another reason why I love this city (From This Is Local London)

another reason why I love this city

10:22am Friday 22nd June 2007 in Blogs By Jennie

Last night, having barely stopped to take a breath after a two-hour frenzy of baking (it's my last day at work today, and tradition dictates that the one abandoning ship provides their own leaving spread), I went to watch a film on my own.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1218/586130772_e6808f3093.jpg

The Scoop, an outdoor amphitheatre next to City Hall on South Bank was showing an outdoor screening of Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet (one of my favourite, favourite films ever and ever amen) and I'm so glad I went along.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/585731205_5c3d656a8d.jpg

I must have seen that film so many times especially the five times I watched it when it was first at the cinema and I was forced to fib to my mother about what I was going to see, inventing a new film each time, lest she have a fit that I was spending my allowance on seeing the same thing yet again.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1255/586136396_bd6a9e1e6c.jpg

It was such a lovely atmosphere as I wandered from London Bridge to City Hall. The pubs were heaving with after-work drinkers, City boys, couples, groups of young, artistic-looking friends and I had one of my moment of pure gratitude that I live in this amazing, gorgeous city, that I didn't even care that I was on my own. In fact I was grateful for that as well.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1172/586138852_82d3e6c0a9.jpg

There was something Shakespearean in itself about sitting in the Scoop. Groups of young friends, people my age, and a handful of elderly couples were packed into the place, laughing at the funny bits, whooping when the opening titles started, applauding at the end and .... er... when Mr DiCaprio expired "with a kiss". Fair enough.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1078/586140052_f7733c331c.jpg

It was easily the best night I've had in ages. Right in front of me was my favourite film, filled with so many iconic images that are the very definition of my adolescence (Claire Danes on the balcony in her angel wings, fireworks falling around her, the candles and neon crosses in the church at the end, the Hawaiian shirts, the religious iconography and the fishtank scene. Oh! The fishtank scene! I don't think I've ever seen anything as beautiful and captivating as that scene before or since).

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1360/586143398_9998241bba.jpg

Around me was a massive group of people giving off an incredible, sociable vibe, huddled under blankets, laughing, applauding, food and drink all around them. And behind, and in front were shining glass-fronted office buildings, the river glowing pink, reflected off London Bridge, Tower Bridge lit up like a postcard shot.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1277/585745203_f37e42e72a.jpg

If I ever say I'm moving out to the sticks, slap me. This is the most gorgeous, amazing city in the world, and I'm never leaving.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1420/585752271_3fd0941ac1.jpg

And many, many thanks to Nathan, the young man sitting in front of me last night, who gave me a flapjack and a glass of wine. You're a sweetie.