Wed 11th July 2012 - Kings Cross/Bujinkan London

Wednesday 11th July 2012 I had 2 appointments to attend, today...

1> Meet up: 234 Shoreditch High Street/Meditation

2> Meet up: Computer programming using Visual BASIC at the British Library/Cotton Room/Kings Cross

APPOINTMENT <1>: 12PM midday-1PM/MEET UP: MEDITATION OF THE HEART

http://www.meetup.com

I rode my bike going all the way from West Norwood where I live...up to London Bridge. Next, I rode directly across London Bridge itself...and, just simply kept on going straight ahead...until I'd gone past Liverpool Street bus station...and, kept going, straight on up...eventually, I came across a bus stop with a nearby sign which said: Yoga/Pilates. It is a side entrance, actually.

I knocked on the door; a guy answered me. I told him I wanted 'meditation'; he directed me to go upstairs.

On the 2nd floor, I saw a lady who asked me if I'd come for 'mediation'; when I told her, yes; she invited me to step inside of a large airy room; where there were 6 Yoga mats already pre-laid out on the floor/together with folded up blankets having been placed on top of each mat. I spoke to the lady, -who turned out to be the Mediatation teacher- for a brief time about my previous meditation experiences.
Later on, some other pupils turned up; first, 2 young guys; then, a young lady who was late. We all introduced ourselves to one another; and, then, discussed together our previous meditation experiences.

Next, the class proper began.

We did 15 minutes 'guided talk' meditation; the lady teacher's voice was very relaxing and comfortable to hear. We laid flat on top of the mats, with our backs flat, and, both knees bent upwards facing the ceiling; both eyes closed. Then, gradually, we flattened out our legs. We relaxed the entire body all over going from foot to head.

The 2nd 'guided talk' meditation...lasting 35 minutes long...we did was concerning: Meditation of the Heart. It was a bit of a slighly 'abstract' concept. In that I normally tend to concentrate more on what the brain is thinking...as opposed to concentraing on the 'mindless' heart...whenever I'm doing meditation. However, in this case, we were told to concentrate on the heart, instead. The teacher later explained that she had done much meditation practice; and, discovered that the Heart meditation worked 'best' for her. I had to struggle when dealing with this rather unsual concept; but, still I did my utmost 'best'. My mind constantly wondering away; as is usual with me whenever I try meditating for long; and, with me having to constantly tell it to come back to concentrating on doing the meditation of the Heart, again.

Finally, our class ended. We had a brief discussion about what each individual person had felt/or, was feeling. Then, we each paid/donated, £5.00; and, basically, left.

I do remember using their toilet facilities, at least, twice; to freshen up; and, also, relieve my bladder.

My overall impression was, the place is clean; the people are friendly; and, so all in all, it's been a really 'fun' learning experience. I'd be quite happy to return back there, again.

WONDERINGS AROUND THE SHOREDITCH AREA/DISCOVERED THE GEOFFREY'S MUSEUM

After finishing my 'meditation' class; I next decided why not try exploring the area I'm in.
I went and brought a bag of chips to go and eat; costing £1.00. The chip shop owner said, I would have to wait for a time before the chips are ready. I used this time, to go outside and wonder off for a bit; with the intention of returning back to collect my bag of chips 10 or so minutes, later.
I next went into an art shop; which also sold books. I admired the Italian artist works. Asked him how much is a stylised drawing of a head + skull; he said, £20.00. I thought about buying it; but, didn't wish to waste any more money on buy artworks which I 'want'; but, don't really 'need'; after all, let's face it, I want everything in the whole wide world; which leads to me buying a whole lot of complete crap! I did, however, stop to buy a book from him concerning ASP/XML programming for £2.00.

My next trip was across the road to go and visit the Geoffrey's Museum; which I discovered entirely by accident. Basically, I wanted to find somewhere to go and eat my bag of chips in peace/where people won't stare at me eating!
I found this large open green area; where I also saw a pair of over sized large pottery cup/saucers standing in the middle of the lawn. When I started reading the notices around the place, it said Geoffrey's Museum; entrance fee, FREE. So, I decided why not go and check it out.
Basically, it's an old Victorian type of building; which is a lengthy 'block'; at least, on the outside. On the inside; there are more modern parts to the building structure. There is both upstairs/downstairs. What the museum shows is living styles/and, rooms being recreated; going from ancient times...all the way up to, modern...including furniture/paintings/household objects/-etc.

