Guestlist

Issue 103

Monthly newspaper and online publication targeting 18 to 35 year olds. The ultimate guide to the hottest parties, going out and having fun. Music, fashion, film, travel, festivals, technology, comedy, and parties! London, Barcelona, Miami and Ibiza.

Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/888432

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 9 of 53

10 ISSUE 103 / 2017 GUESTLIST Where do you sleep? See just down the road here there's a little gap, near that arcade down there there's a metal cage. I sleep there. I only come here in the daytime, sat in the sun. Not all the time. If you're sitting here all the time, people come along and get fed up of seeing you all the time. People come along, regulars buy me food. I've made friends at Burger King, friends at Subway, so if I want anything to eat or drink I just go Subway. I get respected because I show people respect back. Do you ever ask people on the tube for money? I don't do all that, I don't ask people for money. If I get anything it's what people wanna give me. Do you get a lot of money then? Sometimes… sometimes not. Like most I've ever had is something like £100 - £50. What would you do with £100 now? Go straight down the road, jump in a minicab, go straight to the hotel, Romford Road where I normally go. Instead of sleeping down in my little metal cage. I give Paul £100 and say will this be enough to get you that hotel for a few nights? You sure? Yeah. Thank you, what's your name? Instead of expressing the slightly desperate gratitude I naively expected, he looked me in the eyes and gave me this confident, self- assured glance. Maybe before this, he had reservations about me too. Seeing as we had made steps in creating a friendship, I asked him if he had any other ways to make money? My mate, as soon as he's got some work, gutting out old houses and refurbishing. As soon as he's got work, that's it mate I'm off. I'll go and stay at his house. I'll stay at his house for 6 months' solid. So how do you take care of yourself when you are on the streets? As you see though, I'm not dirty, I keep myself clean, and that's it. It's only now and again I have to sleep down there. But when I used to sleep here you get people coming along drunk throwing things at you. Paul was kind, appreciative of my time, and generous to offer to show me around the area I didn't know so well. As he said, he gets respected, because he gives respect to others. Amidst one of the busiest spots in East London, outside one of the enterances to the Stratford Centre, we chatted with the calm and collected Paul about his experiences on the streets. WHEN I USED TO SLEEP HERE YOU GET PEOPLE COMING ALONG DRUNK THROWING THINGS AT YOU. A HOMELESS MAN DEFIES ALL EXPECTATIONS! OUTSIDE IN

Articles in this issue

view archives of Guestlist - Issue 103