tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607719101484462692.post7662971059054043654..comments2024-01-23T12:27:05.258+00:00Comments on The Stone and the Star: Seven Years In London: Smoke, Mirrors and the Sweet Smell of Road-TarClarissa Aykroydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571136118573329263noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607719101484462692.post-60660539829984674582012-09-07T17:56:27.543+01:002012-09-07T17:56:27.543+01:00Thanks! I think you're right - although ex-pat...Thanks! I think you're right - although ex-pats may live in very different cultures and countries around the world, there probably are some aspects of their experience which are similar. <br /><br />I really feel that there are certain places especially that you can have a "relationship" with which is almost like a relationship with another human being. I feel more like that about London than the other cities where I've lived. Although - I think my relationship with London may be a bit too dysfunctional to be healthy if it were a relationship with a person! I think the man quoted above who said "places make the best lovers" had a point. In a sense, a place that you love is more reliable than another human being who you love, even if it also drives you crazy at times.Clarissa Aykroydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08571136118573329263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607719101484462692.post-91942102725476011882012-09-06T18:14:09.102+01:002012-09-06T18:14:09.102+01:00I love this post. It rings bells with me. I guess ...I love this post. It rings bells with me. I guess any ex-pat would find similarities in their stories. it's funny how a culture can alienate us and embrace us at the same time, indeed like a partner can. And no matter how involved you get with that city you always have a distant longing for home. When you're home you have a longing for the city where you live. <br /><br />It's also true that you always find an ally in another ex-pat from the same country as you because they notice the same differences as you, they've gone through the same difficulties and they are often longing for the same things. Gabrielle Warrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04270717875109087105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607719101484462692.post-82934768160768517082012-09-05T22:24:08.625+01:002012-09-05T22:24:08.625+01:00It is a very unique poem. I would have to think ab...It is a very unique poem. I would have to think about the "favourite poem" thing. I would have a very hard time choosing...Clarissa Aykroydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08571136118573329263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607719101484462692.post-34970838230191493202012-09-05T22:06:00.529+01:002012-09-05T22:06:00.529+01:00The Hulme poem was picked by one of my guests in M...The Hulme poem was picked by one of my guests in My Favourite Poem (http://davidgreenbooks.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/My%20Favourite%20Poem, 17/5/2009).<br />Although admittedly that feature would appear dormant on my website now, it is never closed and anyone is welcome to send me a few lines about their favourite poem.David Greenhttp://davidgreenbooks.blogspot.co.uk/noreply@blogger.com