there is water somewhere on my right i can hear it the gentle patter of what must be a delicate fountain hidden amongst the foliage and flowers of freshly bloomed lilies or falling from a feature at the water's edge there is a far-distant rumble of jet engines undoubtedly drawing trails of vapour across an otherwise unblemished blue sounds of traffic dulled to almost nothing a background hum barely noticeable even the unfamiliar shrieking of a siren as it passes by cannot overpower the drawn-out strains of violin the rasgueado strum of guitar the echoed stomp and clap of dancers performing or practicing in front of the monument to a public figure of some kind that i would likely not recognise or be aware of on the other side of the park a clock tower bell chimes the hour two o'clock setting a fluttering of birds to wing chattering on the breeze the seemingly constant pattern of clicking heels and scuffed steps along the nearby path tell of an exhaustive cosmopolitan life a dog begins barking as i open my eyes reminding me of home