Yesterday I bought a pair of binoculars, which will come handy on my terrace in Motovun. There, the whole world is down below, and it will be a pleasure to investigate it in a bit more detail. To get a feel for the instrument, I now watch birds in the Forbury Gardens. On occasion, a human chances into my field of vision. Thus I spied a middleaged woman by the fountain in the middle of the park. She looked around conspiratorially, turned her back to the fountain, and tossed a coin into it over her left shoulder. As she walked away, she sprouted a knowing smile. Her wish would surely come true, she must have felt, not knowing that I had witnessed the whole thing, thus possibly dashing her wish. Without the binoculars, I would not have realized what took place by the fountain, even if I happened to have looked in that direction. If only I had bought my new toy a few days later. It would have made no difference to me.