Wordsley, Stourbridge, England: 6 degrees, stormy and chilly.
It’s not as cold as it was last week, but it’s stormy, with the second storm hitting England in a week. The weather is very windy, a little rainy, grey, and bleak, but it’s still possible to go out and do whatever needs to be done.
I have the option to withdraw my mother’s pension from one building society and deposit it into another account, either today or tomorrow. I could have left it until tomorrow, but I wanted to get it done and out of the way. I saw a space in my class schedule, so I took it.
It is about 10:00 a.m., and I’m rushing to change my clothes, head to the next village to go to the two building societies and return before my next class within an hour and a half. To complicate the already impossible mission even further, my mother asked me to go to two shops and do some shopping after the building societies. As I left my mother’s home, it was really shitty weather, and it also seemed to be getting colder.
I walked to the main road to catch the bus. While waiting inside the bus shelter, a digital display, similar to those on the metro or underground stations, informed me when the next bus would arrive. This display in the shelter showed 10 minutes for the next bus. As it was really cold weather, with the cold reaching my bones, I was counting every second for the bus to arrive.
Finally, the bus arrived, and I got on. Within 10 minutes, I arrived at the first building society to withdraw money. Luckily, there wasn’t a queue, so I was able to go straight to the cashier.
I gave her the bank book, which had my mother’s signature, along with the withdrawal slip and my passport. I signed in front of the woman, got the money, and was out. I then went straight to the other building society, literally next door.
Again, luckily for me, there was no queue, I think, because of the bad weather, nobody wanted to go out, but all I needed to do was to deposit the money in the ATM.
The whole mission of the two building societies, I think, took all of 10 minutes. Then, I went to the butchers and the chemists, and now I’m heading back. I still had about an hour to spare, so I stopped by the local cafe for a quick cappuccino before catching the bus back. I had once been in this cafe before Christmas with my mother, and an old lady literally came on to me in front of my mother, which surprised my mother; she didn’t like it very much.
I finished my cappuccino and thanked the lady who ran the café before stepping back into the cold, rainy weather. A bus arrived shortly after, and I got off a few stops later. Five minutes later, I was walking back to my mother’s house.
When I returned to my mother’s house, I felt alive, with adrenaline coursing through me. Was it the rush of trying to accomplish many things quickly in a short time? Or was it because of the weather?
Was this a sweet spot for me? For Brazilians, temperatures between 8°C and 10°C are considered very cold. Obviously, I’m not Brazilian, but after living in Rio, a tropical city, for over thirty-five years, I’m usedto the higher tropical temperatures.
However, after nearly two months of living in England, my body may have adapted. With the rush of trying to accomplish so much quickly, along with the weather, I feel a surge of adrenaline.
I felt alive, happy, and eager to go out again into the cold weather. I gave a class and then went out to do some more things for my mother that could have been done on another day. However, since I was on an adrenaline rush, I was motivated to get them done.
I’m feeling a whirlwind of mixed emotions right now. At times, I feel happy, enthusiastic, and confident about what I want and what I need to do. At other times, I feel a bit down and lost, questioning my direction as something seems to be off. Although I’m feeling a whirlwind of emotions, I believe everything will turn out right and go in the right direction.
Even though the path is a little crooked, I will get there!
Sometimes, when I take the time to analyse my situation and truly appreciate the facts, I realise that I am doing well. Often, we can be blind to our own achievements and accomplishments, making self-evaluation difficult at times.
Self-appreciation and understanding are fundamental aspects of our lives!
They allow us to gain a clear insight into who we are, what we have already accomplished, and where we are headed. It is also essential to have faith in ourselves and believe that, regardless of the situations we encounter, we will find a way through.
Even though we sometimes hesitate because of our fear of the unknown, searching in the dark for any light—no matter how small—will reveal what we truly deserve. Sometimes, it’s simply a matter of moving forward without having a clear view of what lies ahead.
I bought a newspaper for my mother and had a cappuccino at my favourite cafe, just a short walk in the village. Nowadays, I like going to the café because one of the girls who works there, I think, is hot. I find her very attractive, so I’m always looking for an excuse to go there.
Work and classes for the rest of the day.
In bed by 11:30 p.m.
Thank you.
Thanks for reading this blog post. Please explore my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Richard
