Slow it down

(Note: Written Sunday) Today was the first day I had no scheduled activities since I've returned to London. I spent the morning checking things off my many To Do lists:

• Updated my budget app
• Caught up on emails
• Emptied the dishwasher and rubbish bins
• Tidied the bathrooms
• Sent out some collaborative documents
• Straightened my room
• Planned my shopping lists
• Created meal menus for the week
• Booked travel arrangements

One of the last remaining items of my list was take a walk (I always feel happier when I've taken at least a few breaths of fresh air by the end of the day). Picking a time wasn't easy as the weather could not make up its mind: The morning was overcast until the sun burst through the clouds. Then the wind picked up and huge sheets of rain began to fall. By late afternoon the sky had cleared again, and so I slipped out of the house, dropping the rubbish at the dumpster, and went off to wander the streets. 

I had two orders of business for my walk: (1) I wanted to go to three different supermarket chains to compare prices on items I frequently buy. And (2) I wanted to take some pictures along the way. Back when I studied abroad in Copenhagen, I documented the way that the city came to life as the seasons changed (you can see my post about it here). I thought it would be neat to do the same thing in London, so I took some "baseline photos" this afternoon. I won't put all of them up yet (it's much more interesting to see them as actual transformations), but will include several to set the scene for my stroll.

The end of my street

The Imperial War Museum (which is right across the way)

My price comparison was successful. Yogurt, dried fruit, and vegetable oil are cheapest at Sainsbury's, but produce tends to be at least a few pence more expensive than at other stores. Tesco had the cheapest fresh herbs. Morrisons was the best deal on most produce. Things like milk and cheese are basically the same everywhere. It may sound silly to be keeping track of price differences of about 25-50 pence, BUT it really does add up. 

I returned to the streets to walk and photograph. It felt really nice to be moving at a leisurely pace without a destination. Because I was moving more slowly, I took time to peel off into a courtyard, which turned out to be the grounds and gardens of a church near Waterloo. I've walked by this gate probably easily 500+ times and never noticed it existed. 

I stopped to watch workmen change the adverts inside the massive theatre. One guy smiled and me and waved. :-)

The Eye and Parliament

The view from Trafalgar Square

As I walked, I considered the pace at which I move through life, both here and back in the States. If you saw me walking to the Tube, you'd assume that I was 30 minutes late for a meeting with the Queen. In other words, I find myself rushing even when I don't have a real reason to. I've always said that I'm happiest when I'm in motion--going places, getting things done. I think this is probably true; nevertheless, I think being a bit more mindful of my speed will help me to savour these experiences. Otherwise, the next few months will be gone in the blink of an eye. 

It was pouring by the time I started my walk home!