Strangers on your way to work

pickarooney

Every morning on my way to work, at about 8.50, on the Chemin du Camp de Menthe, I pass going in the opposite direction, a gentleman on a bicycle. He's maybe five years older than me, with glasses and greying curls and rides the same colour and make of bike as me. I call him Opposite Bike Guy.

We've only ever glanced at each other, as much to check that each of us is on schedule as anything else. There have been no 'hellos', no cheesy 'nice bikes' nor even a subtle nod of the head. On occasion, one or other of us has been running late and it seems he lives very close to my place of work, and I to his. If we were to swap jobs or apartments, niether of us would have to commute.

Then, one sub-zero momrning I had passed our habitual crossing point where there was no sign of Opposite Bike Guy. A hundred metres up the road, I spotted him, arm raised and waving at me from the opposite side of a roundabout. My own arm went up in greeting, whereupon my feet went right and my chin went left and my bike went clang on the cold tarmac and the car behind went squeeee and ffrrrrrr and the world went briefly black.

I came to with OBG asking if I was OK and had I not seen his warning wave? I grunted assurance and thanks and went on my wobbly way.

We have not spoken since.

Have you got any permanent way-to-work strangers?

sorrywhat

Yea every morning. But Im in a car so I just see these people. I dont awknowledge their existance except to myself.

There is the two women I see walking at around 7.40 with a big massive bull dog. And the dog walks in the wierdest manner. Kinda looking up instead of looking ahead.

Then at about 7.45 I see the same guy eating a breakfast roll. The first day I saw him I thought he was just a hungover student, cos it was near a college, but I see him eating the same thing everyday. So im thinking he just likes breakfast rolls.

Thats it really. My journey to work is short enough.

bonerm

The guy who waved to you was not your usual OBG fella tho. It was his much friendlier and more tactile twin brother Opposite Bike Guy Yet Nicer (or OBGYN).

Personally I have none of these encounters as I deliberately just stick in my headphones, walk briskly in my chosen direction and try my best to pretend for 3/4ers of an hour that the outside world and it inhabitants don't exist.

Danbo!

I also have an Opposite Bike Guy, and can gauge by where I see him how late/early I am, the guy is like clock-work, and kitted out like he's doing the tour de france, so you cant miss him.

Then, there's hot bus stop girl.

the keen edge

pickarooney wrote: »

Every morning on my way to work, at about 8.50, on the Chemin du Camp de Menthe, I pass going in the opposite direction, a gentleman on a bicycle. He's maybe five years older than me, with glasses and greying curls and rides the same colour and make of bike as me. I call him Opposite Bike Guy.

We've only ever glanced at each other, as much to check that each of us is on schedule as anything else. There have been no 'hellos', no cheesy 'nice bikes' nor even a subtle nod of the head. On occasion, one or other of us has been running late and it seems he lives very close to my place of work, and I to his. If we were to swap jobs or apartments, niether of us would have to commute.

Then, one sub-zero momrning I had passed our habitual crossing point where there was no sign of Opposite Bike Guy. A hundred metres up the road, I spotted him, arm raised and waving at me from the opposite side of a roundabout. My own arm went up in greeting, whereupon my feet went right and my chin went left and my bike went clang on the cold tarmac and the car behind went squeeee and ffrrrrrr and the world went briefly black.

I came to with OBG asking if I was OK and had I not seen his warning wave? I grunted assurance and thanks and went on my wobbly way.

We have not spoken since.

Have you got any permanent way-to-work strangers?

Ah forget about us, your tale has way more potential. It could, if you pursue it, evolve into one of the world greatest love stories. I was intrigued from the very start.

So tell us what was it about OBG that first caught your eye, because for us the reader, your attraction to him is palpable. I wonder was it the stoic matter in which you say he peddles his bike?. Or maybe it was the greying curls a top of his head that you described to us so tenderly?

Its kinda like the script from Broken back mountain, except your in Paris, not the wild west. And instead of riding horses ye're on bicycles........I didn't think that film could get any, er, gay-er, but well..............


Edit; I am assume you are indeed male, if you are in fact female please continue to pursue this affair with the addition of posting attached PIC's please!

pickarooney

Perhaps in the warmer months there will be lycra shorts and jersey-zippers half-pulled down.

IvyTheTerrible

I have the little four year old boy going to school with one or both of his blind parents....the little boy says hello but the parents don't. I can also gauge how late I am by where I meet them.

the keen edge

pickarooney wrote: »

Perhaps in the warmer months there will be lycra shorts and jersey-zippers half-pulled down.

