On a bus @_sarahalliday
By Sara Halliday
I’m writing this SCAB on a bus. Saying I had forgotten about it sounds unprofessional, but I’d forgotten about it. I have a 40 minute journey with 20 stops to write 500 words, so I figured why not write about what I see? Since the street wisdom walk I’ve been looking at things relentlessly, so here we go.
- Ticket touts stood near the o2 in Brixton, Kodeline is playing apparently. I think they’re Scottish (band, not touts).
- There’s a skate park next to a pit in the ground, interesting contrast of colours and earth.
- Henry construction is working on a building called Barrett house (parts of names of two of my best friends).
- A man in a hat is counting railing posts.
- Someone in a block of flats has hung a large striped towel to dry, like a flag of their own independent nation.
- First-come-first-served is hyphenated on a banner. Curious grammar.
- Big advert for the grand tour, go Brave!
- Spotify year in music poster ad peeling off a billboard, one of my favourite data driven campaigns.
- Vape shop called EZ Cloudz, new nickname for Marc?
- Huddle of schoolboys fighting outside Stockwell station, all wearing big coats.
- Ironing board lying on the pavement, handy for on the go?
- There’s an off-license called MNS, wonder whether M&S know.
- Frowning fishmonger stood outside his shop.
- The Holiday Inn in Vauxhall looks like a prison.
- A multitude of dogs in Vauxhall park. 10/10.
- Audi R8 ‘snow mode’ ad on a roundabout billboard, quite like the ‘yes, really’ line.
- Everyone who works in Foxtons looks glum.
- Every time I see the London Eye I feel nostalgic for a London which used to exist only in my imagination.
- Man on bus referred to his dog as a Yorkshire terror rather than terrier. Will bank that line for later.
- So many people outside a church in Pimlico, there must have been a wedding. Nice.
- Petrol station, so few in London. Must be a faff if you drive.
- Another Foxtons, another set of dismal staff. Glad I’m not an estate agent.
- Apollo Victoria, small wave to ATG. Remember going to Wicked when I was 12, still has some magic for me.
- Construction moving forwards on the Hamilton theatre. Going in May.
- Grosvenor Gardens makes me think of Chester. I miss Christmas shopping there every year.
- Van advertising ‘robotic demolition’. ROBOTS COMING OVER HERE, TAKING OUR JOBS!
- Can see Winter Wonderland from here. Makes me feel cold and tired just thinking about it.
- Park lane, want to play Monopoly.
- Another Foxtons, the unexpected star of this SCAB. They look disappointingly happy.
- Marble Arch, I remember my mum giving food to a homeless man here the first time I came to London. I wonder where he is now.
My stop is next, so I should get off. Would recommend taking the time to look around when you’re on the bus. You never know what you could see.
