The early bird often has to kill time

I am habitually early. It's one of the reasons I wish I smoked. Alas, there are not so many things to do while waiting for someone to join you if you do not join the ranks of those with limited lung capacity other than loiter, and I am not a naturally talented loiterer. My earliness is perhaps further compounded by the chronic lateness of several of my friends. One in particular would be so late, and I so early, that I would often be left with 45 minutes to fill for a coffee date. I try to manage this time delay by always carrying a book, or meeting at interesting places (like museums, or galleries, or markets), but this doesn't always work.

This morning, for example, I had arranged to meet some friends at the markets at 11. I arrived there at least half an hour early. I got myself a coffee and began to have a look around. Sadly, as a result of poor weather, there were less stalls than usual. Having failed to dress weather appropriately I was less impressed than I might otherwise have been with what was on offer. I had finished the book I had been reading last night and was yet to find another. When I looked through the second hand books at the stalls I found nothing that appealed to me. I became impatient. At two minutes past 11 I called one of my friends demanding to know why they were so late. This type of behaviour is not endearing. And so, I am going to attempt to be less punctual in future.