I have a friend whose name means wonder

O, wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has such people in't!

And we met up last night and talked for hours as we usually do, over coffee and cake. Old times on Old St, present times in Hackney, Whitechapel or City. New times all over, where ever we want to be. Friends, timing, hopes and dreams, memories, galleries, books and films. Hackneyed non-statements from self centred South Africans. Meeting Mark after watching him read "Colony" for nearly an hour on the ground floor-not constantly, just a glance every now and then-yup he's still there. They seemed to get on but this happens to be one of my friends that instills a sense of wonder in me and gets along fine with all kinds of company, whereas Mark looks awkward and tends to need babysitting with most groups, at least for the first few meets. But he looks fine, relaxed even. As the evening draws to a close we make plans that won't happen, we're both so busy making our dreams come true. She will have the recognition she deserves, she will make a record that has some sort of success. She will have people that she doesn't even know that know her name and a few random facts about her. I will be proud to call her my friend, but no more so than I already am.