23/9/2024 Reflection

Today's Reflection

Today, I’m still feeling unwell, so I applied for remote work. I've been suffering from a cold for the past few days and I have no energy to do anything. But I wanted to reflect on last Saturday when I attended an open house festival event in Islington, which included a walking tour.

The tour lasted about 40 minutes, covering a distance of roughly only 300 meters. Although it wasn’t a long distance, I felt it was quite a stretch for me that day. Our guide introduced us to the area, which included a small park, a church, and a few blocks of houses. Historically, this area was once home to the middle class, but during the 19th century, they moved to more suburban areas. Many of these houses then became home to multiple families, with 2-3 families sharing a single house.

The tour started and ended at a church, which serves as a central hub for the local community. Locals are working hard to revitalise the church by hosting various events and making the area more active and attractive. During our visit, they offered us delicious desserts, along with coffee and tea, and we had the opportunity to chat with several friendly local residents. The church also had a well-organised café area, a children’s play zone, and a section for second-hand books and clothes that people could take for free (with an option to donate if they wished).

The main purpose of the walking tour seemed to be encouraging more locals to join the community and support the church through donations. I found the place very appealing and friendly, making it an attractive area to live in. One of the most surprising moments for me and my friend was when joggers passing by greeted us, which is quite rare in London!