Money, Madness & Happiness
They say house prices in London are falling by at least £500 on average a week. Well it is about bloody time. Just the other day I tried to book a flight back to South Africa realising that a return flight costs more than what I receive in a month’s wage. The cost of living just seems to be soaring out of control and still we just keep finding new ways to spend that hard-earned cash. Just after they announced the U.K credit -crunch I received a letter stating that my credit limit was to be increased, 'piss- off' I thought, and yes, moments later, like a fish, I was “hooked”. I leave for South Africa on the 7th July. It becomes like a continuous downward spiral into the dark sewers of ATM excrement and online billing. Yes, the concept of saving is seemingly encouraged and the ease of borrowing providing a quick fix similar to that of a starved smoker waking from an afternoon siesta to find he still has at least 2 drags left until the end of the month. The former of which to me seems rather impossible judging by our current mental state and our love affair of all things bright and glossy.
Rises in oil, fuel, flights and petrol has resulted in my recent electricity bill being close to £300,no not really but I’d like to blame it on that. Blame George Bush for subsidising agriculture to produce bio-fuels and hiking up food prices in Africa and using gallons of oil to produce ethanol.It makes no sense. Why am I clambering on about money? Surely I should be hippie-fied and gleaming from our recent success at the Sadlers Wells in London, I will get to that shortly. It is that now above trying to live comfortably here in U.K, I am aware of certain shortages and inadequacies of people in Africa, members of my family included. I know that money is one thing that would ease many a sleepless night. Therefore, lottery tickets and scratch cards have been flying out my hands only to be recycled, reprinted and reclaimed by the next victim. Easy option many would say but hey, I know I mentioned it the last time round, I am only just a dancer.
It has crossed my mind many times, a question about how I will sustain a comfortable livelihood by just being a dancer and then crossing over to something else in my mid-thirties and honestly the spaces of its re-occurrence are rare these days. Reason being, we have just had 2 days of performances at the Sadlers Wells, still fresh from a completely different full-length programme of Cattle Call at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.This time it was two works by Director Javier de Frutos and two by the legendary Jose’ Limon. A programme so delicately woven and cared for, spearheaded by two amazingly gifted women in the studio at opposite ends of the age spectrum but at one with their artistic visions, Spanish Ana Lujan Sanchez and American guest Sarah Stockhouse brought together by the venezualen mastermind,Javier. A heady brew of creativity and passion all anxiously absorbed by a great motley crew of a company handpicked from who knows where. This is where it all pays off, not in pounds but in life, laughter, maturity and some otherworldly sort of connection.
This is the Stage. A place where reality does not exist and troubles become a thing of the past, even if only for a moment. It is just awe-inspiring when months of work, sweat and tears transform into something so magical that it transcends the mundane of everyday turmoil. When it works it works, when it doesn't it becomes a job. Money cannot buy such pleasures. I might not be able to buy a house or afford a ticket home or even lend a few quid but let me tell you, the poorest of men can have the richest of rewards within. Sharing that with a few people is priceless.
London was great, is great, but the truth is you step out the door and you spend 40 quid. Oh yes, before I forget,” Congratulations Boris and Good Luck Mate you gonna need it.” Do I miss London? Most certainly but that enthusiasm escapes me as soon as I step onto platform 3, waiting for the District Line to Chiswick. The joys of public transportation, leaves very little to envy. I walk to work now. Definitely, a step in the right direction providing the weather holds up.
Posted by Dane at May 4, 2008 09:44 PM
