Friday, February 12, 2010

These Boots Were Made For Walking

I am not, by nature, a very girly girl. When every girl wanted a pony, I wanted a dragon. When my friends were dressing dolls, I was out in the mud with my dinosaurs. When most girls were starting to wear makeup I was dying my hair blue.

But I love shoes.

I love them. I adore a new pair of shoes. To me, new shoes generate the same refreshing, invigorating feeling as a new haircut. They are pure potential in footwear. Places unexplored, sidewalks, fields and cobbles yet to be walked upon, adventures yet to have.

Plus they look downright spiffy. Like my new pair of Doc Marten's, a suitable choice for London. I adore my new boots and though I've worn them out a few times before today, today was their first Big Adventure.

The day began bright and early for me, despite the fact that I'm still 'unemployed'. In quotes because I have yet to obtain employment that requires I be at a specific place by a specific time. I was successful in obtaining employment, but unsuccessful in that, what I obtained sucked up so many hours, I might as well have been working in any city in the world for all I'd get to do in it.

So this morning I decided to set out bright and early, my feet clad in my new boots, to find some such employment.

It was drizzling and grey, so not actually bright, but it was early. It was early enough that I knew most of the agencies I had in mind would not be open. I had no intention of heading straight out into the job hunt, though. I needed to centre myself, as I'd found I was coming unhinged. Yesterday I spent the day in, whilst my little fur-baby, Delirium, adjusted to her new space. She was still reeling quite a bit from the plane ride the day before and I found myself wracked with guilt and remorse for bringing her over. I spent the day alternatively painting and panicking, until it all sort of fell apart by the end of the day.

With a new morning comes a refreshed perspective and the knowledge of what needed to be done. CV's in my bag, new boots on my feet, I rode the tube one stop to the South Wimbledon Station, where I caught the 93 bus to the Buddhist Temple.

At the temple I spent my time walking around the path that follows the stream, counting my Mala beads and reflecting on the past few weeks, old habits and what could be done here and now. It was a cool, crisp morning, made damp with rain, but not in any way dreary or foreboding. If anything, it gave me a sense of freedom and wonder to stand next to the water, looking into it but not really focusing on anything in particular. I felt a great sense of well-being and I knew I was ready to embark on the next step of my day.

One step at a time.

As fate would have it I found two job centres within a block of one another. I dropped off my CV at both, gathering further information on registering and getting a positive response to my requested hours (Part-time and temp work, preferably not on the weekends, no more than 30 hours a week.) and assurance that this would be quite feasible and I could expect to start getting calls within a week.

I then popped into a pet store to gather supplies for my darling Delirium. She hadn't been eating and I figured I could entice her to do so with some catnip. I also needed some basics, like a scratching block and food dish, so she'd stop clawing the carpet and wouldn't need to eat out of one of the kitchen bowls.

Weighed down with cat supplies, I decided to head back home for a brief stop-over, before resuming my job search. Delirium was delighted to have a cardboard chunk to take her aggression out on and immediately pounced it. She also, I am happy to say, consumed a large portion of food, served to her in a new bowl.

I filled my own belly before making a fresh tea to take with me and continuing my hunt for placement agencies. The rain had begun to fall in earnest, however, and I didn't get far before retreating to the sanctum of the tube system, where I could warm up and rethink my game plan. I had to drop a copy of 'Affinity' (My animation from two summers ago.) at the Artefacts Edutainment Centre, where I'm attending a training program and getting some volunteer experience in as a professional artist. Wouldn't you believe it, I stepped off the train platform at Deptford, and there was a JobCentrePlus building opposite me! I decided to go to AECreative first, but returned to the JobCentrePlus to gather pamphlets afterwards. I then boarded the train once again.

It's only one stop on the overground from Deptford to London Bridge, but it's a longer run than most between underground stations. I was fiddling with Queenie (My iPhone) as I tried to figure out what to do next. I was attempting to locate a JobCentrePlus agency closer to my home, but the address I'd gotten was not actually closer at all. I didn't really feel like going on a wild Goose Chase and as I felt pleasantly content with what I'd accomplished so far. It was only a little after one and the rain had finally stopped. Blue sky was showing in patches and as the train pulled into the station I glimpsed the Tower Bridge past some buildings.

