Being afforded a nice sleep in, we laze around the apartment for a bit and start to formulate a plan for the day. While we decide what to do, I throw out an idea to see a movie later on in the evening. Matthew agreed it was a great idea so I got to googling to see what was playing. We are so fortunate that plans are always simple to make together. Love that.

I asked Matthew the name of the particular cinema he had spoke about, and we found it online. It was called Everyman Cinema, in Marylebone. As I am searching the available films, I stumble across a once only screening, which included a Q&A with the producer, director and some of the actors. An incredibly unique opportunity, especially as the movie was called “Homeless Ashes”. The description was intriguing as it had been based upon the real life stories of homelessness which was researched by the director and lead role. But more about that later, except to say we were lucky enough to secure the last 2 tickets.
We had decided to grab a bite to eat, as it was already lunch time. Matthew had been tinkering away at some work emails, while I opted for a relax on the couch. Our stomachs are what gets us moving, and we head up toward a pub we’d stopped at another day, but this time on the hunt for a hearty pub lunch today.
We sit by the window to watch the world go by, and we chat away and see many local characters passing by. Many clearly sleeping rough, or from significantly destitute backgrounds.

I hadn’t really thought that much about it, but on reflection, it was very interesting that today particularly was one that we had seen more of these characters than before.
As I write, I am struggling to talk more about the day, as it is in stark contrast to those less fortunate around us. Nonetheless I shall persevere and hope that it’s not seen to be insensitive.
We peruse the menu and I find a good hearty winter’s meal in a slow cooked lamb shank, so it isn’t difficult to make the decision. Sometimes you just need to tuck in to some mash and meat.

We sit and chat about all manner of things. Family, life, past relationships, the future. It’s nice to be tackling all the easy and tough topics. We are both so grateful to also be on the same time zone. After we finish lunch Matthew has a quick banking errand to run, so we pop down and get looked after swiftly.
We have been able to pass the time quite well, mostly by popping down side streets to find a cozy pub or restaurant to sit at, and this afternoon is no exception. We had hoped to head into a bar with a pool table we’d spotted the other day, but it turns out that it is a production company’s private space, so we head across the road to the Eagle. It certainly has some character, and when we walk inside we realise why. There are a few people sitting up at the bar, but the place is mostly empty. The staff are quite relaxed and it’s almost like we’ve walked into someone’s home. We laugh at the antics of the staff and the manager overseeing the kitchen. It is all open plan so we are just loving the banter that is going on. It’s particularly busy as it is the changing of shifts, so there is a lot of activity.

We enjoy chatting with the staff which are very multicultural. That’s one thing I do love about Europe is their accessibility to each other’s countries which make it always a fascinating mix of people. We decide we’d like to head back there at some point, but for a bite to eat, so we farewell them for now and make our way back to the apartment, but spot another cosy pub down a side street. Yup you guessed it, we had to check it out. Our curious minds always get the better of us.

We catch the train down to Marylebone which is interesting as this is an area that Matthew is familiar with, having spent a bit of time here. He tells me stories of buildings and shops that have some history for him. I realise that I had done the same when he visited Australia too. It’s nice to be able to put the pieces of someone’s past together, by walking around the same space that it happened. Sometimes memories that are shared are nice than others, but all make up a person which is why I love to hear about them so much.
Now it’s time to tackle the evening movie, which I will say was some of the most confronting cinema I have ever seen. The room was buzzing and we were able to order food and drinks as the cinema was in lounge chairs and quite intimate. We watched as the cinema filled up and as the film started I knew it was going to be something that was raw and honest.
It covered topics like domestic violence, street violence, war veterans, kids on the street, romance, friendships. I looked away at times, and also shed a lot of tears.
At the conclusion of the film, the cast took their place at the front and we got to hear first hand how the film came together. Having been crowd funded, it took 4 years to complete, and combined actual stories of people the director had researched and spoken to in the creation of the script. What stuck with me is that one of the actors posed a challenge for each of us, and that was to make homeless people not feel invisible. Simply by just saying hello. I reflected on my day as the many people I had ignored and walked past without acknowledging, and decided to very much change my behaviour.

There was my first opportunity as we walked home from the tube, and I smiled at a person sitting on the street and said ‘good evening’. He smiled back at me and nodded his head. I didn’t do it to feel good about myself, I did it so he would feel good. I am definitely doing more of that.
I would also like to see it brought over to Australia. Perhaps I will speak to my friends at Avoca Beach Picture Theatre?? I have an idea brewing. But just before bed we stop at the bar under our building for a quick drink, and a debrief. I’d recounted in the movie a line that really resonated with me, “everyone is only just a few missed bills away from being like us”. I can recall the many times in my past living week to week, it’s a frightening thought that those images and life I watched play out on the screen could have been us.
We head back up to the apartment and before I close my eyes I take a moment to reflect on how grateful I am for a warm bed, food in the fridge, and a feeling of safety.