Summer

I think summer is here.

On my way to work this week I passed the guy who lives just around the corner from me. I realised that this was the first time I'd seen him since last summer. I had remembered thinking at the end of summer last year that maybe he had moved permanently and so I was surprised to see him during the week.

I've been meaning to ask him if he has a winter place and if he only lives in my area of London during the summer, but this is me and I'm just not up for those types of questions in the morning. Thoughts often drift to other "more important" things in the morning.

So I've been wondering where he'd move to for winter. I've been thinking sunny places like Spain (I love Spain), or (since I was just there a few months ago) South Africa, or Morocco (always wanted to go there), Croatia, South of France... the list goes on.

I did snap out of it on Friday as I realised that that was just me thinking of places I'd like to live in for winter. Chances are he moved somewhere closer.

The guy I see is the homeless guy who lives under the A40 overpass. I guess that's why I feel uncomfortable talking to him - what do you say? On one level I feel sorry for him, on the other level I don't want to get involved. While I might ignore all those beggars out there who pester you for money my guy just lies under the bridge all day. At least he's there in the morning (and I get up early) and he's there when I stumble home from a drunken night out. He is the ONLY truly homeless person I "know" in London.

Its a dilemma and I want to solve it. Maybe he's just meant to be the visible part of my conscience that reminds me every day that I really am fortunate and that I need to do more to help others in that impersonal create a direct debit to your favourite charity sort of way.

Meanwhile I'm about to head off to the first BBQ of the season - it looks like it's going to be a scorcher today, and its about time I made a move to enjoy it. Moral dilemmas, as well as work, can wait until Monday.