Saturday, July 21, 2007

Singalong, a soaking and snuggle bugs.

1. We pass a lady singing along to her iPod. It makes us smile, and she smiles too, and says 'Good morning!'.

2. Mr Cock-up pays a visit, is invited in and offered a cup of tea -- I went out last night without a raincoat and wearing unsuitable shoes. In the morning I walk home through rain so heavy that my underwear is wet before I reach the High Street. I pass Katie on her way to the station. She looks at my soaked skirt, dripping jacket and shoes through which water is flowing and says: 'You're not going to work like that, are you?' On reaching the front door I discover that I don't have any keys. So I ring Katie, who wonders if I can make it to the station before her train leaves in five minutes...

2a. The chance to say 'In these shoes? I don't think so.'

2b. The kindness of station masters who are willing to hang on to sets of keys for wayward housemates.

2c. The pleasure of putting on a set of dry clothes after being soaked to the skin. I spend the rest of the morning enjoying this.

3. The normally impeccably turned-out Ellie describes how after a rain-soaked fun-run, she and her mother put on 'all our fleeces and hooded tops and I got a duvet down and we sat on the sofa with cups of tea and our hair all curly because it had got wet.'

Morning, errands and entertainment.

1. I murmur an acknowledging greeting to a passing bin man. He is a well brought-up African and replies with eye contact and a warm 'Goo...