Man with a big pipe, Wigginton Road Nurseries stall and a smile from the heart

1. A man was walking down Ousegate Bridge with a 12 foot length of black plastic waste water pipe he'd just scavenged from the building work going on at the old Veranda cafe. He had a big smile on his face (and he was cute too). It was a comedy scene from a Buster Keaton movie as he navigated the busy street, crossing the road, missing the windscreens of passing cars, just missing toppling an old giffer lady at the traffic lights and negotiating his doorway with his big pipe before disappearing as if by magic. It put a smile on my face and the people passing by and for once we also smiled at each other too. It was precious.

2. I bought some gorgeously scented, creamy-white stocks from the Wigginton Road Nurseries flower stall on Newgate Market for Joan. I think this bloke has the best stall on the market. Today he was also selling the prettiest bunches of English peonies. He always seems to have good stock and he's friendly and efficient. On Saturday mornings I often sit in the window of Pret a Manger which faces his stall and smile while having coffee. I always enjoy the people watching and particularly those who try to figure out which flowers to buy for their loved ones from this bloke.

3. I'm grateful to on-line friends who help get me through some tough stuff. I just offended someone though which makes me feel pretty stupid and sad. However I expect he will find that round the next corner there will be something wonderful. I'm usually pretty optimistic about that and today, in the lunchtime sunshine I felt that anything good could happen and I smiled and people smiled back. To my online friend, please accept a smile from the heart. Nothing better or less.