It
started well. I was woken up by the gentleness of the Battlestar Galactica
theme tune. I was dreaming quite engagingly. I snoozed three times and got back
into the dream twice. It was delicious. AND I still got up and dressed in time
to catch my train to London at 6.37. As I freewheeled down the hill towards the
station, buddleias shouted their perfume into the road and accosted me as I
went past. Mmmmm.
Lovely
Catherine Chapman was a vision at Archway. We made it to Hampstead Heath and
the ponds, swam two rounds, did some yoga (Sivananda, then Ashtanga). Our
headstands inspired a pair of teenage girls close by to do some too. That was
fun. They’re so bendy, teenagers, aren’t they? Bendy, brave, upside down
things. Nice.
A very
civilised lunchtime recital at St James’s Church in Muswell Hill with Ruth and
the legendary Swifty. I’ve heard so much about this woman that I almost
expected her to have wings and scales and to be able to breathe fire or do
magic. She was just a lady. A nice lady, of course. She’s a very old friend of
Ruth’s. It was good to meet her. We ‘lunched’ in the garden (quinoa salad, full
of sweetcorn and spring onions) and then we had a choc ice. Ruth keeps Seville
oranges in her freezer so she can make an autumn batch of marmelade, which
lends them a tangy flavour that normal ones don’t have. 
Our
walk in Highgate Woods was a success. Ruth went miles, which is such an
achievement. I was treated to loads of dogs (I had an actual go on a silky
Viszla, all slim and bright-eyed, and a newly-shaved black dog thing). I was
also treated to one of the prettiest babies I’ve ever seen, a girl of
African-Chinese descent, I think. She must have been less than one. She had a
fine set of gnashers and a ready smile. She thought blowing raspberries was the
funniest thing ever. She was pretty and lively with her resting face, but her
smiling face was a thing of delight – so irresistable. I blew raspberries too,
and grinned like a goof. I complimented the parents. I don’t think it was the
first time, but they accepted gracefully. They even offered for the baby to
come and sit with me at my table, but only jokingly. I’d have been fine with
that. She’d have kept me very amused. 
I
missed my sister, whose transport from London to Sheffield took her to Victoria
instead of St Pancras. Still, it meant I left earlier than planned, which was
probably good, ultimately. I enjoyed my meeting with a random Israeli student
who was trying to find his way to Luton. It was the same line as me, opposite
platform, so I took him down there. It was a generally lovely exchange. 
Wins
today – I took FOUR books with me to London, two hardbacks, one doorstep and
one normal-sized paperback. And two notebooks. I mocked myself silently, but in
the end, I used them all. Every single one. WIIIIIN! And I discovered that
despite my misgivings, I enjoyed my 3-speed-ladybikely ride up the hill from
Brighton station. I struggled yesterday, even on the flat. I think I need to
raise the seat a bit, so I can stretch out my legs. It’s a huge win to start to
like it. It will be SO much better for my back if I can get used to this bike. 
In
other wins, a lift to the station, lots of smiles from strangers and a welcome
faceful of tarte au citron and flibberty fingers on the keyboard. I love a good
touch-type. It makes me very happy indeed.
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