I had a run-in with the Gods of Traffic and Timetabling last night. Haven’t poured enough libations on the roadside recently, perhaps, or just plain insufficient grovelling. It’s a sad story, and an unnecessary one — I decided not to cycle yesterday because the day before my ears and fingers almost froze off, but in the end it was quite mild, lovely biking weather in fact, if one had one’s bike with one.

So I left a mate’s place (after catching up on Battlestar Galactica) right on midnight, just in time to see the last tram on line 14 leave at 12:04. Sorry, the last tram going my way on line 14 — the Lords of Logistics were having a bit of fun, as I walked up towards Dam to find a night bus going my way at least five or six 14-trams passed me going the other way.

They’re doing roadworks around Dam, and my line is diverted so I had to walk quite a distance to find the first really functioning stop. Along the way I bumped into Tom, cycling home after a theatre group meeting — Aha, perhaps the Coincidence Angels are watching over me after all! Well, in a way I suppose, but they’ve got a sick sense of humour. I stopped to talk to Tom for about five minutes, then missed the night bus by about three.

The night bus that goes every hour.

So, I walked home. For those who know Amsterdam, I started down by Oosterpark, and ended in Bos en Lommer. For everyone else: I started at midnight, and got home at 1:45.

At least I didn’t get lost.