Leyton Orient 2 – Peterborough 1
This afternoon I went to Leyton Orient to see them play Peterborough in League One.
In some ways they are the most accessible club to where I live. Arsenal are nearer, but although I want them to win more than say Chelsea or Norwich, I would never pay money to see them.
The Herne Hill Velodrome
The reason I was going to North Dulwich was to visit the Herne Hill Velodrome, which is the last venue from the London Olympics of 1948, still in use in it’s original form.
It said everybody was welcome on the gate.
The Entrance to Herne Hill Velodrome
I had a quick look around and left fairly sharply as they had a ban on photography, which of course was one of the reasons I had gone.
Customer Service – London Bridge Style
I know London Bridge station is being rebuilt as a consequence of both the Thameslink upgrade and the hideous Shard, but I doubt you’ll find a worse main station in the whole of the UK.
Like all of the stations and lines south of the Thames, they were planned by a devious and possibly cruel Victorian mind. An example is that as London Bridge is the most easterly of the London rail stations serving the south, you’d assume it would serve all of the stations in Kent. That is an extremely logical and wrong assumption, as you get to places like Margate from either Victoria or St. Pancras.
No wonder you get confused tourists like a group of Spanish, who were trying to get to King’s Cross, by taking a train to Victoria from London Bridge and quite a few other stations, and then using the Victoria line. I told them to use the direct Northern line and was left wondering what idiot had advised them to go via Victoria. It couldn’t have been anybody in customer service as the Information Desk was closed.
Closed Information Box at London Bridge
The London Buses kiosk was also closed.
Closed Bus Information Kiosk at London Bridge
I was trying to get to North Dulwich and was advised to take the 9:48 from platform 15. At the last minute, I was told it would leave from 14 and got there just as it pulled away. After looking for some non-existent help, I found a board which said that there was a train on platform 14 at 10:03. So I ran back and after several goes, I finally got through the barrier, when a ticket inspector let me through.
One of problems I had to get through, was that in strong sunlight, the LEDs that show a green arrow or a red cross on the barrier, can’t be seen by someone like myself with degraded eyesight. After the kind inspector let me through, he said he had problems himself with the barriers and hopefully the new ones arriving soon would solve the problem.
It’s Bad Friday Today
I’ve always hated Bank Holidays. I can remember as a child, that unless there was football at White Hart Lane, I’d generally be left to my own devices. At least when my father had his print works, we’d generally go down there and do something. You can never have said he didn’t have a work ethic.
When C and I had the children at home, it wasn’t as boring, as usually we’d find something to do. After the kids had left, we’d often go racing or shopping at somewhere like Bluewater. But generally we’d arrange to be away, as after all everything is crowded. Although on one memorable Bank Holiday with sunshine everywhere, we did decide to go to the Norfolk Coast with the dogs for a swim for her and perhaps a paddle for me. But we got sea-fog and were back home by one after one of the most miserable Bank Holidays we ever spent.
Today, I’ve nothing planned and will probably go for a walk or to a museum or art gallery. It’s the same on Saturday and Sunday. But on Monday, I’m off to Swansea to see Ipswich. But after last night’s disaster at Portman Road, that is unlikely to be a happy experience.
And what with the Royal Wedding and May Day coming up, this few next weeks has the impression, that it is not going to be very fulfilling. But saying that I do have friends coming for the wedding.
The Anonymous Widower 