Day One

I left Riverside after a lovely meeting, meeting everyone for the first time and walked towards King St.  My first stop was the shopping mall, a little empty and a little depressing.  There was a strange silence, no bussell and a number of people sitting on their own on benches.  I did wonder if they had just come there to sit in the warm.

My next stop was the Lyric, a much livelier spot and I stepped out on the deserted roof terrace just to take a good look at my surroundings, it has been quite a while since I was in Hammersmith last. What I love about being above street level is that it gives you a moment to look up and look out.  Being on the Lyric roof you can see reflections of self and of the sky in the glass windows that surround you.  Surrounding sounds were dulled and  I watched people in the square below.  A little girl in a pink coat was standing very still watching little spurts of water pop up from the ground.  A beautifully dressed middle aged business man stood in the middle eating a sandwich.

I walked to the other side of the roof terrace and started to observe people through office windows - watching them go about their daily business.  I looked down onto King St and saw Jeanette talking to David selling the Big Issue outside M&S. Thought how nice it would be for crossing paths such as this to happen on the day of presenting Moving Stories.

Love the overall aesthetics of Hammersmith, lots of layers and crossovers, surrounded by bridges and the fly over. Lots of bricks and glass and trees and luminous yellow jackets.

Took a walk along King St. Went into Headmasters. Met Andrea a hairdresser with wonderful pink hair.  She cut my fringe and we chatted, her life had changed dramatically in the past 2 yrs after the end of a ten year relationship.  There was a wonderful openness and hopefulness about her.  She's going to think about taking part. Have to go back on Thursday for an answer.

Went to 'Star Cafe Grill', a greasy spoon cafe that the manager told me has been open for 60 years.  It has had the same owner all that time. He himself has been there for 6 years. very chatty at first then silence.  I will return, something about the place.

Day Two

First port of call 'Timpsons' shoe repairs.  Met two great guys called Tony and Lawrence. Both in their twenties, they have been only working together for 3 weeks, but they give the impression they have known each other for years.  Wonderful banter between them both.  Both have a story of leaving school very young, Tony 13, Lawrence never really properly in regular school.  Tony began work at 13, a wide variety of jobs.  Lawrence has been in prison - documentary about him. 'Breaking the Cycle'.

Both of them, strikingly, spoke about being part of this business with pride and a sense of belonging.  They both have a history of no certs, no grades, no recognition of achievement until working for this company and there they stood, two grown men, looking like to young boys saying 'this is what I have done'.  Very touching and quite moving.

They are a definite YES!

St Augustin's a NO

The Nail Bar opposite a NO but a great place for people watching.

Two Train spotters on the District line a NO.


Day Three

Andrea the Hairdresser is a No.

The Manager in 'Star Cafe Grill' a maybe but he said he is shy.  he introduced me to a lovely 78 year old man Arthur Barnes who was born and bred in Hammersmtih but now lives in Rye.  still visits his friends here once a week.  He would love to do the project but maybe only on Monday.  Wonderful stories of how Hammersmith used to be.  His wife who died 12 years ago grew up on the same street as him.  They used to walk up and down the street aged 7 holding hands.  The image made my want to cry, how he must miss her. I have to call him in the morning.

Then I met Reverend Rat, a man of about 60 with so many stories. Think the line of story telling I will take with him is how he rebelled at the age of 11 against his RAF, public school upbringing and seems to have led his life in the same vein since.  I have to call him Monday morning to see if he will still be a definite yes for Monday afternoon.

Went back to the boys at 'Timpsons' and worked through with them the loose structure of where our story telling will take us.  They had alot of customers today so timing and banter will be interesting. They do, however  have a lovely, positive energy to be around, so I think all will be well...

Looking forward to tomorrow..