Back in Christmas 2020, our family received tickets for a piano recital by M. Pollini, 13 April 2021, Festival Hall… I put it in my calendar and waited for that date.
But that day never came.
The Delta strain was raging in the UK at the time, as was usual with the Corona pandemic, and there was no way the event to be held. We decided to hold on to our tickets and wait for when the show would be rescheduled.
The summer had gone pass and after Christmas 2021, finally the postponed Pollini recital had been rescheduled for the 1st of March 2022. We carefully coordinated our work schedule and waited for that date.
We often drive to London. I don’t like crowds and train travel is draining. So, I was not too alarmed when the major strike was announced that closed all London Underground lines on the day of the concert.
AK, my teenage son, was suspiciously curious as to what the concert was about. After all, he has to sacrifice his busy social life that evening.
I eagerly told him that Pollini is one of the most accomplished pianists in the world, that he turned 80 this year and that if we missed this one, we don’t know when we would get to hear him play live again. He no longer questioned once I assured him that he will have free access to his iPad in the car.
Having put the destination in sat-nav, we set off early taking into account that the trains were not running and that the traffic would be heavier than usual.
Three hours later, we just reached at the Parliament Square.
In 2017, when there was no Corona, when Britain was still part of EU and invasion of Ukraine had not yet taken place, Big Ben was at the start of a major years-long restoration, and the whole structure had been under cover and silent ever since. Since 2021, the scaffolding has been gradually removed to reveal its former grandeur. We admired the view while waiting for our turn to drive around the square.
The London Eye, lit by purple lights, beckons ahead on the left hand side, from the other side of the River Theme. Passing over Westminster Bridge and the Festival Hall is near the London Eye. But the road is completely still. The whole square is covered with cars in all directions.
The first half of the concert is probably over by now. Hopefully, we will still be able to catch the second half of the concert at least. It’ll worth it, even if we can only manage to listen to just one movement, witnessing a performer of his calibre in the flesh, and I’m sure it will be etched in AK’s memory.
The car slowly drives over the bridge to the other side and then heads towards Waterloo Bridge. Sat-nav marks two minutes to the arrival time. We are almost there. Once we’ve parked the car, we’ll go to the reception first. We don’t know if they’ll let us in halfway once the performance starts… We turned at the last roundabout while talking about these things.
Sat-nav tells us to turn right. The car approached a large two-lane road, which was gently climbing uphill. Sat-nav says to turn right here now. We see the River Thames ahead. Sat-nav says we have reached our destination.
Our car approaches the top of a bridge with panoramic views. Sat-nav says to turn around.
Before we knew it, we’d crossed over Waterloo Bridge back and drove on in stunned silence. Sat-nav kept telling us to go back, make a right turn, make a right turn.
It was almost 9pm.
We did not turn right. It was time to drive west, westwards, away from London and back home. The traffic jam on the way to the Festival Hall was frustrating but there existed a positive vive and willingness to get through it with humour, but now I had no energy for that and every time the car stops I bite down on a sigh.
Would it be Chopin or Schumann that is now echoing through the Festival Hall? I have never had the chance to hear him play in person before. I wonder if I will get to hear him one day…?
We’re very hungry.
London was far behind us, and as we hit the main road heading west, we noticed a fast-food sign gleaming in the darkness. As if being sucked in, our car pulled into the parking lot.
Along the way on this pointless journey, AK was silently editing his YouTube video, fiddling with his phone, gazing at the London landmarks passing outside and dozed off. He was and pleased with our choice of eating out.
While waiting for our late meal, I asked AK to show me one of his favourite YouTube videos. We watched MrBeast ‘Squid Game in real life’ while munching on our burgers, which had been reduced in size considerably from what they used to be.