A story on BBC News entitled Intimate Strangers discusses the rather unusual encounters we have with people we see routinely, every day, but never talk to.
When cycling to work, I tend to see the same collection of people: particularly other cyclists. As the article indicates, one often comes up with special names for these people. I do this myself and strongly suspected that I wasn’t the only one who did! The other cyclists on my route are:
- Slow Post Office Man: for the last ten years or more I’ve seen him. His name arises from the fact that when I first saw him he wore a Royal Mail fluorescent jacket. He also cycles at the most incredibly slow pace: he must have terrific balance to avoid falling off at that speed. Because of our speed differential, I’ve never spoken to him, apart from once: I’d had an accident (my chain jammed) and was by the side of the road. He asked cheerfully “Anything broken, Squire?” and then went on his way after I assured him that I had only a few cuts and bruises. Slow Post Office Man may not be the fastest cyclist around, but he is hardy: continuing even in the harshest weather conditions
- Girl Who Talks About My Shorts: Someone about the same age as me, another regular commuter: for a few years, we talked occasionally, the topic of conversation being my legs or my shorts. Usually, this was because she couldn’t believe that I was still wearing shorts even though the weather was cold and windy. Heading home one evening, after ‘knowing’ each other for many years, we actually had a longer conversation: she is really called Louise and told me where she works. Our commuting hours have been out-of-sync recently, so it’s been a while since I’ve seen her.
- Striped Legs: Another regular commuter and another who doesn’t let the odd shower of rain put her off. So-called because she is always seen wearing brightly coloured, striped leggings while cycling. Also seems to have a unflinching smile at all times.
- Slightly Mad Woman Who Talks To Herself: Hasn’t been seen for a while, but used to see her most days. A middle-aged lady on an old-fashioned bicycle who used to talk to herself extremely loudly. Not a fast cyclist, so the first time I overtook her and suddenly heard her shouting at “me”, I nearly fell off; of course, she was just wittering away to herself. I was more prepared for this though, during all future overtaking manoeuvres.
Some of the above people/names have been in my mind for many years and I can’t help wondering whether any of them have names for me.
And the next question you need to ask yourself is “I wonder if any of them will read this and recognise themselves?”
PermalinkHah, quite. That thought had occurred to me … that is why I have been reasonably polite, and completely vague about some of the details 😉
PermalinkI used to walk from my home to the office. And every day, on the morning after lunch, I used to meet a moustache-wearing man.
He and I had quite a regular time-frame. We used to meet a quite the same point of our walks. It was so precise that I knew without looking at my watch that I was late, because we were meeting a few hundred meters closer from my home.
For months we were just looking at each other, without anything more than that.
As days passed by, we used to give ourselves a slight salute, a slight movement of head.
And one day, in early January, the moustache bloke went right to me, with a large smile on his face, and told me:
Permalink“well, we meet almost every day, so we are not that strangers to each other. Happy new year!”
kNo`: Nice. Perhaps I should try something similar with my lot. “Happy New Year Slow Post Office Man!” etc.
PermalinkThere are certain people on the train that I see every morning – there was one guy who I sat opposite every day for about a year, and who even woke me up a couple of times when I was still asleep at my stop.
I think he’s moved jobs – I don’t see him any more 🙁
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