10.15. aha, i say, and get dressed and put a lot of library books into a widener bag and go off to harkness commons for brunch (after which to return books to the law library - a thing for which i have been chastised by von, who says a person should return books to the originating library, but i've been spoilt by NLB and anyway exercise is a bad thing.) cambridge common was full of plastic goal posts and little toddling people kicking footballs about and middle-aged males of the sporty and parental variety lacing up trainers and marching about with whistles. arrive at langdell and finding both harkness and the law library closed concluded that the law school had already gone into summer schedule. stranded with a lot of books and no lunch, i had no choice but to hoist the books onto my back and make for the yard. o poor atlas, creak and groan.

released from burden, wander into the square to find alternative lunch - at 11 on a saturday, too many places not yet open. went to 9tastes because suddenly fancied their crispy chicken but doors were still shut. penang was open - but i remember too late it is only the chinatown branch that has pulut hitam. sitting there not really enjoying a very oily kway teow and looking out on the street and everything seemed to matter so little. i don't mean i was carefree - i was tired of it all. i do not have the enduring spirit other people do - and even frivolity was too much effort. i was sitting there in that same seat eating murtabak and chendol slowly and resolutely the day my uncle died. the food was comforting then and now it is ash.

on the way home, went into algiers for a coffee - mint coffee, it said on the menu, and sounded like it would involve mint leaves (like mint tea) but appalled by a exploding mushroom of whipped cream drenched in evil-green syrup. the coffee underneath was not bad at all - but the green rather put me off. some baklava and idly browsing but not really taking in my book, and then it started to rain.