Each lunchtime this week I have snapped on my pedometer and walked four miles around Green Park and St James Park. On Monday I listened to Stadium Arcadium by The red Hot Chili Peppers as I walked and found it to be a most agreeable walking companion. Yesterday I chose Fundamental by The Pet Shop Boys but was disapointed by the lack of 'chirpy' tunes (there's nothing quite like a whiny ballad by Diane Warren to dampen ones stride). Today I trusted in Mike Skinner and his post-famous point of view poems which made me smile.
I smiled even more when I reached the gates of Buckingham Palace and saw hundreds of Hyacinth Bouquet type women in posh summer dresses and fancy hats waiting to enter the palace grounds for a 'do'. The real reason for my smile was the thunderous and blustery downpour that had begun minutes earlier and was whipping up a storm in front of the no-place-to-hide-or-shelter Palace. All that care and attention and outfit shopping ruined in the space of a few minutes under a black and heavy cloud. I could see the fury in their eyes as I squeezed past them on my way back to work (under my brolly). I bet the Queens bathroom will be seeing some action right about now as 100 middle aged ladies jostle for mirror space and warm-air hand dryers before meeting old Liz.