The crisp London air nipped at my nose as I ambled down Oxford Street, my eyes drawn to the glittering displays of the shops. A feast for the eyes, indeed, but even the most dazzling silks and polished shoes couldn’t quite distract from the sombre news plastered across the newspaper stands. Rising unemployment – a grim shadow hanging over the city.
Stopped to admire the window displays, truth be told, but the headlines were hard to ignore. Seems everyone’s feeling the pinch these days, myself included. A quick pat of my pocket confirmed my dwindling shillings. One does begin to fret a bit, you know. Thankfully, a fellow started juggling oranges further down the street, a splash of colour and merriment in an otherwise grey afternoon. Brought a bit of cheer to the gathering crowd, I must say. Rather lost in thought after watching that juggler, I must have absentmindedly left a smudge on the shop window as I leaned against it, quite without meaning to!
Still, one mustn’t dwell on the gloomy side of things. There’s a whole world to explore, and London, even with its worries, remains a fascinating corner of it. I remain but an average chap, finding joy in the small wonders and hoping to see them all, one city at a time.
Categories: Travel, History, 1932
Tags: London, Oxford Street, Unemployment, Juggling, 1930s
