Sometimes they just want to be alone but without wanting to appear to be anti-social, and so they hold a fishing rod in their hand to pretend that there is purpose to their solitude. But why pretend? We all need moments of solitude, if only to better enjoy other people's companionship again later.
There is no pretending my enjoyment as I stand by the kitchen sink and do the washing-up of last night's dinner plates. In years gone by, I would have regarded this as a chore but I now find it meditative and soothing.
In this crazy world which is spiralling out of control, I find it reassuring to be able to turn this food-encrusted mess of crockery and cutlery into an orderly array of clean plates and forks and knives and spoons. Please, just don't tell my wife or I will be stuck with it for the rest of my life!
