Classic art deco

I received a call yesterday afternoon inviting me to help out with some canvassing for the Labour Party in Westminster. So after a morning of doing domestic duty, I made my way up to Marylebone today where I met several other people outside a Michelin star restaurant just round the corner from Baker Street. This led to an afternoon of jolly japes as we split into two groups and went off to try and speak to the good citizens of the area, most of whom alas turned out to be out. The canvassing was mostly of apartments in old-fashioned buildings so the first task was to gain entry. This was done in a number of ways. On one occasion someone was leaving and I simply walked through the open door, thanking them as I went. On a couple of other occasions, we managed to ring the doorbell of a known Labour supporter who let us into the building as a whole. The funniest one was a very posh set of apartments just off the Marylebone Road where we had to blag our way past a determined looking concierge. The place turned out to be quite stunning with fountains, indoor fish ponds and a roof garden (see extra). How the other half live. 

Our team was led by a lovely generation Z student, Sarah, who really had her shit together, as they say. Then there was Wendy who was about my age and had bags of confidence and could easily have charmed her way into Fort Knox. Alan was a lifelong socialist, and someone with whom I had quite a lot in common, not least our taste in theatre. And John was a young man in his 20s, who also had charm and persuasiveness. 

It was very sociable, but I don’t think we are going to swing the election, one way or the other. 

One of the flats I knocked on the door of was labelled with a big brass plaque saying Consulate of the Seychelles Islands. The door was answered by a rather lovely very elderly lady, who said thank you very much, but she was actually a LibDem voter. She would’ve invited us in, but she said she didn’t think she looked beautiful enough to have guests.

Another very elderly gentleman said he was worried about proportional representation and the need for more regulation of cyclists and scooters.

I got home quite quickly and slumped on the settee with a cup of tea and had a snooze. Fighting the socialist good fight is a bit tiring at my age. But I’d happily do it again as long as it isn’t raining…