Meeting Mette & the Edwards

I finally met my sort of colleague Mette. We videocalled before, but this is the first time we met in person. We met at the coffeeshop across my street. We chatted until about 3.30 pm only to realise it closed at 4. Working in my flat was not an option, because I barely have any furniture at this point, so we moved to the queer pub next door. We entered carefully, not sure if it was the kind of pub where you can work in at 4 pm. The pub was quiet at this hour, about 5 older men sat dispersed inside. Arriving at our table, a second bartender welcomed us - in sign language! His name was Edward, the same as an older drunk man seated at a table who could also sign a little. Drunk Edward used to work at a hospital and learned to sign there, as he told us while heading to the bathroom and apologizing for stumbling. Bartender Edward used to have a deaf friend who he signed with. A third man was named Edward as well, but he did not sign.

Sitting in the queer pub with Mette, surrounded by Edwards, setting a pomodoro timer to focus on writing - but talking right through it -, drinking a beer at 4 pm, I felt like maybe I was doing this PhD - or at least something - right.