breakfast

Awaken at four in the morning and arrange the appointment at the opticians. Choose an appointment at nine, there is a free slot there.

And then, a cup of coffee, and a lie down on the couch in the sitting room, all quiet except for the sound of the clock. After every interval of thirty seconds the clock still makes a click, to close electrical contacts to send a signal to filial clocks. There are no such filial clocks available, but the mechanism is there.

Lie on the couch, and doze for two hours. The clock's clicking is actually relaxing.

Just before nine get up from the sofa and collect the camera bag and the wallet and the mask, all in preparation for the optician. It is only to collect a pair of glasses, but there is no point in being late or anything. 

Walk through the town's main street, watch all the cafés prepare for breakfast. They all have their seats out on the street, it will be a warm day. There is a crowd in front of the opticians, stand back. The tension is enormous, everybody seems to want to be served first. After the crowd has dissipated go into the shop and give my name.

Inside five minutes a charming young service person has the new glasses.

Spend some time trying them on, testing their focal distance. They are made to make it easier to read the screen on the computer, and they seem to work well.

A short visit to the till to pay the bill, and then back to the street. The cafés are all filling up with breakfasters, that seems to be a good business.