Great Cities, London... Part II

My blog started off with an honest but positive account of the city I live in. I had then visited many, many cities, and in a rare moment of good humour in economy class, (this is an achievement in itself) just had one of those revelations that make you realise, shit, I have it good!

So I have visited many cities and have weirdly found myself comparing them, kinda like normal girls would do with ex-boyfriends... example: ah Shaun was great, good opportunities but no fun... I'm going... Singapore would be a great career move, but Dubai provides far more opportunities and is definitely more fun... oh dear, I'm comparing cities to exes... sigh! Hear me out -

So my NYR (otherwise known as a New Years Resolution) is to start sharing some of these experiences, both positive and negative... and to try identify that x-factor - you know that "thing" that makes a city great... that makes a city that even fashion conscious folks will proudly declare on a dodgy T-shirt that we love.

Just like Carrie was more about NYC than Big, perhaps I'm going to find the perfect city? And, just like Carrie, gonna have a whole lot of fun and pain exploring!

So I started thinking... why, do I, who travels so much, feel an instant affinity to some cities, and not to others? What makes a city great? What is the ... hmmm .. I dunno, the stuff that makes the cogs turn, inspires, creates genius and creativity, and well makes you want to come back again and again? That shit is gold!

So here would be Part II (I already did Dubai in my first blog, keep up people!)

London, ah London... heavy clouds, sleety streets. Slutty, sharp and vicious girls. Cute, mean and focused guys. Beautiful, chubby little babies with their hip and hot Dad in his ultra-cool, dropped jeans and hoodie and slinky, sexy white Mum in her topshop dress and fabulous shoes. Mixed couples, druggies, funksters, immigrants, new arrivals, tourists, the infamous "Poles", fat girls, gay boys, confident dykes, skinny girls, emos and fashionistas - all these bloody labels... oh, and lets not forget, those gorgeous, unruffled "lithe" creatures in Liberty...still... a city of life.

London is grey... so grey, so grey in fact, that nobody blinks when a "covered" muslim girl is hand-in-hand with a nice white boy from the 'burbs"... perhaps in the "xxxshire" where he was born they may be uncomfortable but, well, in London nobody really cares, but, mate, you stand on the wrong side of the escalator on the tube, and the Londoners may have an issue with you. London, like life, is tough, but if you understand the rules of engagement, you are home.

Its a city that thrives on self-belief. If you're strong enough to have a relationship that challenges your family, then honey, the city will welcome you. If you're tough enough to claw your way through the snooty public school established system and make something of yourself, well ... hats off to you 'ol mate - respect.

I love London. I love the irony, the humour, the refusal to allow globalization to eradicate the need for good manners, but completely allow the odd "fck you mate" when someone really peeves you off. A city of contradiction, talent and, well, a healthy sense of self and the freedom.. the freedom to just be.

Its tough, its gritty and, yet, has a weird sense of refinement. Perhaps, perhaps manners, respect of space and others, talent and ambition are the fundamentals that London, dare I say it, has actually got right?

I don't know really, would love to hear your opinions.. all I know, is that London has encouraged talent for more years than not, has created the high-street which has made fashion accessible to the young and keeps on reinventing itself... perhaps, what makes London so great is that it refuses to age appropriately? Or perhaps, its because I, who am admittedly narcisstic (what blogger isn't?) can confidently stomp around Selfridges and contemplate a pair of Tods, but still end up spending more on old school (aka pixies, beastie boys and bowie) Ts in Camden - But feel comfortable enough in both environments. I find it a welcome, but very tough city.

And ladies and gentleman, I (heart) London.

(PS didn't buy the T-shirt but bought a New Order one so that counts for a lot)


mmXAI!