A slightly different angle to my “Sunday Photo” this week…
Isn’t the roof of Kings Cross beautiful? I have never actually noticed before. As is the roof of Waterloo, under which I must have spent thousands of hours over the years, staring up at the boards, waiting for that all platform number to flicker into place before dashing to one end of the platform or the other…
I think everyone should spend some time abroad, to revisit places that might have been taken for granted at some point, and to appreciate them with “new” eyes…
I also recommend a black cab journey from Kings Cross to Waterloo, for no other reason than you obviously get to see so much more of this beautiful city above ground than you would under it, but you also get to catch up with what’s going on in the city, what’s changed, and what else you might have missed out on in the years you’ve been away…
On my return journey, I was taken on a trip down memory lane when we drove through The Strand underpass, out along Holborn with flashes of a lifetime ago popping in to view. Then we passed my old work in Red Lion Square and out to Russell Square, and down the back streets to Kings Cross – chatting away to my friendly cabbie for the entirety. It was a mini emotional reunion of sorts, but not half as emotional as where I was headed…
If the journey from Cambridge to Twickenham didn’t seem all that long, then the bus journey from Twickenham station to West Middlesex Hospital felt like an eternity. By the time I began consider getting off to walk it hardly seemed worth it, and anyway I was grateful for the extra time for the caffeine to kick in from my hastily grabbed coffee. It was going to be a long night…
Labour room 4 was a surprisingly quiet and calm place when I turned up. My youngest sister was resting between contractions and I was able to let my brother in law pop out to get some food whilst I fiddled with play lists and phone chargers, whilst reassuring her that everything happening was completely normal… I had worried slightly about how I would feel being back in this hospital environment after the Toddler’s slightly dramatic arrival, but thankfully it didn’t feel too weird, and I loved being there to help (i.e. boss her around) in the few hours before the big event…
Including my own three, this was the sixth birth I have attended (having flown back from Munich and Copenhagen to be with my middle sister for the births of two of my nephews), and as Mother Nature likes to dictate, each and every birth is different. In my limited experience, there is one indicator that things are about to really happen though, and that’s a sudden burst of fury from the expectant mother about something or other, and in this case, my sister decided upon a sudden total hatred of the blood pressure band squeezing its presence around her arm… Thanks to that, I had a bit of an inkling that things were about to get going, and sure enough minutes later, my tiny beautiful niece took her first breath in this world, and announced to anyone listening that she was very much here by bawling into the darkened room as the London buses trundled past outside…
Always a beautiful tender moment (buses aside!), even if I did feel bad for thinking to myself more than once “rather you than me love, rather you than me” whilst mopping my sister’s brow and force feeding her Lucozade…
An hour or so later, and after a quick introduction to Grandad (who lives up the road and popped to pick me up!), we left the little family in peace and made it back in time for last orders – we had a tiny head to wet after all!
Whilst distance didn’t stop me from attending the arrival of two of my nephews in the past, this time I am looking forward to actually being here whilst this new arrival makes a start on growing up. Welcome to the world little one. xx
Joanna says
It’s amazing how easily we can travel today thousands of miles to be with our loved ones in their special moments. Congratulations to the arrival of the new member of your family! And yes, this does mean more trips to London, back onto the memory lane :)
Emma says
Thanks so much Joanna! (:
jay says
lovely post !
Emma says
Thank you jay! (:
mummy here and here says
Awww she is beautiful, congratulations! Wow,so eerie I do love Kings Cross! X #mysundayphoto
Emma says
Thank you! (:
Susan Mann says
Wow congratulations to your sister. What a beautiful photo. I love the curves x
Emma says
Thanks so much Susan! (: x
Krista Bjorn says
Train stations always give me the loveliest sense of impending adventure. :-) What a gorgeous little person that is. xo
Emma says
I do love trains, just not packed commuter ones in rush hour! :D Thanks Krista! (: xx
Annette, Four Acorns / Quatre graines de chêne says
Wow I had no idea where you were going with that first photo. Beautifully written, heart-warming post, and totally unexpected! Many congratulations to your sister and brother in law on the arrival of their gorgeous little girl!
#MySundayPhoto
Emma says
Thank you so much Annette! Very kind of you! (: x
Lorelle says
What a gorgeous picture, and the train station roof is pretty special too! Lol… ;)
Emma says
And to think I hadn’t really taken much notice of that roof before! Thanks Lorelle! (:
Fiona Cambouropoulos says
How exciting to have a new Niece. Train stations have me all in a dither wondering which platform and what time. I’m always happier once on the train, but probably because I’m only in London by train one a year at most.
Emma says
I have been known to get on the wrong train before now Fiona, don’t worry! :D Thank you x
Andrea @ Topsy Turvy Tribe says
Many congratulations, very beautiful.
Also the architecture in London is amazing, definitely worth taking time to slow down and notice the details… then run for the train
Emma says
Thanks so much Andrea! I can’t believe I didn’t ever take notice of such buildings before…
Grace says
Lovely post to welcome Etta. Great timing – you always arrive just in time! x
Emma says
I have been sooo lucky to get there in time…
Catherine's Cultural Wednesdays says
Stunning roof and a beautiful young lady ❤️
Emma says
Thank you Catherine! (:
Notmyyearoff says
Ahhhhh what a gorgeous little baby and congrat to you Aunty. Good job, very well done to your sister….and I always think the same too (rather them ;))
Emma says
I always think never again!! :D Thanks so much! xx
five little doves says
Ahh this is so lovely ,what a gorgeous story behind your photo! It’s funny how a photo can mean nothing at all to someone and everything to someone else.
Emma says
That’s very true! Thank you! x
darren coleshill says
Massive congratulations.
I love train stations, their buildings are always interesting
Thank you for linking up
Emma says
Thanks Darren! (:
Victoria says
Ahhh that’s lovely, so pleased you were there! I didn’t know you went for last orders! Ha!xxx
Emma says
It was so lovely to be there and kind of help you! :D Yes, we managed one before the bell rang! :D xxx
Janet T says
Congratulations to your sister! I agree the roof of Kings cross makes a great photo. The roof of Paddinton is even better, but then I think Brunel was involved in that. #MySundayPhoto
Emma says
Paddington is gorgeous too, yes I think he might have done! Thanks Janet! (: