Program at the squat (that Gypsy life)

     Yesterday Radhika invited me to come over to her squat. They were organizing an event – some devotees and devotees’ friends invited Maha Visnu Swami. It wasn’t too far from my place, took me around forty minutes. I'm starting to get familiar with London transport. When I arrived they were just finishing cooking a big pot of kichari. They were bit scared that there is too much water, but I calmed them down, the rice was going to suck all of the water in, no worries. Most of the squat residents were Lithuanians, but there were also Spanish, Italians, English, quite a big group.
     When Maha Visnu Swami arrived, some of the squatters stayed aloof. Radhika told me that not everyone there likes devotees, and people even feel that there might be too much of Krishna in the space. We went to a small temple room, with Salagram sila on the altar (hmm, what the squatters mean, when they say "too much Krishna"? ;). Maharaja looked tired. As I found out later he came by bus, and it is pretty far from the Soho temple, so I was impressed, especially that afterwards he was going to take a night bus back to the temple.
     We had a kirtan (Maharaja has this funny/crazy accordion with lots of bells, ribbons, colorful fabrics:), introductory lecture, and prasadam. Then Radhika, Tedas and I accompanied Maharaja to the bus stop, making it a little night harinam. I was wandering if we’d get beaten up, the area looked bit rough to me, but no, people were reacting friendly to us.
     After Maharaja left it was already late so Radhika offered a place to stay. Normally I would be reluctant. I like to have my bed, my space, etc., but frankly speaking the last couple of months were so hectic, you know, changing the country, then from Liverpool to London, living in the old factory, I just don’t  care that much any more. I grabbed some old blanket, pillow, and I was ok. We talked till late, about Krishna, crisis of faith, life, etc. It was nice.
     This morning, after chanting rounds together, I took off, and spent the rest of the day home. My mood was little bit down, so I went to the Sainsbury’s and got myself an unnecessarily huge lemon cheesecake. Then I talked with Saragrahi on the phone, she cheered me up a little, then I got new sheets from Petra, a Czech devotee girl living on the ground floor, so my room became bit more civilized, and I even managed to listen to Swami’s lecture – I’m still on Catuh-sloka series.
     Buenas noches.