An Ocean Tramp

A seasoned marine engineer, long accustomed to the rolling decks of steamers, arrives in London clutching a bundle of handwritten pages and a hope for a first‑class competency certificate. He settles in a cramped suite above the gate of Clifford’s Inn, where the bowed window frames the gilded Gothic roof of the Rolls Building and the bustling traffic of the Strand below. From this perch he blends the precise language of a ship’s engineer with the keen eye of a wandering observer, painting the city’s daily grind in the same salty tones he uses for ocean currents.

He describes the metallic clang of the Rolls Building, the peculiar vendors peddling everything from shoe‑laces to toy pigs, and the landlord’s military‑styled marches down the narrow court. His narrative carries a quiet humour, noting the absurdities of city life while never chasing fame or romance, preferring instead the role of amused spectator. Listeners will feel the mingling of foggy London streets and briny sea breezes as he sets the stage for further voyages, both across water and within his own reflective mind.