A Day in London: Music, Memories, and Exploration

Hi, I’m Tim. On November 23rd last year, I saw my second Artist of the Year, Chrissy Costanza. My goal was to revisit newsagents and rewalk a path along the River Thames to a secret spot I found back in 2019.

What lead me to do so?

What led me to see Chrissy Costanza was my long-standing desire to buy her music from when she was in against the current. The opportunity to finally do so and to revisit a spot in London I’ve only visited once before was an exhilarating prospect I couldn’t resist.

My plan for the day was to revisit the spot with an anchor on the promenade, revise a newsagent, and buy a fridge magnet. I also wanted to explore a little part of London, take a few photos, and, of course, see Chrissy Constanza. I also wanted to buy a T-shirt, hoodie, and, if available, a CD.

The day started overcast and windy, with a potential for showers in the afternoon. Despite the weather, I was excited for the day ahead. I started the day by grabbing a McDonald’s breakfast and headed for the station to find all the trains were delayed or cancelled due to a tree on the track. At least it wasn’t a leaf this time! I arrived in London at 2 pm, 30 minutes later than planned. However, I always plan for things to go wrong. So you could say it did go to plan! It took a 5-minute walk to Butlers Wharf Pier, which I think is a beautiful little spot. It’s got a beautiful view of Tower Bridge and the City of London looking through it. Walking further down, it opens up and gives you a nice view of Canary Wharf. It’s not too crowded either, which is nice. Next time, I would like to revisit the point where the anchor is and continue to see what else there is.

Arriving in London

At this point, I had to take my camera out and take some photos. I can only wander for so long, not doing anything. I didn’t have much of a plan for what photos I would take other than the one I wanted to take from London Bridge overlooking the river towards London Bridge, with the City of London to the left and to the right on the river is the HMS Belfast. The more I see it, the more I get curious to explore it as it is now a museum.

After taking a few photos from my not-so-new secret spot, I returned to a news agency I had visited 5 years ago. Back then, I remembered looking at a metal ornament of Big Ben. It was £7. In my mind, I was thinking, can I afford this? It was not so much, it was £7. If I spend £7 on this, it takes away £7 I could spend on something else. Back then, tickets to see bands, especially those that play in smaller venues or pubs, usually ranged from £7 to £10. The way I was looking at it was if I buy this statue of Big Ben, it takes away an opportunity to buy a ticket to see another band. I decided to put it back. It’s not the first time I’ve been tempted to buy something memorable from a day out.

Despite the internal debate over the Big Ben ornament, I was determined to make a meaningful purchase. This year, I aimed to buy a fridge magnet or a similar memento from each new place I visited.

At this point, it was around 14:30, which meant I had 3 hours before the doors opened. I assumed it would take me an hour and a half to two hours to walk up there, as long as I didn’t get too lost. You should have seen me when I was in Gravesend. I walked 15 minutes in completely the wrong direction!

This is the point I started heading towards Islington. I took a few more photos and walked up and over London Bridge and back down along the River Thames to find another lovely little spot overlooking the Shard. Somewhere new to explore in the future. This was when my battery died. I had two spares with me. I had already decided I had one battery for taking photos around London, 1 for Chrissy Constanza and one purely as a spare. So I was like, nope, I’m not changing it, plus I didn’t know how much time I needed to get to The Garage in Islington. I still ended up arriving 50mins early.

The Concert

I was fortunate enough to have a VIP ticket, which granted me early entry, a meet-and-greet, and first access to merch. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the show, as she had just released her first EP with seven tracks!

After getting into the venue, we were given a tote bag with a VIP Laminate inside, which I didn’t find out til I got home. I looked in the bag and was like, ow. I saw a few people wearing them and wondered where they got them! Maybe they’re part of the crew. I know now. Soon enough, a queue for the march started forming, so I joined; during the time I spent waiting in the queue, they performed, I think, 2 acoustic songs and, after, answered a few questions. After what I think was around half an hour, I finally had a chance to see what merch this was, so I got myself a t-shirt with the tour dates and a hoodie as I had been looking forward to. I was also pleased to see a signed CD on the table, so just like I did when I saw Cassidy Paris, I got myself the triple, a T-shirt, a hoodie and a CD.

After waiting a few minutes, a queue for the meet and greet started to form. So I joined. This queue went much quicker. We had 10 seconds. 5 to chat and 5 for photos, which they take, and we get a copy online. So when it was my turn, I asked Chrissy have you explored anywhere? She thought about it for a moment and said Covent Gardens is nice with all the lights. And at that point, chatting was up, and it was time to take a photo.

The best way to describe the show would be for both bands to headline and perform simultaneously. Well, not quite. They performed songs alternating between each other. Chrissy performed 1 or 2 of hers, Viola would perform some, Chrissy would, and so on. Toward the end, they bought out a wheel, and one lucky fan got to spin it, and whatever song it landed on, they would play. It landed on In the middle. The last song was Legends Never Die! Definitely a good choice!

My Reflection

Reflecting on the day, I still feel a sense of fulfilment. The journey to see Chrissy Cindtsnza wasn’t just about attending the concert. It was about the blend of adventure, nostalgia, and a sense of where I am now.

Visiting Butlers Wharf Pier was a highlight, even with the overcast sky, the wind and the occasional bit of rain. The beauty of Tower Bridge and the vast view up to Canary Wharf reminds me why I cherish exploration and travel.

The decision to revisit newsagents and buy a fridge magnet may be a small thing, but it is a reflection of the day and something I will be able to look back upon in the future.

The concert experience was the cherry on top. Early entry and access to merch make the day easygoing. And the meet and greet was nice to have, too!

Ultimately, it was a day of various experiences, from revisiting Butlers Wharf, travelling, taking photos and seeing Chrissy Constanza!