Clifton Nurseries garden centre is a delightful west London sort of thing nestled among grand stucco houses near the canal in Maida Vale. There’s a little shop of expensive notebooks and candles and wellies, and a tasteful café in the conservatory. An older lady shuffles in ahead of me and is warmly greeted by all the staff, who haven’t seen her for a while. A couple in wingback armchairs are doing crosswords companionably on their phones. The grand woman in the middle of the room is loudly organising her dear, dear friend’s celebration of life on speaker phone.
Clifton Nurseries 花园中心是西伦敦特有的迷人去处，藏身于梅达淡水河谷的运河旁一排宏伟的灰泥房之间。这里有家小店，售卖昂贵的笔记本、蜡烛和雨靴，温室里还有一家格调雅致的咖啡馆。一位年长女士在我前面蹒跚而入，店员们久未见她，热情相迎。两位坐在翼背扶手椅上的人并肩用手机做填字游戏。房间中央那位气场十足的女士正开着免提，声势颇大地张罗着她那位“亲爱、亲爱的”朋友的追思会。