I Want One
When I first saw a giant Anglepoise lamp, I knew that I wanted one.
However, I want one in a brass colour to go with my decor.
I think the best bet is to buy one second-hand and get it plated.
But it won’t be cheap.
Infuriating IKEA
I sorted my bedroom out and ordered some new inserts for the wardrobe from IKEA. They were supposed to be delivered on the 22nd.
But now, I find that IKEA can’t deliver until some time in October, which isn’t much use to me.
So I’ve cancelled the order and will reorder it again after my trip.
Despite having my landline, they always ring on my mobile number. The calling number is always Private so I don’t know who’s phoned. So I’ve now removed the mobile number from their database.
A South African Joke
The British tell Irish jokes, the Dutch tell some about Belgium and all the friends I’ve ever had from Zimbabwe have told jokes about stupid South Africans, usually of Boer ancestry.
Here‘s a true story about some South Africans who went to New Zealand for the rugby. Instead of booking a hotel in Eastbourne, a suburb of Wellington, they booked one in Eastbourne, by the sea in Sussex.
I suppose it could have been worse. There’s another Eastbourne in County Durham, wghich is even further away. They could have watched the athletics yesterday and the Great North Run today, though.
I’ve Hardly Ever Slept Like I Did Last Night
I fell asleep on the living room floor at about 17:00. I got up about 20:00 and then went to bed, where I slept some more.
I did get up at about two in the morning for an hour or so, but other than that I slept through until five, when I got up to watch the rugby.
It could be the hay fever drugs. Either they’re sending me to sleep or they’re winning.
The New 73 Bus Introduction
It seems to have gone well. I can’t also find any reports of passengers getting annoyed at the demise of seventy-free bendy bus.
I incidentally use the route a lot more, as it appears to be faster from places like Oxford Street. I wonder if any anorak has measured that!
The Crush at Westfield Stratford City
It was a waste of time taking the train to the new shopping centre.
I walked out of the Overground station up the stairs and after walking past the masses of smokers, lined up outside the centre, I entered the centre, avoiding one of the doors, which was constantly being opened by a four or five-year-old constantly pressing the disabled door-opening button. He was having great fun smashing the door into people standing outside.
I did at least know where I was going and attempted to walk through to Waitrose at the other end. I don’t think, I’ve been in a crush like that for some years and that was probably at Wembley for the play-off final against Barnsley in 2000. But the football crowd was better behaved and I should say better controlled and it didn’t contain lots of children, buggies and especially aggressive youths, who were determined to get through at any cost.
Eventually, I did get to Waitrose, but decided that I didn’t really want to go through that crush again with my shopping, so I decided to just have a look round John Lewis.
I was astounded to see, two children on scooters in the shop. Some people must be mad.
I then gave up and decided that the best bet would be to get to Stratford International and take the DLR from there. It was a very wet walk around the outside of the centre. as there was no shelter.
At the station, I met a policeman and told him how dangerous it had been in there. He whole-heartedly agreed.
I must admit I did get a train to the main station at Stratford from where I took the Central Line back to Liverpool Street. After a walk, I did get a bus, but then this was delayed due to an accident on the New North Road.
This must be regarded as the least successful shopping trip, I’ve ever done.
A Very Wet Hackney Central
I decided yesterday to go to Eastfield, as I needed some food from the Waitrose there. I also wanted to check the availability of some other goods in the shopping centre.
As I do, I took the 38 bus and changed to the North London Line at Hackney Central. This picture taken from the top deck of the bus shows the closeness of Hackney Downs and Central stations.
Looking Towards Hackney Central Station
The bridge in front is the line into Hackney Downs and you can just see Mare Street, where the entrance to Hackney Central is located in the distance about fifty metres to the left of the traffic lights.
In the sort of weather we were having yesterday, the station is inadequate, as this picture shows.
Hackney Central In The Wet
There really does need to be more shelter on the platform.
I think these two pictures illustrate how a properly built Hackney Junction would be of real benefit to the community.
The Anonymous Widower 