Day 642: Lovely Strangers, Lovely Art

What a simple bit of loveliness. Today, bouncing over a particularly knobbly sleeping policeman, my pannier leapt off and threw itself into the road. All that was in it was my bike lock (not the expensive cello bow in my yoga mat bag - I had considered putting it in the pannier for ease). 

by Katharina Abildgaard,
who is brilliant

Immediately, a taxi bipped and flashed to let me know, a van flashed and stopped, blocking the traffic, so I could pick it up safely and a runner whipped into the road, picked it up and handed it to me. Thank you, lovely strangers, for your simple, speedy and massively appreciated kindness. 

I joined Stoke Newington Library, where DVDs are free and the ceilings are a long way up. It's entirely impractical for where I live, but fuck it... it's a pleasing place. There's nothing wrong with a long cycle ride in the 'wrong' direction, either.

Thank you, Greg Vukasovic, for being a truly good egg, and an open, helpful man. Thank you, cold, harsh water and warm women. Thank you, new friend Grace, for being so very funny and full of vibrant energy. Thank you, Rob Grundel, for the shortest meeting ever. Thanks, Stoke Newington, for being... as you are. 

I am inspired by a call I had this morning - full of wow and eeeep! Thanks, long-chatting cafe man, who told me the history of his broadband situation in this new cafe he's taken over. Thanks, cold, for keeping me sharp. Thanks, everything, for kind of keeping me on my toes.