There is something really rewarding about sunny days in London. The weather is notoriously fickle, with dark and grey clouds acting both as the constant companion all year round or making cameo appearances, raining down the parade of a perfect weather forecast.
Like a lesson in the basic fundamentals of economics, the scarcity of bright sunny days makes them extremely valuable; making one forget all the dreary days of the past.
Not hard to imagine, but a rarity in reality - a bright sunny day with a light summer breeze, beckons everyone to be outdoors. It is a time when everything is possible, and all that I see around me makes me feel that there is so much to do, and so little time. Every person around me is a inspiration: whether it is to dress well and wear all the good clothes i have bought and have never worn, pairing my white trousers with the linen shirt i always thought was a great idea. When I see people wearing all the colors evocative of every association of summer, I feel I should be dressing better. As I take a walk along the river with my wife, talking about the nothings of life, it really is a moment to treasure, as the while the great company is constant, the weather is fleeting, and it does make me feel really grateful. As we walk by St. Pauls, and cross the Millennium bridge, to walk along the busy but beautiful promenade along the Thames, on a bright sunny weekend afternoon, the excitement and the need to enjoy this moment of sunny goodness is palpable and contagious.
I see myself in every stranger I pass by, as I could be doing or want to do what they are doing. From sitting in the park or by the river, hanging out with friends playing games and whiling away time, to finding a cozy corner, in a sunny / shady part of terrace in South Bank to read a book while sipping on a mediocre iced coffee. I see the noisy group of friends sharing pizza and drinks, not caring about the eye-rolls in their direction, and feel a sense of kinship. I feel equally connected to the solitary reader, flipping pages of a thick paper back, maybe in a rush to finish the book on this glorious day. Then there are those things which I cant imagine myself doing, but find a lot of vicarious pleasure in watching those people doing all that I could only ever dream of. The carelessly and casually dressed skateboarder, gliding over the pavement with nothing but a plank on wheels, zig zagging the fast paced London walkers, and managing to do some cool stunts which defy any sense of self preservation, as they pick themselves up to do it all over again. I spy a group of dancers, with their loud music, oblivious to the onlookers, moving to the rhythm and beats that only leave me awestruck and amazed, thinking I wish I could do that. There is something everyone wants to do, and summer is just the right time for it. Crossing the bridge, you see a couple of small boats, where some people have decided to take up the hobby of rowing in the Thames. It is remarkable.
As we continue our walk, smells and scents of delicious food tempts us to atleast have a look at what the countless pop-up stores have on their menu. We dont think we are hungry, but the freshly fried churros or the kids running around with dripping gelato make us reconsider our restraint. We do a customary tour, trying to pick between any of the great options - we could eat anything, and it would be something we would be happy with. On this occasion we choose New Orleans place serving some chicken and fries along with Korean stall serving Kimchi fried rice. In hindsight, great choices indeed.
By the time we decide to head back, our pace has slowed down, but we're in no rush. We make our way past colourful art installations and discover tucked-away bookshops, vintage stores, and quiet parks.
As the sun starts to set, painting the skyline with shades of pink and orange, we can't help but feel a bit enchanted. It's the perfect end to a perfect day.
