BeyondRules

Every now and then I like to venture down to London. It’s hard, being northern to gel well with our southern counterparts but I find it in me to deal with them, and try my best to understand their constant droaning and whining voices. It’s even worse when I find myself on the wrong side of the M25 for work, and adventure sets up a steady release from the usual 9 to 5, and a chance to blow away all expectation when asked before a meeting what I got upto in the big smoke the night before.

There is simply so much to do in London, so much to see that even those that live there have still got enough to keep them occupied if they so wish. Of course with the now infamous tube bust last year, and the approaching Olympics, some have decided to put aside their UK adventure side and focus their attentions on the international scene. They can’t be blamed, if I were in the same position I too would leave it behind to focus on something a little further afield, the confidence would be non-existant and the fear would always be close at hand when visiting even the most menial of places.

One thing that London does do well, despite the drama that has surrounded the LCC is party. It was home of last year’s IDM, and 2011 became ‘the year of the party‘ with subsequent gatherings throughout the following months, with various reasons. One such occasion was the loss of Brad to his native USA, where he would settle down in the desert to document the adventures that had preceeded his exit, all the while continuing on his own quest with Marc and Zero, amongst others on the midwest powerslide and the completion of his Ph.D thesis.

The other photographs in this post come from the weekend surrounding his return. With the majority of the work completed, and only a few more hurdles to go before he officially became a Doctor of Nocturnal Mischief and Adventure the LCC once again held a remarkable gathering to celebrate the return of a brother. Deep under the square mile we drank and laughed as the world continued around us. After the party, an escape to the heights of London for the group to catch the sunrise over the city and then to sleep (for me, I had the luxury of a first class Pendolino ride home to look forward to – so no sleep there) and for me to say goodbye to yet more friends. This time, UrbanFox who would venture into the mysteries of Mali on the African Continent for six months, and the departure of Snappel, who now finds himself settling into life in Southeast Asia.

London always delivers. Despite the drama, and the uptight policing strategy it’s always somewhere to get things done. With miles of drains, and miles of underground railway at your disposal it would be almost acceptable to forget the countless buildings, construction sites, cranes, underground spaces and whatever else lurks beneath the surface all together; There’s certainly something for everyone.