Grey carpet

It’s sunny today, while the radio enumerates floods across the country. Mum and I follow our own paths through the day - hers in the here and now, mine virtual through the Internet.

I get the 16:40 to Paddington, walk to the flat, and then on towards Islington. I stop just past Kings Cross for tea at what, on first look, seems to be a vegan buffet. It turns out to be neither vegan nor vegetarian, but does have vegan and veggie options. It’s pretty good.

I meet Dan outside The Nags Head, but we don’t like the TV screens and wander until we find The Three Johns, dark, spacious, and blessedly free of flickering screens.

Dan is smartly dressed. He’s just been at Mansion House where his organisation, Emergency Exit Arts, just won an award for best float at the Lord Mayor’s procession - for an international Indian bank. We celebrate excessively.

I walk to the bus. The streets are quiet - which has nothing to do with the great ape looking over the street.