Personal

Twinkle-Pop

"Pop" looked pissed off. She's spent a lot of time building up her pitch on Woodbridge Thoroughfare, Barrett's Beds to her right and Unwins to her left. Each Saturday she'll be there with her colourful clothes and permanent smile, blowing balloons and twisting them into shapes that are she boldly asserts are animals.

Not yesterday.

Yesterday Pop was upstaged by Twinkle-Toes.

He announced his presence with a stamp, this suited old man. As his tape recorder stretched out 20s music, "Mr Twinkle Toes" tapped his way round his cane, his bemused face seeming to ask the question that was on everyone's lips: "Am I really doing this?".

Pop folded her arms and let her smile droop for a second. I sneaked a photograph of the tap-dancer and moved on.

I imagine Pop's smile will return. Twinkle-Toes was spreading an infectious, incredulous glee down The Thoroughfare that was hard to resist.

Call it a week off. The balloon modelling can wait until next week.