It was a crisp yet sunny April day on London's Southbank. Having spent the morning walking along the Southbank taking photographs, it was time to take a moment of pause and reflection, and to take a rest. Having taken a seat on a bench outside the National Theatre, I glanced down and saw a small plastic toy penguin. I was intrigued, it looked especially cute. An abstract caricature of a penguin, with large round protruding black eyes and a small mustard beak. It looked like something you might get in a kids meal at a fast food place. I left it where it was, looking around to see if there was anyone in the area who it may belong to. There didn't appear to be anyone. I took some pictures of it on the bench, and after a few minutes I left the bench and the penguin.
I continued to photograph the area, keeping half an eye on the bench and the little penguin. For perhaps an hour or two I wondered around the area, and still no one had claimed the little penguin. I picked him up. I don't know why I was so drawn to him. I stayed in the area for another hour, taking photographs, writing and generally soaking up the atmosphere. Still no one appeared to reclaimed this little lost penguin.
I reasoned that this had been a sufficient period of time that if any child had lost this toy and wished to reclaim it, I had given ample time for them to do so. Besides, it was getting cold, it would be cruel to leave the little penguin on his own on the bench in the cold. The reasonable thing to do was to adopt him. He would be my mascot and companion on my wanderings. I decided I would call him Frank. Frank the Penguin, or if you will, the Frank Penguin.
The remainder of the day I continued along the Southbank, crossed to St Paul's Cathedral and walked through London until I ended up at Buckingham Palace. I often enjoy walking through the winding streets of London, steeped in history and its eclectic mix of architecture, culture and style. Whilst the Southbank has long been a favourite area of most Londoners - with its rich culture and range of arts institutions, from The Southbank Centre, National Theatre, Tate Gallery and Shakespeare's Globe to name but a few - Buckingham Palace and The Mall is my calm spot in London.
This may seem peculiar to most that I should find the area around Buckingham Palace to be a calm and quiet spot of reflection, it is after all one of the busiest areas of London and a major commuter road. Despite this, I defy anyone to sit on the steps of the Victoria Memorial, on the top step directly underneath Queen Victoria's nose, and not feel a sense of calm reflection. You will find that the majority of the people in the area are tourists, hoping to get a chance glimpse of The Queen or another member of Royalty, or simply to just get a picture of themselves in front of one of London's many magnificent and unmistakeable landmarks (hey, if it is good enough for a 15 year old Meghan Markle, why not you too?). The others who join you in the area may be a combination of couples looking for an area of romance, business people passing through from St James's Park or Green Park and the surrounding areas, and occasionally some individuals like myself who are simply looking for a quiet spot to unwind.
If you are still not convinced that you can get a sense of calm reflection in the middle of one of London's most popular tourist spots, its simple... people in the area are often just passing through, either using the area as a through-road or to get a quick snap of the landmarks, very few people will stop to spend any prolonged time in the area. Furthermore, if you sit on the top step looking down The Mall towards Trafalgar Square, you will find that most people are behind you getting a picture of the Palace, leaving you with a clear and unobstructed view of The Mall. There is something calm about the slow hum of the traffic, coming in waves through the traffic lights. As the evening closes in, it gets quieter. The tourists have moved on to the theatre or back to their hotels for the evening. The business people have gone home after the long day's work. The traffic has all but disappeared. Soon you are on your own in one of the most beautiful areas of London with little more than a few of London's more discerning pigeons (and the odd duck) to keep you company.
When I worked in Central London, it was often the convoluted route I took home after particularly stressful days. A forty-minute detour to unwind, an hour or so to soak up the atmosphere, followed by an additional half-hour walk through Westminster to get to Waterloo Station before heading home on the tube. Guaranteed to reduce stress.
Perhaps it was a subconscious desire to partake in light exercise or mindfulness, perhaps it was a need for a creative outlet, or perhaps it is simply that although I have lived in London for over five years, I am still a tourist at heart.
This time I was not alone, I was joined by Frank. I took some pictures of the area and of Frank (after all, why should Frank miss out on his obligatory picture on the railings in front of Buckingham Palace).
Frank and I have continued to visit many sites together. We have been to many historical palaces including Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace and the Palace of Holyroodhouse; and visited an array of art galleries between London and Glasgow. He is often found lounging around in my camera bag and has attended some exceptionally spectacular events from Trooping the Colour, The Lord Mayor's Show, The Women's March, and many beautiful weddings. We have enjoyed country walks, exhibitions, tourist sites and family outings. We have often revisited our meeting place of the National Theatre. A chance encounter on a public bench has turned into a great partnership. Although an inanimate object, Frank was found at a time when I needed some creative inspiration, and to this day if ever I am struggling to find my muse (whether in photography or writing), I reach into my bag and bring out Frank. He has yet to let me down.
All too often our lives are so busy that we do not take the time to stop and appreciate the things around us. From the supreme majesty of London's architecture, the wondrous variety of the city's culture, to the changing and falling autumn leaves, to the little toy left on a public bench, you never know when something surprising might just capture your imagination. Take a moment to pick up a penguin.