I was doing a gig for Scene and Heard (
http://www.sceneandheard.org )
this evening. I've talked about them before. It's a magnificent project. Do support them if you get the chance.
On the walk from the tube to the Bloomsbury Theatre I was caught in a heavy shower. I was carrying some unprotected posters (for the raffle) and wearing my suit. I had no umbrella or rain-coat and was getting pretty wet. I was already late and anxious to get to the theatre, but had to balance this against not getting soaked through and ruining my posters. Along the way there were opportunities to shelter, which I gratefully took. But then it was all down to judgement. Had the rain thinned out sufficiently for me to move on or was this just a lull in the shower and would I be deluged within a few yards? And what if the rain continued for an hour?
As with all life it was a journey of compromises. I had to choose my moment, but also sometimes sacrifice my dryness for the greater good. I had come down the wrong road for the theatre and stopped in a doorway with a bloke who looked like a student.
"Where's the Bloomsbury theatre?" I asked.
"It's the next road along, but it's literally the other side of this building," he replied, pointing at a University complex opposite me, with open gates, "You might be able to get through that way, but I'm not sure, what with it being a Sunday."
Then he decided the window of opportunity was right for him and darted off into what I considered too heavy rain.
Should I take the gamble and go for the short cut or go the long way round and be certain of achieving my goal. If I went for the former I could save myself getting even wetter, but it might prove fruitless and make me later and wetter than ever.
Once upon a time I would have gone for the risky and potentially drier option. But I am 37 now and was already quite wet, so I went the long way round. But I'll always be left wondering if I made the right decision.
I got there just in time for the show, but missed my sound check and spent ten minutes trying to dry myself off with the hand drier in the gents. Let no-one tell you that my life is not glamorous.
