Portraits – © Paul Louis Archer 2011

Weird neighbour update

Well, look here, what a surprise? The neighbour who only visits my flat when he’s steaming drunk and wants something, finally asked me for money. “Paul, can you do me a really-really big favour and lend me £2.50…” He was frantically gesticulating while pleading for money and doesn’t understand issues of personal space. I didn’t have any spare change, too bad for him.

He is now shouting out of his bedroom window at the Rag & Bone man; who rings a bell from a van and collects scrap metal from households. “F*~kin’ do one! Your f*~kin’ bells and bloody any old iron! Do one!” A sorry state of affairs.

I’m fond of the Rag & Bone man calling out “Any old iron!” while chiming a bell. It reminds me of Pygmalion, Disney’s My Fair Lady and the song called, “Who Will Buy” in the musical Oliver. My weird neighbour would disagree with my sentimental nature, because he doesn’t have £2.50 to buy high strength lager.

The eastern European bus driver

The eastern European bus driver resembled Yuri Gagarin, Alexander the Great and a Gucci model all rolled into one. His profile would not go amiss on a golden doubloon coin. Women must descend upon him like flies to shit. I feel distinctly the lesser mortal. I’m trying not to be jealous.

Michael Ondaatje — The English Patient

“There are betrayals in war that are childlike compared with our human betrayals during peace. The new lovers enter the habits of the other. Things are smashed, revealed in a new light. This is done with nervous or tender sentences, although the heart is an organ of fire.”

Michael Ondaatje — (The English Patient)