last week i had three appointments in town that were spaced far enough apart that i had a lot of time to wander around in the city — i miss this — i used to do that in the summers whenever I was back from the US: just walk around the city, knowing, as if in some way i was a vimes, that each city felt different beneath each step, that charlottesville was not singapore and was not cambridge, because the experience of walking in each was not the same. i would walk, and wander into galleries and museums and libraries, look at people, sit in cafes and read and read and read, was happy, learnt new languages, watched many films alone in the afternoon (uncrowded theatres), and went compulsively to the theatre, the ballet, the opera (summer was always time for the singapore arts feste, and then i still could get student-priced tickets.)had lunch at ricciotti with my small boss from my summer internship firm, which put me in the vicinity of the substation to see an exhibition (disappointing, i only enjoyed the bits that i did enjoy because I had the luxury of having the gallery to myself and could sit and listen to the works.) then a sudden downpour, which was lovely timing, because i was meaning to go sit down and read (though it took me a while to find soho coffee, which was not where i remember it being.)
thence to my next meeting, and afterwards to the national library — time disappears when you are meandering up and down aisles of shelves, choosing a mix of books from what i wanted off my list - javier marias’s new work was in, though george saunders was out) and things i fall on because the spines look interesting. julian and i were seeing a late screening of the second hobbit movie, and that left me enough time to get dinner alone so i could start right away on my new books, which made me happy, and there was time for spiced tea and a mince pie after, to boot. good hunting!
Best of the Transparent Hummingbird