Trafalgar Square

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I’m a central London tourist hanging out before I meet Brian.

There’s Nelson’s column,

surrounded by a king and army leaders (aka known as donkeys in the First World War — the saying is ‘Lions led by donkeys’ as a jokey attack on our leaders, not much change there then ), his pet lion and …

a new addition on the plinth for the latest commissioned art
I don’t fancy Nelson’s chances with her, good job he’s on a stick.

There’s also a statue of one of our Roman colonialists from around 2000 years ago. This ‘country’ having been colonised by all and sundry for a thousand years before the Normans finally took over in 1066

I said DON’T feed the pigeons

Interestingly we also ‘celebrate’ the British colonialism of India in the square with a statue of the British military leader who crushed the Sepoys in 1857 which led to the British Raj.

As with donkey leaders I’m not responsible for current or past leaders nor supportive of their irresponsible behaviours.

Here’s one guy who helped me from over forty years ago

Buddha

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Today I’m on a shorter cycle ride, back to the peace pagoda in Battersea Park

I remember it being built when I lived in South London in the early 80s

…

Factoid

Buddhist?

I go with the Marx brothers view that I wouldn’t join a club that would have me as a member.

Maybe I have a slightly different approach and do join lots of things —- Boys Brigade, Sunday School, Scouts, Youth Club, Air Cadets (ATC), Jesus freak in my teens.

But I don’t necessarily stick with one thing or hang around

I’m from the U.K. where I’ve lived most of my life, travelled a bit and now settled(?) in India. I tell people I’ve had five careers having facilitated lots of things in all the sectors.

I’ll discuss politics, religion, Spirituality and philosophy with our guests who think I’m Buddhist. I like what it represents but even Gautam wouldn’t be inclined to join a club.

I live on the Limen, a view that was often discussed with my MPhil supervisor.

…

The Pagoda is in a great location by the river Thames

Greenwich (pronounced ….

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Gren—itch, not Green-witch, another of those English words pronounced differently to what you’d expect

Todays cycle ride

took me to another stretch of the river Thames

Where I found .,

The Cutty Sark. A high speed sailing ship that carried tea from India to Britain

Its in Greenwich a famous location in London with many sea going links.

The entry and exit to a tunnel under the Thames

I was opposite Canary Wharf office blocks in the east end of London

The first time I’ve explored South London, where I used to live, in over forty years. Actually I’m discovering so much more, including the extensive network of cycle lanes.

Factoids

… words from the t’internet.

Greenwich is famous as the home of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), the Prime Meridian Line, and a rich maritime and royal history recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Time and Science

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT): The starting point for the world’s time zone system, established here in 1884.

Prime Meridian Line: The 0° longitude line at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, where you can stand with one foot in the eastern hemisphere and one in the western hemisphere. 

Landmarks and Maritime History

Cutty Sark

The world’s last surviving 19th-century extreme tea clipper ship.

It’s been a long time coming

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I used to make them with Manjula in Mysore and visiting friends in London.

This is probably the first since Manjula left for another world.

It used to be a big favourite ….. Stuffed pancakes (burritos) Mexican style.

It might seem to be nothing special but its a step in the right direction, to start cooking again.

But how did it taste?

Brain ache

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I knowingly failed twice yesterday, on the word quiz wordle. First to guess the word and second to pronounce and therefore understand the word properly — once it was revealed.

It was Liven

Pronounced Ly-ven or Lie-ven but I couldn’t get past pronouncing it as Li-ven.

This not necessarily about the vagaries of the English language but is maybe evidence of a deteriorating brain.

It’s sometimes feels as if it’s full of cobwebs or little stomping men.

…

So I’ve stopped cycling and I’m distracting myself, observing the Thames river.

Could it be …

Age deterioration or almost twenty years living in Indian English

Or stop overthinking you idiot.

Hit the road.

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I’ve cycled for sixty years and encouraged my sons to be considerate cyclists to other road users and especially pedestrians.

At times I’ve joked that the first task to learn (for all forms of transport) is how to stop.

I worry that the many inexperienced cyclists who rent electric cycles haven’t discovered that basic skill.

I’m familiar with people (in India) no knowing or following the basic rules. Here in the UK, because it’s such a contrast to what came before —- its a shock.

Mayhem on the roads and it’s incredibly dangerous.

Were the politicians and police asleep or comatose when they failed to anticipate this chaos.

The majority … of the Inexperienced cyclists on rented electric cycles ignore the signals, travel on payments, weave in and your, come close to mowing down people who are on a crossing

I’ve no idea of the accident rates but I’m scared

It’s a real danger and all at relatively high speed.

They generally don’t wear helmets, aren’t focussed and sometimes on phones.

Then they block pavements when discarding the cycles.

It’s got out-of-hand.

Thinking back

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On this trip I’ve visited places I used to live.

Now I’m also visiting family, here my sister Claire and brother Jason, who live between Sheffield and Rotherham in South Yorkshire

They live next door to each other! Really?

She’s got out the family photos.

Oh no!

Brothers in law Richard and Mark
Family group
Sisters Janet and Claire
Andy Claire Stephen
With my brothers and sisters maybe 40 years ago
Liz
Tricia
Stephen

It’s also been an opportunity to revisit my Sunday School Chapel, second home and school in Sheffield.

Reflections

I first tasted honey at Sunday School and was taken aback. It was amazing. Why had I never had this before? I was maybe age eight and it was probably too exotic and costly for my family.

Compare and contrast.

It’s useful to return to my home city and country. I’m initially shocked by the price differences with India.

I expect the U.K. to be a little better organised but it disappoints.

More later ..

West Yorkshire

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Warning … when you travel north.

I’ve moved from tropical London to typical Yorkshire— wet, windy and coldish.

Initially I didn’t feel cold as London was scorchy but here it’s a serious to contrast to what I’m used to.

But this morning staying at Jill’s is nice and sunny

A lovely stone built cottage

The fact is everywhere is fab as I’m meeting great friends.

…

Next stop South Yorkshire.

Here I am with Belle

My sister Claire’s dog.

More signs

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On the road

My good friend Vinay saw a similar sign while studying in Oxford. He joked about signs in advance of planned roadworks when most countries will no have signs when they’re actually doing the road works.

London is not the best city for cyclists, but they’re trying hard with extensive signposted cycle routes.

I’ll write again about sharing information which I consider to be very important.

I’m both …

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Happy and sad.

I have lovely memories — of visiting Bath with Manjula eight and nine years ago.

We went in this church (Abbey) and on this bus for a tour.

Imagine a two thousand year old Roman Baths

Well there is one here.

Sorry but I didn’t pay to go in this time, it’s expensive.

So I can’t show the actual bath.

Lots of tourists from U.K., USA, Europe, Japan, India, have paid.

The famous Royal Crescent.

A visited with Manjula and now those times together trigger a waterfall of memories, sometimes felt in tears.

Factoid

It’s so expensive here in England in London’s famous Covent garden it costs £1.50 (150 Rupees) to go to toilet (washroom).

Bath is a beautiful city and very middle class.

Grief is always with us. It diminishes (relatively)by other parts of life surrounding it.

Memories remind us and we’re both happy and sad.

That loss sends our life Ourselves and our worlds in different directions.

It’s hard at times.