Saturday 29 May:

Fetched the newspaper first thing… only to discover 3 drunk or drugged blokes (in their late 20s?) rolling around on the road in North Street (at the junction with South Street)… and shouting aggressively and then marching off in the Tobacco Factory direction. I managed to get past them and made my way into Tesco… but then saw one of them enter the shop too, head straight for the beer shelves, grab a pack of beer (or two) and waltz out of the shop (obviously without paying). One of the shop assistants (fortunately the old guy was on duty) immediate locked the front doors after the bloke had left to prevent the others enter (in case they tried). I’m not sure if Tesco’s phoned the police but, either way, I found the whole episode very depressing (police dogs were probably the only solution!).
Later in the morning, I walked to Arnos Vale for a real live sketch meet-up, with real live friends! The sun even shone… which was a bonus. My sketch wasn’t very good, but lovely to see lot of familiar faces again.
On my way home from sketching, I was very nearly knocked over by an e-scooter (it’s not the first time!)… it was travelling towards me at a speed of some 20mph (it might even have been more)… ON THE PAVEMENT (the legal speed limit is 15.5mph on ROADS and 4mph on PAVEMENTS). I’m getting sick and tired of such individuals… who seem to believe they’re totally untouchable. Hey ho!
Read a little more of my Atkinson book in the afternoon.
Evening telly: documentaries on the Celts and ‘Saved by Strangers’.
Image: Arnos Vale café.