Story time! Last night I was walking around London on autopilot, writing emails on my phone, writing blog posts, stopping to take pictures of buildings and the light sculptures, etc, for hours.
It was around 4 when I noticed someone shouting at me, with an edge in their voice:
It was around 4 when I noticed someone shouting at me, with an edge in their voice:
“HEY YOU! Do you know where you’re going!”
I super didn’t know where I was going,
[pause, sorry, talking to @tef]
I super didn’t know where I was going,
[pause, sorry, talking to @tef]
... right, where was I? (@tef’s fault). Anyway guy is shouting and I just pointedly disregard because people asking for my attention on the street really irritates me. So I just keep strolling in his direction, tapping out my essay, headphones on and cranked up.
Oops. I realize as I start to pass him that he has a uniform on, and maybe I’m crossing into a private lane or something. I’ve been going in circles for 30 min or so, idly running into walls where I thought might’ve been foot paths to get me out of this square of land.
“Do you KNOW where you’re GOING, miss?” He’s angling his body between me and the lane now and seems very alert. I decide to answer him, must be a property guard. Just doing his job.
Me, cheerily: “Nope, not in the slightest. Map says there’s a path, all I see are fences.”
Me, cheerily: “Nope, not in the slightest. Map says there’s a path, all I see are fences.”
He leans forward to look st my map, seems relieved by something (my accent?)
“Ah, there is a gate. In the corner.” *points* “So you don’t know where you are at. This is Prince Charles’s quarters. He is sleeping right ...there by that diamond window.” *points a few feet up*
“Ah, there is a gate. In the corner.” *points* “So you don’t know where you are at. This is Prince Charles’s quarters. He is sleeping right ...there by that diamond window.” *points a few feet up*
Me (forgets who prince Charles is, drawing a blank) “Ah... Charles and Prince? Charles who?...OH, PRINCE Charles. Nice driveway. Where was that path exactly?”
Super impressed with the guard and how quickly he assessed the threat and pivoted from high alert to friendly.
Super impressed with the guard and how quickly he assessed the threat and pivoted from high alert to friendly.
I was strolling right onto the private property of at least a nominal royal, and one unarmed guard pointed out the dudes’s location and gave me friendly directions within 5 sec.
Why do I feel like in America I’d be riddled with bullet holes 🙄
Why do I feel like in America I’d be riddled with bullet holes 🙄
Anyway lesson learned, I’ll save all my bratty moves for English vacations in the future. Land of the free, home of the brave! 👏🇬🇧👑
