Some people have asked me why I chose Twickenham to rebase myself. I have neither family nor friends around this part of London. Initially I had my mind set on the SE of London, simply to be close to my brother who has 2 girls of similar ages to my two daughters, also it was close to the East and North (where the majority of family & friends live). In June 2009, I flew out from Barcelona and had spent 1 whole day viewing 10 properties to rent in the SE. After the viewings, I returned to my mum’s home and my gut was churning. Instinctually there was a revolt ion against the idea of living in the SE. I went to university in SE18, and had lived the first year in halls of residence between Sidcup and Eltham. My memories of these areas were anything but fond.
That weekend, still in London, I searched deep into my psyche to think of another area. Major deciding factors were: good schoolings, greenery with nice parks, nice neighbourhood, easy transport to London and minimal chav (yes, but they’re everywhere aren’t they!). I played some flashbacks with the people I knew or had known in the past and where they lived. Looking back,the best place I've lived in was on Hornsey Lane in NW with my then partner. The road is laddened with mature trees and grandiose Victorian, Edwardian houses which have been split into flats. Some of the houses had made way to multiblocks with communal gardens and private parking. Our flat was in a purpose built block which backed onto dense undergrowth and trees, in which lies a disused railway track.
From this track, came one of the most memorial images of my time in London. Early one morning, having tossed and turned all night, I awoke at 5am, stood in front of the enormous kitchen window and lit a cigarette. Still half asleep, I saw a large creature emerging from the railway track. It was a deer. It came onto the lawn of the communal garden and stood there silently for a moment or two before disappearing again into the undergrowth. Amazing! It was such an enlightening moment. Hampstead Heath was not far away from Hornsey Lane and obviously the disused railway track provided a safe thoroughfare for deers.
My ideal place to live in London would be the Hampstead Suburbs. Clearly, it was way out of the question. Then came the clink! Richmond! I once visited Richmond Park whilst working as a research entomologist and had spent a wonderful day with my colleague, Dave, collecting deer ticks. Our boss, Nick, lived in Richmond and had got news that lyme disease had broken out within the deer population in Richmond Park. He wanted specimens!
So Richmond here I come………NOT! As I surfed the net for properties to rent, I understood very quickly that a 3 bedroom house with front and rear garden in Richmond is so way out of my diminished budget. St. Margarets which borders onto Richmond was also out. So I decided to go further west, the options were:- Isleworth, Hampton, Teddington and Twickenham. The definitive clincher was Twickenham Rugby stadium! It was the only land mark in the area (apart from Kew Gardens, Hampton court) that I recognised, plus the Osted reports for schools in the area were good or excellent.
I viewed 4 properties and decided on a favourite.
It has been three months since the relocation. The transport is great and shopping brilliant. At Twickenham centre there’s a mix of village feel around the church and the riverside walks. The high street sports a very mix; about six charity shops, Iceland, M&S food, Waitrose, Laura Ashley, fishmonger, other shops are just obsolete. Luckily, Richmond is only a 10 minutes bus ride away and is jammed packed with well know high street brands. There’s a House of Fraser, Habitat, M&S, Waterstones and most importantly for me, Whistle and Max Mara. For Nuria, there’s a Claire’s.
Before school had commenced, we went shopping for shoes in Richmond. Nuria and Maxine find Clarks too tamed, but mummy knows best! Anyhow, black shoes are mandatory in British schools so Nuria's Converse and Vans will be collecting dust on the shelf.
We stopped off at Pitcher & Piano to have some tea. This swanky bar/café sits on the banks of the Thames which overlooks the bridge. It’s such a pretty spot that it’s worth paying the extoroniate prices.
It was a quiet sunny afternoon as we sat on the terrace facing the river. The girls quietly chit-chatting, admiring the view as they slurped chocolate shakes and ate chocolate muffins. Suddenly I hear a voice from the table behind us. The man was talking on his mobile. I’m not one for name or face recognition, but I definitely don’t forget a voice and I know that voice! I swirled round and gasped a whopping great PIP! Having heard his name called out, the man shot a sharp puzzling look. How rude of me to have interrupted his call, but the reaction was totally involuntary.
We ordered more café du crème and commenced a long conversation. Pip (Crispin Burgess) is the son of Dr. Nicholas Burgess, my ex boss of the entomology department at the Royal Army Medical College, MOD. We had met there briefly whilst I was finishing my placement year of my degree. Pip was into his final year and was to set to become a hot shot financial trader, along with all the pin striped suits in the city. But questioned his career path and decided to take a year out. Dr Burgess decided to put Pip to use in the college, basically doing chores and re-designing the archive system. As it turned out, after I’d left the college, Dr Burgess sent Pip to the military base in Borneo for the remainder of his year out.
Dr Burgess retired long ago and moved,with his wife, to the country home in Sussex. Pip had just returned from 5 years abroad and is now living in and managing the family home in Richmond. Like his father, Pip re-directed his career path and became a scientist. He’s a heart surgeon. Though has spent the last 5 years with Medical without Frontiers in Africa. .
What’s ironic is that I fancied Pip back in 1991 and I definitely fancied him now!
Pip and I have become good friends in a short space of time. We have spent some leisure time together with my girls and perhaps I will send the children to their gran’s for the weekend soon!
I’ve never believed in coincidences. Things happen for a reason and that somehow we make the choices we make for some sublimininal reasons.
I cannot help but wonder about the events leading up to my relocation and the three months being here have made this encounter with Pip possible.
I ponder on key points:
1. Richmond – Before selecting an area to re-base myself when I cast memories of past acquaintances, I had remembered that Dr. Burgess lived in Richmond.
2. Which lead to the tick hunt in Richmond Park. The park and the deers were contributing reasons as to why I picked Richmond Borough to relocate.
3. MOD – my entry on my blog. I had not given the MOD any thought for over 18 years. Why had the war in Afghanistan raked up the MOD when other wars/conflicts failed?
4. Tobin Tax – The last time I heard Tobin Tax mentioned was donkey years ago. My friend, Gary, recently made an entry in his blog entitled Tobin Tax to which I made a comment. It was Pip who had explained Tobin tax to me back in 1991.
Destiny perhaps.
Not sure what will develop between Pip and I. But initial signs are positive. And if he wants do practice heart surgery on me, then I can’t think of another patient who so deservedly needs heart surgery!
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