My city - well not really

Recently on a business trip to London, I had 3 hours free!!

Whilst I realise this is not a huge amount of time, but with the right planning, a lot can be squeezed in.

I decided in this time that I loved London. It really is a fabulous city. It is absolutely full to the brim with colourful people wearing even more colourful clothes, you see hairstyles that make you chuckle and wherever you look you see life!

It really is the "Big smoke", full of hustle and bustle. Noise and smells. Lights and excitment.

However even as a Brit, it is not my home, I don't fit in.

You see, I really don't know and follow the rules.

Yes big cities have rules. Many rules and all unwritten.

Here are some of them:



Always stand on the left hand side of the escalator. Look how everyone conforms.

Always walk on the left hand of the corridor. Look how well behaved everyone is.

It is obvious that within this big city chaos, rules have to be set, otherwise no one would get anywhere.

Another rule, is not to look at other people on the tube. I didn't dare to take a picture of this!!

It is hard not to glare, as the folk on the tube are all so interesting. Yet staring is an absolute taboo. Noone does that. Everyone reads, plays with technology or stares into an empty space. Staring is really not acceptable.

I loved my three hours of London. Thanks for having me. I hope to be back soon!

Maybe next time I will fit in. I will try harder.

Adrenalin

What is it about adrenalin that stops the brain functioning. I am really not a scientist, but this effect is really unhelpful.

In that moment of need and high stress, what you need is the brain to be at its best, peak performance, top of its game. 

Instead, what does it do? It seems to close down and block off. Good night the brain cells say, as the adrenalin starts pumping, Hold on brain, don’t go, I need you right now.  Come back!

Take today, I was presenting to a senior audience, and I was ready. A lovely presentation with good content all prepared, rounded off with a few dry runs in front of the mirror, to ensure a high comfort level of the material. I was mentally good to go. 

However as I was running late, I was keen to get my PC up and running with the slides on display before my audience arrived. But today it was slower than ever and the people began trickling in as I was tapping away and cursing the slowness of the technology (clearly it was not my fault!)

Once the laptop was fully functioning, all I had to do was bring up the presentation.

But oh no, where had I stored it?

A brief moment of panic, why had I not sent it ahead of time, why had I not put it on a memory stick, why had I not arrived earlier??? Questions, questions and more questions and no solutions. There was plenty of activity running through my head, uncontrolled and manic. At the same time I was calmy smiling and welcoming the folks into the room. Seemingly, all under control.

So I continued frantically opening folders and searching for this presentation and after hours (possibly 4 minutes) of searching I found it. 

Problem solved and off I went.



So what had happened just there?

Why had my rational and normal brain not been able to locate the simplest of things?

Clearly I knew where the presentation was all the time.

Yet some how my adrenalin had blurred any clarity of thought.

How impractical and unhelpful.

So what is the moral of this corporate moment? Dont get stressed. Just think. It's the best and quickest way to the result. But try telling my brain that in these moments. Self talk just does not help.

So have you noticed this effect. Any insights on getting rid of it?

Fire Hazard!!

Something that had never crossed my mind was the risk of fire.

Apparently safety standards for dolls hair exist, but there are no safety standards for wigs!

What?

Should I be shocked?

Is this outrageous?

Well I wasn't shocked, nor was I outraged. I laughed out loud!

But on reflection, actually it is quite serious. My wig is a fire hazard!!!

Imagine the embarassment of my wig in flames.

Actually forget embarrassment, think of the pain!

So maybe I should begin a campaign, where I stampeed the streets of London, shouting

"Wigs have rights too!"

Then again, maybe not. Rather I should just steer clear of flames and fire.