The dangers that lurk outside

I'm always interested in what brings fear into this world and how people respond to it. Recently I was at a research report launch (exciting days I tell you) whereby the researchers found that many people feel that Leeds is an unsafe city and feel fear in it at dark. This astounded me as I find Leeds to be quite safe and friendly - especially compared to other places. Anyways the fear that people hold thereby prevents them from venturing into the city or considering it as a place to live.

In much the same way many people fear travel as they think that places aren't safe enough, or that a terrorist is going to target them specifically, etc. After 9-11 so many people were afraid of flying, where I thought it had to be the safest time to fly; if only I could have afforded to! So I've always questioned people's unjustified fears. At the very least, a fear should be justified, based on a personal, or semi-personal account. For example, a friend of mine who was held at gun point near Georgetown was a bit reluctant to head out for a few weeks after the incident - which was a very rational emotion...in time, she did and overcame it. However, she had a REASON to be afraid.

Now many people have asked me how I enjoy where I work, and whether it is a good place to work. I've always said it was a great place and it was in a decent community whereby the shops are all at hand and everything is accessible. I will stand by this statement, though I must change my attitude to the community itself. For today, I was a victim of a random act of violence, inflicted on me, during the final stages of my commute to work.

I had just exited the train and was taking a short cut through the parking lot. Some people think it is unsafe to walk through parking lots unaccompanied - and until today, I thought that was a load of bollocks. About half way through the parking lot, I felt an undescribable amount of pain, seering through my foot. I tried to shake the pain but it was definate, not a foot cramp setting in.

I gasped out loud, the pain was so intense. Yet nothing seemed amiss in the surroundings. I looked down at my foot and saw nothing, but the pain was still there. I kicked off my shoe and yanked up the hem of my pants, and saw the perp. Dressed in yellow and black, tiny, small insignificant, obviously feeling a need to show off what he's got...

I gasped again, the pain of the sharp point stabbing through my foot. I bent over and swiped the pesky attacker aside and grabbed my foot. I hopped. I realized I looked silly. I gasped again. I put my shoe back on and limped on...no one was going to get the satisfaction of slowing me down. I winced...the pain throbbing....

Let this be a lesson - there are dangers out there that you can't avoid...sometimes random acts of violence occur and you are caught in the crossfire...like I was today. I sit at my desk, wounded, wondering 'what if'....'what if my train had been late'....'what if I had worn a skirt and not long pants', 'what if I hadn't chosen the shortcut'....so many 'what ifs', yet in the end, only the truth...

my foot will be a testimony for all time of the evil world that is...

A year on...

Musings:

Musing One:

So it's been a year since I've started this job and just over a year of me being in the country. Strange how quickly it has gone! However, and I've known this from past experience, being away from home for over a year is just toooooo long. I really miss my family and friends, and sometimes you just need to sleep in a familiar bed! I think the missing also comes from the fact that on days like today, when you know everyone else is celebrating a Canadian holiday and having to do the whole 'family supper' thing, you really miss having the holidays to share with people. I can attempt to recreate the holiday here, but no-one really gets it - which is difficult...I suppose try as I might I don't 'get' British holidays, but I do try (I think 'fireworks day' is a great holiday)! When I tell people I'm making pumpkin pie, all they do is call me strange...le sigh

Musing Two:
FALL is an excellent season, and being out in the sticks/suburbs/back country/boonies/etc lets me appreciate it more (bonus to the back and beyond)! I went on an ace walk exploring our new neighbourhood yesterday and it was the most beautiful weather with some amazing colours. Right now a lot of the ivy on the houses are turning into a brilliant red colour and they look soooo pretty. I should have taken pictures of it all but at the time I just wanted to enjoy it. Plus at one point I wandered into a rough-as-f**k council estate and thought that just being there was a hazard to my health, let alone if I was advertising cheap electronic goods.

Musing Three:
Royal Mail has gone on strike again (they've been on and off strike all summer - resulting in waiting in line to post packages for over half an hour). They went on strike on Thursday to Saturday PM, and are back on strike today till Wednesday. This means we won't get mail delivered for almost a week and as it is, they have said that delivering mail is of the lower priority (isn't that their job) for when they do return to work. Now everyone who knows me knows that I LOVE getting the mail (call me grandma). Not getting the mail is not pleasing to me. Not getting it for an indefinate period of time is also not very pleasing...nor is knowing that I paid the post office a nice chunk of change for re-delivery and that I'm not getting my total number of days worth is upsetting me - and will be expanded on in a nice letter, which I'll attempt to post, but probably won't get anywhere because they will have gone on strike and refused to deliver the letter.

I'll get back to work now - saving further musings for another day.