Field notes · est. 2021

Benchlog

An ongoing survey of public places to sit down. Updated whenever I find somewhere to sit down.

I visit benches and rate them out of five. There is no methodology. The ratings reflect how I felt at the time and are not open to appeal. I am not affiliated with any municipality, although I have been asked to move along on four occasions. Submissions are not accepted; I prefer to find them myself.

Recent sittings

North platform, tram stop 14

◦ Elm Street 11 May ▰▰▰▰▱

Backrest at an honest angle. Slightly too close to the timetable, so people lean over you. Loses a point for the pigeon situation, which is structural and not the bench's fault.

The one by the closed bakery

◦ Market Row 3 May ▰▰▰▰▰

Perfect. Faces west, catches the afternoon, and nobody knows it's there because the bakery shut. I have told no one. I am telling no one now. Five.

Memorial bench, "for Geoff, who liked it here"

◦ Riverside 28 Apr ▰▰▰▰▱

Geoff had excellent taste. The plaque is moving and the view is good. Docked one point because the slats retain water and I did not notice until it was too late.

Bus shelter, eastbound

◦ Hill Road 19 Apr ▰▱▱▱▱

A bench in the legal sense only. Stainless steel, sloped to discourage exactly what it is for. I sat on it out of spite for eleven minutes. Would not return.

Under the big chestnut

◦ Old Cemetery 9 Apr ▰▰▰▰▱

Quiet, as you would hope. Wonderful in autumn. The company is agreeable and does not interrupt. Half a point off for the conkers, which are a hazard from above.