Unexpected meeting

There is sun outside! Hurray!

Strange thing has happened last Saturday. I went to the polish centre. It’s a huge centre, there is a vast library, theater, clubs, 2 restaurant, bookstore etc. They have concerts and plays and many famous polish artist often come to perform. I go there only for one reason, to get a polish book and to go to my favourite café and eat a polish apple cake. The truth is I almost never read those polish books, mainly because I have a pile of english books that I MUST read and partly because I’ve fallen in love to read in english. Still, those trips to the polish centre are always a treat to me, and I’ve never managed to find a café with similar, cosy atmosphere. I love, love seating there, drinking coffee, writing or reading, I think that’s my favourite café in London.

So, last Saturday I went there to return my books and pay a fee (as usual!) and then of course I went to that café. My favourite table which is a small table in the corner was empty so I was very happy to seat there. That table is quite special, it’s next to the window, in the very corner and there is a small lamp on the window sill, you feel very private there. I had my cake and coffee and started to write in my journal when two older ladies came across holding some cups with soup. They asked me if they can seat at the table next to me, quite unnecessarily as the table next to me was empty. However, one of those ladies said with a smile "ohh because this table (and she pointed at the table I was seating) is our favourite, but please seat comfortably, don’t worry"

Ok she made it very clear that she would love to seat at my table. My first thought was to ignore her comment, but then I reminded myself times when I was in the similar situation with my friend as I’m also this type of person for whom seating in the right place (whether it’s a restaurant, college or plane) is very important. So, I gave up that seat and sat somewhere else. The ladies were very thankful and happy, I was OK as I didn’t plan to stay there long and the coffee shop wasn’t full so there was plenty of space to seat.

I’ve started to write something when one of those ladies (the more talkative one) came to me saying: "I’m sorry I interrupt you but can I ask you what do you read?" I started to feel a bit uncomfortable as admitting to someone that I write a journal is very difficult to me…but I had to tell her once she asked.

"I write"

"Can I ask what do you write?" she asked

gosh….so I told her. And she said: " Oh that’s interesting, we’ve just published someone’s journal. You young lady were very nice to us, and I saw that you write something so I thought I might give you my details and you can write to me. I’m a main redactor of the magazine for polish writers at emigration. You can write me an email telling about yourself, what do you write etc.We’ve just published a book too"

I was very surprised and she gave me her email and even a telephone number! Then I checked at home and she is not only a main redactor of the magazine but she also wrote some books.

OK, after she left I sat for a while when the other, quieter lady came across. She gave me some book and said: "You were so nice to us that I thought I will give you my book that I’ve just published. There are poems and my paintings"

Okeyyy….I got even more surprised! Then when I was leaving I asked her for dedication so she wrote a nice dedication inside that book.

It was a very strange experience and I don’t know how to understand it. I’m not a talented writer, maybe in polish I write different and much better than in English but I don’t have a big talent for writing. Many times when I read some entries in here I can see that some people have this amazing talent for a written word and I wish I could write like them, but I don’t. But the truth is I’ve been writing almost every day for years, journals mainly. In my journals I write only in polish..so…anyway…not sure if I’m going to write to this lady or not…maybe I should use the opportunity.

Another news….I’m thinking to cut my hair…I know I shouldn’t do that before my sister’s wedding,mainly because I want to cut them very short! Something like this

My hair are now shoulder length and looking very flat and boring. I wear them in pony tail and I look a bit old fashioned I think, long hair doesn’t suit me. I’m only scared I will ruin my look for my sister’s wedding, I’m a bridesmaid and maybe I should keep them long…but I know myself, once the thought to cut my hair has entered my mind it’s too late…I will probably do it!