The importance of being earnest [2] : went boating on the river Lek a couple of days ago. Very soothing –  the sound of a 1930’s diesel engine going puff-puff-puff-puff – ideas of indestructability and flow. Then we met with a very very earnest road sign – waterway sign, really. It tells small boats to keep out of the blind spots of bigger boats – totally curious effort to iron out  life’s  last wrinkles.