London Lungs

When I gave up smoking last November I had an appointment with the nurse at my local GP surgery. Essentially I wanted to get free nicotine chewing gum. Whilst there she tested the carbon monoxide levels in my lungs. The result was a 6. If like me you have no idea what that indicated, she explained that a non-smoker theorectically should have a 0 rating. 6 and up indicates a smoker. Except the nurse said mine was a good result. "Sorry, I don't understand" "Well most people in Archway score between 4-6 anyway, the non-smokers that is. It's the Holloway Road." So Archway A1 artery air = 10-15 fags a day.

Parks are the lungs of a city. We took big full breaths this weekend.

Saturday to Hyde Park and the Serpentine Gallery to catch the last weekend of Anthony McCall.
The exhibition of light cones and shapes was amazing, but Ruben didn't think so, didn't like the dark. Trying to carry a kid's bike, a packed-lunch bag and hold a scared kid's hand in a smoky dark room...the outside park won out.




Sunday walk in the Lee Valley Park. The webpage belies the wildness and openess I felt. I cannot believe that I was born and bred in London and I've never been to this, the biggest green space. It extends further than the eye can see. There are months of exploring to be done.