Mrs Dalloway - a Saudi version.

Have you ever heard of Mrs Dalloway ?  

   Well, if not , then it's a novel by the great English author : Virginia Woolf . not a normal one but a very best-seller novel if I must say.The novel is all about  a SINGLE simple day in London  in the life of Mrs.Dalloway. In Mrs Dalloway, all of the action, except flashbacks, takes place on a day in June. 

      I often find myself thinking about her and the novel, the tiny details and the fact that for years I have been spending single simple days wondering around London just like her. Simple days. In March , in June or in December. It does not really matter as long as I can freshly sense the milky British smell everywhere.

  I must say that I am certainly fond of Europe : Britain to name a few. 

    From time to time , I remember Mrs.Dalloway and the day she spent in London. Am I jealous ? I cannot say so nor say otherwise. but what I always think of is what if I ever have a one single day to spend in London , what would I do then ? JUST me and a very simple day.   

   I want to spend the day in Trafalgar Square with a good book and my lovely Ipod. watching tourists hanging around and taking pictures with Nelson's Column , which is guarded by four lion statues. people coming out or going in “ The National Gallery “. This was the very first thing that came to my mind.   

  but which book ? well, I could simply say “ Mrs.Dalloway “ but then I would sound terribly boring and predictable and I can’t stand being called any of these horrible adjectives. The book would probably be

  “ Confessions of a shopaholic “. don’t ask me why ? I like it. I find it super amusing. I also like the fact that the events take place in London.  

     As for my Ipod , I will play Amy Winehouse - Album - Back to Black. and I should be in a perfect mood for the rest of the day.   

  I then would like to talk a walk to Covent garden where I can have an aromatic cup of English tea. - Earl grey -     

  I then would like to continue walking towards “ Soho “ wondering around and laughing to death at shop's displays. It used to be my favorite when I was facing bad mood days.

    Later on , I would like to enjoy a tasty frozen yogurt from SNOG while heading towards Regent's street.

 In Regent’s street , I will follow my very usual routine ( e.g Checking out “ Ferrari Store “ Apple store , and “ Liberty Department Store “ ) ,

 I then would probably be having lunch at my favorite Thai restaurant in Oxford street.  

   After that , I take bus number 82 to Camden town. Camden is not a normal place in London. It is , for me , the very best part of London.<3 

  my bus should drop me by Camden town station and I will have to walk a block or two to Camden Market.   then what ?  then all the magics in the world would seem useless and unentertaining.

Do you know why ?

it is because Camden has it all

 musics , antiques, shops , street performers , bars , food market  , and the lovely odd-looking people.

   I usually spend 3 hours in there before I take again the bus to Oxford street.    An hour later , the bus should be stopping around the corner of Oxford circus. I walk up towards Selfridges . I go inside , do the same old job : checking Selfridges cosmetics section - flirting with the gay cosmetics experts and have a good laugh with them - most importantly : when I pass by Tom Ford , I definitely will try out some of “ Black Orchid “ perfume, pretending to be checking it out for the first time and the truth is that I have a bottle of it back home but can't resist it anyway . wondering around Selfridges sections - mainly ground floor- for an hour or so. If I have money, then an express manicure would do no harm to anyone and it will make me feel chic and businesswoman-like.   

    Heading to the north of Oxford street , doing some window-shopping ( My favorite ) and then time to go to

“ Primark “ to buy some lingerie , womanly cheap stuff but who cares ?  :0

  I personally do not like the place and I do not understand all the buzz about it. It is a clear-cut example of the saying “ All That Meat And No Potatoes “ which means

a large women with no boobs .

  Yes, It is a very huge store but the quality is rubbish.    

  Thereafter , I will head to Marble Arch and cross the street to Hyde park. I happily should pass the speaker's corner and I cheerfully should say hello to the handsome football players.   

  I reach my destination , A place like no other , a paradise on earth , my beloved spot in London , 

  “ the Serpentine lake “ , I go to the Cafe to order a cup of tea- a paper cup- so I can carry it around the park with me , and with a pack of Malboro light ,  I look around to find a shaded place and I lay on the grass... letting the sweet smell of the wet grass to capture my brain cells .. telling myself million times how much I love life..kicking nonchalantly everything I happen to put my feet on..Closing my eyes softly and listening carelessly to the dogs howling around , the ducks quacking , the kids racing and the sun shining. My hair is all over the grass and it smells grassy , but I like it.

   I hum to my self  Grace kelly ‘s beautiful song.... 

  I'm singing in the rain

Just singing in the rain

What a glorious feelin'I'm happy again

I'm laughing at clouds So dark up above

The sun's in my heart And I'm ready for love 

Let the stormy clouds

chase Everyone from the place

Come on with the rain

I've a smile on my faceI walk down the lane

With a happy refrain

Just singin',

Singin' in the rain 

   I can stay like that for a lifetime , but , I must have something to eat, I should take the pedestrianpathway on the sidewalk to knightsbridge , there is a short path, just behind the Serpentine lake.

 In a minute or two , I will be standing next to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel which stands in the beginning of the knightsbridge and which was the most expensive hotel in London before the opening of Savoy hotel. 

    I ask myself what would I like to eat ? and although I like to spend some time in Knightsbridge ,

I honestly do not like any restaurants in there. I walk up and down for a little and then I head to Harrods- "back door like all arabs " which takes me directly to the food hall where I line up for a good while to be seated in Pizzeria. time to eat , see you after I enjoy my mouth-watering Lasagna :0  

     At 8, Harrods closes its door s, so it is time for Shisha somewhere nice around the area- checking out guys and girls is not a very interesting hobby but if you are in Knightsbridge , then you must allow yourself some of entertainment shows , you should try it at least once. It is hilariously funny. what the hell do they think of themselves ?

  There is  a very suitable song in my head which says “ are we human or are we dancers ? by the killers. REALLY REALLY , are they humans or are they dancers. NEVERMIND , it is my day and I won’t spoil it.    

    I finally will walk up from Knightsbridge heading to Hyde park corner, then Green park till I reach Piccadilly circus.. ( this was my favorite walking path ) crossing all the stations till I come close to Piccadilly circus. I then flag down a black cab and go home. black cabs are extremely expensive but it is a single day in london and a black cab is a must.   

   Going to my place by the Thames river, looking out of the window , eying London eye from a distance , listening to Big ben ... amused... dazzled by its beauty , mesmerized by the sweet sensation of being in London.

   I think the world of you London. I really do and I miss you every single moment.