Believe it or not, they are a Belgium chain of restaurants that specialise in mussels, fries and beer. Happy days.  I had a huge pot of mussels, with onions, garlic, white wine and cream (yum, yum). Andy had half a chicken with BBQ sauce and we both

had fries.  We had to giggle as Andy's beer was Blanche de Bruxelles and mine was called Bieren Slag.  Make your own mind up!  The food was wonderful.  I love seafood and that is why I could never be a vegetarian for real. 

On the bus, fully stuffed, back to the flat to play on the Xbox for a couple of hours. Tea and cake and now we are going to have a couple of Cosmopolitan cocktails and a couple of episodes of Sex and the City.  It has been a wonderful pre-birthday weekend. I have been spoilt and enjoyed every minute of it.  I cannot stop repeating myself when I say I just love living in London.  I am so happy to be here. Who would have thought it this time last year.  I guess that is why we must never say never.  None of us know what the future holds.

I am going to leave you with some more photos from the March on Saturday. These images were taken with Beatrice and what I have learnt is I have so much more to learn. But it is a start.  Regardless of what your political, personal or emotional views are on the 'migrant situation', Saturday restored my faith in human kindness and compassion.  I do not know what the answer to the crisis is; but what I do know is that to sit back and do absolutely nothing is not the right thing.  

As always, with my love x