The Common Temple

A stark warning: families and friends everywhere need to know there’s a new(ish) religion in town. I’m not talking about right-wing fake Christians who are clearly as thick as shit in a recycled water bottle. No, I’m talking about the very reverent worship of higher-end, artfully produced baked goods. Those kinky temples of golden dough and shiny pastry that pop up on high streets and then close abruptly and forever soon afterwards. 

Across the crumbly biscuit base of SQ, crowds flock to the Dune Bakery every weekend. They queue in the rain or once in a while the sun, perhaps. Then carry their little brown boxes of delightfully baked treasures back up to the bus stop, from whence they came via the number 43. Sometimes they also add coffee. Their meaningful experience is then recorded on Insta, alongside their fashionable dogs, backpacks and coloured cardigans. They make witty comments too.

Whilst other quite reasonable local bakeries are available, for the moment Dune is the king of the crusts and artistic sandwiches. I’d have been there this morning, digging into the wet weather and firmly stuck in the damp queue - but alas, my bank card has been compromised by some not so idiotic scammer in the American Midwest. He took $1.48 from my account and returned $1.49. High level financial crime schemes abound. Sadly a new and usable card won’t arrive until midweek.

This means that temporarily, but with immediate effect I can't spend anything and can no longer function in this world of pricey croissants, outlaw bakers and internet scammers. I’ll have to rely on handouts until then, keeping going as best I can, sustained by my carefully curated sausage and cracker collection and any random slice of pizza or human goodwill that comes my way.

Also: During cold spells we often remove various parts from various cars, take them off the street and bring them into the house so that they can experience some warm winter cheer and join in with our lively chat and banter. For example here's a recently rescued Ford tail-light cluster .