When I got up this morning I felt madly alive and was craving an adventure. I dived under the shower, leapt out again, threw on my clothes and bounded out of the front door.

I powered my push-bike through the park at a reckless speed and grinned fantastically as the air crashed across my face. Some miserable old bastard swore at me as I swerved to avoid his dog but such was my mood that I turned my head and shouted,
"I love you unhappy stranger!"

I steered on to the road and cycled through the city, happier than I'd ever been. How odd it was, this unforseen, unparalleled and unaccountable elation which soaked my every fibre!

I weaved past a parked taxi, squeezed past a loading bus and breezed past the underground entrance, which spewed its dour commuters into my wake. I dodged them all, and their glumness too, for surely it was infectious? Why else the collective grey face that so nearly always accompanies the pricey suits?

In my bizarre and joyful stupor I accidentally turned left a street too early but found myself riding through an avenue of market stalls. Lovely and horrid smells bombarded me as I traversed the shoppy crowds, but every scent was beautiful.

Past a fish stall, but before one selling batteries and telephone accessories I slammed on my brakes too late to avoid running over the shoe of a stranger who was, incidentally, the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. I stopped and dismounted and looked at her foot. I apologised profusely and asked for her name. It was Genie, and I knew that I loved her almost straight away. The morning was warm, it being mid-summer, and my blushing face was cursed with sweat already.

"Genie," I said, "May I take you to the hospital?" But it was a ridiculous question as the 'running over' had been a very minor incident. Her face was angry at first, but then she smiled. I wobbled, overcome: For an unknown reason, when she smiled I loved her twice as much.

"Genie," I said, "I would like to buy you a cold drink as a material apology." And I was still smiling madly. Given the circumstances that was tactless don't you think? But for lack of tact she did accept and we drank crushed ice-drinks that were socially acceptable for adult consumption because they were served in Starbuck's.

I sat opposite Genie, staring at her eyes and uncontrollably beaming, because I was still buzzing with happiness. We talked about everything and nothing. Then I phoned my boss, quit my job forever and accepted Genie's offer of another ice-drink.

I hope this afternoon will be as good as this morning.