Day 76: Lost

A Rose Released

As I walk down Portobello Road I am noticing my heart opening to embrace this scuddy, electic, quirky, tie-dyed world of my neighbourhood.  It dawns on me how much and for what a long time I have been resisting London, desiring and yearning to be elsewhere than here.  It seems I am surrenduring to the Summer bouyancy of it, curious about the fedora with a feather, the decor of L’Epicerie, the possibility of a stall in the Portobello Arcade, sniffing at the La Cave a Fromage and making notes to self of the multitude of wine bars and cafes that have to be tried on.  Like yesterday there seems to be a different dawning, a drive to action, to stepping into life and experiencing it.  It seems like I have been stopped waiting for the green light to go for far too long.  I am not in a hurry but I notice that I am not in the effortless ease of the ebb and flow of Friday afternoon browsers, tourists and lackadasical locals.  Perhaps I am still crunching on my gears; out of sync I am clumsy.  I bump into and graze off crusing human beings and the subtle irritation builds as the opticians are closed before closing time, the dress I love is in every size but mine and there is no sign of mint in Tescos.

By the time I get home I am juice-day hungry.  And then I notice that I haven’t got my phone.  I have a grrrr in my gut now.  Back to Tescos but there is no sign of it.  The market stalls I stopped at are wrapped up and closed for the day.  We ring and ring my number and it just goes to voicemail.  The O2 chat agent bars the phone and reorders my SIM in no time at all. I am lucky it is only 3 weeks to my contract renewal date and I am already eligible for an upgrade but my plan to forego the cost of a new handset may well be scuppered unless, like Mary Ellen’s nose, my phone turns up.  Lost perhaps is really just waiting for me to come back.

Update:  Lost WAS just waiting for me to come back – what joy to release my photos.

100 Days of Awe is a playful project I set up to bring my attention to awe in my daily life. I see awe as wonder, a mixture of amazement and respect.  I expect the experience of awe to be about perception shifting awareness and that demands a reframing of some sort.  I am excited to see what will awe me on this journey.

Anne K. Scott is an imagination technologist, her work to teach, facilitate and deliver innovation for individuals and business.  She is the creator of FindYourMojo a FREE iPHone productivity app. If you are interested in what intuitive coaching can do for you please do contact me.  I support clients all over the world.

Day 36: Oh I Do Love A Small Airport

Flybe flight from Birmingham at Waterford Airport

I spent my teenage years in Ireland by the sea.  A place called Tramore an angelicized version of the Gaelic meaning ‘big beach’ and it is a wonderful beach.  A three mile sandspit stretching out across Tramore Bay. For about a decade I have had the luxury of being able to fy from London to the local airport in Waterford just a gasp from the back of Tramore unique salt marshes but about 12 months ago flights were discontinued. By default I assumed I woud have to travel home via Dublin, a tedious journey involving a 4 hour coach trip at the Irish end.

Perchance I discover there is life beyond London and there are regional flights from theBirmingham, Manchester & Newquay in the UK to Waterford.  On Sunday I decided to try out the afternoon flight from Birmingham.  Conveniently located just off junction 6 on the M42 a friend was able to drop me off en route from Stoke, where we had celebrated yesterday’s wedding Layers Of Love = Magic, to London.  A dinky little hub of activity thronged with travellers and adorned with multi-cultural posters I was transported to the cusp of exotic travel in the blink of an eye.  Queueing for security just heightened the tension.  It all seemed to be happening at Birmingham.  The other side of security had everything to serve the expectant traveller.  Unfortunately I noted that my flight was delayed.  However I had not accounted for the creativity of this little airport.  Afte a little vascilation an alternative plane was found and the departure gate was opened with 15 minutes to spare.  We had to bus it across the tarmac but en route it seemed we had mislaid a passenger or two so had to return to pick them up.  We were 20 minutes late heading out on the runway but the pilot assured us that we would make up time.  Despite the meandering of a scenic approach along the very beautiful Wexford coast and a long winded tracjectory directly across Tramore Bay, across the marram tufted expanse of dunes and the tranquil back strand we screeched into land a mere 9 minutes la at 15.29.  A flight time of around 45 minutes. By 15.35 I was through passport control, past the entrance perimeter and walking down the airport approach to the country back road to meet my Dad who was primed to jump into his car at home on receipt of my landing text but not before turning down the friendly offer of a lift from a lady who didnt give a thought for where I might be heading. Oh I do love  a small airport.

100 Days of Awe is a playful project I set up to bring my attention to awe in my daily life. I see awe as wonder, a mixture of amazement and respect.  I expect the experience of awe to be about perception shifting awareness and that demands a reframing of some sort.  I am excited to see what will awe me on this journey.

Anne K. Scott is an imagination technologist, her work to teach, facilitate and deliver innovation for individuals and business.  She is the creator of FindYourMojo a FREE iPHone productivity app. If you are interested in what intuitive coaching can do for you please do contact me.  I support clients all over the world.

