Walking to Work
My usual walk to work consists of coming down the stairs, turning right and then first left into the office. 
Harehills was rather less beautiful, but I still enjoyed the walk.
The streets were very empty of people - I don't know if this was because of the shooting or - probably more likely - because it was quite early in the morning.
I arrived a trifle damp from the rain, and rather warm and red-faced, but the walk did make me feel better for the rest of the air-conditioned day.
If I had come to any harm on the way, no doubt some people would have said how stupid I was to do it. But I don't want to live like that. And I know I've been fortunate in that I've never had any serious trouble in Leeds. I did get flashed at once or twice when I was a student, but I have to say I never felt seriously threatened - perhaps I was naive, but my attitude was more "Ooh - - so what?"
Not sure if I'm right, or if I'm just as green as the new leaves on the trees.
But from time to time, working with medical students, I travel all over Yorkshire and very occasionally further afield.
Today I was working all day at St James's Hospital, which is about three miles from where I live. It was a long day with a fairly early start - I had to be there by twenty past eight this morning.
So, how to get there? Drive? The parking there is really difficult. Bus? - - Well, it would be a bus and then a walk, or two buses and I couldn't be bothered. Taxi? - - Well, possibly, but after a bit of thought I decided to walk, because I knew I was going to sit around all day in air-conditioned rooms.
Like a fool I told my mother this. She was immediately terrified. Firstly it would involve walking through the woods, where I would undoubtedly be murdered by a Lone Axeman, and then it would involve walking through Harehills, which is a densely-populated part of Leeds where there was in fact a fatal shooting just a few days ago.
So I told her I would get a taxi - the technical term for this is a Lie - and then set off at about quarter past seven to walk, because there's something in me that clings to the belief that Leeds is a rather large, safe village.
And, although it was drizzling a bit, the woods were beautiful.
Harehills was rather less beautiful, but I still enjoyed the walk.
The streets were very empty of people - I don't know if this was because of the shooting or - probably more likely - because it was quite early in the morning.
I arrived a trifle damp from the rain, and rather warm and red-faced, but the walk did make me feel better for the rest of the air-conditioned day.
If I had come to any harm on the way, no doubt some people would have said how stupid I was to do it. But I don't want to live like that. And I know I've been fortunate in that I've never had any serious trouble in Leeds. I did get flashed at once or twice when I was a student, but I have to say I never felt seriously threatened - perhaps I was naive, but my attitude was more "Ooh - - so what?"
Not sure if I'm right, or if I'm just as green as the new leaves on the trees.
posted by Daphne at 9:42 pm
3 Comments:
You're technically right - YOU don't get trouble. No-one who's around you gets trouble either. When I last went to town with you I wasn't attacked once.
Maybe it's because they know you taught in secondary schools??
If some chav tried to stab you, his crappy flick-knife would melt with one look.
You must teach me your talent.
I used to walk to work (near the bus station in town) from my house (in Chapel Allerton). It was about 3 miles, all downhill, and a lovely way to start the day! I know what you mean about thinking of Leeds as just a big village, always felt pretty safe to me!
totally agree....never taught daughter stranger-danger, just wild-boar-and-snake-danger. Much more likely. Especially living in foreign mountains.
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