The Bells of Another Land

But first, yesterday, which was easily the strangest work day of my life so far.
Boss Lady's relatives are in London for a short visit (they who gave me the chocolate-filled Dalek), and her 14 year old nephew came to work with her. However, far from sitting in the office being bored, he was sent out with me to check on an office-related matter (we were spying on a shop's merchandise, to see if it was still counterfeit goods; he was very much into the secret agent-thing). We drove there in a cab, no less...
Afterwards, we did as Boss Lady had told us to do and went to the Forbidden Planet, the shop of science fiction-related merchandise, or as I usually put it, heaven. My inner child - oh who am I kidding, even my grown-up self loves that shop (but my wallet doesn't - I had to laugh when he announced to the office after our return that I should get four pay raises so I could go shopping there), and the nephew echoed that feeling when he said he'd like to have the shop boxed up and sent home. He finally settled on a Final Fantasy figure, a good choice (even though I know next to nothing about Final Fantasy; of course, having admitted that, he told me all about it. Not that I minded.).
Going back to Tower Hill, he had that look in his eyes I know only too well from my own experience. I will not in the least bit surprised if he moves here once he's of age.
But the fun didn't stop there. Once we got back to the office, I (thinking that I could get some work done) sat him down at my computer, which is connected to the Internet, and worked on a secondary computer, which isn't. Only we kept talking about computer games, he showing me the online game he's into, and me showing him Second Life (stressing that I was in the grown-up version and that there's a teen version as well). And of course, there was amusement in the office when m'colleagues found out that in Second Life, I am Ginger Shostakovich, a black woman (and occasionally raccoon, mushroom or raven).
And then it was time to head off... what a "workday"!

Today, after work (real work this time) and on my way to London Bridge via Tower Bridge, I saw something happening in Potter's Field: Lots of tents and people and colourful flags. Since I am a curious person, I went over there to find out what it was - and saw to my delight that it is a week-long Malaysia festival, with information booths and food and stuff you can buy. I am tempted to buy myself a green silk tunic... Anyway, there's a stage too, where musicians played (traditional Malaysian music, with instruments I don't even know the name of - and a violin -, and sometimes playing Malaysian versions of Western music. Then, after I had sampled the roti and dhal, I got myself a cup of tea and sat down on the ground to watch the dancers perform.
Wow.
Various groups from all over Malaysia were there, among them a children's group, who were not only very enthusiastic, but also very good; a Chinese group who danced with long white silk scarves on their hands which floated with every movement; and three Indian women dancing faster than the eye could see; and a dance group who appeared again and again with different costumes and dances and it was fantastic. In the end, they all came down from the stage and into the audience, standing next to people, making them - us - dance. I danced too (and I admit to my shame that I got left and right mixed up a lot until I fell into the 3/4-rhythm; on the other hand I had the hand and arm movements down pretty quickly). It was fun!

To put the final flourish to the day, I decided (after being rained on) that I just could't bear the tube, and took the Thames Clipper down to the nearest station to where I am cat-sitting. What a way to travel!

What a day. :)