Max Miller
Max Miller, the Cheeky Chappie, has a statue in the Pavilion Gardens.
He really was a comedian with a unique style and if you ever get a chance to listen to one of the recordings made of his act, you should.
A London Bendy-Bus Has Retired to Brighton
This used to be one of London’s infamous bendy-buses.
Retired London Bendy Bus in Brighton
It seems to be happily retired in Brighton. I suppose with all its hills, there are less cyclists for the bus to knock over.
Interestingly, the middle door has been removed and you enter at the front and get out at the back. So this would have eliminated the major problem on London’s bendys; fare-evasion.
Down the Hill to the Royal Pavilion
I walked down the hill from the New England Quarter to the Royal Pavilion, which is not that far from the sea-front.
The Royal Pavilion is really one of the most amazing buildings in the UK, if not Europe. I went in and despite the cold and it being a Monday in March it was surprisingly busy. They do charge, but you do get a free audio guide.
After visiting the Royal Pavilion, I went and had lunch in Carluccio’s, which is just a few metres outside the Pavilion Gardens.
It was then a walk back-up the hill, although I could have got a 7 or 27 bus back to the station.
A Trip to Brighton
I went to Brighton today, as I thought a trip to the seaside might help my breathing.
I also wanted to take a look at OneBrighton, as it was built, by the same company developing the Hanging Gardens of Dalston.
The web site for the development doesn’t show any pictures of the buildings, So I wasn’t sure if I was photographing it or not.
Housing in Brighton's New England Quarter
This is some of the housing in what is now called the New England Quarter. These flats would not be for everyone, as they are built on a hill and you wouldn’t want to struggle back up with your shopping. It’s also a mainly car-free development. Surely, though, if you are building on the side of a hill, then the paths should follow the contours of the land between roads with bus routes on them. I don’t think the paths between the blocks do.
It’s not an area that I like.
But I did like Brighton station nearby. And especially the roof!
Brighton Station Roof
But then Victorian railway engineers did roofs well.
Incidentally, my trip cost me just £11.70 from Victoria, which was effectively the cost from the area of my Freedom Pass with the discount for a Senior Railcard.
So that was good value in my book.
A Marks & Spencer Cheese and Pickle Gluten Free Sandwich
On my way to Brighton today, I bought one of these sandwiches.
A Marks & Spencer Cheese and Pickle Gluten Free Sandwich
It wasn’t too bad, although the packaging wasn’t designed for people with a gammy left hand.
As you can see, I made a bit of a mess.
The egg salad sandwiches are much better, but all you seem to be ab;le to get is the cheese and pickle these days.
Wot No New Bus for London!
I’ve only seen the New Bus for London twice, despite the fact that it passes the end of my road. And one of those sighting was during testing and in the other it was going the other way and I just saw its curved backside.
There wasn’t even one in this impressive row of ordinary buses on route 38 at Victoria station today.
38 Buses at Victoria Station
But then as it takes 68 buses to provide a full service and at present there’s just a solitary new one, it is a bit like looking for a needle in a hay-stack.
Harry versus Stuart
It would appear that the next England manager is still not any closer yet.
In the last two weeks, Spurs under Harry, have lost both to Arsenal and Manchester United.
England under Stuart Pearce, just lost to Dutch, by the odd goal in five. On the other hand his Under-21 side did beat the Belgians easily.
So perhaps Stuart won the last two weeks on points!
But if you think, England are in a mess, just look at Chelski!
Improving Ipswich Station
This photo shows the two major changes at Ipswich station.
Improving Ipswich Station
The bridge with lifts means that it is now easy for those with difficulties, buggies or heavy cases can now get across to the other platforms.
It also shows how they have changed the track layout, so that they can split the main platform to get two trains there at the same time.
The biggest change will come, when the new track layout, where the Felixstowe branch joins the main line, will mean that freight trains from and to Felixstowe will not have to reverse in the station.
West Hampstead Comes Together
Years ago, when we lived in our flat in St. John’s Wood, it was often easier to get there from the north by cutting down Fortune Green Road and West End Lane, rather than fight down the Finchley Road. West End Lane in those days was rather shabby, but now it has been tidied up and the four stations; Overground, Tube, Chiltern and Thameslink in about 400 metres or so, have been smartened up, as these pictures show.
There have been plans to create a boulevard to link the stations, but that has been dropped for the time-being.
But when they complete the scheme, they’ll create a proper interchange, that will avoid the need to go to the centre of London. All it needs is some better shops and another couple of places to eat.
I Spy A Pillar Box With A Cupboard
I haven’t seen a pillar box like this for some years.
A Pillar Box With A Cupboard
I always remember this from the I-Spy books of my childhood. These were books published by the News Chronicle, where you ticked off things you had seen. This type of pillar box might have been in something like I-Spy on the Street
The cupboard incidentally, is so that postmen can store mail in a safe place, whilst they deliver to other addresses. I doubt it’s used these days.
The Anonymous Widower 