Wall
My wall came down today. I paced around at work - wanting to phone my friend who was knocking it down, wanting to check if the skip had turned up, if the house was still standing. I felt like my house was in labour - about to give birth to an absence of wall. I managed to hold out from calling him. My mobile rang mid morning. I grasped frantically to silence The Killers playing the riff from "All These Things I've Done" (Mental note - time to change that) - but it was my sons school asking for my postcode.
I managed to get hold of my partner to share my nervousness with her. Then at four it rang again. The display said "home" and I knew it was him. Would it be a boy - how would I feel about a girl? No - it was a lack. A void, an absence, a space. It had been delivered safely. It was an ex-wall. It has ceased to be. What once was wall - was now bricks and rubble. The bricks which joined in a stoic act of co-operative effort for more than a hundred years - with no more noble purpose than seperating my living room from the pointless bit of corridor where bikes sleep - now reside, with no obvious raison d'etre in a skip outside my house (rented from Abacus skips - a firm you can count on.)
My wall came down today.

Individuality

This is a photo of two sons of my friends and two friends of my sons. You can tell them apart by their different tee-shirts.

Relevant
"I've finished that book I was reading", I said.
"Oh yes," she said.
"It was really good - I think you'd like it," I said, " It also quite relavant to some of the stuff that's going on with us".
"Well I'm definitely not going to read it if you tell me its relevant." she said.

Bottleneck
I was at a meeting this afternoon at a community centre in South Bristol. Clearly they hare doing their bit to encourage people to cycle to work. They have installed a shower in the mens loos. This is great - except - I really needed to go during this meeting and someone was "In situ" in the remaining cubicle. I waited a while - no movement (by me or him). I had a pee and returned to the meeting. Soon there was a break so I returned to the loo too find it occupied again. Was it the same man. I hung around for a while - firstly in the loo but then outside the door as I felt stupid. When I went back in I heard the beep of texting from the cubicle. Bloody hell - I thought - not only is he keeping me waiting - he's telling all his mates about it too. Minutes later - he emerged - newspaper under his arm.

End to End
Just thought you should know. The woman who was walking from lands end to John O Groats has got there.

http://marisa1000.blogspot.com/

Carbon neutral
My car was in the garage today so I had to suffer the dual indignity of cycling and public transport. I sat happily at the train station reading my book and feeling good about my environmental friendliness. I was also pleased about the long overdue workout my body was going to get. (I have had an unpleasant shock recently with a blood pressure machine - more of that another day.)

When train eventually arrived I got up with a woman I had been chatting to. She also had a bike and was going to cardiff. Thankfully she was more assertive with me as the conductor told us we couldn't put our bikes on the train as there were four already and they should only had two. I was about to turn around in dispair when the woman seemed to have persuaded him to let us on.

The other passengers seemed deeply put out by the inconcenience of having to share their train space with bikes. (I guessed this from their body language.) The conductor - who sounded dutch - though he had an english name - came across as a nice guy. Having said that he repeatedly reminded us that he was doing us a favour and that if someone complained because they had hurt themselves on a bike - it would be his job.

After lots of people got off at Filton it was quieter and he got round to asking for my fair.
"£2.20", he said. With slight embarassment I pulled out a tenner.
"You're a pain - you are." he said.
"You're very kind", I said as he counted out my change in 50's.

Parking
I parked the car in Weymouth car park - cursing myself again that I'd forgotten to get the blue badge from his mum. £3.80 for three hours - shit! I looked at my hand after I trawled my bag for change. Two £2 coins. I checked the machine. It didn't take £2 coins.
"Have you got any change?
"Only about 50p" she said as she pushed him in the wheelchair.
I noticed a man sorting things in his boot before leaving his car. He looked rugged and practical.
"I don't suppose you've got a couple of pound coins you could change for me - I expect you need them yourself..."
He pulled a load of change from his pocket.
"I think I have", he said offering me two pound coins slowly.
"Thanks" I said. I noticed that he had another pound and two fifties which would split my other £2 coin.
"D'you think you could change this as well" I said "Its a real pain this car park"
He paused and looked at me.
"Just waiting for one word" he said.
"Oh...please", I said "Could you please change the money for me... I'm sorry..."
"Its OK", he said offering me the coins, "It doesn't take much".
I walked away not knowing whether to laugh or scream.

Chesil Beach Beer Can
At Chesil Beach I had merry japes watching poeple throw pebbles at a floating beer can. I'm cursing myself that my camera was set to a low resolution video setting.