RE: In a Retro Mood

You have discovered a fine pearl. I also have a love for places that have stood still in time and accept the changes around them with stoic serenity, even though this diner is not run down and still serves good food. I feel transported to a time when I watched American films. All that's missing are the cars with tail fins and the dashing young people in petty coats and Elvis quiffs. The first time I went into a place like this was in the mid-90s on my first visit to the States. I immediately felt at home and liked the smooth seats on which you slid and looked forward to the sumptuous food with coffee without end. Thanks for this little trip and the atmosphere you created here.

I have just moved to a new neighbourhood and am fascinated by the discoveries of a structural nature. New things mingle with the old, a district that has grown slowly and organically, giving the walker unexpected sights. A nature reserve begins just a five-minute walk from here. Where before you stood in the middle of the residential area, a small path opens up and a tiny river leads you out onto the floodplain. You follow it and find yourself in the open space, a welcome unobstructed sight. Soon you are back in the city, where small cottages survive alongside high-rise buildings. One very old building still has the sign "barrel organ rental" emblazoned on it. You don't see something like that every day.