Highly Strung

Courtesy of the Boyf and his Canon Ixus panorama function. View from the top of the Rockefeller Centre, New York.

Tonight on my ride home just after crossing Holloway Road I ran into a bunch of disaffected youth, manouvering through them I drew up behind a lone hoodie on a bike with the seat too low. Unfortunately he was weaving from left to right in my way, so I said ‘excuse me’ and he continued to weave in front of me so that I couldn’t get past him, so I said ‘FUCK OFF’ (strong I know, but really how was I supposed to get past him?). As I rode past him I said ‘I’m just trying to get home’, and he said, in a menacing tone ‘WHAT?’. Cue me, riding as fast as possible away from him.

As I ran a red light to put some distance between us I glanced behind me, he was still in sight! I powered up Hornsey Rise relying on the fact that his seat was far too low for him to get any power into his ride. I hit the top of the hill and cycled as fast as I dared down the other side, glancing around at the Clocktower I could see no sign of him…safe…

In other cycling related news, I was crossing a junction when a guy tried to step out in my path. Looking at him a bit closer I realised that under that sweatshirt hood lurked Ricky Gervais, out for a run. So I said ‘Look out there Ricky Gervais’ and cycled on.

Person: You’re an expert in this

Me, looking over: in what?

Him, gesturing at a plate of sushi: this, how do you eat it?

Me, looking at the chopsticks sitting in the dish: with the chopsticks

Him: and do I stick them in this stuff (pointing at a puddle of soya sauce)

Me: depends on whether you like it

Him: and what is this (holding up a chopstick with a blob of wasabi on the end)

Me: it’s a hot mustard type stuff

Him: and this? Is it garlic? (a slice of pickled ginger between his finger and thumb)

Me: it’s pickled ginger

Him: I quite like it

Me: mmhmm (suddenly very busy with typing an email or something, or anything)

Today I mostly feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders. I know that all I have to do is ask the right people for help and consultation, but even that seems like a huge effort. I want to do a good job but it’s hard when you feel disconnected and isolated.

I guess the solution today is to try and connect with other team members, because if you don’t ask for help how can they guess you need it…