Friday 18th of August, 2000
This city must be throbbing with E-meters.
Struggle out of bed at 8:00 and stare into space on the sofa. The buzzer goes at 8:20 - my package. Now I don't feel like going back to bed, so go and get the papers. On returning to the flat, discover large man relieving himself in the entranceway. Large man, can of strong lager in hand, says "Soary, I've just pished in your stairway" (Not sorry at all, and, well, it was the front door, not the stairway. Decide not to argue. Being beaten up at half eight in the morning would be both painful and embarrassing).
Go upstairs to do work, and successfully e-mail a rough to London. Quite what happens to the rest of the day is a mystery. Am now hanging around waiting for reply (which never comes - call up at five and find that now I will be getting corrections on Monday. Lie down and am rendered asleep and incapable until 8:00, at which time I shower and get ready for the Jeays show.
By the way, there has been a steady increase in Scientologist activity - there is the What Is Scientology exhibition at the Crowne Plaza hotel, and when I was leaving Helios Fountain the other day had my first sighting of a double-decker bus advertising the exhibition. There is also a car with a placard mounted on the roof. And the door with Dianetics - the book over the top has a brass plaque on it that says L Ron Hubbard Institute of Personal Independence Development. This city must be throbbing with E-meters.
After the show, I am inspired to cook - chicken and mushrooms and tomatoes and herbs stewed up together. And Rice. Two pans - serious cooking. There's enough left over to go in the fridge. Hurrah.
Determine to get up early and go to see a performance of Messaien's Vingt regards pour l'enfant Jesus.