Ohh........spicy!

the keen edge

IvyTheTerrible wrote: »

I have the little four year old boy going to school with one or both of his blind parents....the little boy says hello but the parents don't. I can also gauge how late I am by where I meet them.

Emm, hardly releiable as a Tag Heuer or a Rolex.

IvyTheTerrible

the keen edge wrote: »

Emm, hardly releiable as a Tag Heuer or a Rolex.

Indeed. But I don't need to pay thousands of euro for them either.

Darksaga87

I see a crazy old mad fella outside the bookies down the road from me in the morning's, He is always there from 8:15 - 8:25 having a smoke and talking to himself.
I use the amount he has left in his fag to gauge how late/early I am.

thirtythirty

I've got two, depending on what side of the road im walking on! Panda hat girl and lop-sided girl.

Not only can I judge how my schedule into work is, but also how early or late i am going home!
I get great amusement out of the days when i get all the way home without seeing them and think "ooh, they must be having a crap day in work!".

BigDuffman

I have many different types of familiar commuters or "familiuters". I have one strange man who always wears a black wooly hat but if I see him walking towards me (aka to the dart) I know I'm late.

I have school girl with a cock drawn on her bag who is always applying make up. Delighted if I'm at bus stop before here as I'm early.

I also have one girl who is ALWAYS at my stop who also gets off at my stop for work (she's not hot at all though "not hot work stop girl" ). She also works across the road so walk same direction. So I always have to power walk to avoid getting in sync. It gets very odd though as we always see each other but have to pretend like don't recognize each other as a form non-familiarity pact. Because then it would get strange as would have to make awkward conversation when occasionally have to squeeze into same seat on the packed 29a!

bonerm

BigDuffman wrote: »

I have school girl with a cock drawn on her bag

I go to work with a guy whose bag is covered in handwritten slogans such as :

"Sorry girls, I'm gay" , "watch out I have AIDS" etc

daveyboy_1ie

Used to walk to work as it was only a half hour walk and I would always bump into a cute girl walking in opposite direction. I would work out how late/ early I was by seeing where we pass each other by. This went on for months and we would always see each other from a distance and do our best not to look directly at each other when walking by as it had gone on for so long it became awkward. Eventually one morning in summer it was a beautiful day and I was just in one of those humours I said to myself 'today is the day I will say hello'. Sure enough we did our usual dance and both looked down or away until we came right upon each other and I said 'morning' with my big silly smile. She was shocked and looked at me and only gave out the smallest hi as a pure reflex. Well instead of my desired reaction it went so bad we spent the next few mornings looking sheepish. Two mornings I walked by looking at my watch for Christ sake. I even took to walking on the opposite side of the road (I know, I am sooooo mature).

It got so bad that I just bit the bullet and bought a car within a month of the episode just so I could avoid the red face every morning. In hindsight I think I could have handled it better but hey, its the little things we learn from eh?

WindSock

I don't have any morning familiars as I drive on a busy enough route and tend to leave at varying times within a 20 minute spectrum. I do drive past my friend from time to time in mornings & evenings. We could do with a house swap as we work in our beside each others homes.

Although last year I used to park further from work and walk and see the poor oul' wan lumped with walking her grandchilds to school every morning.

bluto63

Don't have a regular walking time right now, but I remember when I was in school I used to always pass the same girl on my way to work. Usually looked away from each other, occasionally a quick glance at each other, nothing more.
Then the summer after I finished I was in the ****hole that is Aiya Napa celebrating, when I see her there, this time drunk. She calls me over and it turns out she knows a fair bit about me, since she knows a friend of mine. So we ended up talking for a while. After that night we parted ways and I never saw her again

raah!

Last year I had the pleasure of regular interactions with a fast-walking late night Luas asian who lived in the same building complex as me. It was only at the 7-8 luases I would ever see him.

Anyway I normally speed up to walk past people, but when I was speeding up to pass him one night he sped up too, and we were walking level, each pushing to walk as fast as possible, I nearly broke into a run. Since that we almost smile at each other when ever our scheduals coincided

Canis Lupus

I used to have a dude with a pony tail but he dissappeared. I wonder if he's dead or something.

I also have a lollipop lady who looks really friendly and I've passed everyday for like 4 years and whilst I look at her and she looks at me I've never made any acknowledgment of her.

At christmas I almost bought her a little box of roses just cos (or maybe I have a thing for friendly looking old lollipop ladies I dunno).... but then I bottled it cos who would accept chocs off a random stranger

Carroller16

If i see little midget guy ... i'm so early

furtzy

Used to pass by a guy at the exact same spot, just outside the Shelbourne Hotel, every morning. It wouldn't matter if i was late...always the same spot.

