Aaaaaaaargh.
Despite a phone call to check everything was in order, the bike shop has just emailed to say that, in fact, now that they’ve checked, they don’t have the bike I bought from them online on Saturday.
They won’t be getting it back in stock and can only offer me an alternative which is absolutely nothing like the one I wanted. They’ve issued a refund and so now my hunt begins all over again.
Ever so slightly frustrating…
Good evening from a very sunny London.
Watching the clouds roll by as I lie out on the balcony and catch up on my podcasts.
Idly wondering why the building site down the street from us is active on a Sunday morning?
Consort Place has been enough of a source of noise and filth Monday to Saturday. Don’t their neighbours deserve a break on a Sunday?
Answer: the construction industry in the UK gives no fucks.
Sunday, August 20, 2023
So after lots of to-ing and fro-ing, I eventually pressed ‘go’ on ordering a new bike last night. I visited a couple of bike shops with my better half yesterday afternoon, just to see some of the available colours ‘in the flesh’. We also needed to buy some new lights for our replacement bikes, as these were also stolen, along with the bikes. I came home without purchasing, as the service in the Brompton store was…disinterested at best.Just been for a walk around the Isle of Dogs and Greenwich with this good boy…
Saturday, August 19, 2023
My insurance company paid out for our stolen bikes yesterday. My other half took care of dealing with them, while I dealt with the police. It almost feels like we can draw a line under it. All in all, we’re about £250 down, each. Insurance had a capped ‘per bike’ limit. And of course the bikes themselves cost a lot more now, compared to when we originally got them. Doesn’t everything?So we’re experiencing what sounds like an absolute tropical downpour in London right now.
That’s my cue to go to bed and immerse myself into some apocalyptic fiction. Starting the second book in the ‘Silo’ trilogy tonight. 📚
Hopefully we’ll get some actual summer weather tomorrow…
I’m still fucking livid about our bikes being stolen.
I’m almost more annoyed by the response from our building’s management company. “Sorry, it’s the weekend” is not a valid excuse when we’re paying for a 24/7 service.
Not when I’ve gone back to point out the damage to the door to the bike room and how it now longer locks. “Nothing can be done” but the building manager will have a note about it in his handover tomorrow morning.
Well, that’s alright then. 🙄
Saturday, August 5, 2023
Providing a statement to three police officers in my kitchen is not how I envisaged this weekend starting. My other half is in Spain for the weekend and I woke up to a text message wondering why the airtags on our bikes were showing them as two miles away. I headed down to the bike room in the basement of our apartment building so discover both bikes gone. Chains and locks cut right through, cleanly.And so the weekend begins… cheers!
Just had a lovely walk around the Olympic Park with this very good boy.
Waking up to more wind and rain on the second day of August is doing nothing for my enthusiasm this morning.
Still, just six days to go until I fly to Barcelona and spend a lovely week relaxing in Sitges. Plus, I’ve got some nice plans for this weekend, which are basically weather-independent. All the same, is it too much to ask for some sunshine in August?
Another cracking sunset in London this evening.
An after-work, pre-dinner run around the neighbourhood.
Slowed down by bad luck at various pedestrian crossings and the need to constantly dodge electric Deliveroo bikes flying along the pavement.
Good evening from London…
Monday, July 31, 2023
I picked up my Brompton from its service earlier - glad to have it back in my possession. Less than thrilled that they left it in the bike room, unlocked, with the door to the room wedged open. I’m just glad I called by when I did. Otherwise the day could have taken a completely different turn. Bike theft is rampant in London! I didn’t have my helmet with me, so took my folded bike home on the DLR.Taking my Brompton in for a service this morning.
It’s been far too long since I was a regular cyclist. That needs to change.
Step one: ensure the bike is road worthy.
At the very lovely Club Soda to sample some alcohol-free drinks (and shelter from the hordes of tourists in Covent Garden).
Starting with a pint of the delicious Lucky Saint to quench my thirst.
Today’s missions:
This is what passes for July in London. I’d like a refund, please.
People playing music on public transport without headphones are…tiresome. This is far from news.
I’m just tired and need to vent.
Seems like my overnight ritual sacrifices to the weather gods have paid off.
I woke up to some sunshine here in London this morning. Unsure how long it’ll last, but I’m hoping until at least lunchtime, so I can get out for a walk and actually enjoy it.
Until then, eyes down for a webinar on coaching skills and a one-to-one coaching session. And quite a lot of coffee…
Summer in London 🤨
Counting down the days until I’m back in the Spanish sunshine and dipping my hobbit feet into the sea.
Until then, it’s just flicking through my photo memories and imagining the sand between my toes.
So glad I went for that run earlier. It’s bucketing down now. Why is continental Europe melting in heatwaves, yet the UK is experiencing October-like weather in July?
More ritual sacrifices to the weather gods are required, obviously.
Saturday, July 22, 2023
After walking past it several times over the last few months, I finally paid a visit to the Craft Beer Company in Limehouse. I only had time for a quick pitstop, and a half pint of IPA, but I’m so glad I went. To say they have a choice of beers is quite the understatement. Their drinks menu is impressive and organised into a small ring-bound folder placed on each table - pages and pages of craft beers, gins, whiskeys and other assorted drinks.Awaiting my eye test… and they’re running late. As usual.
I really, really need to get out of bed.
I have a coffee meeting with a fellow psychologist in less than two hours, an appointment for an eye test and some work to do on the podcast.
But it felt so warm last night, I had a very disrupted and inconsistent sleep. Finding it difficult to get started this morning.
Perhaps another coffee will help ☕️
Good evening from a very beautiful London.
Nothing to see here…
Just a Royal Navy Minesweeper sailing past my apartment. I wonder if it’s headed anywhere interesting.
Living this close to the Thames means there’s always something interesting to see when I look out the window.
