Through These Walls...

Though I’ve had many troubles with the flat where I reside I’ve begun to become attached to it; and, for the time being, everything is fixed! I should knock on wood. It has its quirks and things still break often, mainly because of poor installation and lack of proper care. For example, several nights ago I was happily washing my dishes when a heard a loud “Boom”! Not quite sure where the noise came from I continued to wash. It was then I heard water running and something wet touch my feet. When I opened the cabinet below I discovered the walls of the cabinet had pulled apart causing the shelf that wrapped around the sink pipe to fall and bring the pipes with it. Pots went flying, water was everywhere, and I could not manage to get the shelf away from the pipe. In panicked frustration I called Kris to come save the day. He was able to untangle the pipes, remove the shelf, and reattach the pipe so that it worked with no leaks while I used three towels to wipe up the pond which had overtaken my kitchen. Just another day in the life of my complicated existence here in London! I often hear noises in the flat that are from outside but sound so close, for a while I was convinced the place was haunted. So when the shelf came tumbling down my first thought was that it was outside. The walls of my flat are quite thin and many times when I am lying in bed I can hear people outside on the street, far from my bedroom, laughing and talking below. Many times I’ve grabbed the scissors I keep in my bedside drawer (I know, strange, but I always need to cut out something when I’m warm in my bed) and tiptoed into the other room expecting to see these party animals having a cup of tea and enjoying my living room. However, it’s not the people outside that I enjoy the most through my walls, but the neighbors above me. They are a young Indian family with two small children. The oldest daughter is probably around three and the baby is just starting to walk. I don’t know this because I’ve met them, although I have tried, but because of what I hear through the walls. They are a family of four gathered into a one-bedroom apartment. When in the living room I can hear the children laughing, crying, playing and running. The children also sleep in the living room and the parents use the bedroom. I know this because the dad is quite the snorer. Most nights I try to fall asleep before he does. However, on the rare occasion I am awake longer I wonder how any of them sleep in the same flat! The other night I was drifting off to sleep to the sound of his snoring slightly seeping through the floorboards when I heard a loud “Blaafffff.” I sat straight up wondering if that was really what I thought it was! I heard his wife start to cough a little and then I heard him get up and open a window. Yes, he had passed gas loud enough to not only awaken me from my light sleep, but to also awaken himself and his wife. As I lay in bed I couldn’t help but giggle, and hoped that they never hear the same from me. Oh the joys of living in close quarters – welcome to the city!

#London