There is also a shop from which you can buy things. I noted there was a small portable wooden chess set; but, again, I resisted the urge to go buy it; as, basically, my bank a/c. funds are extremely low; therefore, I have to careful not to overspend, anymore!
There are also exhibitions which show how 'foreign' cultures have influenced English living. As with most modern day museums; there are videos/TV shows; along with audio sound.
There is another part to the Geoffrey's Museum; and, that is outside there is a large Herb Garden; that is filled with plants that come from all over the world. I actually went to visit seeing the Herb Garden, first; before going and seeing the musuem on the inside.

In the end, though, I honestly must say that I found the visit to be extremly boring; in the sense that I'm not really that deeply interested in learning too much about this particular subject. Therefore, it's ok for a novelty visit of just the once. But, I can't honestly say that I'd be in any desperate rush or hurry to return back there, ever again.

I'm not a huge fan of gardening, neither; maybe, I could take my elderly mother there; who loves gardening, one day.

RODE FROM SHOREDITCH...THROUGH DALSTON...TO STOKE NEWINGTON

After my museum visit; I decided to go and see what was being located up the road; by simply riding my bike going in a straight line.

I ended up seeing Dalston Market; then, went through to visit seeing Stoke Newington.

I would have continued travelling onwards; but, I knew I had an appointment to keep at the British Library in Kings Cross; therefore, I decided, it was time to very quickly turn back before I was late; because, I'm usually late for nearlly all of my appointments, most unfortunately!

APPOINTMENT <2>: MEET UP: 6PM-7/8PM/BRITISH LIBRARY/KINGS CROSS/LEARN COMPUTER PROGRAMMING-VISUAL BASIC

When I arrived at the British Library in Kings Cross area. I asked them where is the Cotton Room? They told me to go to the top, 3rd floor; and, then, walk towards the back of the building; and, that's where I'll find it.

Rather than take the lift upwards; I decided to walk; so that I could get to discover seeing what's on each separate floor. I saw a reading registration room on the 2nd floor. But, I didn't wish to register, yet. So, I quickly came away.

I saw a restaurant also located on the 2nd floor; with a stair case that led upwards to the 3rd floor. I decided to take a different entrance upwards using the staircase located off to the side.

When I got to the 3rd floor, I walked past the toilets; straight around...in an L shape...to the end; then, came across a sign which said: Cotton Room Club/British Library Members Room.

When I opened the door, and, went in. I saw one extremely large wide open room; which is divided up into being two separate parts.

The first section, near the entrance door is where anybody can come and visit; sit down/use computers/eat/drink...as they also have small self-service catering place in the middle; then, at the other end of this large space is located an extremely comfortable British Library Members area, with sofa chairs/and, cushions/paintings/leaflets/magazines; but, it's reserved exclusively for the use of BL Members, only; which I'm not!

However, because the members area was unsupervised; therefore, I decided to sit in there anyway. Especially, because I was, at least, 1 hour early for my 6PM appointment.
I actually stayed inside of the BL Cotton Room Club for the next 2 hours; waiting to see if anybody would turn up to go and teach Visual BASIC. Unfortunately, nobody came; though, I did ask a few people if they knew anything about it; to which they all replied, negative.

Later on, I was to discover that the BL meeting had, in fact, been cancelled; and, the venue had been moved/changed to a hotel building being located opposite. However, I did not have my computer with me that day to go and check my emails; therefore, I just didn't know. Perhaps, it's a good thing that I couldn't get to the meeting; as I also forgot to bring my laptop with me; so, I wouldn't have been able to practice typing in any codes...!
DISCOVERED BUJINKAN NINJITSU/KINGS CROSS/WATCHED LESSON
http://www.bujinkanlondon.com

When I came out of the British Library; I decided to cross over the road; and, go wondering around King's Cross area for a bit.

I knew that somewhere around there there is a club where they do martial arts, regularly; and, sure enough, I found it, again.

Oddly enough, I can't even recall the actual physical location/address of the place by name; but, I do know it by sight. I can quite clearly remember it's on the opposite side of the street to where the British Library is; to which it's being located very near; not on the main street, though; somewhere off the main street; and, around the backstreets area.

I went in, and, asked them if they have any martial arts? I was told to go downstairs.
Well, first, I chained up my bike to a lamppost; and, then, went back in; and, downstairs.
Much to my surprise, I found I'd walked into an 'official' Ninjitsu club; that is affliated to Grand Master Maasake Hatsumi sensei. The teacher looked/sounded English. The dojo/practice room was huge; and, there were plenty of students in there; at least, around 25/if not more. Everybody mostly wore black uniforms/or, black trousers/shirt; they also wore Ninja shoes with a divided split big toe.

The lesson was extremely fascinating to watch; because, instead, of using pure strength, alone; they were, obviously, using such things as precise body positioning/called: Tai Sabaki...and, also, joint locks used to neutralise strength.

