Going downhill rapidly

Today Belinda had worked at home (she tells us) until ten o'clock, so that she could pick up tickets for a group of us to whizz down the tallest of Carsten Holler's slides (sculptures) at the Tate Modern.  The slide from the fifth floor, the one described as a physical eight second experience equivalent to sex or drugs.

It took a surprisingly long time to sort out the six person team for this treat.  Numerous excuses came out:

I have a cold

I have a client interview

I want my first time to be with my boyfriend

But eventually the team was gathered, the Millenium bridge was crossed. We positioned Saj at the bottom of the slide with Belinda's digital camera, poised to snap us as we did our victorious salutes having fearlessly conquered the bending swirling looping track.

We gathered at the top.  Angela, our Training administrator, wanted to go first, to get the fear over with.  Her screams as she descended curdled the milk in the fridges back at TFPL HQ opposite Blackfriars station.  When the rest of us had stopped laughing we went down one by one, ladies first.

Here we are, some more dignified than others:

First one down:  Angela Cookson, our training administrator:

Next down is Michelle Buchan, our Glaswegian Information Services Manager

Then it was Sharon Flook, our general manager, without whom nothing in the office would function

Next up Belinda Blaswick, an Australian (but we have adopted her)

Now for the boys:  John Davies, senior records management consultant

James Lappin, our tour guide for the day

And saving the best to last, our coach, Ryan Crowthorne, Head of IT