Day 28: Anthromorphic Resonance

Little Wormwood Scrubs, London, UK

I went for a walk yesterday and I saw this tree; its gnarled, carbuncular trunk capitvatingly ugly, repelling and visceral.  Like the stripped back view of skeletal musculature.  Fixed and solid yet equally flowing and alive with cellular energy pushing out its imprint into the world.  My heart feels raw and vulnerable.

100 Days of Awe is a playful project I set up to bring my attention to awe in my daily life. I see awe as wonder, a mixture of amazement and respect.  I expect the experience of awe to be about perception shifting awareness and that demands a reframing of some sort.  I am excited to see what will awe me on this journey.

Anne K. Scott is an imagination technologist, her work to teach, facilitate and deliver innovation for individuals and business.  She is the creator of FindYourMojo a FREE iPHone productivity app. If you are interested in what intuitive coaching can do for you please do contact me.  I support clients all over the world.

Day 26: Carry On Alchemy

100% Chocolate Brownie

The day after the finale of our Alchemy 4 Success intensive.  There is a mind expanding silence in this space of assimilation.  Each of us silently sliding back into the orbits of our lives but not the same as when we left.  I want to be alert and aware, conscious and cognizant; assidiously observing what is coming up for me as I re enter the cacophony of life, to see the flickering shadows of the concepts and definitions I project on to the wall of the world knowing they are not true and then proactively switch the power in my subconscious mind.  The intention is to embody the practise of alchemy and master the art of conscious creation.

When I step beyond the veil I can delight in what captures my innocent eye, often it is the simplest of things like the wrapper of this raw chocolate brownie, drawing me into blue sky and sea salt.  I savour and taste its richness gliding deliciously out of Brighton on its nourishment quietly observing the spirit level of power, and bouncing over the glitches of irritation and annoyance that pick up charge as I get closer to London.  I want the rhythm of the wheels on the track to tattoo their message on my soul ‘carry on alchemy, carry on alchemy, carry on alchemy…..’

100 Days of Awe is a playful project I set up to bring my attention to awe in my daily life. I see awe as wonder, a mixture of amazement and respect.  I expect the experience of awe to be about perception shifting awareness and that demands a reframing of some sort.  I am excited to see what will awe me on this journey.

Anne K. Scott is an imagination technologist, her work to teach, facilitate and deliver innovation for individuals and business.  She is the creator of FindYourMojo a FREE iPHone productivity app. If you are interested in what intuitive coaching can do for you please do contact me.  I support clients all over the world.

Day 25: Bye Bye EdenbridgeThe final day of Alchemy 4 Success with William Whitecloud at Commonwork organic farm, Bore Place, Edenbridge, Kent and we are embracing our stories, manifesting synergy and finding out the true purpose and power of vulnerability.  It is a choca block day pierced with the intensity.  The intensity of peeling away personal layers and of bracing ourselves for a return to civilisation.  Commonwork has proved to be a truly magical backdrop for the work we have been doing.  In practical terms it is only a matter of miles from the M25 and the tight coil of urban London but in spiritual terms it is place that can only be found through the umblical twist and turns of cow paths that slip slide you over the lip of an adjacent dimension.   Five days feels like five minutes. We are already saying goodbye to this shamanic land but now without embodying just a little of its living, breathing, organic, earthy vibration.

100 Days of Awe is a playful project I set up to bring my attention to awe in my daily life. I see awe as wonder, a mixture of amazement and respect.  I expect the experience of awe to be about perception shifting awareness and that demands a reframing of some sort.  I am excited to see what will awe me on this journey.

Anne K. Scott is an imagination technologist, her work to teach, facilitate and deliver innovation for individuals and business.  She is the creator of FindYourMojo a FREE iPHone productivity app. If you are interested in what intuitive coaching can do for you please do contact me.  I support clients all over the world.

Day 17: In Praise Of CakesThis week is a full on week.  I am a little off centre, as I am away from my home base and my focus is much more social.  Today was about catching up with a friend of mine Marianne Hartley, the founder of Hartley & Soul a boutique branding company.  Marianne is passionate about creating irrestible designs, designs that are beautiful, that reflect the heart and passion of brands and that nourish the soul.  Marianne spends her time between London and Basel in Switzerland and it is such a treat when we cross paths.  She epitomises Spring; soft, feminine, flowing, the cool spring of a gurgling brook.  The cream parrot tulips I spotted at the Tube station had her name all over them and it was no surprise that we ended up in relaxing in Italian style at Carluccio’s off Kensington High Street, London UK.  I am particularly fond of Carluccios because they have a gluten free menu which is a delightful treat when it comes to pasta but they also create delectable merchandising displays designed to seduce the eye, tantalise the tastebuds and tickle the tummy.  This window display was pure artistry and fascinatingly satisfying just to savour through the eye of my HTC One S – an inexplcable but irrefutable side effect of introducing regular green juices into my dining repetoire.

100 Days of Awe is a playful project I set up to bring my attention to awe in my daily life. I see awe as wonder, a mixture of amazement and respect.  I expect the experience of awe to be about perception shifting awareness and that demands a reframing of some sort.  I am excited to see what will awe me on this journey.

