so i got up at 0500h to keep an appointment to meet a friend in london; kitted up and was out on the bike by 0600h and (permitting for a fuel stop and getting lost in richmond, looking for the a3) i got to tower bridge to see david blaine dangling in the selfsame glass box where he has been for the past 22 days, and will be spending another 22, with (as mentioned elsewhere) only “water” to drink and no food.

there were few other voyeurs there at that time of day, and one young american girl, with an american accent and wrapped in an american flag, said one of the most sensible things i’ve heard in a long time:

there’s like these 35 year old middle-class men who come, and they throw eggs at him. what’s the point? why don’t they just give the money to charity rather than be like that? my 6-yr old brother said: “i like the man in the box”, and that’s cool, and then i told him like “he’s spending 44 days in the box” and then my brother was like “why?” and i said “because” and he was like “that’s weird but i still like him”.

personally, i find it interesting, falling somewhere between endurance, entertainment, illusion and performance-art.

i see the man in the box. he sees me. i watch the river. he watches the river. who’s the monkey?

back on the bike and parki in my favourite spot in the eaves of southwark cathedral, meet up with maureen and squeeze past himself: jamie oliver, with ensuite camera crew, apparently doing arty stills for some upcoming photo special. he’s taller than i imagined – about 5’10” ? – and was in the traditional combat jacket, so it might be for the next cookbook or something.

coffee with mozza, catchup on gossip about our sundry friends, book the next all-hands get together, and potter around the market – exotic breads, pork pies, pancetta, cheeses, spanish cured meats. great stuff. try to avoid getting into oliver’s pictures once more as they move and set up next to brindisia.

go slouch on the sidewalk next to the neal’s yard bakery and have a toasted emmental-and-leek-on-rye sandwich. heavenly.

hugs goodbye, and two hours of filtering traffic, and i’m home.

blog, tea, nap, gardening tbd.