Towards the end of January 2014 Commando Senior gave me a draft of the first of his memoirs to look over. When I was meant to be job hunting and filling in Job Centre forms I found myself lost in his memories of his childhood in Southampton. From reading about his life in the early thirties and the war years to Googling for old maps and photographs, most of which eluded me, I wasted more of the morning than I should.
21 January 2014
When I finally managed to tear myself away from Commando Senior’s memoirs, it was down to the job hunting and a clutch of new applications before I had to trot off for an appointment with the blasted Job Centre. All the while the outside world was shrouded in freezing fog and I wondered if the walk to town would turn out to be a bus ride.
My appointment was at half past one, meaning I had to leave around about half past twelve so as not to arrive too flustered. Luckily, by then the fog had cleared and, although it was still cold there was almost some sun. So I set off with a mass of paperwork in my bag. The icy blast when I opened the door almost had me scuttling for the bus after all but I forced myself to walk past, not least because of the horrendous cost.
Apart from a quick stop in the middle of the bridge to capture the almost sun and some almost mackerel clouds I didn’t stop at all. This was mostly down to the freezing temperature. There’s only so much a padded coat, woollen hat and gloves can do. Of course I was early, but only by ten minutes and, typically, there was no queue today. If I’d been on time they’d have been queueing round the block no doubt.
With a little bit of time to kill I hung around outside looking for things to occupy me. Even the Southampton seagulls seem to be hanging around outside the Job Centre and I wasted a few minutes watching one foraging on the grass. After that I turned my attention to the Holyrood Church, cheek by jowl with the hideous modern building. The bombed out church is a beautiful monument to the Merchant Navy, sadly, as with so many of the city’s lovely old buildings, the powers that be have decided to build an unsympathetic modern monstrosity right next to it, spoiling the view somewhat. I’m sure they do it on purpose.
Even so I took a few pictures that didn’t include the horrid glass and metal, although a few waiting jobless like me crept in. Most people don’t look at the back view of the old church, possibly in case they get mistaken for unemployed people. It might not be the best view with a massive red brick section inserted, presumably where the original grey stone was blasted away, but it does give a fantastic view of the back window. Getting closer I noticed how lovely the sky looked through the glass where the roof used to be.
Around about then I noticed I felt unaccountably hungry. That was when I realised I’d forgotten to have any lunch before I left home. I’d also forgotten my Kindle yet again. It was almost time to go inside though so there wasn’t much I could do about either. Just time for one last photo of the lichen growing on the old stones and I joined the non existent queue.
The less said about my time inside the better but at least I didn’t come out in tears this time. Either I’m getting used to it or it wasn’t as bad. This may have been due to the woman I saw who was actually quite nice and treated me like a human being instead of a member of some underclass. Pity they’re not all like that. By the time I emerged and started off along the High Street I was starving and wasn’t sure if I’d make it home without eating something. The money in my purse allowed me either food, coffee or a bus home. No prises for guessing what I chose. Clutching my coffee I made for the Enchanted Park even though it’s not the quickest route home. My only excuse is I’ve missed it and was wondering what was going on there.
One white hydrangea flower is still going strong amongst all its fading or dried out companions. I wasn’t expecting that. Something else I wasn’t expecting was camellias. Normally they flower in spring but it seems they think spring has come early. Hopefully the cold snap won’t kill them off. Some of them seem to be dropping already though which is a shame. Even though red flowers are the hardest to capture I took a few pictures just in case.
The phone went back into my pocket after that and it didn’t come out again until I’d walked through the subway (incidentally the same one featured in Craig David’s song 7 Days) and through the Northam Estate. On the embankment I stopped again to take yet more photos of lichen on the old stone wall. Everywhere I look at the moment I seem to see lichen in amazing colours and I can’t help stopping to snap them.
Around the corner on the newish brick wall along the river path there were more. If anything these were brighter and bigger although I’m sure they must be younger. Isn’t nature amazing? Now if only I could get those brightly coloured ones to grow on my garden wall.
DIstractions were the order of the day today but they got me through another Job Centre visit unscathed and with dry eyes. I guess that can’t be bad.
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