The Routemasters

The Routemasters

A choreographed dance, though timing may stray,

These big red carriages through night time to day,

Carrying the blood throughout all its veins

They have their own place in their little lanes,

You know there's a pulse, they make its heart beat,

So follow the yellow brick road and hear that thing peep,

All ages, religions and cultures and creeds,

Reminding us all that "Londoner" 's our breed,

So next time you're on one just think where you are,

You're on a Routemaster each driven by a star.

Explanation

I'm really taken with "The Route Masters: Running London's Roads" at the moment. It's a documentary on BBC showing how London's public transportation system is kept running. Tonight showed the dedicated work of the drivers of the night time bus routes. Man, they really do put up with a lot of stuff, but pretty much every time, they'll get you to where you need to and we should thank them for that. Without them, a lot of people would be stuck. They do sometimes have a reputation as being not very nice, but perhaps it's because they don't feel respected. I would suggest we give them a little more and see how things change.

Exposure

Exposure

Well today we go play Russian roulette folks,

For fear we're about to seek and provoke,

Feels like today tomorrow and probably the next,

Six chambers are loaded, BUT determination 's flexed,

Walking opened eyed right into the lion's den,

I know that I must do this again and again,

Upon the horizon the clouds they do build,

With darkness and thunder they clearly are filled,

The drum beats do quicken, they get louder too,

But screw you anxiety, no seriously, screw you!,

The world spins round like I'll fall to the ground,

But must have the confidence that I shall not drown,

The beast of tightness comes and smothers 'round my throat,

For this to stop now, please, I hereby do vote,

Through all of this I know I must last,

Because this is what I choose, a new me I shall cast.

Explanation

I'm not going to say too much about this, except to say I'm currently undergoing "exposure therapy" for a particular anxiety issue. I believe tackling it will be extremely challenging (well I know it is), but I also believe it will make me a better and in the long run, a happier person (yes I know that's hard to believe..."Better?! But Phil, you're already the best!"). There is lots to do to where I want to get to....and the above is what it feels like to me, both in terms of how unbelievably horribly horrifically terrifyingly difficult it feels -- but also how much determination I must have to get to a better place. To quote Churchill, "Oh no no no no no".....wait, wrong Churchill. I mean this one. "If you're going through hell, keep going".