Now That I drive to work I always meet this same blue 96 FTO at the same spot every day even if I'm late. Who are these people and what do they want from me

bonerm

Carroller16 wrote: »

If i see little midget guy ... i'm so early

Do you mean for work or for starting that days drinking?

Jesus Wept

I had to bus and walk a bit to school for my last couple of years in school.

During 5th year, for a while I'd pass a little girl walking the opposite way for school always at about the same place each morning.
She'd gave me a big smile every time we passed.
She was always accompanied by someone, one of her parents or an older sibbling and I'd sometimes get a curious look from them.

She really cheered me up on the days our paths crossed.

CountingCrows

The-Rigger wrote: »

I'd pass a little girl walking the opposite way for school .... She really cheered me up on the days our paths crossed.

Paths.... phew!

CrazyRabbit

Every day on my motorcycle journey to/from work, I'm surrounded by all these strangers driving cars at 20kph and taking 60 seconds to reach that speed from a traffic light/junction.

I do see the exact same cars day after day. There's even one guy on my road who works in the same business estate as I do and we both work the same hours.

Duggy747

When I used to work at a a guy's house I used to take a quiet road to it where everyday I'd meet a girl walking along it at the same time.

We eventually acknowledged each other whenever we passed and then one night she came up to me in the nite-club and we ended up having a great chat for ages.

...............I then found out she was going out with an utter cùnt of a human being! :mad:

adamski8

pickarooney wrote: »

I came to with OBG asking if I was OK and had I not seen his warning wave?

warning wave?? what the hell is that? and what was he warning you about?

sbsquarepants

Every day, more or less, for the past number of years i drive past this sexy girl walking out of the estate opposite mine on the way to work. One day i'm late for work and i pass her about 4 miles away still walking, fairly close to my job. Was gonna offer her a lift the next time till it dawned on me, to me she's sexy walking girl i've seen every day for years, to her i'm random weirdo who somehow knows her movements and is now trying to entice her into a car! So long story short, i still see her most days - walking:D

adamski8

adamski8 wrote: »

warning wave?? what the hell is that? and what was he warning you about?

Ice on the road

adamski8

RoverJames wrote: »

Ice on the road

how would he know if he was the opposit side of the roundabout coming from the opposite direction?

CountingCrows

adamski8 wrote: »

how would he know if he was the opposit side of the roundabout coming from the opposite direction?

He's French, he sensed danger and moved as far away as possible.

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

Little Acorn

One of the 7am buses in galway.-used to always see the same girl(blonde hair,black coat,very smart looking) at the next bus stop up from me by looking up the road. If she wasn't already standing there I was either very early,or else late and missed my bus. I used to like seeing someone nearby,because it was still quite dark with nobody around the area at that time.We got off at the same stop in the city,but went different directions then. At shop I worked I would be sitting outside having a smoke until opening time,same guy would pass me every morning. If I was already opening the shutters,he knew he was running late. Friendly lad,always said good morning.

bluto63

furtzy wrote: »

Used to pass by a guy at the exact same spot, just outside the Shelbourne Hotel, every morning. It wouldn't matter if i was late...always the same spot.

Now That I drive to work I always meet this same blue 96 FTO at the same spot every day even if I'm late. Who are these people and what do they want from me

You sure you aren't passing by a mirror?

adamski8

adamski8 wrote: »

how would he know if he was the opposit side of the roundabout coming from the opposite direction?

I neither know nor give a sh1t how he knew to be honest but from the opening post it is fairly obvious that the warning was due to ice / slippy surface. Having some common sense I can only imagine that stretch of road / roundabout was particularly treacherous. It ain't rocket science really.

furtzy

bluto63 wrote: »

You sure you aren't passing by a mirror?

Nope its definitely not me I'm seeing. Its beginning to feel like some sort of jim corr -esque plot. Will see if I meet the blue car on the way home today as an experiment

dave 27

i wish i had a job to have a routine like that!

the keen edge

Scien wrote: »

For about 2 weeks last summer i used to have un-acknowledged races with a guy cycling my commute.
I'd slip stream him until I got my chance to overtake and he'd do the same, back and forth, ding dong for about 3kms.

