"Your neutrinos are drifting."
Written by BikeWebEditor on date 18 April 2011 in about bikes , about people , Captains Blog , HAPPY MONDAY .
Captain's log, stardate 180411 - Our destination is planet Deneb IV, beyond which lies the great, unexplored mass of the galaxy. My orders are to examine Farpoint, a starbase built there by the . . . by the . . . erm. Right. Yes and ho! How are you today? Good? Good.
As Captain Bernardette Tiberious Cullen is away for the next week or so I have taken it upon myself to contribute to this blog I set up for her a few months back in an effort to inform you dear reader(s?) of various things and give you a small peak behind the drapes at the wizardry of Bike Rescue.
An interesting mix of people make up the bike rescue team. I, for one, am not a cycling enthusiast (walking is my way forward. I can also walk backwards. Which you can not do on a bike. So there.) I find myself akin to Robert Duvall in The Godfather; not Italian, but most definitely with these people. An undefined, yet established element in the echelon.
But, 'bike person' or otherwise, Bike Rescue has a habit of finding peoples talents and providing them an environment in which they can flourish and so I find myself working alongside Bernie, applying for funding, receiving accountancy and web design training (that I then put to good use) and attending various business link courses which will no doubt build to a rather impressive and varied cv one day. I've also accidentally learned a thing or two about bikes along the way. But enough about me . . .
Today is Monday. I sit at my desk, in my closet like office, tapping this out as co-director/operations manager, the right honourable Mark Gell, sits nearby whistling Madonna songs and doing co-directorial, operation managing type things, occasionally looking up to dispense wisdom and wit in the general direction of a steady flow of customers.
Steve, a shiny gentleman on a work placement fits a pair of mudguards in the background. Pittsy, one of our skilled mechanics comes down from the work shop, latest job complete. His shark-like eyes survey the storage area, what's next?
A discussion strikes up regarding old films. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers receives extensive praise from across three generations. The elderly couple awaiting the mudguards remember fondly the original release. The discussion winds down as the job is complete and another customer leaves smiling.
Over the next few weeks Bike Rescue will be launching a program of courses for people of all levels and abilities to come and learn about their cycles ranging from basic maintenance and puncture repairs to complex stuff like how gears work (I don't know.) We want to see you there. Mark wants to serenade you too with the soothing sounds of the 80's. After that you can return the kindness by suggesting condiments for his pork pie.
Time for a hot chocolate. Conner, a young man just started on work experience fetches a bike from the secure parking for one of our regulars.
“Are you enjoying your first day?” I ask as I walk back to my closet.
“Yes!” He replies with a firm nod and a grin.
Glenn 18/4/11
Tags : No tags
Short url : Unavailable
Comments