09.17.07
From skating by the Serpentine to a skating serpent
The Sunday Stroll yesterday took us up to Russell Square. It was a short route but a fun one, especially on the way back when there were some lovely, smooth surfaces. I had plenty of company as Natalie came along and a few other familiar faces. I got to the park early and did a couple of laps up and down Serpentine Road and just generally chilled out beforehand. It was nice not to be in a rush and running late for a change.
In the evening, I hooked up with my boyfriend and we went down to watch the Embankment to see the Night Carnival parade at the Thames Festival. Apparently it had been quite packed on the Saturday but it wasn’t crowded at all on the Sunday. I wasn’t quite at the front of the barricade so my pics (yet to be uploaded) are not brilliant but I had a good view.
Some of the floats were very visually striking, such as the metal dragon made out of hub caps and the giant illuminated king on a throne. Others were just really cute, such as the pair of giant pigeons and the little kids in strawberry outfits. There were also some impressive dancers – one lot had little rattles in their costume and you could tell they were keeping the time because they made music as they danced. Many of the floats were recycled from the Notting Hill Carnival (some even still had the signs) but since I missed that, I didn’t mind at all.
One of the things that always amuses me with parades is how ordinary the people look, underneath all the costume finery, and I always wonder about the human story of why they are there.
I was hanging out to see the skaters and eventually was rewarded – they were almost at the back of the skate. The LFNS crew skated around with a blue cloth serpent making it dance, with a few individuals in costume, like Saffy who was all dolled up in white feathers. The very talented roller-dancers who normally hang out by the Beach in Hyde Park were wearing disco gear and following close behind with some amazing moves.