It was a race to Aungier St. as that's where he turned off. When we were both stuck at traffic lights we would glance at one another menacingly. I'd rock back and forth on my bike waiting for the green light whilst making juvenile engine noises. It was all about that elusive headstart down the hill.
By Friday it was 2 wins a piece so this was the decider. Using my vastly superior intellect I let him race on coming up to the last set of traffic lights as i could see they were about to go red. He had to stop. I still had the momentum. I timed it to perfection and flew past him just as the lights went green, ringing my bell frantically and fist pumping like I was Erik Zabel.

I think he may has chosen a differnt route after that. Proabably due to the shame of losing.

Er yeah, or maybe it was the fact that the primary school years 1st term commences at the end of the summer.;)

oneweb

I gave mine a name... Dart guy Used to see him regularly at Connolly. He had a nice face but his long hair was a bit offputting. He must've overheard me at some point 'cos he shaved it. Used to work in the same business park. Wonder what he's up to these days!

youcancallmeal

Cycling into work everyday and I always see this particular girl walking a certain stretch of my route, I can usually tell if I'm running late or not depending on where I see her. The reason she stands out is because of her rather pleasing on the eye rear end, it always brightens up my day puts me in good form. Funny thing I've never seen her face so she could be a howler?

pickarooney

oneweb wrote: »

I gave mine a name... Dart guy Used to see him regularly at Connolly. He had a nice face but his long hair was a bit offputting. He must've overheard me at some point 'cos he shaved it. Used to work in the same business park. Wonder what he's up to these days!

Still there, just hiding from you. You can call him Dart Evader.

SugarHigh

I see a sexy bastard every morning when I'm brushing my teeth:cool:

Elenxor

I used to buy a paper every morning from a fella called Austin on O'Connell Street in Dublin.
He used to see me walking towards him and have the paper folded and ready for me when I got to his stand.

Wonder if he is still there?

bonerm

SugarHigh wrote: »

I see a sexy bastard every morning when I'm brushing my teeth:cool:

Could he not just wait his turn to get into the bathroom?

SugarHigh

bonerm wrote: »

Could he not just wait his turn to get into the bathroom?

Then how would he bum me?

Mark200

I walk to the train station every morning and get the train to college. Last year I started my lectures at pretty much the same time every day... so I got used to seeing the same people every day, at exactly the same time! It was great. This year I'm going in at different times most mornings, so it's not the same I still often recognise people on the train and stuff, just from always seeing them.

I hate whenever you see someone walking in the opposite direction, but can't remember where you know them from, and just after you give them a small "hi" or a nod you realise it's one of the people that you always saw but never talked to before!!!

Agricola

I commuted on bus eireann for 4 years when I was in college. I had loads of these people and new additions every year. There were trainee beauticians who all sat together down the back for 2 years. All babes every one. There was the identical twin brothers who were also going to my college. There was the huge 18/19st 6ft 4" inch guy who wore a baseball cap in such a way that it just sat on his head while the peak was well down over his eyes like a sergeant major. There was the ... ahem, mentally challenged woman who always sat behind the driver and if you were unlucky enough to have to sit beside her, she'd talk the ear off you about the weather for the duration of the trip.....

CrazyRabbit

SugarHigh wrote: »

I see a sexy bastard every morning when I'm brushing my teeth:cool:

I told you to stop stalking me!

Cheap Thrills!

I see an aul'fella waiting outside the pub/off licence if I'm late. I think pubs must open at 10.30 but he seems to be there from 10. If I see him I know I'm late.

The pub he stands at is at a relentlessly busy traffic junction. Yet he queue's there most days. Yet he seems kinda self conscious as if he feels anyone idly looking out of their car while waiting on the light cycle to change (can take over 2.5 mins) is specifically watching him.

Which I must admit I am!:o

He always looks freezing in his huge too big suit with his knees knocking together with the cold......I can't help but look....there's nothing else to look at! :eek:

alwaysadub

I see the usual cars on my way in every day alright-i live 40miles from work,so see quite a lot of people!. However,i live 8miles outside of any type of town in the countryside, where every one waves at every one. It's usually just a 'lift a finger off the steering wheel' acknowledgement,but there is one fella-who's not bad looking either- in a white van i see coming from the opposite direction most mornings, who waves to me like im his long lost sister or something!. It's so energetic and friendly i assumed the 1st time he did it that i must have known him. But i don't have a notion who he is. I now recognise the van when it's coming towards me, and give him a big wave back. It's a good start to the day

alwaysadub

Cheap Thrills! wrote: »

I see an aul'fella waiting outside the pub/off licence if I'm late. I think pubs must open at 10.30 but he seems to be there from 10. If I see him I know I'm late......

Yet he queue's there most days.

So you're pretty much late every day then? :pac: