[English Walk, Regent's Park]
Brief encounters are the stuff of short stories. They are one of the things that make life so intriguing, so vastly interesting, so full of possibilities. They can and do happen to anyone. They may offer a glimpse into someone else's life, or turn out to be life-changing or simply highly memorable.
I've had quite a few brief encounters and have often wished I could write short stories, so that I could turn them into beautifully crafted narratives or take them to interesting conclusions, in the way that Mollie Panter-Downes or Elizabeth Taylor or Helen Simpson (my favourite C20 short story writers) might.
Trains and cafés are perfect places for brief encounters (as Noel Coward and David Lean well knew). On Friday, en route to Primrose Hill I took a detour through Regent's Park to look at the roses in Queen Mary's Gardens. On my way, I discovered the amazing English Walk which is a funny mix of old-fashioned, costly and labour-intensive carpet bedding schemes, and borders filled with very contemporary-style, modish perennials dotted with colourful annuals - all marvellous and absolutely free.
The park was cold and empty, and the famous deckchairs looked very forlorn. No brief encounters happening here.
[gate to QM Gardens]
Then the heavens opened. Admittedly, the roses looked beautiful in the dramatic light,
and the park was filled with the fragrance of thousands and thousands of roses, intensified by the rain.
So I took cover in the café and met a very interesting woman from Vancouver and we talked until the rain abated and I could go home (all plans of going further were abandoned). She told me about a very different way of life and shared so much in a short time, and it was a pleasure to have met her.
It reminded me of the time I went into the original Patisserie Valerie in Soho (long before it became part of a chain) and I shared a table with a delightful woman who turned out to be Sarah Garland, whose books I was then reading to Tom, Alice and Phoebe.
And of the time when I was a student and was travelling home by train in one of those separate compartments (no longer in service) with just one fellow passenger, a young man, who kept smiling at me. After a couple of hours of smiling and not a word spoken, he wrote a note and handed it to me. It said, 'I love you. Will you marry me?' Nerves, and not the promise of an adventure, got the better of me and I changed compartments.
But I still like cafés, trains, and brief encounters. And short stories.
Wow - love the stormy greys and splashyglo roses, what a marriage. The rose garden is magical, and I only discovered last week(from Dickon Edwards' blog)that there is a secret garden beside it(St. John's Lodge Gardens) which I didn't know existed. I'm going to seek it out this week on the way home - and probably talk to some strangers (will avoid passing them love notes though). Gary.
Posted by: Gary King | June 13, 2011 at 10:11
Love the contrasting dark sky on those photographs, it makes everything else stand out so wonderfully. And I can almost smell those roses.
I have never had an interesting brief encounter that I can recall, and as a writer of short stories, I am sure I would have used one as the basis for another story if I had. But any I have used have been made up.
Strange though, I write short stories but find them highly unsatisfactory to read, always want more.
Posted by: maggie | June 13, 2011 at 10:42
I had the exact same stroll in Regent's Park on Thursday - the heavens decided to open then too. Didn't meet any interesting strangers though - just a horde of Japanese tourists. It's funny to see your pictures, I took a lot of the same snaps (the gate, the roses with droplets on). Love your blog!
Posted by: Siri | June 13, 2011 at 11:27
Shame about mobile phones as these encounters seem less likely - often seen three people on a bench talking but not to each other...sad!
Posted by: Nicky | June 13, 2011 at 11:39
Sarah Garland! We found Coming to Tea in a discount book store in Dublin. I was pregnant and traveling with my husband and 18-month-old daughter. Our quiet trip to the Galway and Cork was interrupted by my husband's wanting to see an exhibit of paintings by J. P. Donleavy which was closing that weekend. We drove to Dublin, found the exhibit half dismantled, and got into the biggest traffic jam I have ever seen on the way back to Galway. That book was the only thing that kept Abigail happy.
Since then we have ordered several more of her books. I have never seen them on the shelves here in Massachusetts.
I bet I could still recite Coming to tea.
Posted by: Amanda | June 13, 2011 at 12:22
Do you ever read the little memorial plaques on the benches in Regent's Park? Some of them are so evocative that I could easily imagine them inspiring a short story.
Posted by: m | June 13, 2011 at 12:41
At first I thought you were referring to an encounter with the roses, the rain and the fragrance. An encounter of another sort. Lovely, lovely.
Posted by: kathe kramer | June 13, 2011 at 13:21
Of course all of your pictures are lovely, but that last rose photograph is even more breathtaking.
Posted by: Eliz. K | June 13, 2011 at 14:07
Oh I don't know...you're pretty good at the unexpected ending. :)
Love the pictures!
