baker's arms

In the summer of 2010 I walked the length of Scotland from Jedburgh to John O'Groats. While walking along a quiet roadside one day I fell into pace with a sprightly elderly gentleman. We got chatting and he asked where I was from and it turned out that many years ago he had lived in Leyton and drank in The Baker's Arms Pub. We had a good old blether and I mentioned that the pub had recently become a betting shop. Three years on I thought of our meeting while passing the old pub building on the bus, wondering about the coincidence that me and him should meet that day, walk together for a while and find common ground. I do enjoy these unexpected and random connections between the past and the present, myself and another.

cherry blossom

Had a nice moment with a stranger yesterday, walking towards each other we were both gazing at a row of cherry trees bursting with white blossom. As we passed she said, 'Its beautiful' and we smiled like old friends. 

Today, I went back to photograph the trees and a man waiting at a bus stop began to chat, 'They are cherry trees, they can be pink, white, yellow, all colours'. He was happy too, and we expressed our delight. He told me to enjoy them and we gave each other a thumbs up as we said bye. Joys of spring.

not in use

While walking to the market I saw an older lady with a full shopping bag waiting at a bus stop, from my vantage point I could see the neon orange hood that had been placed over the bus stop sign THIS BUS STOP IS NOT IN USE. Assuming that the lady had seen the sign and was waiting for someone to come out of the nearby shop I almost walked past her. When level with her I asked if she was waiting for the bus, she said yes, so pointing up I showed her the sign. The lady was crestfallen, she had a walking stick and I felt very sorry for her as she began to walk to the next stop some distance away. She said ‘oh, this is not good for me’. How long had she been standing there? How many people had walked past making the same assumption I toyed with? A small thing incident, a chance to help another and a wish that I could have whisked her up and taken her to her destination.

giving

For the last few days I've walked miles around Walthamstow, moving through, searching out, looking at and talking to friends and strangers. While walking the city being asked for money is a common experience, but when to give and when to withhold? Recently I've visited a Buddhist centre and am learning about meditation and Buddhist beliefs. I've understood that life is a series of experiences and opportunities to practice patience, kindness and giving to those who express need. Opening my heart to love all no matter what others do or don't do... I'm sitting with this, attempting to remain open, allowing these ideas to seep through my resistance and reasonings.

Yesterday, while getting my bearings by a bus stop a man began talking to me. He was a middle aged fellow wearing a threadbare suit and clutching a bible, this appeared to be his only possession. He was distressed and in an african accent told me he was an engineer and that he hadn't had anywhere to sleep or anything to eat for three days. I gave him a few pounds and he sped off saying, 'I'll get something to eat'. What struck me was how quickly he walked away, he was genuinely hungry. I've wondered about him since, wishing I'd given more money, wondering if his story was true (not wanting to be a mug, be ripped off), knowing in my gut something has gone very wrong for him. As he walked away he said, 'God bless you', this touched me because in my giving to him he gave to me, wishing me blessed. My wish for him is a roof over his head and warm food in his belly. Whatever this mans story no one wants to beg for money, to be reliant on the kindness of strangers.