Last Weekend of Summer

1. Saturday seemed to have lots of things on offer, not the least of which was a pedalo tournament that the fixed-gear hipsters were putting on. I realised I should probably spend time with people I actually know, rather than hanging around. Later reports revealed what looked to be a blast, Team Zissou outfits, and altercations with the cops and pedalo police. Bright Times, as they would say.

2. Instead, I met up with John at Ferdandez & Wells. Fernandez, or possibly Wells, seem to think that we were together. Sat in the sun, talked bikes ate out Spanish cheese and ham sandwiches with ginger beer. Then a coffee at the Nordic Bakery round the corner, although sadly no cinnamon buns. Talk of why Vista isn't so bad, followed by a quick Brompton ride to Victoria Station.

3. Whitstable. Spent the first half of the journey listening to a 28-year old Irish woman discussing her last night out, how she got high, and was flirted with by some friends, one of whom did it in that teasing manner. She was off to see two "little gay friends" in W. As this suggests, she talked loudly. Still, joie de vivre. Whitstable was warm, slightly boho, slightly smug, slightly East End. Missed the barbeque, but sat around and went for a walk on the Street, which stretches out into the sea at low tide. It was slippery, had the tang of salt, and was covered in tasty looking green seaweed and tiny white and brown crabs. Mike had some friends over, and it was amusing to see him being teased by them.

4. Back. Listened to the Boo Radley's albums in sequence, post Wake Up!. Always guaranteed to make a slightly emotional but enjoyable journey, especially if you put the nostalgia, age-related stuff on one side. Each one is so focused, and so committed, exploring a couple of themes, such as where to live, relationships, not settling for average, remembering childhood. Nothing that is said is particularly new, and I'm told they happily reworked tunes, but still a fantastic series of albums. Most of which got a 10 from the NME. Odd how they are largely forgotten, it seems, and relegated to the heavy drinking, joking around at festivals, wacky side of things, when, along with Spiritualized, they made the best set of albums bar none in the 1990s.

5. Today, however, is wet. This is a good thing, as I really have to try and get some re-writing done. Although it's really writing. I just can't seem to get this thing done.