I’m on Fire For You

Thursday was one of the weirdest work days I’ve ever had, and that’s saying something!  

It started when Derek arrived at around 4:45am and asked if I smelled natural gas. I hadn’t noticed when I came in around 4 but a quick sniff of the common area outside the radio station confirmed it. Rotten eggs. Natural gas. Yikes!  I called the Union gas emergency line and they promised to be there right away.  After more than 10 minutes with no arrival, I called 911 and summoned the firefighters.  They were there in a flash and ordered Derek, Blair and me out. Firetrucks lined Richmond Street with flashing lights and group after group of firefighters needed to be fobbed into the building so they could start the search.

We stayed on the sidewalk as ordered. It was a beautiful morning and although no show prep was getting done and no news was being written, we were pretty cool about it. What can you do? No one wants to blow up. So we passed the time chattering, being foolish and taking obligatory selfies.

split screen of half of my face and half of Blair's face in front of flashing firetruck lights

We were given the all clear after an hour. The district fire chief said they couldn’t find the source but since the levels weren’t increasing, and the Union Gas guy was still on the case, they felt confident in leaving. I missed the 6am news and I didn’t even interview anyone from the fire crews because I left all my equipment inside, like a good evacuee.  When a firefighter says get out, I get out.

Another 40 minutes later the Union Gas investigator was tapping on the window. Turns out the source was an extinguished pilot light in the kitchen of a downstairs restaurant. The flowing gas was getting sucked up by a ventilation system and sent through the building.  They took care of it and all is well although it was amusing when office staff arrived around 9 and mentioned the faint gas smell. By 11 am it was all gone. Thanks London firefighters!  Meeting you was a gas.

At noon a bunch of us gathered at an agreed-upon spot downtown to ride the Big Bike for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. It’s a fundraising and awareness campaign that’s been going on for 21 years. 20 or so people get on this ridiculously gigantic bike that seats 3 wide and pedal around downtown shouting slogans and rattling noisemakers! I’m not ashamed to tell you it was exhausting. Even with another group we didn’t have a full load of pedallers so the inclines were murder but it was a lot of fun.  This is the bike on the trailer.

a large, red contraption consisting of a red frame, black seats and handelbars, all strategically placed to make one giant vehicle powered by people

This was my view just before we took off.

A sea of people ahead of me, as if on an open bus ride.

None of my in-motion photos turned out. Not surprising really! We were pedalling like mad.

It was so much fun!  And we learned a lot about heart and stroke risks.  First and foremost, I need to get into better shape.