Coincidentally – this morning while sipping my “quad” espresso at Equator Café whilst in conversation with Denis Secundus (recently nominated for a Deputy Minister’s Award of Honour) and Joy and Gary B.Sc., EE, MBA – I touched upon my current literary replenishment “The Diary of Samuel Pepys, ESQ., F.R.S.” by Samuel Pepys from 1659 to 1669 With Memoir, Edited by Lord Braybrooke, wherein the author frequently mentions the “great confluence of gentlemen” at the coffee-house.  We all at table, slumped in generous lounge chairs, readily concurred that the historic importance of the coffee-house is revived. Instantly I formulated in my private catalogue that the coffee-house (accompanied by a restorative and redeeming tricycle ride thereto) shall hereafter constitute an indispensable ingredient of my sphere of activity.

For some time I have pondered the desirability of doing so; but it was only today – aided fortuitously by undetermined stimuli – that I removed any hesitation and obscurity surrounding the primal motivation. Though the enterprise felt mildly like a pleasing addictive reaction (for which I haven’t any other explanation than the balminess of the springtime day and the pleasure of the company of friends), I am gratified to be in league with a ritual which so manifestly occupies others of our community (including today for example curious, winsome and well-behaved young children in the company of their parents for a Saturday morning outing).

The zeal and persuasion of the tricycle ride was surpassed only by the impelling force of this morning’s friendly and familial gossip, the strengthening espresso and perhaps by last evening’s Holey Confection “epic gourmet donuts”. Whatever the source (punctuated as it was by news of the successes of my partner’s grand-nephews) the remainder of the day was magically dignified by what I believe to be a hitherto unparalleled car ride. I aimed at exhausting the charge level – an exemplification of my outstanding delight in the drive. The roads were dry, clean and mainly free of traffic. I drove with all the windows open (sheltered by my Patagonia red shell