Watching on the sideline, only to be called into the game ....

People watching in London is an event all to itself.  Jen and I sat on the steps of St. Martin's Church in Trafalgar Square and watched.  

It was getting cool so Dad gave his jacket to his daughter.

I will definitely be a dapper old man.  (Don't be so obvious to reply that I already am.  You are more creative than that)

One of our favorite scenes is the old person in a wheel chair smoking a butt.  Again, when I'm old and need a wheel chair I'm going to be smoking a cigar (and looking dapper).

People watching at Green Park.  The Ritz Hotel is in the background.

We met Murad when he asked us to watch his beer while he went to the toilet.  He came back with more beer and two jiffy wines, which he offered to Jen and I for beer watching.

A bit later he asked if he could join us.

I'm fascinated by these encounters.  Here is what we learned about Murad.

He is from Turkey.  He currently works in an upscale Chinese restaurant in Mayfair owned by the same Abu Dhabi investor who owns the Manchester City Football Club here.  One of the guys who works for Murad is responsible for massaging little bulls so their meat will be tender.  The waitresses dresses were designed by Diane Von Furstenberg.  You get the point.

Murad came here four years ago with his wife.  She is a Brit who he met while she was on holiday in Turkey, stayed three years and then they both came to the UK.  She is a nurse, they have a daughter and another child on the way.

And he wants to leave her.

He said he told her last night.  This started a huge fight, of course.  So here he is, in the park having beer.  Murad said it was the first time in four years he has had a drink.  

Jen and I hung around a bit too long.  Murad didn't want us to leave.  We had to get back home.

We had to drop out of the life this stranger gave us a glimpse of.

Good luck, Murad.