In the movie, "Notting Hill", a half year has passed since the media surrounded William Thacker's house and William's unhapppy break up with Anna Scott. Although he said to his friends that he had already forgotten her, when he learns that she is in London again making a film, he decides to visit her. Luckily, he can see her. While he is waiting for her, a member of the film crew hands him a set of headphones so he can listen to the lines.  However, the conversation which he hears makes him sad. Anna is talking with an actor.

"Who was that rather diffident chap you were talking to on the way up?"
"Oh…no-one…no-one. Just some…guy from the past. I don’t know what he's doing here. Bit of an awkward situation."

"I see.. " William smiles feeling lonely and decides to leave.
This scene from "Notting Hill"was taken at Kenwood House near Hamstead, London.


Actually, that day, I had planed to go to Tite Street to see the house Oscar Wilde used to occupy and after walk along the King's Road. However, it was still a little after 9 o'clock. I thoutht that if I go, all the shops wouldn't be open yet. Therefore, I suddenly changed my mind and visited Kenwood House that morning.
I took the Northern Line and arrived at Hamstead. I'd thought that I could find Kenwood House easily, but when I got off the train, I couldn't find any sign for "Kenwood House". What can I do? I found a post office. Therefore, I entered it and asked them where Kenwood House was showing a photo. However, they said, "Uh.. we don't know. Maybe, you can ask at the station. " I became anxious and wondered if I was really at the nearest station.
However, when I went back to the station and asked a station employee where Kenwood House was, the response came back quickly.
"Ah, Kenwood House. Go up the hill. When you are on the top, cross the road. Then turn right. You'll be there in fifteen or twenty minutes." I was relieved.
I began to walk. However, I wasn’t sure where the top of the hill was. Therefore, I turned right and went down a slope when I thought that I was probably at the top. I walked and walked, but I couldn't find any building which could possibly be Kenwood House. I began to think that I had taken the wrong road. I found a woman who was about to get into a car and asked for directions to Kenwood House.
"Ah, you should go this way", she pointed in the opposite direction. She continued, " After you go up the slope you will see a large park('Again', I said in my mind), you should turn right. However, I think that it's far. Probably, it'll take more than forty minutes.”
Wow! Another forty minutes! The station employee said it was about fifteen minutes, but I must have misheard. He may have said fifty minutes. Suddenly, I felt extremely tired. However, I was already close. I didn't want to go back to the station without finding Kenwood House. I tried to cheer myself up.
After a while, I found a bus stop. I approached it and checked the time table. Bus no. 210 seemed to go to Kenwood House. I remembered the woman's words. They made me feel tired, so I decided to wait for the bus.
After ten minutes, a bus was approaching. I got on it. However, I thought that it must be quite far. I didn't think I was anywhere near my destination, so I continued on the bus.
When I finally got off the bus, I had already passed Kenwood House. Moreover, I didn't know where I was or which way I should go. I went forward and after that walked backward. It was after noon when I finally arrived.
What an ordeal!
However, Kenwood House which is white looked so beautiful under the blue sky!
I couldn't believe I was in London because the house and grounds were enormous.
"Ah…Around here, William Thacker, acted by Hugh Grant, heard Anna's words on the headphone and was shocked." When I thought so, I felt a little sentimental.
According to "GIO GLOBE TROTTER 2002-2003", concerts are held every night during summer. They must sound wonderful. Don't you think?

When I went back, I thought that it may not be so far from the station, so I walked. It took only fifteen or twenty minutes. The station employee was right. The definition of "far" or "near" seems to depend on the individual. Furthermore, people belive different things.
In "Notes from a Small Island", Bill Bryson said that after people have lived in England for a long time, they begin to accept a specific idea naturally. In other words, they begin to think that England is large.

If you mention in the pub that you intend to drive from , say, Surrey to Cornwall, a distance that most Americans would happily go to get a taco, your companions will puff their cheeks, look knowingly at each other, and blow out air as if to say, "Well, now that's a bit of a tall order."
Bill Bryson : "Notes from a small island", originally published in Great Britain by Doubleday, a division of Transworld Publishers ; Black Swan edition published 1996.Copyright ©Bill Bryson 1995


My situation was a little different from his experience, but I've learned a lesson ; I shouldn't believe what somebody says without any confirmation. Moreover, I found out that I should have a map when I visit a place for the first time.

(2003.9.19)

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