Train to Sheffield
So Stephen why first class?
Comfy seat, crisps, orange juice and cake, followed by cream tea: scone/jam/cream, cup of tea and biscuit.
It’s called a no-brainer.
I also escaped a ‘snow’ storm.
What’s not to like?
And these two great characters.
London is an incredible mix of people and cultures.
Manjula was amazed when she first visited U.K. and especially Brixton where there’s a great mix of people of different nations/ethnicity/races/colours….
On my bus now, less than 50% are white. I think that’s great and even the white people are a big mix mainly as the place (pre UK) was invaded by many others for a thousand years before the last take over by the Normans in 1066.
Coincidentally that invasion is featured in an amazing tapestry currently on loan from France and exhibited in London.
…
Today I have noticed the following restaurants in just a few minutes from the bus travelling through London…..
Eritrean, Keralan, Lebanese, French, Bangladeshi, ‘Indian’ mostly run by Bangladeshis), English (whatever that means), American (so many fast food joints mainly selling burgers and chicken), you name it… every country is represented in the restaurants and just last week there was a big event celebrating Asia
With street food, entertainment and shoppping.
Just look at the people in the city.
..,
Teasing
…
Just to prove what an amazing place the world is ..
I was out with my son Ben today and we bumped into Rhonda from Australia, at the National Portrait Gallery, who was a guest at Mysore Bed and Breakfast.
How cool is that?
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 …
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
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
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
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.
is on the list to visit this year — maybe I’ll get there but meanwhile ..
I’ve discovered little Portugal in South London
In Vauxhall, a shortish walk from Brixton.
Its — Just around the corner from the very first place I lived in London in the early 80s
It’s changed a bit now
Visiting places from my first years in London
London has so many open spaces. Usually green but it’s been very hot this Summer.
I loved visiting the old places but also realised how forgetful I’ve become.
I’d stopped to chat with Goldsmiths students. They were elected to positions in the Students union.
The Union provides services to help support students and events for entertainment.
Watching people run…
and cycle
play football —- in a cage. 🤭
Climb trees
Pedal their ‘cars’ (semi -incumbents)
Walk their dogs
What a fun day, but there’s one or two problems.
BB— ball bearings help solve a complex worldwide problem — friction but it’s another BB namely Bad Behaviour, that helps create friction between the people.
An example of this is not following the rules.
I’m not talking of these rules
But these…
…. the people who rent electric cycles, often break the rules.
Cyclists are typically considerate of others — pedestrians and cyclists, obey the rules of the road, including stopping at red lights but in the last few years there’s been a big change.
The inexperienced cyclists who rent electric cycles are often reckless and unsafe —- ignoring the traffic lights and the general rules of the road, riding fast, weaving in and out at high speed,
It can be very risky …
But for now
Peacefully
There’s even a zoo and FREE toilets.
I was visiting Battersea Park and stumbled across a festival …
more later
Clearly not an Eagle.
I’m staying with my good friends Angus and Gina in Brixton South London
Close to their house are lots of community facilities and a corner shop run by Indians that MAnjula discovered on her first visit here. In fact the whole Brixton area is a great diverse mix of people from all around the world.
I can hear people playing bingo in the community centre next to me.
…
The layout.
A great discovery close to where I’m staying on Harringay Green Lanes
A short (ish) 30 minute walk —— (the full loop will reopen in Feb 2026) from Harringay Green Lanes overground or as I’ve now discovered an even shorter walk (10 minutes) from Manor House Underground station —- gets you to the wetlands and their great cafe.
I’ve visited almost everyday of my recent visit for their sourdough melted cheese sandwich and make friends with the wildlife.
I’ve marvelled at the birds, especially the family of swans with their rapidly growing seven dusky grey cygnets
I’ve met a lovely mix of people here, including the wonderful hosts.
An added treat this week was ….
Another friend demanded to be included
A pigeon with a penchant for melted cheese.
No way Jose can you have the ginger beer.
Annual exhibition.
