Next time make more money!

On Saturday night Diego, El Summer Boy a.k.a. El Chiko Verano, left the base late. He went up Charterhouse St., passed through Holborn Circus and followed Chancery Lane. A young black male stopped him soon after he passed Chancery Lane tube station. At first that guy seemed to be interested in getting a lift from Diego. All of the sudden, though, he produced a large kitchen knife and pointing it at Diego's belly asked: "How much money have you made tonight?" Now one should know that El Summer Boy, however a truly great chap he is, is not a very big and scary looking fellow. On contrary, he's rather small, skinny and a very peaceful lad too. I am sure, somehow, that it helped that thug in choosing his victim. Diego assured him that he just left the base and therefore had no cash on him. Nevertheless the attacker searched his pockets and stole his cheap mobile phone, a decent mp3 player and a fiver cash. He must had felt a bit disappointed for before he left he spoke those words: "Next time make more money!" Diego was quite badly shaken by that intense experience of getting mugged at knife point. We contacted the Police. Officers were very concerned, helpful and friendly. That criminal left some evidence behind. We truly hope that they will get him!

He's black!

First day of Notting Hill Carnival, seen from perspective of a rickshaw rider, was nice and easy. In comparison with last year there were much fewer people around. Recent riots on streets of London might had been the cause. Monday was different. The whole area swarmed. One could see many more Police officers around. Standing on top of a hill I was waiting for potential customers to take them to a tube station near by. Crowd around me was peaceful and in majority very friendly. Every now and then groups of hustlers could be seen too. At some point a black couple, both in their forties, asked me for a lift. As they got on my trike a number of black youths approached me. Some of them started to shout: "Big man! Give us a lift!" They saw my customer then. "He's black!" - they cheered loudly and walked away...