A year ago, as a potential resident of London, ON, I spent a gorgeous summer afternoon in Victoria Park. My husband was coming to the city for his final round of a job interview, and I tagged along, just in case we didn’t get a chance to visit the city again. Sitting in this expansive park that afternoon, I contemplated what it would be like to live in London. As I complete a year in the forest city, here are my impressions from a summer ago.
A children’s festival is in progress in Victoria Park. I sit on a bench and see squirrels and birds engaging in mini battles over morsels.
Squirrels scamper in ceaseless motion–climbing up and down trees, scurrying across the grass, pausing in wonderment for a few seconds before taking off again.
Dogs, kids in strollers enjoy free walks, rides.
Church bells ring; lunch-goers emerge from offices, heading to big and small eateries to satiate the hunger god.
A man sprawls on the grass, reading a newspaper.
Beside me, on the bench, the pages of a national daily flutter in midsummer’s breeze, letting go of the heaviness of yesterday’s news.
Under a tree, a girl sits alone, ear-phones plugged into her natural audio sockets.
I turn behind and find a brown squirrel looking at me intently.
A young couple sleeps on the grass, embracing each other, oblivious of the world around them.
Bhaswati Ghosh 
Cool images relayed by your observations put to words.
Thanks for stopping by, Terry!
I love the way the newspaper pages flutter in midsummer’s breeze, letting go of the heaviness of yesterday’s news… sets the mood so perfectly.
When I first came to London, Joyce, I had a good 3-4 hours to myself as my husband interviewed for his job. Victoria Park welcomed me like nothing else, and I prayed that we might be allowed to stay in this lovely city. When my husband emerged from his (then) future office with a smile, I felt my prayer at the park had been answered.
We have to visit you and Bhupinder, picnic in Victoria Park. You captured the afternoon beautifully. 😀
Please do, Achyut. And soon. 🙂
How lovely to be in a place with all that peace and quiet all around, with squirrels to give you company. I liked “the pages of a national daily flutter in midsummer’s breeze, letting go of the heaviness of yesterday’s news.”
It is a lovely experience to be in Victoria Park, Rumanaji, especially during spring or summer. I am glad you liked this post.