Posted by: Susan M. | June 13, 2011 at 14:21
I got to get me to England. But for now, I'm happy to borrow your vision.
Posted by: Desiree | June 13, 2011 at 15:58
I am sure your last proposition is the beginning of a novel! That way the story can turn out the way you want it to ...
Pomona x
Posted by: Pomona | June 13, 2011 at 18:00
My daughter, her friend and I all loved your story about love notes on a train!
Regent's Park is wonderful with all it's hidden gems.
Ingrid xx
Posted by: Ingrid | June 13, 2011 at 18:53
I love the company of strangers. I talk in queues, which is a very northern thing to do. I got an umbrella with money off just for chatting up a father of two from America when he was buying Cabbage Patch dolls. Grab every brief encounter, that's what I say.
Posted by: Angel Jem | June 13, 2011 at 20:13
One of my favourite places! Didn't you make it to Primrose Hill? We lived there BC (Before Children) and for a while afterwards in a boho attic flat and I used to walk to Oxford Street and back with the double buggy, over Primrose Hill, through Regents Park and down Marylebone High Street. Good exercise .....
Off to watch Brief Encounter now!
Posted by: Jayne Croghan | June 13, 2011 at 20:44
what stunning photos - your words perfectly describe the scene, and i felt i was there with you! :) and is there anything better than passing the time in a cozy cafe??
Posted by: danielle | June 13, 2011 at 21:54
It has to be asked: is the train story for real?!
Posted by: Fionnuala | June 13, 2011 at 22:40
Stunning photos, Jane! I have never come across that section of Regent's Park - something to look out for when I return. Oh, deckchairs! You won't find those in Central Park, will you?!
LOVE the story of the train - I get propositioned daily around here, though not the sort of propositions I would particularly want to treasure!
Posted by: Rachel | June 14, 2011 at 03:07
These are the most amazing pictures yet! That enormous urn filled with petunias (?) is breathtaking. Just more reasons to long for England!
Posted by: Jake | June 14, 2011 at 07:58
As always, beautiful words and photos!! Im off to london in the next couple of days, im going to make sure i go to view those beautiful flowers!!!
Posted by: Jacky | June 14, 2011 at 13:43
You are still such a northener ! Brief encounters" " are happily still a large part of life here, an expected part of everyday life. In London I find most people think you are slightly crazy and even to be feared if you speak to them just to pass the time of day...
That said perhaps I look odd and scary !
Posted by: susan hall | June 14, 2011 at 15:00
Beautiful, just beautiful. Thanks.
Posted by: Beth in Maryland | June 14, 2011 at 18:23
I don't think talking to people is just a northern thing. I'm very definitely a southerner (Hampshire, Somerset, London) but I just can't keep my mouth shut. Only today i had a chat with a woman from Afghanistan (in thelibrary) and then on the bus with three young people who had just landed at Heathrow from California and were on their way to Epsom via Kingston.
Posted by: Ruth | June 15, 2011 at 20:36
Well I was going to say that I always thought the stereotype of Londoners not speaking was a myth because when I go to London I always end up striking up a conversation with random strangers.... but then I thought that might make me sound like a nutter! I don't think its something reserved for northeners (although mu husband, who thinks he's a northerner and is actually from the midlands would say differently1) as I have lived in the westcountry for most of my life and most people here are very friendly! Weirdest place I've had a brief encounter is at the swimming pool! Argh!
Posted by: Mrsbris | June 16, 2011 at 09:21
Oh and by the way I love the moody sky! Very dramatic!
Posted by: Mrsbris | June 16, 2011 at 09:23
Love the train story and especially your reaction to it.
I was in a cafe a couple of weekends ago waiting to order a take away coffee. The lady serving asked the cute guy next to me for his order but he turned to me and said "you were first". We smiled at each other, looked around the cafe, smiled at each other again and again until the coffees were ready. I walked out the door and laughed at the rain pouring down. He followed me out and said "bye, it was nice almost meeting you". My heart melted then I crossed the road, got into my car and drove home (to my husband and 3 boys)......... thinking that would be a good start to a book!
Posted by: jools | June 17, 2011 at 07:10
A brief encounter at Stansted recently opened up a whole world of opportunities when the lovely man I spoke to invited me to afternoon tea with his wife and children who were having a 2 year adventure in Rome from California. 2 trips to Rome later I have new but fast friends. Thanks for your lovely blog and pictures. Cheered me on a dismal day. xxx
Posted by: Jo.L | June 19, 2011 at 14:00