I figured some exploring was in order. My new boots were holding up, but more importantly, so were my feet. They showed no signs of waning and there was so much to see and do.

I hopped off the train and made my way out onto the street and towards the Thames.

It's incredible to be standing almost anywhere along the Thames. Not only is it magnificent, just because of the London sky and how everything is lit when there are storm clouds, but because it seems, no matter where you are along it, you are probably within spitting distance of at least three monumentally amazing things. I knew that, if I went to my left, I'd come to Shakespeare's Globe and the Tate Modern. I knew this because I'd been able to see HMS Belfast from both of them.

Standing where I was I could see the Gherkin sticking up from the middle of the city. Look to my right and there was this building that was obviously a great architectural feat. Then there was the classic magnificence of the Tower Bridge and on the other side, the Tower of London itself. Here I was, standing on the Queen's Walk, next to the Thames, surrounded by so many wonders.

I continued my walk along the rivers edge, snapping photos and feeling the cool air fill my lungs and keep my head clear. I marveled at the brilliant artwork to be found there, the stonework of the walk, and the brilliance of the design and colour of the bridge. It was all quite breathtaking.





Of course I crossed the bridge, in order to get closer to the Tower of London. I was also curious about the Gherkin, wondering if I could maneuver through the streets easily enough to find it without a map. I didn't have any solid intent, however. I let my feet take over, playing observer to whatever direction they aimed me.

I like such days because you can notice things others might not, or take time for something that may just get missed or unappreciated. There was an office building that was mostly panels of glass. One of the panels was smashed, but it was safety glass so it just held there. Then there were the 'paintings'. Glossy, shiny things...reproductions of originals, depicting key figures and elements of the surrounding area. Locals hurried by, wanting to catch their trains. Tourists were snapping photos of the Tower or rushing to buy cheap trinkets from a gift shop. I stopped to look at Anne Boleyn.


I soon forgot about the Gherkin as I discovered a building that reminded me of so many in Paris. It was adorned with magnificent sculptures of Gods, Goddesses, Queens and Kings, Dragons, Oxen and mythical beasts. I fell in love with one of the sculptures, as she is stunning beyond belief. And here was a building which no one seemed to be snapping pictures of and no one seemed to care about or have a plaque for. It was one of my favourite finds of the day, actually.

As it was growing quite cold I figured I should find a tube station and head for Moorgate, where I would be meeting up with my girlfriend. I made my way through the throngs of tourists, weaving in and around on main streets for a bit. It's all sort of overwhelming and I enjoy the path lest trodden, if there is such a thing in London. Regardless, I began to take some of the smaller side streets and discovered a Spirituality Bookshop. It was located in a former church, so the shelves were dwarfed by the high ceilings. I perused their selection, finding two books by the Dalai Lama, neither of which were in a price range I was willing to splurge on. However, free of charge, I was able to oogle the gorgeous stained glass windows, which stretched almost from floor to ceiling. I wanted to photograph them, but decided not to in case I got some backlash from the shopkeepers.

Back outside, I managed to locate the Bank Underground station, which is only one stop from Moorgate, but allowed me the chance to warm up properly. My fingers get terribly stiff in the London cold, which makes my joints snap more often than usual. My feet were also beginning to get the edge of having walked too much in stiff new boots. The rest was welcome and necessary, for once I connected with my lady friend, we took a jaunt over to China Town.

It was a lovely way to round out my sightseeing adventures of the day. The colourful lanterns were playful in the dimming light of evening, and my heart felt light and refreshed.

I'm going to play with gouache more this weekend. I've almost finished off that book of blank postcards I bought. I may also finish my next Tarot painting, whether it be the Hanged Bat or the Hierophant, I'm not sure.

I feel very much at home in this city, and Delirium seems to be settling in nicely now. She's curled up on her blanket, paws over her face, purring softly. For all the ups and downs we've both been through, things seem to be levelling out nicely. There's still adjustments to be had, hic-ups along the way, but I know, if need be, I can always start my day with a visit to the temple and fill it with great sights, simply be standing in one place.

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