9-24 to London Charing Cross....

Trip to London yesterday. I decided that, although I don't miss commuting to town every day like I used to in a previous life, I do miss the vibrancy of the place. I spent a really nice day on my own doing a bit of business in the morning, a bit of sight seeing (actually looking at the statues of Franklin, the artic explorer, Florence Nightingale, The Crimea soldiers and Edward VII on horseback on that square and steps which link The Mall with Pall Mall) a look around the wonderful (and free) National Portrait Gallery, a browse around several bookshops in Cecil Court and Charing Cross Road, only bought one book a signed copy of the new book by Aravind Adiga, author of last years superb booker prize winner, The White Tiger; a sandwich eaten outside Pret a Manger at the top of St. Martin's Lane sitting in the lovely warm unseasonal late autumn sunshine. Then a wander up through Covent Garden and up to the amazing James Smith Umbrellas and sticks shop on New Oxford Street. I've always wanted to go in there and did so yesterday and was left spellbound by the incredible array of every kind of walking stick, shooting stick, umbrella and cane you could possibly imagine. Is there a market for this old fashioned type of product? Well, judging by the brisk trade they seemed to be doing yesterday, I would say so. Was I tempted to part with my hard earned cash on a walking stick umbrella the same as that fella Nicholas Crane in the brilliant TV programme, Coast? Yes I was but came to my senses when I saw the £175 price tag. That's a whole £155 more than I paid for my fold up Fulton one, which seems to do the trick! I then legged it back to Charing Cross via the Camper shoe shop in Floral Street, decided that I'm not young and trendy enough for them these days, past the Lamb and Flag (alas no time for a pint of London Pride this time) onto St. Martin's Lane, up towards Trafalgar Square and jogged onto the platform to catch the 4-30 fast train back to Tonbridge in time for my daughter's birthday tea.) Now if only every Monday could be that packed full of interesting things. I must get up to London a bit more often....