Anne K. Scott is an imagination technologist, her work to teach, facilitate and deliver innovation for individuals and business.  She is the creator of FindYourMojo a FREE iPHone productivity app. If you are interested in what intuitive coaching can do for you please do contact me.  I support clients all over the world.

Day 9: Sweet As Pie
My second day at the Be:Fit Health Show, Old Billingsgate Fish Market, on the banks of the Thames in London and I had a number of very satisfactory moments.  In particular I met a young social entrepreneur who has created a colourful and clever brand  on his mission to educate the world about the latest new super food.  I thought this would me my moment of awe but I was unprepared for the surprise I had when I went into the kitchen to cook my supper.  My lovely Mexican flatmate had prepared and presented a totally unexpected dessert for me; pecan pie with an accompaniment of almond milk jelly, stewed apple and fresh fruit.  I was touched by the love and care put into the presentation.  It definitely lit up my night and kicked the superfood tale into touch – for now at least.  But watch out for a story to come about the boabab tree and the savannah of Africa.

100 Days of Awe is a playful project I set up to bring my attention to awe in my daily life. I see awe as wonder, a mixture of amazement and respect.  I expect the experience of awe to be about perception shifting awareness and that demands a reframing of some sort.  I am excited to see what will awe me on this journey.

Anne K. Scott is an imagination technologist, her work to teach, facilitate and deliver innovation for individuals and business.  She is the creator of FindYourMojo a FREE iPHone productivity app. If you are interested in what intuitive coaching can do for you please do contact me.  I support clients all over the world.

Day 8: Super Soft On London Bridge
I dont often go out to work.  Today I did.  To the Old Fish Market at Billingsgate on the River Thames.  A typical Spring Saturday in London chocca with tourists, the sky a pale washed out denim scored by the pinnacle of the Shard, seagulls and jet planes.  In the late afternoon on my way home the sun’s brightness is deceptively cool but we are humans and cloudless skies and the kiss of the lukewarm breathe of heat brings out our Summer hearts and ice cream vans.  This ice cream van is incongrously parked on the double yellow no parking lines of London bridge.  Brave souls wrapped up against the chilly evening fingers are queuing for 99s. It made me smile.

100 Days of Awe is a playful project I set up to bring my attention to awe in my daily life. I see awe as wonder, a mixture of amazement and respect.  I expect the experience of awe to be about perception shifting awareness and that demands a reframing of some sort.  I am excited to see what will awe me on this journey.

Anne K. Scott is an imagination technologist, her work to teach, facilitate and deliver innovation for individuals and business.  She is the creator of FindYourMojo a FREE iPHone productivity app. If you are interested in what intuitive coaching can do for you please do contact me.  I support clients all over the world.

Be warned I am on my soapbox!  I am not normally one for good causes, I see the world as a place where good and bad are just opposite ends of the same spectrum, where change is constant weaving its magic at the same time as trailing its mucky paws across our familar realities.  So although I am going to invite you to sign a petition what I am really asking is for you to honour what is and be part of the vision of what will be.  That is what I am choosing for Wormwood Scrubs. The scrubs is a scraggy knobble of brush, grassland and woods in west London, England. Most people think it is the prison! It is not particularly pretty, not very well known or well frequented. That is pretty cool, 5 mins from home and I am out in the country; meadow pipits and parakeets, sparrowhawks (see photo) and model airplanes, there are playing fields for the kids and thickets of tangled briars that are rich with blackberries at the end of the Summer. It is one of those places that you can always find space for yourself, even in the Summer. In the winter it is a veritable paradise of mud and squelchy oozing earth – just like the country! When the temperatures drop is crunchy with frost and the air is icicled with magic.Boris Johnson dear man and Lord Mayor of London our latter day Dick Whittington, is being charged with stealing a large assed bit out of the north west corner (see photo) for the trendy HS2 (High Speed Rail Link 2) now I am not against development, in fact I love the new, the transformation of vision and action e.g. Westfield Shephersd’s Bush, the new Imperial College Gradpad and I even like the idea of Park Royal becoming des-res but taking this side swipe out of this unique habitat will alter its character and viability as sustainable slice of nature in London.  I cant see the sparrowhawks, or the meadow pipits hanging around, the wildlife will be squeezed out and this wild, raggy, underbelly of London will be tamed parkland for humans.  Now you may not care about my Scrubs but is there somewhere that you value that is slowly being eroded and changed, cleaned up and modified, somewher that perhaps could so easily slip from what is to you now to something conjured up by a development company?  Is that what you want or do you want a say?  I would love Wormwood Scrubs to be recognised as a vital and unique environment, I would love to see rangers running educational events, night time sleep outs under the stars, sustainable buildings and a gentle integration with the new development, how cool a community coffee shop and craft centre, more like Camley Street where I celebrated a 70th birthday wrapped up under dripping trees or Kennington Park Cafe where I attended a night time Singing Bowls ceremony.  I have signed the petition not so much because I want to Save Our Scrubs but because I want to .  I dont want it to stay the same I want to breathe new life into it for itself so that together we are all more.

https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/london-mayor-s-office-save-our-scrubsThe computer generated image of the new development and its impact is from the Lord Mayor’s consultation document.

http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Old_Oak_Part_1_0.pdf