Eye contact is not the thing in Lunnon. Walking out in N13 to buy a paper from a traditional 'corner shop' (albiet not on a corner), I joined scores of people walking trainwards. Heads down, eyes evasive, the worries of the coming day already bearing down on hunched shoulders. No chance of a cheerful greeting from this lot. On my way back with one of the 100 or so Grudians (probably more than in the whole of the Borders) I thought I would take a chance. Coming towards me was a particularily morose looking thirty one something, power dressed, aggressive black bag, designer shoes with no doubt poison sacs in the pointy toes for dealing with presumptious commuters, severe hair, a piercing gaze focused on the paving stone but one in her path. I took a deep breath, poised for flight. 'Good morning' I ventured, trembling slightly. She stopped, her gaze travelled up me slowly, menacingly She looked at me, hardly crediting the evidence of her ears. A delightful smile transformed her face: 'Good Morning? Yes it is What a lovely day!'
Yes it is.
