Mind the Gap: FOR JESS: Seats of Power: Whitehall and the Mall

"Right Fears No Might"
Slogan during The Great War

So here's the dealio - Jess don't read anything that follows in the parentheses - (one of my friends got a really good score on her blog posts and she didn't write as much as I have been writing so... I'm gonna reign it in and maybe write less boring stuff... .... hopefully I still get good scores....)

What a cute little walk this was. This one - surprise surprise - focused more on political things, so I saw some really cool buildings and tons of statues. Maybe I've mentioned this before, but apparently
they like to memorialize anyone who have set foot on British soil. Okay not really, but they certainly are ready and willing to pay tribute to people who contributed significantly. There are especially a lot of tributes devoted The Great War. I'm amazed by how many things we pass that really honor and revere those who worked hard during the war. So much of London identity came through that war.

Ohhhhh! Is this where we are?!

Something that this walk was really helpful with was the way it helped orient me. I have a good grasp of the underground for sure nowadays, but what's hard is emerging out of the underground and picking up from there. It's like having mini little maps in my head that I pull out based on which tube stop I arrive at, but I have no concept of where anything beyond that tube stop is. Well this walk shook that up hardcore. Suddenly twenty different locations tied together in my mind and it's always weird and helpful. So thanks Dr. B for helping me figure out where I'm going with my life.

Baron Clive

As we were walking, we read this interesting story that stuck with me. It's this story of a man, Baron Clive, who was suffering from depression and decided to commit suicide. However, when he tried to fire the revolver it failed twice and he took it as a sign from God that he was supposed to live. Well turns out this man became one of the most important British officers during a turf with India - he ended up freeing many prisoners and reestablishing order. Having depression all around - and in my
life - I really appreciated the fact that depression did not limit this man from completing wildly significant feats that affected the lives of hundreds and through them thousands. If that makes any sense... It just reminds me that the worth of souls really is great in the sight of God.

Anywho, this walk definitely was a simple one if we're all gonna be honest together here, but it was fun to be out in the city figuring things out and being with some of my favorite people on the planet.

"It is not the walls that make the city, but the people who live within them. The walls of London may be battered, but the spirit of the Londoner stands resolute and undismayed." - King George VI (King during The Great War)