solo shoreditch

I found myself with a few hours to kill on my own in Shoreditch, east London last week. 
Granted, there could be worse places to be unexpectedly alone.
I considered hiding in one of the many coffee shops boasting £5.80 turmeric matcha lattes, but I am to frugal for that nonsense. 
Considering my options, I passed a black and white photo booth. It should be noted that I am religious about utilising these when I am with a friend (I am a 1-2-1 girlie by the way!) I have a growing collection of black and white stills with various friends and family members - if you are not in my collection yet it is merely because we have not passed one of these machines when we are together!

Before I knew what I was doing, I was ensconced inside the booth, tapping my phone on the contactless payment pad and "CUCKOO!" (that's the noise the machine makes to warn you it is about to snap you for posterity) I was away - although as you can see, I wasn't quite ready for that first one! I was just warming up and it was all over.  The £5 investment in a bit of fun was worth it (and cheaper than a matcha!) As I emerged, a group of excitable teenagers waiting to use the booth looked slightly confused at my solo antics. Thankfully, unlike in Northampton Bus Station circa 1987, the photos were expelled mightily fast, so any potential shame was alleviated as I beat a hasty retreat with my already bone dry photos in my sweaty mitt!
Apart from having Baader Meinhof-like passport photographs taken alone, I realised I would normally only enter a photo booth with another person. But wait, here I was having as a lot of fun on my own! 
Clutching my bone dry photos I then walked the streets of Shoreditch/Whitechapel: admiring architecture, art, graffiti (much of which was political I was grateful to note) and remembered how much I love my own company.
Just wanted to remind myself, any maybe you, that don't save all your fun for when others are willing to come with you: do it alone!