when the dogshit melts.....
Even though I lived here for 6 years I
feel no sentimental attachment to the city at all, my only attachment is to the
friends I left behind who are sorely missed...... The best part of 9 years of
hotel rooms and airport lounges have turned me into a proper "homeboy" and a big
advocate of video-conferencing!
I'm writing this from the frigid (-ish, it's nearly
Spring...) wastes of Canada in winter once again... duty calls and all that!
Even though I lived here for 6 years I feel no sentimental attachment to the
city at all, my only attachment is to the friends and colleagues I left behind
who are sorely missed... it is nice to catch up with friends of an evening after
a long day at the 'fun factory'. My coolness to Montreal at the moment may
simply be due to the time of year.... March is not the best time to visit, the
city is pretty ugly come early spring as a winter of accumulated trash and
dogshit melts out of the snowbanks and bare patches in the snow coverage simply
reveal a mucky looking mat of decomposing grass and grey mud. The eyes are
starved of colour in the perpetually monochrome landscape. It may also of course
be down to the fact I'm back in the same hotel I spent the first year of my
assignment living in.... hotels are no fun unless you're on holiday and have
some buddies with you rather than the corporate 'elephants', otherwise known as
"The Execs".....
There are compensations I
suppose, my past history here combined with my winning smile (ahem) persuaded
the girls at reception that I really did deserve an 'upgrade' to one of the
exclusive 'club rooms' on the top floor.... well, nearly the top floor. You see
the top floor is where I get to enjoy my breakfast of tropical fruits in an
exclusive lounge (from which the rabble below are excluded....) while watching
the sunrise over the city 37 storeys below. I know it's all very shallow and a
reminder of how sad the travelling businessmans life really is.... it's hard to
believe some people absolutely thrive on this life - judging by eavesdropped
conversations comparing yachts/hotel suites/properties/plantations* owned or
rented in various locales. {delete as appropriate!}. The best part of 9 years of
hotel rooms and airport lounges have turned me into a proper "homeboy" and a big
advocate of video-conferencing!
I went to
the hotel gym last night..... I hate gyms, it's such an unnatural way to get
your exercise. Besides, I always feel self conscious among the sweating bodies
and machinery noise.... My scrawny cyclists frame does not fit naturally in the
gym environment which is generally populated one of two human sub-species....
The first being the bronzed, sculpted body-beautifuls with the look of an
airbrush artists fantasy and the second being the flabby and pallid victim of
the business lifestyle mentioned above. Naturally the hotel gym is populated by
the latter, all trying to ease their consciences after yet another steak
dinner..... Last night I couldn't decide if the odd glances constantly thrown in
my direction were looks of disdain at my skinny frame and eczema damaged skin or
looks of envy because I'm not endowed with slack muscles and spare tyres...
Naturally my vanity (I am nearly human after all...) hopes the latter but logic
tells me it's more likely to be the former. Ho hum, such is life. At least I am
fit enough to be able to give the rowing machine a decent workout and spin the
lifecycle on it's hardest setting without breaking a sweat. Gyms are such dull
places too, I spent most of my time figuring just how effective my companions
exercise routines really are.... I mean is it really any proper benefit if your
effort level is so low that you can sit and read the paper while pedalling (or
stepping, or walking, or whatever contrived motion the machine dictates)....?
Thirty minutes of it might just be enough to burn off the biscuit taken with
afternoon tea but certainly not enough to make a dent in the inch-thick steak
with fries that seems to be the preferred meal of the travelling corporate elite
(in my experience anyway....). Having said all that I have to admit I have been
doing more than my fair share of eating while I'm here... (but all good stuff,
honest!) but after this week of 'rest' I know I'll back on my bike for 250
miles/week and the legacy of it should soon melt
away.....
It'll be no surprise to learn
that I left the elephants last night to their preferred steakhouse experience
and instead met a good friend in a downtown cafe (with comfy chairs of course).
They did fantastic wraps and the best chai latte I've found so two of each of
those and the opportunity to chat with the sparky (and, errm, very pretty)
waitress was perfect. Of course it was terrific to see Daniel again and have a
drool over the photography for his new book project!
Posted: Wed - March 8, 2006 at 05:06 PM