VirtueOnline - News - Exclusives - LONDON DIARY: Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans and Other Observations:
"He who grows tired of London grows tired of life" opined Dr. Samuel Johnson. But that was in the 18th Century. Dr. Johnson would not recognize London in the 21st.
Walking through central London, about 20 minutes by fast train from my hotel in Wandsworth, (south London) one feels suddenly isolated and alone. Virtually nobody speaks English as a first language and often not at all. Almost everybody I saw or passed on footpaths or crossing London's celebrated bridges was a foot shorter, gesticulating and babbling in a foreign language, flashing iPods and cameras while pouring thousands of pounds into England's ancient tourist attractions, foremost among them being Westminster Abbey where tourists fill the coffers to keep the doors open and the ancient sarcophagi of kings and archbishops dutifully polished.
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1 comment:
That is so true, more than one can imagine.
For those who have never visited London, prepare for a surprise. It has changed dramatically over the past decade as the EU borders have opened up and the general immigration policy changed under Labour.
One of the most memorable experiences was being on the Tube with SpouseMouse a couple of years ago one night. The two of us were the only English speakers in our part of the carriage. That was a very strange feeling.
Anywhere one goes in London one encounters many non-English(speaking) residents. I haven't bought anything in a London sandwich bar / coffee shop from an English person since, erm ... 2006. Poles, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Cypriots, Turks, Thais -- yes, but someone English? No.
London's (re-elected) mayor Boris Johnson is going to look into the food outlet issue during his second term. My guess is the pay is too low in the chains. Also, most of the places in Southwark, Lambeth, etc. are family-owned. (Boris has an interesting family tree, incidentally -- part English and French royalty but mostly Turkish, even though he is known for his blond hair and fair skin.)
As for the C of E, yes, the West Indian and African faithful are keeping her alive.
Churchmouse
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