They also used body weight to trap limbs/and, so control an opponent who was down.
As well as, stand up fighting; there was ground fighting, too; sometimes, instead, of using hands to block with; instead, they used their feet to block; and, control limbs.
They used some extraordinary kicking techniques; using the inside side of the foot.

They also used nerve points/kysho; to strike both body/limbs.
I came away feeling very deeply impressed; and, wanted to try doing a lesson myself. I spoke very briefly to the teacher; who told me I should go and download the necessary forms from...
http://www.bujinkanlondon.com

...and, then, post in the membership/insurance fee.
A BAD INCIDENT TO GO END THE DAY WITH
When I came back upstairs from out of the dojo. There was an indian looking big fat security guard; and, I politely asked him if there are any leaflets available for the martial arts. He answered me, no. I thanked him for his reply; and, so, decided to leave the building alogether.
I moved towards my bike which I'd left being chained up outside against a lamp post. Only it was raining; and, I used a small size combination padlock; which needed no key to go open it with; instead, you just use your fingers to turn the combination with.

Only due to the fact that it was dark/I have really poor sight; it's raining-my hands were wet, and, thus, very slippery; I could hardly 'see' the numbers on the combination lock; and, the lock itself was really rather stiff...my wet hands just kept on slipping off of it; so, I had to spend some time struggling to go open the lock...?!
Well, after say 2 or 3 minutes long of me still struggling to go open up my bike combination padlock; the security guard could see my phlight from where he was sitting behind his desk. For some reason, he got it into his mind that I was interested in 'stealing' the bike. He came rushing out of the building, and, started telling me off; insisting that he already knew exactly who the owner was; and, it was NOT me! Furthermore, if I didn't move away from the bike, he would go call the police...!
Naturally, I felt really quite angry and bitter towards this total complete stranger telling me to get away from what is my 'own' property; and, him putting his hands on my bike in order to hold it away from me.

I honestly felt like swearing at him. But, at the same time, I didn't wish to leave a really bad impression; as I still wanted to attend going to classes inside of the same building where this security guard worked.

I even went and spoke the padlock combination out loud; just to confirm I knew it; but, he wasn't even interested in listening to me! Eventually, I got the combination right; and, the padlock, quite suddenly, popped opened; thus, my bike could be removed from being attached to the lamp post; and, be ridden, again.

A number of the Ninjitsu students were passing out of the building. I said to them, that this security guard is telling me that I'm 'stealing' my own bike; which I brought from Brixton/Halfords for the sum of £150.00/together with accessories costing me a further £50. Their reply was, they have everything recorded on CCTV.
My bike had 2 other locks on it; neither of which I'd actually used to secure the bike up against he lamp post; instead, I thought, the combination padlock would be enough. In order to prove that the bike was really mine; and, I didn't by some chance guess what the combination padlock was...??? I took out of my pocket a set of keys; and, proceeded to use one of these keys to go open up one of the other key locks located on the bike. Having witnessed seeing this clear evidence of bike ownership; then, the security guard did finally seem to relent...silently agreeing that I really must be the bike owner...because my key had worked inside one of the 3 locks; then, he started walking off with absolutely nil apology, of course! After which, I really couldn't resist it, but, to go call him a 'fucking asshole'; even as I rode off into the pouring rain.
I shouldn't have said that, I know; but, he had gotten me so completely worked up; that I felt I, really and truly, hated him; why did he decide to go pick on me; was it quite simply because I was 'coloured'...-some people seem to think if you're 'coloured'; then, you must be a born crook! Believe it or not, it's true that this even includes 'coloured' people security guards, as well; who also tend to think like that-...why didn't he chose to go pick on somebody else, instead.

I was willing to go beat him up; or, at least, punch him in the face; first for insulting me by absolutely insisting that I was a 'theif' of my 'own' property; and, 2nd for lying to me, that he already knew who the 'real' bike owner was; and, thirdly, for putting his hands on 'my' bike. After all, I'm sure, he wouldn't want me to go put my hands on 'his' property. To me, this guy was just taking total liberties with me; and, getting away with it for free; thus, he truly deserved swearing after.

Honestly, I'm not too sure how this incident is quite likely to influence my being able to go back into this same building, again, in future; but, it's possible the security guard could try to refuse my entrance in there because I was rude to him by swearing!

Anyway, I just left for home; feeling really relieved that the security guard didn't call the police; and, also, glad that, at least, I don't have to walk all the way home in the pouring rain, and, with no bike; which is what the security guard seemed to expect...!

I got home really late...way past middnight...maybe, past 1PM! My mum was not too pleased with my coming back home ever so late; but, at least, this time she didn't make a huge fuss about it! Instead, I just explained that I had ridden out to somewhere 'far'; so it had taken me a long time to ride all the way back, again.