Part 1

‘Mind the Gap’, a phrase that had stuck in her head and come into play every train ride since she was a child, she thought it again as Elise stepped off the train into London Waterloo after a four and a half hour train journey from Exeter. She closed her large green eyes for a moment as the sounds of the station overtook her senses for a moment too long. She couldn’t quite grasp where she was. She had done the monster journey alone, but she didn’t mind travelling as she needed a change of scenery and she knew her Great Aunt Valerie needed the company as the evenings were getting darker earlier, the weather was getting cold and depressing as that Autumn magic of October had faded, not to mention the cold sting that came with the knowledge that it was getting closer to anniversary of Great Uncle Alfred’s funeral.

Yes, Aunt Valerie needed her to be here. Elise was a spark of joy and could see the positive in most things. Although right now, Elise admitted to herself that she was struggling to see the positive in the crowds at Waterloo, clearly a five O’clock arrival time was a mistake.

‘A map, I need to look at the underground map, and find the right line,’ she thought , inwardly cursing that she hadn’t planned this part of the journey. She never banked on it being this difficult to hear herself think amongst the rush hour crowd. She slipped off from the crowd at the ticket machines peered at the different coloured lines mounted on the wall. Regent Street meant she needed the Bakerloo line.

“Get me out of here,” she thought as she tunnelled down the rabbit warren that was the London tube route to the Bakerloo line.

“Oh fantastic” she thought sarcastically as she found herself squashed between a man with large glasses and too much aftershave and a small asian uni student. Personal space wasn’t needed here in London, all that was needed was speedy travel and coffee. She reasoned with herself; after all, the underground experience was never going to show London’s finest side, things were bound to get better once she had her head back above water.

Holding onto the straps of her overfilled backpack Elise power-walked the rest of the way and came out at the Oxford Circus exit to Regent Street. Her eyes sparkled as she took in some of the most distinguished architecture in London, and suddenly the discomfort of the tube train ride seemed to vanish as she walked passed the countless designer clothing brands and indie coffee shops.

“I’m not here to shop,” she thought as the manikins in the shops stood poised to tempt. Tomorrow she would search for some Christmas gifts to take back to her sister Bessie but for now she was to directly power walk along Regent Street and find the house with the pale blue door etched in her memory from her previous visit when she was a teenager.

She reached the door and smiled at the charming lantern which hung next to the door and the hanging basket. Even from outside the front door you could see that Aunt Valerie was house proud. Elise grabbed the traditional rope pull door bell which chimed inside the house. With a sweep of energy the door flew open as if a gust of wind had taken it, and next Elise saw the beaming round face of Aunt Valerie smiling broadly. Her downy, red hair was pinned immaculately and she wore a jumper which Elise guessed to be soft cashmere. For a moment she was lost in an all encompassing embrace as her Aunt swept her into her arms in what can almost be described as close to a bear hug.

“Oh you’ve made it to Regent Park, and it’s wonderful to see you,’ Aunt Valerie bubbled with happiness at seeing her niece and Elise was warmed from the loving welcome.

“Follow me in, come on through,” said Valerie gesturing towards her enthusiastically, “awful journey I suppose, always is these days. I never get on the underground.”

“I can understand why!” Elise replied as she lugged her bag up stairs behind Valerie, who showed her into a large bedroom on the second floor with decidedly feminine feel – a queenside bed, a Lemaire dressing table all of the little touches in place even down to folded towels on the end of the bed. Fairy lights were draped around the curtains and they made the dark evening less eerie as did the peaking light from the street lamps she spotted as she glanced out of the bedroom window.

“Make yourself comfortable in here, dearie. Will this suit you? There is another guest room if not.”

“Oh it’s marvellous, I think it’s the most beautiful room I have stayed in.”

“You settle in, then we’ll have a light supper in the dining room, if you’re hungry that is.”

“Sounds perfect.”

“Just come back down the stairs, walk through the kitchen and round to the back room – oh but of course you remember this place from the last time you came and nothing has changed here. It’s all waiting for you in the same place it was when you were a young one. Help yourself to anything, it’s all yours.”

Aunt Valerie’s extravagant hospitality was most welcome as Elise warmed up after the journey. She slipped on her thickest socks from her backpack and hung her slightly damp raincoat on the coat stand on the landing as she went down to the back room for supper. She was excited for what the next three days were going to hold for her. She may be spending time with a retired old lady, but she was certain that out of all the old people, this one was thoroughly worth spending time with. She was a gem in the world, and Elise wanted to grab every last second with her. The following hours were filled with laughter at old family memories and stories from Aunt Valeries years living in Regent Park. The characters she’d met, the changes to society that she had seen and still couldn’t get her head around, although she did admit that the convenience of Google Maps was immensely helpful. Elise admired elderly people who tried to adapt to new technologies, she could only imagine how hard it was for them to get used to so many changes over time, and Aunt Valerie was a prime example.

The next morning arrived with bright sunshine, a blessing in November as too often dark rainy days ruled the roost. Elise couldn’t remember the last time if ever she had slept in such a luxurious bed. The sleep had been deep and undisturbed and Elise recognised the difference of waking up to a dull sound of traffic and a mush of city sounds as opposed to the usual clucking, braying and barking she often awoke to at home on the farm. How repetitive the sounds of the farm got and how exciting was the thought of London. Breakfast in mind, Elise began her day with a distant hope that she could stay with Aunt Valerie for longer than just three days.